Seafood feasts in Tanjong Pagar
Mellben Signature (Tanjong Pagar)
Family-style Singaporean seafood restaurant in Tanjong Pagar celebrated for big crabs and zi char comfort dishes....
Best Zi Char Restaurants for Big Family Dinners
A practical Singapore guide to the best zi char restaurants for big family dinners — where to go, what to order and how to plan a fuss-free feast.
Zi char is Singapore’s original family feast — big plates, loud laughter and food that everyone can share.
Order one crab, one veg, one tofu and one carb per two adults and you’ll rarely have leftovers.
Why zi char is Singapore’s go-to for family dinners
Zi char — home-style Chinese cooking done at kopitiams and cookhouses across Singapore — was made for families. Dishes are served family-style, portions are generous and the spread suits multigenerational groups from young children to grandparents.
For visitors and locals alike, a zi char dinner is the easiest way to feed a crowd without fuss: everyone gets to pick favourites, mains come out quickly, and there’s always room for a crowd-pleasing crab or two when celebrations call for it.
Expect a range of venues: neighbourhood kopitiams in estates like Tiong Bahru and Ang Mo Kio, full-service seafood restaurants along East Coast, or CBD zi char restaurants that cater to big groups on weekends.
- Family-style portions mean better value per head for groups of 4–10+
- Mix of vegetable, meat and seafood dishes keeps older and younger diners happy
- Flexible seating — many zi char places accept walk-ins but bigger seafood houses take reservations
Where to book: neighbourhoods and standout spots
Choose the neighbourhood based on convenience: East Coast is famous for seafood and beachside meals, Tiong Bahru and Joo Chiat offer cosy kopitiam-style zi char, while heartland centres in Ang Mo Kio and MacPherson serve classic homely plates.
If you’re planning a special family dinner, look for seafood cookhouses that take reservations and can handle large orders (crabs, live seafood and set menus). For a casual, wallet-friendly feast, book a big table at a bustling kopitiam or hawker-centre zi char stall.
- East Coast — great for late dinners and seafood feasts
- Tiong Bahru / Joo Chiat — neighbourhood kopitiams with homely charm
- Ang Mo Kio / MacPherson — solid family zi char in heartland kopitiams
- CBD / Marina area — convenient for mixed groups and older relatives
What to order: classic zi char dishes that satisfy a crowd
Build a balanced spread: one or two seafood mains (crab, prawns), one saucy meat dish (sweet & sour pork or black pepper beef), a vegetable, a tofu or claypot dish, and a starch to soak up sauces (fried rice, bee hoon or plain rice).
Crabs are the showstoppers — chilli crab, black pepper crab and salted egg yolk crab are the usual suspects. Complement them with cereal prawns, sambal kangkong, claypot tofu with preserved vegetables, and a noodle or rice dish for the table.
- Must-tries: chilli crab, salted egg yolk crab, black pepper crab
- Vegetable pick: sambal kangkong or stir-fried kailan with garlic
- Comfort carbs: fried rice, hor fun or seafood bee hoon
- Sharing desserts: mango pomelo sago or simple chendol from nearby stalls
How to plan a fuss-free big-group zi char dinner
Timing and booking: weekends and eve-of-holiday dinners fill up — call ahead for reservations if the venue accepts them. For kopitiam zi char, arrive early to snag a big table, or reserve a private room at larger seafood restaurants.
Ordering strategy: as a rule of thumb for a mixed group, plan 3–4 mains, 1–2 vegetable dishes, 1 tofu/egg dish and 1–2 carbs for every 4–6 adults. Ask the server for set menus if you want simpler ordering and predictable pricing.
- Budget: expect S$25–45 per head for casual zi char; seafood-heavy feasts can exceed S$60–100 per head
- For babies/young kids: request milder sauces and less chilli
- Bring wet wipes and extra napkins — crab hands-on feasting is part of the fun
- Tip: split billing in advance or ask for individual receipts to avoid payment headaches
Sample family makan trail and pairing ideas
A simple 3-stop plan for an extended family: start with light appetisers and drinks at a kopitiam (teh, barley), head to a mid-sized zi char cookhouse for the main crab-and-shares feast, then finish with a nearby dessert stall or kopitiam ice kachang shop. If elderly relatives prefer quieter places, choose a restaurant with private rooms or a calmer dining area.
If you’re building a crab-centric menu for 6–8 people, try: 2 crabs (mix chilli + salted egg), cereal prawns, claypot tofu, stir-fried greens, and a long plate of fried rice — finished with mango pomelo sago to cool down the spice.
- Sample 6-person menu: 2 crabs (shared), 1 meat, 1 tofu, 1 veg, 2 carbs, 1 dessert
- Combine a zi char dinner with a stroll: East Coast Park after dinner or Tiong Bahru bakery run for coffee and cake
- If travelling from downtown, pick a venue near MRT for easier transit with older family members
