# Zi Char in Upper Thomson

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: 19
- Matched to a government licence/register: 4
- 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 19)
- [Peach Garden](https://lookup.sg/biz/peach-garden), Upper Thomson · 301 Upper Thomson Rd #01-88 Thomson Plaza · 1 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2002
- [San Ren Xing](https://lookup.sg/biz/san-ren-xing-upper-thomson), Upper Thomson · 301 Upper Thomson Rd, #01-122/123 · 1 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2013
- [Yong Hwa Seafood](https://lookup.sg/biz/yong-hwa-seafood), Upper Thomson · 320 Shunfu Rd, #02-06 Shunfu Mart · 5 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT · registered 2010
- [Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh](https://lookup.sg/biz/rong-cheng-bak-kut-teh), Upper Thomson · Midview City, 26 Sin Ming Lane · 4 min walk from Bright Hill MRT · SFA licensed
- [Soon Kee Roasted Duck Rice](https://lookup.sg/biz/soon-kee-roasted-duck-rice), Upper Thomson · 244 Upper Thomson Rd · 1 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT · SFA licensed
- [Gim Seng Heng Seafood Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/gim-seng-heng-seafood-restaurant), Upper Thomson · Block 36 Sin Ming Dr, #01-371 · 8 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT · registered 2018
- [Mei Zhen Hakka Delicacies](https://lookup.sg/biz/mei-zhen-hakka-delicacies), Upper Thomson · 320 Shunfu Rd, #02-26 · 5 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT
- [如来斋素食](https://lookup.sg/biz/business-570024), Upper Thomson · Sin Ming Ville, 24 Sin Ming Rd · 4 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT
- [Shi Li Fang](https://lookup.sg/biz/shi-li-fang-upper-thomson), Upper Thomson · 301 Upper Thomson Rd, #01-40/41/42 · 1 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT
- [(金升海南雞飯） Kim Sing Hainanes Chicken Rice Blk 24, #01-51, Sin Ming Rd, Singapore 570024](https://lookup.sg/biz/kim-sing-hainanes-chicken-rice-blk-24-01-51-sin-ming-rd-singapore-5700), Upper Thomson · Blk 24, #01-51 Sin Ming Rd · 4 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT
- [Quan Ann Prawn Mee](https://lookup.sg/biz/quan-ann-prawn-mee), Upper Thomson · 320 Shunfu Rd, #02-11 Shunfu Mart · 5 min walk from Marymount MRT
- [Dong Nan Yun Tun Mian](https://lookup.sg/biz/dong-nan-yun-tun-mian), Upper Thomson · Blk 320 Shunfu Rd · 5 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT
- [Changi Nasi Lemak](https://lookup.sg/biz/changi-nasi-lemak), Upper Thomson · #01-04 183 Longhaus · 4 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT
- [The Good Trio 三人行](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-good-trio), Upper Thomson · #01-111, Thomson Plaza · 2 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT
- [Lai Heng Fried Kuay Teow & Cooked Food](https://lookup.sg/biz/lai-heng-fried-kuay-teow-and-cooked-food), Upper Thomson · 320 Shunfu Rd, #02-20 Shunfu Mart · 5 min walk from Marymount MRT
- [Yew Kee Specialities, Thomson Plaza](https://lookup.sg/biz/yew-kee-specialities-thomson-plaza), Upper Thomson · 301 Upper Thomson Rd, #01-96 · 2 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT
- [Friends Hotpot 老友火锅](https://lookup.sg/biz/friends-hotpot), Upper Thomson · 244 Upp Thomson Rd · 1 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT
- [Bugis Street Chuen Chuen Chicken Rice](https://lookup.sg/biz/bugis-street-chuen-chuen-chicken-rice), Upper Thomson · 183 Upper Thomson Rd · 4 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT
- [Kam Boat Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/kam-boat-restaurant), Upper Thomson · Orchard Parade Hotel · 1 min walk from Upper Thomson 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.