# Zi Char in Southern Islands

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: 20
- Matched to a government licence/register: 1
- Median years in business: 9

## 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 20)
- [TungLok Heen](https://lookup.sg/biz/tunglok-heen), Southern Islands · 26 Sentosa Gateway, #02-142/143 Resorts World Sentosa - Hotel Michael · 14 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [WOK 15 Kitchen](https://lookup.sg/biz/wok-15-kitchen), Southern Islands · #01-01 11 Cove Drive, Sentosa Cove
- [PUTIEN Resort World Sentosa](https://lookup.sg/biz/putien-resort-world-sentosa), Southern Islands · 26 Sentosa Gateway, #01-209 Resorts World Sentosa, Weave · 12 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [Peking Chamber Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/peking-chamber-singapore), Southern Islands · 26 Sentosa Gateway, #01-212/213/214 Resorts World Sentosa · 11 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [PUTIEN Restaurant 莆田菜馆](https://lookup.sg/biz/putien-restaurant), Southern Islands · #01-203/204, The Forum, Resorts World Sentosa · 12 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [NG AH SIO Bak Kut Teh](https://lookup.sg/biz/ng-ah-sio-bak-kut-teh), Southern Islands · Streats Asian Cafe, Showplace (Resorts World Sentosa), 26 Sentosa Gtwy · 11 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora](https://lookup.sg/biz/ocean-restaurant-by-cat-cora), Southern Islands · S.E.A Aquarium, Marine Life Park, Resorts World Sentosa · 10 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [Xing Yue Xuan](https://lookup.sg/biz/xing-yue-xuan), Southern Islands · 8 Sentosa Gateway · 12 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [Greenwood Fish Market](https://lookup.sg/biz/greenwood-fish-market), Southern Islands · 31 Ocean Way, #01 - 04 / 05 · registered 2017
- [The Dining Room @ Tanjong Beach Club](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-dining-room-tanjong-beach-club), Southern Islands · 120 Tanjong Beach Walk · SFA licensed
- [Cassia](https://lookup.sg/biz/cassia), Southern Islands · Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, Singapore 098297, Singapore · 22 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [Chifa](https://lookup.sg/biz/chifa), Southern Islands · Sentosa Enterprises, Skyhelix Sentosa, 41 Imbiah Rd · 14 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [Feng Shui Inn](https://lookup.sg/biz/feng-shui-inn-southern-islands), Southern Islands · Crockfords Tower, Basement 1M 39 Artillery Av, Sentosa Island · 12 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [Feng Shui Inn](https://lookup.sg/biz/feng-shui-inn), Southern Islands · Equarius Hotel · 12 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [Imperial Treasure La Mian Xiao Long Bao](https://lookup.sg/biz/imperial-treasure-la-mian-xiao-long-bao), Southern Islands · Showplace (Resorts World Sentosa), 26 Sentosa Gtwy · 13 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [Forest](https://lookup.sg/biz/forest), Southern Islands · Resorts World Sentosa - Equarius Hotel, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gtwy · 11 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [Crystal Jade Premium 翡翠海天閣](https://lookup.sg/biz/crystal-jade-premium), Southern Islands · #01-01 ONE°15 Marina Club
- [Coca Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/coca-restaurant), Southern Islands · 26 Sentosa Gateway · 10 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [JUMBO Premium](https://lookup.sg/biz/jumbo-premium), Southern Islands · 8 Sentosa Gateway · 12 min walk from Harbourfront MRT
- [同樂軒～聖淘沙新加坡](https://lookup.sg/biz/business-2), Southern Islands · 13 min walk from Harbourfront 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

---
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.