5 Best Zi Char Places in Singapore for That Comfort Food

When it comes to delicious, wholesome zi char meals, Keng Eng Kee Seafood is a winner all the way. The coffee shop, famous as KEK, has been around for over 20 years serving traditional, home-style Chinese food. With a dazzling range of zi-char fare at reasonable prices, it is a perfect place to take your family and friends for dinner.

MENU: Keng Eng Kee Seafood offers a well-executed a-la-carte menu of seafood, chicken, duck and pork dishes along with a range of claypot creations. Set mixed platters, soups, rice and noodle dishes are also available.

RECOMMENDED DISHES:

• Mingzhu Roll
• Moonlight Hor Fun
• Braised Liver in Claypot
• Salted Yolk Crab
• Chili Crab
• Cuttlefish Kangkong
• Fried Soon Hock In Black Soy
• Sambal Kang Kong
• Three Egg Chinese Spinach

ATMOSPHERE: This no-frills restaurant has a down-to-earth air of a zi-char stall. The service is quick and efficient even during the peak hours and the staff is very friendly.

NOTE: Reservations are a must on weekends and especially if you prefer to dine in the air-conditioned room.

Established more than 50 years ago, Kok Sen Restaurant has a legendary reputation for serving delectable zi-char food at reasonable prices. This coffee shop offers the most satisfying, Cantonese-style zi-char experience with back alley dining in a low-key ambience. And looks can be deceptive! It is pretty evident from the loyal following waiting to indulge in a splendid Chinese fare time after time.

MENU: Kok Sen menu has all the trappings of classic zi-char food from delicious soups to a variety of seafood, chicken, and pork dishes. It also serves some rare to find, unusually flavored Chinese delights. Cold beer is available to wash down your hearty meals.

RECOMMENDED DISHES:

• Big Prawn Hor Fun
• Claypot Yong Tau Foo
• Big Prawn Bee Hoon Soup
• Stir-fried Fish Head with Bitter Gourd
• Sweet and Sour Pork
• Braised Pork Ribs with Bitter Gourd
• Golden Dragon Chicken

ATMOSPHERE: A simple zi-char stall with both indoor and outdoor seating, this place is always packed with people regardless of the day. A proof of delicious authentic food? It must be that. The staff is extremely helpful and the service is usually quick.

NOTE: No Air conditioning available

A hidden gem in the Commonwealth area is Two Chefs Eating Place. This eatery is particularly known for its butter pork ribs with condensed milk powder. It sounds strange, doesn’t it? But that is what makes Two Chefs one of the most popular Zi Char eating places besides their fast service and a whole array of Zi Char dishes. Read on to learn more about this Chinese-style eatery.

MENU: Two Chefs’ menu features a load of meaty mains and seafood. Diners can find good selections of fish, prawns, crab, pork, chicken, beef, beancurd, vegetables, soup, rice & noodles on its menu. Some dishes are not your typical Zi Char food as the chefs try hard to be creative.

RECOMMENDED DISHES:

• Butter Pork Ribs
• Drunken Cold Cockles
• Golden Mushroom Beancurd
• Pork Floss with Fried Buttered Prawns
• Fried Prawns served with Mayonnaise
• Herbal Chicken Soup
• Cereal Prawns

AMBIANCE: Two Chefs Eating Place has an undeniably welcoming atmosphere. There are also large tables to accommodate the large group of guests, particularly families who have made it their tradition to eat together during the weekend.

A traditional Chinese eatery as quaint as Tiong Bahru, Por Kee Eating House is one of the best zi char places on the island. Pork ribs, tofu, steamed fish, hand-made flat noodles, chili crabs, and buttered prawns taste so good that make the eatery an attraction around the area. This old-school Chinese home-style eating place is where you could proudly take your grandparents and relatives for a weekend dinner.

MENU: At Por Kee Eating House, the menu is predominantly Cantonese. There is a wide variety of starters and mains for vegans and non-vegans. A good selection of wines is also available to clean up the savory after-taste.

RECOMMENDED DISHES:

• Homemade Beancurd
• Champagne Pork Ribs
• Singapore Chili Crab
• Crispy Butter Prawns
• Deep-fried Salted Chicken
• Thai Style Live Sea Bass
• Sweet and Sour Pork
• Fried Beef Hor Fun

AMBIANCE: Being a Zi Char restaurant, Por Kee tends to have a noisy crowd during lunch and dinner hours. The indoor dining area is very limited, while the tables outdoor could hardly accommodate a large group of diners. Walk-in guests should expect to wait for at least 10 minutes to get a table but the delectable food will totally make up for it.

NOTE: Reservation is highly recommended.

Sin Hoi Sai is the perfect place to watch the Singaporean locals go by. You can eat by the roadside, order as many Zi Char dishes as you want, sit back and swig a bottle of ice-cold Tiger beer, and have a small talk with the aunties/uncles. These scenes could be someone’s description of the best Zi Char restaurant, but as dining experience is as subjective as beauty, each is still his own. Below are some of the highlights that could differentiate Sin Hoi Sai from other Zi Char eateries in Singapore.

MENU: The menu is expansive with a lot of vegan and non-vegan food selections. Mock meats are available upon request in order to cater to vegans. The regular menu is also customizable according to your specific diet, and the owners are open to feedback and suggestions. In fact, part of Sin Hoi Sai’s tradition is to include dishes popular by demand on their menu.

AMBIANCE: Tucked along the busy East Coast Road, Sin Hoi Sai is a tourist attraction on its own. It is why a boisterous, jam-packed crowd during its peak hours has been a normal scenario in this eating house. However, the spacious area, cool breeze, and friendly staff make up for these oddities. The laid-back ambiance feels like enjoying a hearty meal with your friends and relatives.

RECOMMENDED DISHES:

• San-lou Horfun
• Sambal Beef Fried Rice
• Sambal Kangkong
• Sweet and Sour Pork
• Marmite Pork Ribs
• Indonesian Chicken

NOTE: Reservation is highly recommended.