# Zi Char in Toa Payoh

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: 94
- Matched to a government licence/register: 12
- Median years in business: 13

## 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)
- [Soup Restaurant 三盅兩件](https://lookup.sg/biz/soup-restaurant-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · #01-10, Toa Payoh Entertainment Centre · 3 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1998
- [The Boiler](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-boiler-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · 18 Howard Rd · 3 min walk from Tai Seng MRT · SFA licensed
- [Ha Ha Crabs & Seafood](https://lookup.sg/biz/ha-ha-crabs-and-seafood), Toa Payoh · 127 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, #01-77/78 · 4 min walk from Braddell MRT · registered 2016
- [Rong Shu Xia Bak Kut Teh](https://lookup.sg/biz/rong-shu-xia-bak-kut-teh), Toa Payoh · 37 Tai Thong Crescent Sennett Estate · 3 min walk from Potong Pasir MRT · SFA licensed
- [Crystal Jade Kitchen](https://lookup.sg/biz/crystal-jade-kitchen-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · 470 Lor 6 Toa Payoh · 2 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · SFA licensed
- [River South (Hoe Nam) Prawn Noodles](https://lookup.sg/biz/river-south-hoe-nam-prawn-noodles), Toa Payoh · The Venue Shoppes, 2 Tai Thong Cres · 4 min walk from Potong Pasir MRT · registered 2020
- [Fat Queen Cooks](https://lookup.sg/biz/fat-queen-cooks), Toa Payoh · 11 Irving Pl, Tai Seng Point · 1 min walk from Tai Seng MRT · registered 2023
- [李廣記潮洲菜館](https://lookup.sg/biz/business-310212), Toa Payoh · 212 Lor 8 Toa Payoh · 10 min walk from Braddell MRT
- [Wanglee Seafood Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/wanglee-seafood-restaurant), Toa Payoh · 94 Lor 4 Toa Payoh · 4 min walk from Braddell MRT
- [Hoe Nam Bak Kut Teh 河南](https://lookup.sg/biz/hoe-nam-bak-kut-teh), Toa Payoh · 2 Tai Thong Cres, #01-01 The Venue Shoppes · 4 min walk from Potong Pasir MRT
- [Seletar Seafood Centre](https://lookup.sg/biz/seletar-seafood-centre), Toa Payoh · 146 Potong Pasir Ave 1, #01-135 · 2 min walk from Potong Pasir MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1992
- [Old Street Bak Kut Teh](https://lookup.sg/biz/old-street-bak-kut-teh-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · 129 Upper Paya Lebar Rd · 4 min walk from Tai Seng MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2013
- [Chen Cai Eating House](https://lookup.sg/biz/chen-cai-eating-house), Toa Payoh · 85B Toa Payoh Lor 4 #01-324 · 5 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · registered 2005
- [Ling Brothers Eating House](https://lookup.sg/biz/ling-brothers-eating-house), Toa Payoh · 105 Upper Paya Lebar Rd · 3 min walk from Tai Seng MRT · registered 2001
- [Hai Fong Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/hai-fong-restaurant), Toa Payoh · 203 Toa Payoh Nth · 3 min walk from Braddell MRT · registered 2006
- [Hock Kee Seafood Restaurant 福記海鮮菜館](https://lookup.sg/biz/hock-kee-seafood-restaurant), Toa Payoh · 260 Kim Keat Ave, #01-01 · 14 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · registered 2003
- [New Ubin Seafood](https://lookup.sg/biz/new-ubin-seafood), Toa Payoh · Thomson 800, 806 Thomson Rd · 5 min walk from Caldecott MRT · registered 2000
- [88 Congee](https://lookup.sg/biz/88-congee), Toa Payoh · 127 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, #02-29 · 4 min walk from Braddell MRT · registered 2009
- [Chu Yi Kitchen](https://lookup.sg/biz/chu-yi-kitchen), Toa Payoh · 102 Upp Aljunied Rd · 8 min walk from Woodleigh MRT · registered 2008
- [East Seafood White MeeHoon](https://lookup.sg/biz/east-seafood-white-meehoon), Toa Payoh · 210 Lor 8 Toa Payoh, #01-06 · 10 min walk from Braddell MRT · registered 2015
- [Mellben Legend Seafood](https://lookup.sg/biz/mellben-legend-seafood), Toa Payoh · Trivex, 8 Burn Rd · 3 min walk from Tai Seng MRT · registered 2013
- [Kay Lee Roast Meat](https://lookup.sg/biz/kay-lee-roast-meat), Toa Payoh · 125 Upper Paya Lebar Rd · 4 min walk from Tai Seng MRT · SFA licensed
- [Hup Chong Hakka Yong Dou Foo](https://lookup.sg/biz/hup-chong-hakka-yong-dou-foo), Toa Payoh · 124 Lor 1 Toa Payoh · 4 min walk from Braddell MRT · SFA licensed
- [Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao](https://lookup.sg/biz/crystal-jade-la-mian-xiao-long-bao-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · 470 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, #01-70 · 2 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · SFA licensed
- [Jubilee Garden Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/jubilee-garden-restaurant), Toa Payoh · 293 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, #03-01 SAFRA · 10 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · registered 2017
- [Hong Kong Street Chun Tat Kee XO Famous Seafood](https://lookup.sg/biz/hong-kong-street-chun-tat-kee-xo-famous-seafood), Toa Payoh · 146 Potong Pasir Ave 1, Block 146 · 2 min walk from Potong Pasir MRT · SFA licensed
- [Golden 88 Seafood Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/golden-88-seafood-restaurant), Toa Payoh · 107 Upper Paya Lebar Rd · 3 min walk from Tai Seng MRT · SFA licensed
- [火车头麻辣香锅-Toa Payoh](https://lookup.sg/biz/toa-payoh-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · 177 Toa Payoh Central · 2 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · SFA licensed
- [Chuan Kee Seafood](https://lookup.sg/biz/chuan-kee-seafood), Toa Payoh · 19 Lor 7 Toa Payoh, #01-264 · 13 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · registered 2022
- [Hong Fan Tian](https://lookup.sg/biz/hong-fan-tian), Toa Payoh · blk 190 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, #01-528 · 1 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · registered 2023

## 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.