Mellben Seafood

So famous that it needs no introduction, Mellben Seafood at Ang Mo Kio is well-known for its outstanding crab dishes. Despite intense competition from Uncle Leong Seafood located just diagonally opposite, Mellben always emerged the winner with its longer queues.

Having dinner with a friend there some Fridays ago, we ordered a chilli crab, a claypot crab beehoon and a plate of fried kang kong with abalone mushroom, which cost close to $100 inclusive of drinks.


Living up to every bit of its reputation, the claypot crab beehoon is undoubtedly one of the best in Singapore. Filled with the concentrated sweetness of crab and the delightful fragrance of milk and spices, the mouthwatering gravy is creamy and flavorful.


The irresistable chilli crab with its luscious spicy gravy, goes very well with the fried man tou (Chinese buns).


Having dined at both Mellben and Uncle Leong on several occasions, I still could not tell the difference between the quality of their crab dishes.


Although more people seem to like Mellben as evident by its longer queues, I prefer Uncle Leong simply because I find that its prices are less expensive and its service faster. Try the two and decide for yourself too.

7.5/10

Mellben Seafood
Blk 232 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3
#01-1222

Yummy Crab Fried Rice

Crab fried rice for only $10?

To the delight of crab lovers, the special crab fried rice at Yummy Crab is going at a promotional price of only $10.

Located at Changi Road between Lor Marzuki and Lor Marican, Yummy Crab is well-known for its signature crab dishes eg chilli crab, crab fried rice, crab bee hoon, crab ee mee etc, that are not only delicious but value for money.


A $10 plate of crab fried rice comes in a satisfactory portion for two people. Well-fried with a distinctive charred aroma, every grain of rice is irresistably flavorful and fragrant. What is remarkable about Yummy crab fried rice is the generous servings of fresh crab meat which are extremely chunky and tasty. Besides crab meat, the rice is delightfully fried with a variety of other ingredients eg egg, char siew and prawns.

In terms of both quality and quantity, this plate of crab fried rice is certainly worth much more than $10. I will definitely return to try the other recommended dishes of Yummy Crab. Do bring your family down to Changi Road and try it for yourself today.

8/10

Yummy Crab
No 351 Changi Road

Don Crab Bee Hoon

Better known for its famous pies, I was surprised to know that Don at Far East Square also has crab bee hoon. Tempted by the posters pasted outside the restaurant which read "Crab Bee Hoon with Sri Lankan crab for only $16", I decided to try it for myself.


Somewhat reminiscent of Uncle Leong's crab bee hoon, Don crab bee hoon is the soupy version that is served in a claypot. Brimming with the concentrated essence of crabs and a gentle tinge of spices, the mouthwatering gravy is exceptionally savory, giving every strand of bee hoon a delicate coat of irresistable flavour. The medium sized crab is indeed fresh and tasty with robust flesh that is sweet and appetizing.

Compared with Uncle Leong's famous crab bee hoon which costs at least $30, Don crab bee hoon is smaller and less costly priced at $16. But it is definitely sufficient to satisfy one's craving for crabs.

7.5/10

Don - Your Personal Pie Club
25 China Street
Far East Square
#01-01
Singapore 048422

Lam's Crab Bee Hoon

My pursuit for crab bee hoon led me to this stall at Rangoon Road which is featured on Makansutra. Better known for its prawn noodle soup, Lam's also has crab bee hoon which I just could not resist.


The steamed crab bee hoon which costs $10 is served with a small crab. Gently steamed to a mild springy consistency, the dry bee hoon tastes unique but somewhat lacking in flavour. Although small, the mouthwatering crab is fresh and sweet and serves as a worthy compensation for the disappointing noodles. The crab bee hoon also comes with a complementary bowl of prawn soup which is full of savory seafood essence.

To all crab lovers out there, Lam's is one special crab bee hoon that you must try if you haven't. For only $10, you get to satisfy your craving for crabs. Besides steamed crab bee hoon, Lam's also has crab noodle soup and prawn noodles which I will definitely try someday.

7/10

Lam's Crab Bee Hoon
83 Rangoon Rd Singapore 218369

Your Kitchen Crab Bee Hoon

Crab Bee Hoon for only $8.90?

Whenever I walked past this stall named Your Kitchen in Marina Square Food Court, I had to resist the great temptation of trying this inexpensive crab bee hoon. I finally had the chance to satisfy my curiosity and my craving for crabs when I went there for dinner last week.


Served piping hot in claypot, the mouthwatering crab bee hoon comes with a small crab. Well-fried with a smoky aroma, the thick bee hoon is thoroughly coated with savory gravy, somewhat resembling the semi-dry consistency of fried hokkien prawn mee. Although the crab is small, it is delightfully sweet and sufficiently fleshy to satisfy my hunger.


For crab lovers who crave for crabs and are reluctant to spend more than $10, this is the crab bee hoon that I strongly recommend. Besides crab bee hoon, Your Kitchen also has chilli crab and pepper crab, also for $8.90 only. Come down to Marina Square Food Court and try it for yourself today.

7.5/10

Your Kitchen Crab Bee Hoon
Marina Square Food Court

Update 21/9/2008 - This stall has closed down.

Ya Kwang Da Pai Dang Crab Tang Hoon

Having read about the delicious $25 crab tang hoon at Geylang Lorong 37, I finally went there last month to try it for myself.

Worried that I might not be able to finish the $25 crab tang hoon all by myself, I tried to bargain for a smaller portion but unfortunately, there were no smaller crabs left. Nevertheless the boss was friendly, the service was efficient and I was served within 10 minutes after ordering.


The huge plate of crab tang hoon with thick savory gravy looks really mouthwatering and I just can't wait to finish taking pictures and start eating. Cooked in an extraordinary gravy that is exceptionally flavorful with the concentrated sweetness of crab, the irresistable tang hoon is smooth and delicate, absorbing the special gravy extremely well. The crab is remarkably fresh, delightfully sweet and fairly fleshy.

The secret of Ya Kwang Da Pai Dang Crab Tang Hoon lies in the wonderful combination of its fabulous tang hoon with its complementary gravy. However the problem with having tang hoon so fantastic that it can be eaten on its own, is that the crab, which accounts for the expensive price of the dish, tends to appear mediocre in comparison. Even though I have to admit that having the crab tang hoon was an experience no less than heavenly, I certainly loved the tang hoon much more than the crab and will probably think twice about spending $25 on the dish next time.

7.5/10

Ya Kwang Da Pai Dang Crab Tang Hoon
709 Geylang Lorong 37

Uncle Leong Seafood

Many bloggers have written about the tale of two famous crabs in Ang Mo Kio. Situated in two coffee shops at opposite ends of a carpark, Mellben Seafood is the more popular and better advertised of the two. With no offence to crab enthusiasts who are Mellben lovers, I personally prefer Uncle Leong Seafood, simply because it is less crowded. Which means that I get to dine in a less noisy environment and I get my food faster.


Let me begin sharing my memorable dining experience with 3 friends at Uncle Leong Seafood yesterday. We ordered 5 of its signature dishes which are chilli crab, claypot crab bee hoon, Mongolian fried pork ribs, deep fried seafood tofu and fried kang kong with abalone mushrooms. Even though we placed our orders at 6.30pm, the service was prompt and we got our food in around 15 minutes.


The fried kang kong with abalone mushrooms came first. The vegetables are well-fried in oyster sauce and topped with slices of abalone mushrooms.


Next came the Mongolian pork ribs. The meat is tender and well-marinated with a savory taste and a smoky fragrance.


The deep fried seafood tofu is not fantastic but still tasty and crispy.


The delicious chilli crab was the highlight of the dinner. The sweet-and-spicy gravy is so thick with generous servings of egg, it leaves a lingering taste in the mouth and a warm sensation in the throat even hours after dinner. And to the delight of crab lovers, it is free from small pieces of broken crab shell. The crab meat is thick and succulent, every bite is simply irresistable.


Last but the not least, we had the claypot crab bee hoon which is simply heavenly. The concentrated soup is shimmering with crustacean sweetness, it must have been brewed in crabs for hours. The inconspicuous ginger removes the excessive fishy taste and gives the soup a gentle tinge of spiciness. The noodles are so well-immersed with the soup, they blend impeccably with each other. The crab meat is so soft and fresh, it leaves a natural sweetness on the taste buds.

Indeed it was a sumptuous dinner for all of us and we left the restaurant feeling really happy and satisfied.

8.5/10

Uncle Leong Seafood
Blk 233 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 (St 22)
#01-1194 S(560233)
Tel: 65543453
Opens daily from 4pm to 11.30pm

Crab Shack

To all food enthusiasts who feel that love for crabs is an expensive affair, don't despair. Never again will you have to deny the chance to indulge in crabs anymore. There's a small eatery along Upper Thomson Road which serves various crab dishes at affordable prices. And it's called Crab Shack.


Try the delicious crab baked rice at only $6.50 and enjoy the taste of fragrant rice mixed with mouthwatering cheese, fresh crab meat and sliced crab sticks. If you prefer noodles, try the crab spaghetti with thick savory sauce and generous chunks of fresh crab meat at only $7.50. Or enjoy the 2-piece steamed flower crab value meal at only $5.95. Crab Shack also serves a variety of irresistable side dishes including crab croquette, crab au gratin, tempura prawns and fried mushrooms, mostly below $5.


So to all crab lovers out there, do not hesitate anymore. Drop by Crab Shack at Upper Thomson Road for dinner today. Or visit its second outlet in Bestway Building along Shenton Way.

7/10

Crab Shack
227 Upper Thomson Road
Crab Shack in the City
12 Prince Edward Road, Bestway Building