# Zi Char in Marine Parade

Zi char stalls cook Chinese dishes to order for sharing, mostly in coffeeshops and hawker centres where prices are nett. Seafood such as chilli crab is often priced by weight at 'market price' – ask for the per-kg rate and the weight before it is cooked. Each stall holds its own SFA licence and SAFE grade.

## Key facts
- Listings: 47
- Matched to a government licence/register: 5
- Median years in business: 15

## Licences
- **Food Shop Licence (SFA)** (Singapore Food Agency (SFA), required): Every restaurant, cafe, bakery, stall and food court outlet selling food to the public must be licensed by SFA. Since 19 Jan 2026 the licence carries a SAFE grade (A, B, C or NEW) based on the outlet's food-safety track record; scan the QR code on the displayed licence to see it. Check: https://go.gov.sg/sfa-track-records

## How to choose
- Ask for the per-kg price and the actual weight of crabs, lobster or fish before cooking; 'seasonal price' disputes are a common complaint.
- Order dish sizes (small/medium/large) to match the group – a small usually serves two to three.
- Check the stall's own SFA licence and SAFE grade; the coffeeshop and each stall are licensed separately.
- Coffeeshop zi char is usually nett; seafood restaurants in air-conditioned premises often charge "++".
- Return trays and crockery or leave them at the stall as instructed – table-littering rules apply in coffeeshops too.

## Red flags
- Seafood priced as 'market price' without a stated per-kg rate.
- Refusal to show the live weight of crab or fish before cooking.

## Listings (top 30)
- [Roland Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/roland-restaurant), Katong · 89 Marine Parade Central, #06-750 · 2 min walk from Marine Parade MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1972
- [Thunder Tea Rice](https://lookup.sg/biz/thunder-tea-rice-joo-chiat), Joo Chiat · 328 Joo Chiat Rd. #01-04. · 9 min walk from Marine Parade MRT · registered 2002
- [PUTIEN Parkway Parade](https://lookup.sg/biz/putien-parkway-parade), Katong · 80 Marine Parade Road, #01-36, Floor 1 Parkway Parade · 1 min walk from Marine Parade MRT
- [Tin Yeang Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/tin-yeang-restaurant), Joo Chiat · 300 Joo Chiat Rd · 10 min walk from Marine Parade MRT · registered 1978
- [Sin Hoi Sai Eating House](https://lookup.sg/biz/sin-hoi-sai-eating-house), Katong · 187 E Coast Rd · 4 min walk from Marine Parade MRT · registered 1981
- [Mellvin Seafood Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/mellvin-seafood-restaurant), Katong · 354 Joo Chiat Rd · 8 min walk from Marine Parade MRT · registered 2008
- [Chuan Wei Xuan](https://lookup.sg/biz/chuan-wei-xuan), Joo Chiat · 348JOO CHIAT ROAD · 9 min walk from Marine Parade MRT · registered 2011
- [JB Garden Seafood Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/jb-garden-seafood-restaurant), Joo Chiat · 346 Joo Chiat Rd · 9 min walk from Marine Parade MRT · registered 2011
- [Parkway Mini Steamboat](https://lookup.sg/biz/parkway-mini-steamboat), Marine Parade · 311 Tanjong Katong Rd · 9 min walk from Tanjong Katong MRT · registered 2014
- [Heng Long Teochew Porridge](https://lookup.sg/biz/heng-long-teochew-porridge), Marine Parade · 240 Tanjong Katong Rd · 9 min walk from Dakota MRT · SFA licensed
- [3Bars, Chinese Swimming Club](https://lookup.sg/biz/3bars-chinese-swimming-club), Marine Parade · Chinese Swimming Club, 21 Amber Rd · 4 min walk from Tanjong Katong MRT · SFA licensed
- [Ubin Kitchen](https://lookup.sg/biz/ubin-kitchen), Katong · 357 Joo Chiat Rd · 8 min walk from Marine Parade MRT · SFA licensed
- [Chang Cheng Mee Wah MP 59 Food House](https://lookup.sg/biz/chang-cheng-mee-wah-mp-59-food-house), Marine Parade · 59 Marine Ter · 1 min walk from Marine Terrace MRT · SFA licensed
- [Empire Chinese Cuisine](https://lookup.sg/biz/empire-chinese-cuisine), Katong · 80 Marine Parade Rd, #02-13/13A Parkway Parade · 1 min walk from Marine Parade MRT · registered 2023
- [Lin's Braised](https://lookup.sg/biz/lins-braised), Joo Chiat · 271 Onan Rd, #02-29 · 10 min walk from Marine Parade MRT · registered 2021
- [Shikao师烤豆花烤鱼](https://lookup.sg/biz/shikao), Katong · 5 Marine Parade Central, #02-06. Singapore 449410 IMALL · 1 min walk from Marine Parade MRT · registered 2026
- [East Treasure](https://lookup.sg/biz/east-treasure-joo-chiat), Joo Chiat · 328 Joo Chiat Rd · 9 min walk from Marine Parade MRT
- [Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/jia-wei-chinese-restaurant), Katong · 50 East Coast Road, Marine Parade Rd, Roxy Square · 1 min walk from Marine Parade MRT
- [Fu Lin Men Cantonese Dining](https://lookup.sg/biz/fu-lin-men-cantonese-dining), Marine Parade · 21 Amber Rd, Level 3 Chinese Swimming Club · 4 min walk from Tanjong Katong MRT
- [Golden Cafe Food Court](https://lookup.sg/biz/golden-cafe-food-court), Katong · Katong Shopping Centre, 865 Mountbatten Rd · 5 min walk from Marine Parade MRT
- [Nan Xiang Chicken Rice](https://lookup.sg/biz/nan-xiang-chicken-rice), Marine Parade · 271 Tanjong Katong Rd · 9 min walk from Dakota MRT
- [Katong Jago Carrot Cake](https://lookup.sg/biz/katong-jago-carrot-cake), Katong · 228 East Coast Rd · 3 min walk from Marine Parade MRT
- [OK Zhen Hao Wei](https://lookup.sg/biz/ok-zhen-hao-wei), Joo Chiat · 271 Onan Rd · 10 min walk from Marine Parade MRT
- [Teck Ee Rice and Teochew Porridge](https://lookup.sg/biz/teck-ee-rice-and-teochew-porridge), Joo Chiat · 302 Joo Chiat Rd · 10 min walk from Marine Parade MRT
- [乐乐站](https://lookup.sg/biz/business-katong), Katong · Katong Shopping Centre, 865 Mountbatten Rd · 5 min walk from Marine Parade MRT
- [Yong Huat](https://lookup.sg/biz/yong-huat), Katong · 125/127 East Coast Rd · 4 min walk from Marine Parade MRT
- [Jade restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/jade-restaurant), Katong · Parkway Parade, 80 Marine Parade Rd · 2 min walk from Marine Parade MRT
- [Chaoniu Hot Pot](https://lookup.sg/biz/chaoniu-hot-pot-katong), Katong · 195 East Coast Rd · 4 min walk from Marine Parade MRT
- [Guan Chee HK Roast](https://lookup.sg/biz/guan-chee-hk-roast), Katong · 80 Marine Parade Rd, B1 Parkway Parade · 2 min walk from Marine Parade MRT
- [Shi De Ji “食得记”南洋羊骨煲女皇](https://lookup.sg/biz/shi-de-ji), Marine Parade · 228 Tg Katong Rd · 9 min walk from Dakota MRT

## FAQs
### Why is chilli crab priced by market price?
Crab, lobster and live fish prices change with supply, so restaurants quote a per-kg 'seasonal' or 'market' price. Always ask for the current per-kg rate and the weight of the actual crab before it is cooked, and get the total confirmed – this avoids disputes when the bill arrives.

### What happened to the A, B, C, D hygiene grades in Singapore?
From 19 January 2026 SFA replaced the annual A–D hygiene grade with the SAFE framework. Outlets now get A (more than three years with no major lapse), B (one to three years), NEW (operating under a year) or C (a court conviction for a food-safety offence or a licence suspension under the demerit-points system). Scan the QR code on the SFA licence at the counter to see the current grade.

## Sources
- SFA – New Safety Assurance for Food Establishment (SAFE) framework: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/news-publications/newsroom/new-safety-assurance-for-food-establishment--safe--framework--to-strengthen-food-safety
- NEA – Stepped-up enforcement against table littering from 1 June 2023: https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/advisories/index/stepped-up-enforcement-against-table-littering-from-1-june-2023

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Source: Lookup (https://lookup.sg) · Data as of October 2026 · Listings compiled from Singapore government open data (data.gov.sg), OneMap and Overture Maps places. Free listings never show contact details; featured listings are labelled.