# Zi Char in Novena

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: 54
- Matched to a government licence/register: 3
- 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)
- [Founder Bak Kut Teh](https://lookup.sg/biz/founder-bak-kut-teh-novena), Novena · 325 Balestier Rd, #01-01 J W Building · 10 min walk from Novena MRT
- [文東記](https://lookup.sg/biz/business-329800), Novena · 397 Balestier Rd · 10 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT
- [Lao Beijing](https://lookup.sg/biz/lao-beijing-novena), Novena · 238 Thomson Rd · 1 min walk from Novena MRT · registered 2002
- [Sin Bee Keng Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/sin-bee-keng-restaurant), Novena · 74 Whampoa Dr · 8 min walk from Boon Keng MRT · registered 1994
- [Eastern Rice Dumpling](https://lookup.sg/biz/eastern-rice-dumpling-novena), Novena · 300 Balestier Rd · 12 min walk from Novena MRT · registered 2007
- [Old Hong Kong Essence](https://lookup.sg/biz/old-hong-kong-essence), Novena · 8 Sinaran Drive #02-05 Oasis Hotel @ Novena · 1 min walk from Novena MRT · registered 2011
- [Hao Wei Lai 好味来](https://lookup.sg/biz/hao-wei-lai-novena), Novena · 101 Thomson Rd, B1-09/64/65 · 4 min walk from Novena MRT · registered 2015
- [Fish & Co.](https://lookup.sg/biz/fish-and-co-novena), Novena · 238 Thomson Rd · 2 min walk from Novena MRT · SFA licensed
- [Hong Kong Street Chun Tat Kee 881](https://lookup.sg/biz/hong-kong-street-chun-tat-kee-881), Novena · 412 Balestier Rd · 10 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · SFA licensed
- [Chuan Yang Ji](https://lookup.sg/biz/chuan-yang-ji-novena), Novena · 432 Balestier Rd, #01-434 Public Mansion · 8 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · SFA licensed
- [Yalong Bay Chinese Restaurant 亚龙湾地道小厨](https://lookup.sg/biz/yalong-bay-chinese-restaurant), Novena · 275 Thomson Rd, #01 26 · 3 min walk from Novena MRT · registered 2024
- [Chye Kee Goldhill Roasted Chicken Rice](https://lookup.sg/biz/chye-kee-goldhill-roasted-chicken-rice), Novena · 151 Thomson Rd, #01-151 Goldhill Shopping Centre · 3 min walk from Novena MRT
- [Haidilao Hot Pot](https://lookup.sg/biz/haidilao-hot-pot-novena), Novena · 103 Irrawaddy Rd, #06-01 to 02 Royal Square · 1 min walk from Novena MRT
- [Jiang Cantonese Asian Tapas](https://lookup.sg/biz/jiang-cantonese-asian-tapas), Novena · 456 Balestier Rd, #01-04 next to SPC gas station · 8 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT
- [Wee Nam Kee](https://lookup.sg/biz/wee-nam-kee), Novena · 101 Thomson Rd, #01-08 United Square · 4 min walk from Novena MRT
- [Bee Kia Seafood Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/bee-kia-seafood-restaurant), Novena · 1 Thomson Rd, #01-326 within Sin Mee Eating House · 6 min walk from Novena MRT
- [Chui Huay Lim Teochew Cuisine](https://lookup.sg/biz/chui-huay-lim-teochew-cuisine), Novena · 190 Keng Lee Rd, #01-02 Chui Huay Lim Club · 5 min walk from Newton MRT
- [Yuè](https://lookup.sg/biz/yue), Novena · 16 Ah Hood Road Aloft Singapore, West Wing · 8 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT
- [57° Mala Xiang Guo @Shaw Plaza](https://lookup.sg/biz/57-mala-xiang-guo-shaw-plaza), Novena · 360 Balestier Rd, #02-20/21 Shaw Plaza · 11 min walk from Novena MRT
- [Kai Juan Eating House 佳园餐室](https://lookup.sg/biz/kai-juan-eating-house), Novena · 395 Balestier Rd · 10 min walk from Novena MRT
- [Kinta Hainanese Chop & Rice](https://lookup.sg/biz/kinta-hainanese-chop-and-rice), Novena · 411 Balestier Rd, #01-11 · 9 min walk from Novena MRT
- [The Chinese Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-chinese-restaurant), Novena · 1 Plymouth Av, Fourth Storey, Whitley Wing, Raffles Town Club · 2 min walk from Stevens MRT
- [Wang Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/wang-cafe-novena), Novena · 238 Thomson Rd, #01-09 Novena Square · 1 min walk from Novena MRT
- [Cai Li Fish Head Steamboat](https://lookup.sg/biz/cai-li-fish-head-steamboat), Novena · 90 Whampoa Dr · 10 min walk from Boon Keng MRT
- [Hoover Rojak](https://lookup.sg/biz/hoover-rojak), Novena · Blk 90 Whampoa Dr · 10 min walk from Boon Keng MRT
- [TungLok Peking Duck](https://lookup.sg/biz/tunglok-peking-duck-novena), Novena · 238 Thomson Rd, #02-11/12 Velocity@Novena Square · 1 min walk from Novena MRT
- [Xin Wah Kee](https://lookup.sg/biz/xin-wah-kee), Novena · 238 Thomson Rd · 1 min walk from Novena MRT
- [Novena Steamboat Delight](https://lookup.sg/biz/novena-steamboat-delight), Novena · 275 Thomson Rd, #01-06 Novena Regency · 3 min walk from Novena MRT
- [酒乡香烧腊 Jiu Xiang Xiang](https://lookup.sg/biz/jiu-xiang-xiang), Novena · 588 Balestier Rd · 8 min walk from Novena MRT
- [Chicken Hot Pot](https://lookup.sg/biz/chicken-hot-pot), Novena · 10 Sinaran Dr · 1 min walk from Novena 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.