In a country with one season, the only way to tell it is autumn is through the array of seasonal ingredients appearing on menus: pumpkin, apple, white truffle, and of course, hairy crab. Here are the best restaurants in Singapore to dine on hairy crab in 2024.
Hairy crab typically comes into season around October and November when the crustacean reaches sexual maturity. It is characterised by its small size – about the length of an adult human palm – and dark furry claws, which is why the species is also known as mitten crab.
The majority of hairy crabs found here are harvested from Taihu Lake in Suzhou, China. They also come from the nearby Yangcheng Lake and are considered to be of a higher quality. The crab is then steamed and served with vinegar as a dipping sauce, with ginger tea or Chinese yellow rice wine on the side to balance the crab’s cooling properties. Both male and female varieties are used during cooking, and the male is prized higher due to its sweet flesh and creamy roe.
To enjoy hairy crab in Singapore in 2024, visit Crystal Jade, which is featuring them across its family of restaurants from the fine-dining Crystal Jade Palace to the casual Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen. Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant has seven dishes accented by the crustacean’s meat and roe. Shang Palace, Yan, and Min Jiang present the delicacy in elaborate six-course meals. Then there is Putien, which has hairy crab fried bee hoon, drunken hairy crab, and other dishes all at fixed prices. Check them out below.
(Hero and featured images credits: HUIZENG HU/Moment/Getty Images)
11 restaurants in Singapore to savour hairy crab in 2024
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Crystal Jade
Crystal Jade sources its hairy crabs from the acclaimed Yangcheng Lake and showcases them across its family of restaurants. The crustacean is transformed into dishes like hairy crab xiao long bao (S$16.80++) and steamed scallop with Chinese wine and chicken oil with hairy crab roe (S$28++) at the fine-dining Crystal Jade Palace, Crystal Jade Golden Palace, and Crystal Jade Pavilion. At Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen and Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, both casual eateries are serving hairy crab roe and Chinese yam congee (S$14.80++) and hairy crab roe with fresh lily bulb and sweet pea on la mian (S$16.80++).
From S$14.80++
14 October – 15 December 2024
(Image credit: Crystal Jade Group)
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For the 2024 hairy crab season in Singapore, Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant has come up with seven dishes accented by the crustacean’s meat and roe. Highlights include the new steamed king prawns with egg white (S$48++), deep-fried grouper fillet (S$38++), and the ever-popular xiao long bao (S$28++). All hairy crab dishes are served with hot ginger tea.
From S$28++
5 October – 30 November 2024
Daily 11.30am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10pm
(Image credit: Sheraton Towers Singapore)
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Madame Fan
The centrepiece of Madame Fan’s hairy crab experience is the salt-baked hairy crab (S$88++), which is flavoured with star anise, cinnamon, bay leaf, black cardamom, and a touch of clove. The modern Cantonese restaurant also showcases the crustacean’s meat and roe in dishes such as wanton (S$38++), poached tofu rice (S$28++), and braised fish maw (S$48++).
From S$28++
14 October – 30 November 2024
Monday – Friday, 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Saturday & Sunday, 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
(Image credit: The NCO Club)
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Man Fu Yuan
Man Fu Yuan has the steamed Yangcheng Lake hairy crab (from S$69.90++ per crab) with weights starting from 150g and both male and female crustaceans on the menu. Other hairy crab dishes include braised choy sum with dried scallop, tobiko, and egg white (S$58++), braised tofu (S$88++), and fried rice (S$78++).
From S$48++
15 October – 30 November 2024
Monday – Friday, 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Saturday & Sunday, 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
(Image credit: Intercontinental Singapore)
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Min Jiang and Min Jiang at Dempsey
Hairy crab is back at both Min Jiang and Min Jiang at Dempsey, with both restaurants offering six-course set menus showcasing the delicacy. Look forward to baked hairy crab with the chef’s homemade spiced sea salt, braised meatball stuffed with crab and vegetables, and the perennial favourite: steamed hairy crab with ginger rice wine. Dishes are also available individually. Click on the links to book for Min Jiang and Min Jiang at Dempsey.
Six-course set menu: from S$168++ per person (minimum two people)
A la carte dishes from S$26++
14 October – 17 November 2024
(Image credit: Goodwood Park Hotel)
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Mott 32
At the modern Cantonese restaurant Mott 32, hairy crab is presented in a variety of dishes such as fish maw and hairy crab roe soup (S$60++) and baked black cod with hairy crab roe (S$88++). For the classic, diners can choose between male (270g) or female (200g) hairy crab at prices starting from S$148++.
From S$88++
Throughout November 2024
Daily, 11.30am – 2.15pm, 5pm – 9.30pm
(Image credit: Mott 32)
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Putien
Putien takes its hairy crabs from the pristine waters of the Yangtze River Delta and turns them into dishes like crab roe fried bee hoon (S$28.80), wok-fried hairy crab (S$38), claypot crab roe beancurd (S$26.80), and drunken hairy crab (S$38), along with the traditional steamed (S$38) preparation. Best part? The restaurant does not tack on GST and service charge to the prices. The dishes are available at all Putien outlets.
From S$26.80
Until 30 November 2024
(Image credit: Putien)
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Shang Palace
Shang Palace sources its hairy crab from the renowned Taihu Lake and offers them as part of a six-course set menu. The roe features in dishes such as with steamed glutinous rice, inside a crispy spring roll skin with egg white, and topped on sauteed lobster meat, while braised inaniwa udon is tossed with hairy crab roe and oil. Diners also receive a complimentary 375ml bottle of Chinese yellow rice wine.
Six-course set menu: S$268++ per person (minimum two people)
A la carte dishes from S$28++
14 October – 30 November 2024
Daily, 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
(Image credit: Shangri-La Singapore)
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Xia Mi Hao Liao
Xia Mi Hao Liao one-ups restaurants serving the typical steamed hairy crab. The Hubei seafood restaurant files in the delicacy fresh weekly from China and cooks it in five ways, from the Signature 10 Spiced Hairy Crab to the crunchy Bi Feng Tang Hairy Crab. Chilli fans can look forward to the spicy hairy crab doused in plenty of heat, while the minced garlic hairy crab is captivatingly fragrant. Unlike other places, the restaurant serves hairy crab year-round.
Seasonal price
Monday – Friday, 5pm – 1am
Saturday & Sunday, 11.30am – 1am
(Image credit: Xia Mi Hao Liao)
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Yan
The Cantonese restaurant at the National Gallery has a six-course set menu that showcases hairy crab in dishes like truffle broth with diced seafood, braised abalone with seasonal greens and oyster sauce, and the classic steamed live hairy crab with ginger and vinegar. The dishes are also available individually.
Six-course set menu: S$198++ per person (minimum two people)
A la carte dishes from S$18++
1 – 30 November 2024
Daily, 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
(Image credit: Yan)
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Yi by Jereme Leung
Hairy crab is coming for dim sum at Yi by Jereme Leung, which has created the crispy pancake with hairy crab roe and radish (S$18++) and beancurd skin stuffed with the roe (S$18++) for lunch. The delicacy also finds its way into other 10 dishes like avocado and crab meat tartare served in a crispy shell (S$28++), Yangcheng crispy rice noodles with stuffed tofu skin and roe (S$38++), and baked hairy crab with lemongrass (S$148++), which is accompanied by osmanthus and wolfberry ginger tea.
From S$18++
7 October – 24 November 2024
Daily, 11.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
(Image credit: Raffles Hotel Singapore)
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Jethro enjoys wine, biking, and climbing, and he's terrible at all three. In between them, he drinks commercial lagers, and eats dumplings and ice cream.
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