# Zi Char in Tampines

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: 72
- Matched to a government licence/register: 3
- Median years in business: 10

## 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)
- [Dian Xiao Er](https://lookup.sg/biz/dian-xiao-er-tampines), Tampines · 10 Tampines Central 1 #04-15 · 1 min walk from Tampines MRT · registered 2016
- [Wok Master](https://lookup.sg/biz/wok-master), Tampines · 5 Changi Business Park Central 1 #01-28 · 1 min walk from Expo MRT · registered 2016
- [Dynasty Seafood](https://lookup.sg/biz/dynasty-seafood), Tampines · 10 Simei Street 2 · 3 min walk from Simei MRT · SFA licensed
- [Lau Wang Claypot Delights](https://lookup.sg/biz/lau-wang-claypot-delights), Tampines · 10 Tampines Central 1 #03-16 · 1 min walk from Tampines MRT
- [The Dim Sum Place @ Changi City Point](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-dim-sum-place-changi-city-point), Tampines · 5 Changi Business Park Central 1 #01-36 · 1 min walk from Expo MRT
- [Lao Huo Tang](https://lookup.sg/biz/lao-huo-tang), Tampines · 2 Tampines Central 5 #02-07/28 Century Square · 2 min walk from Tampines MRT
- [Old Chang Kee (Tampines Mall)](https://lookup.sg/biz/old-chang-kee-tampines-mall), Tampines · 20 Tampines Central 1 #01-03 Tampines · 1 min walk from Tampines MRT
- [海底捞 Hot Pot @Tampines Century Square](https://lookup.sg/biz/hot-pot-tampines-century-square), Tampines · 2 Tampines Central 5 #02-22 Century Square · 2 min walk from Tampines MRT
- [Putien Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/putien-restaurant-tampines), Tampines · 4 Tampines Central 5, #02 - 02 Tampines Mall · 1 min walk from Tampines MRT
- [Qiji](https://lookup.sg/biz/qiji-tampines), Tampines · 3 Simei Street 6 #01-28 East Point Mall · 1 min walk from Simei MRT
- [Bliss Garden Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/bliss-garden-restaurant), Tampines · 1 Expo Dr · 5 min walk from Expo MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2004
- [Shen Li Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/shen-li-restaurant), Tampines · 137 Tampines St. 11, #01-15 Round Market & Food Centre · 8 min walk from Tampines West MRT · registered 2008
- [Hong Kong StreetJia Kee](https://lookup.sg/biz/hong-kong-streetjia-kee), Tampines · 144 Tampines Street 12, Block 144 · 7 min walk from Tampines MRT · SFA licensed
- [Crystal Jade](https://lookup.sg/biz/crystal-jade), Tampines · Tampines One, 10 Tampines Central 1 · 2 min walk from Tampines MRT · registered 2018
- [Kim Hock Seafood Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/kim-hock-seafood-restaurant), Tampines · 844 Tampines St 82, #01-131 · 9 min walk from Tampines MRT · registered 2024
- [Dreamy Fish 梦幻之鱼](https://lookup.sg/biz/dreamy-fish), Tampines · Blk 475 Tampines Street 44, #01-107 · 6 min walk from Tampines East MRT · registered 2023
- [Din Tai Fung @ Tampines Mall](https://lookup.sg/biz/din-tai-fung-tampines-mall-tampines), Tampines · 4 Tampines Central 5, #02-01 Tampines Mall · 1 min walk from Tampines MRT
- [Habibie Seafood - Tampines](https://lookup.sg/biz/habibie-seafood-tampines), Tampines · 829 Tampines St 81 · 6 min walk from Tampines West MRT
- [Long John Silver's](https://lookup.sg/biz/long-john-silvers-tampines), Tampines · 3 Simei Street 6, #01-32, Eastpoint Mall, 3 Simei Street 6, #01 - 32 · 1 min walk from Simei MRT
- [Hai Di Lao](https://lookup.sg/biz/hai-di-lao-tampines), Tampines · 2 Tampines Central 5, #02-22 Century Square · 2 min walk from Tampines MRT
- [Song Fa Bak Kut Teh](https://lookup.sg/biz/song-fa-bak-kut-teh-tampines), Tampines · 6 Changi Business Park Ave 1, #01-38 ESR BizPark @ Changi · 2 min walk from Expo MRT
- [Tian Tian Lai Famous Teochew Fish Head Steamboat](https://lookup.sg/biz/tian-tian-lai-famous-teochew-fish-head-steamboat), Tampines · 3018 Bedok North Street 5, #06-10 · 11 min walk from Tanah Merah MRT
- [Botak Cantonese Porridge](https://lookup.sg/biz/botak-cantonese-porridge), Tampines · 1 Tampines Walk, #01-65 Hawker Centre@Our Tampines Hub · 4 min walk from Tampines MRT
- [Hai Chang Fish Head Steamboat](https://lookup.sg/biz/hai-chang-fish-head-steamboat), Tampines · 137A Tampines St. 11, #01-03 · 8 min walk from Tampines West MRT
- [Eng Seng First Grade Seafood](https://lookup.sg/biz/eng-seng-first-grade-seafood), Tampines · 9007 Tampines Street 93 · 9 min walk from Tampines West MRT
- [Eng's Wantan Noodle](https://lookup.sg/biz/engs-wantan-noodle-tampines), Tampines · 3 Simei Street 6, #B1-13, Eastpoint Mall · 1 min walk from Simei MRT
- [Teahouse by Soup Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/teahouse-by-soup-restaurant), Tampines · Tampines Plaza, 5 Tampines Central 1 · 3 min walk from Tampines MRT
- [Zheng Zichar](https://lookup.sg/biz/zheng-zichar), Tampines · 11 Changi Coast Walk, NSRCC Sea Sports Centre
- [FuLee Seafood](https://lookup.sg/biz/fulee-seafood-tampines), Tampines · 915 Tampines Street 91, #01-53 · 5 min walk from Tampines West MRT
- [He Xing Seafood Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/he-xing-seafood-restaurant), Tampines · Blk 826 Tampines St 81 · 8 min walk from Tampines West 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.