Last updated 7 August 2026. This page was reviewed on that date. Prices, rates and opening hours change often in Singapore — confirm anything that matters directly with the business before you travel or spend.
Quick answer: For legendary seafood, Jumbo Seafood and Long Beach Seafood are the names everyone knows – perfect for splash-out family dinners. Roland Restaurant is the heritage pick for old-school chilli crab, while 328 Katong Laksa delivers that iconic bowl without the fuss. Zaffron Kitchen brings North Indian spice, Al Forno does proper wood-fired Italian, and Baba Chews remixes Peranakan flavours with modern flair.
If you’re zoning in on a particular stretch, you’ll want our guide to East Singapore: Katong, Joo Chiat & East Coast.
When you are the one who organises the family dinner, you need a makan place that seats everyone comfortably and dishes out generous portions without making you wait until midnight. These East Singapore spots handle big group logistics well—round tables, sharing platters, and a pace that keeps the aunties happy. This is where you show up and feed your people properly.
If none of these quite fit, Best Food in the East & North-East of Singapore has 36 lists covering the rest of the category.
Jumbo Seafood
Jumbo Seafood at East Coast Seafood Centre is where you bring the whole extended family when someone gets promoted, and you want that big, messy, finger-licking crab feast with the sea breeze on your face. The chilli crab here set the standard, and it still gets the balance right – sweet, savoury, with just enough heat. You will want extra mantou to mop up every last bit of the sauce, lah.
Apart from the signature chilli crab, the black pepper crab and salted egg yolk prawns are equally shiok. The seafood is live and cooked to order, so the flesh stays tender and sweet. The outlet right by the water gives the whole meal a holiday kind of feel, even on a Tuesday.
For the full extended-family crab fest, this is it. Arrive early on weekends to secure a table big enough for all the cousins—the open-air setup means nobody minds the chilli sauce on their shirt. The sauce arrives in deep bowls, and the mantou is always fried crisp, ready to soak up every last drop.
Address: Block 1206 East Coast Parkway, #01-07/08, East Coast Seafood Centre, Singapore 449883
Phone: +65 6442 3435
Hours: Daily 12:00pm – 11:30pm
Price: Check with the business
Website: jumboseafood.com.sg
If you have overseas visitors who want the full Singapore seafood experience, just bring them here. The open-air setting, the crowd, the sound of crab shells cracking – it is the kind of meal that stays with you long after you have washed your hands.
Long Beach Seafood
Long Beach Seafood is the place that invented black pepper crab, and you can still taste that history in every wok hei-laced, peppery bite. Their Robertson Quay outlet (they have several) puts you right along the river, so the vibe is a little more date-night polished but still relaxed enough to roll up your sleeves.
While the black pepper crab is the star, the golden pomfret done Teochew-style and the live lobster dishes show they are not a one-hit wonder. The menu leans into fresh, premium catches, and they pair well with the wine list if you want to make an evening of it.
When you want crab with a side of river views, this works. Book a table along the water for a birthday dinner—the black pepper crab arrives wok-fresh and fragrant, and the staff let you take your time peeling. It is dressed up enough for a celebration but still feels like a proper crab feast.
Address: 60 Robertson Quay, #01-14 The Quayside, Singapore 238252
Phone: +65 6336 3636
Hours: Daily 11am–3pm, 5pm–11:30pm
Price: Check with the business
Website: longbeachseafood.com.sg
This is the one to pick when you want that seafood celebration without the East Coast crowd, or you are planning a dinner that moves from the table to a walk along the quay. It feels special enough for a birthday but not so formal that your uncle feels stiff in his polo tee.
Editorial round-up, not a directory listing. Missed someone worth knowing about? Send it our way.
For an evening focused on just the two of you, explore our guide to restaurants East Coast Singapore for an effortlessly polished evening.
Roland Restaurant
Roland Restaurant sits on the sixth floor of a Marine Parade HDB block, and that unassuming location is part of its charm – it has been feeding families for decades and has the quiet confidence of a place that knows its chilli crab is legit. The recipe is a family legacy, and you can tell they have been refining it across generations.
Beyond the crab, the braised abalone and steamed soon hock fish round out a meal that feels both celebratory and deeply familiar. The dining room is comfortable rather than flashy, so you can focus on what is on the plate.
This is the place for a multi-generational dinner where the chilli crab needs to be flawless. The lift takes everyone straight up to a spacious dining room where the tables are set wide apart, and the braised abalone comes generous enough to pass around. No fuss, just solid cooking that the older folks will approve of.
Address: 89 Marine Parade Central, #06-750, Singapore 440089
Phone: +65 6440 8205
Hours: Mon–Sat 11:30am–2:30pm (last order 2pm), 6pm–10pm (last order 9:30pm); Sun & PH 11am–2:45pm (last order 2:15pm), 6pm–10pm (last order 9:30pm)
Price: Check with the business
Website: rolandrestaurant.com.sg
This is the spot for the kind of meal where your parents do the ordering and you just sit back and let the dishes arrive. If you grew up eating crab in Singapore, a visit here feels like coming home.
If you enjoy seafood like this, you might also like our round-up of Restaurants in Boat Quay – same spirit, different waterfront.
328 Katong Laksa
328 Katong Laksa at Roxy Square is the kind of place you think about on a rainy afternoon and immediately grab your keys. The laksa broth is thick and lemak, packed with coconut richness and a kick of spice that builds gently – no need to add extra sambal unless you want to sweat a bit. It comes with prawns and cockles, and you eat the whole thing with a spoon, because the noodles are cut short.
It is a hawker legend for good reason: the taste is consistent, the queue moves fast, and at 8am it is already open if you are the type who believes laksa is a breakfast food. Grab an otah-otah on the side for the full East Coast experience.
On a rainy afternoon, there is no better pick-me-up than a bowl of this laksa. It comes fast, the rich broth hits exactly right, and you can be in and out in fifteen minutes—leaving you extra shiok for the rest of the day. No need to call ahead; just show up and slurp.
Address: 51 East Coast Road, Roxy Square, Singapore 428707
Phone: +65 9732 8163
Hours: Daily 8:00am – 10:00pm
Price: Check with the business
Website: 328katonglaksa.sg
Perfect for a solo lunch when you are running errands, or a quick supper with friends who don’t need fancy plating – just a damn shiok bowl that hits the spot. There is also a sense of satisfaction in bringing out-of-towners to a place that has beaten Gordon Ramsay in a cook-off.
Zaffron Kitchen
Zaffron Kitchen brings North Indian cooking to the East with a modern, air-conditioned setup that still respects the tandoor and the spice cupboard. Their butter chicken is richly spiced and creamy without being heavy, and the tandoori kebabs come off the skewer with a proper char and tender bite.
The biryanis are fragrant with saffron, and the menu is wide enough that a group can order a good spread without arguing. While the Star Vista outlet is their main listing, you will also find them at Great World and along East Coast Road, so the flavour is never far.
When your group chat is split between six different cravings, bring everyone here. The aircon dining room keeps the heat out, and the portions are built for sharing—order a couple of biryanis, a few curries, and the tandoori platter to start. It feeds a table of eight without anyone leaving hungry.
Address: 1 Vista Exchange Green, #02-04, The Star Vista, 138617
Phone: +65 6465 9880 (Vista) / +65 6235 5531 (Great World)
Hours: Vista: Mon–Thu 11:30am–9pm, Fri 11:30am–10pm, Sat–Sun 11:30am–9pm (afternoon closure varies)
Price: Check with the business
Website: zaffronkitchen.com
This is a solid pick when the family cannot agree between Western and Asian, or when you need a meal that feels substantial but not too heavy. The naan alone is worth the visit – tear and scoop, repeat.
Editorial round-up, not a directory listing. Missed someone worth knowing about? Send it our way.
Al Forno
Al Forno on East Coast Road has been doing wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta for so long that it feels like a neighbourhood secret, even though it is always busy. The Margherita with buffalo mozzarella comes blistered and smoky from the oven, and the pasta has that al dente bite you hope for.
The dining room is intimate, with that warm glow that makes you want to linger over a second glass of wine. It is not a fast-food pizza joint – you come for a proper sit-down meal that happens to involve mozzarella and dough.
Book a table for two on a quiet weeknight and let the wood-fired oven do the work. The dining room is small enough to feel personal, and the pasta comes exactly al dente. It is the kind of place where a pizza and a bottle of wine can turn into a whole evening of easy conversation.
Address: 400 East Coast Road, Singapore 428996
Phone: +65 6348 8781
Hours: Mon–Thu Lunch 12pm–2pm, Dinner 6:30pm–10:15pm; Fri–Sun Lunch 12pm–2pm, Dinner 5:30pm–10:30pm
Price: Check with the business
Website: alfornoeastcoast.com.sg
Ideal for a date night when you want to keep it local, or a small birthday dinner where the focus is on conversation and comfort. There is something reassuring about a restaurant that has stuck to its guns and still does simple things really well.
For more ideas when the occasion calls for something romantic, take a look at our Romantic Restaurants in Singapore guide.
Baba Chews
Baba Chews, tucked inside Katong Square at the Hotel Indigo, plays with Peranakan flavours in a way that feels clever and current. Think buah keluak pasta that marries tangy black-nut richness with noodles, or wagyu beef rendang that is fall-apart tender and deeply spiced. It is fusion that actually makes sense, not just for the Instagram.
The space is stylish but not intimidating, and it works for everything from an all-day breakfast to a relaxed dinner. Since it is part of a hotel, the service is polished, and you can ease into the meal without feeling rushed.
For a birthday dinner that feels a little different, this spot delivers. The menu remixes familiar Peranakan notes into something new—think rendang that melts and pasta with a rich, tangy kick. The setting is sleek but warm, and the staff pace the meal so your group can really enjoy the progression of dishes.
Address: 86 East Coast Road, Katong Square, Singapore 428788
Phone: +65 6723 2025
Hours: Daily 6:30am – 10:30pm
Price: Check with the business
Website: babachews.com.sg
This is the place to bring a friend who thinks they have tried every type of laksa and rendang under the sun, and wants something that plays with the familiar in an unexpected way. The brunch menu is a quiet winner too, especially if you are in Katong on a lazy weekend morning.
If you are open to more creative kitchens, our Fusion Restaurants in Singapore round-up has a few other spots that mix traditions with flair.
How to choose
The East is packed with good food, but picking the right spot comes down to what kind of meal you are after. If you want the full Singapore seafood experience, with crab as the centrepiece and a lively atmosphere, Jumbo and Long Beach are the obvious choices – the former for that East Coast Park vibe, the latter for a more polished riverfront setting. Roland is the quieter, old-school alternative that keeps the focus squarely on heritage recipes.
For a fast, no-fuss local fix, 328 Katong Laksa is the one. It is the definition of a destination dish – people travel across the island for that bowl. When the group is mixed and someone wants Indian, Zaffron Kitchen handles big flavours in a comfortable indoor space. Al Forno is your pizza-and-pasta retreat, and Baba Chews suits when you want a modern twist on Peranakan staples, ideally over a long, chatty meal.
Price-wise, crab dinners naturally sit at the higher end, while a laksa stop is wallet-friendly. Most places do not need a booking for a casual lunch, but for evening seafood, it is wise to call ahead. All of them are rooted in the East, so you can plan a meal around a wander through Katong or a post-dinner stroll by the beach.
| Restaurant | Known For | Best For | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jumbo Seafood | Chilli crab, black pepper crab | Big family dinners, celebrations | Check with the business |
| Long Beach Seafood | Black pepper crab, golden pomfret | Special occasions, seafood lovers | Check with the business |
| Roland Restaurant | Chilli crab, braised abalone | Traditional family meals, nostalgic dining | Check with the business |
| 328 Katong Laksa | Lemak laksa, nasi lemak | Quick solo meals, local cravings | Check with the business |
| Zaffron Kitchen | Butter chicken, tandoori kebabs, biryani | Group dinners, Indian food fans | Check with the business |
| Al Forno | Wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta | Date nights, casual Italian dinners | Check with the business |
| Baba Chews | Buah keluak pasta, wagyu rendang | Fusion food lovers, relaxed brunches | Check with the business |
Summary
From splashy crab feasts at Jumbo and Long Beach to that unbeatable bowl of laksa at 328 Katong, the best restaurants in Singapore’s East cover a lot of ground. Roland keeps the old recipes alive, Zaffron and Al Forno add variety, and Baba Chews gives Peranakan flavours a fresh spin. Whether you are marking a milestone or just too tired to cook, there is a table waiting somewhere along these streets.
Disclaimer: All information provided here has been compiled from publicly available sources. While we have made every effort to ensure accuracy, details can change. Please confirm with the business directly before making plans.
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Frequently asked questions
Which restaurant serves the best chilli crab in East Singapore?
Jumbo Seafood, Long Beach Seafood, and Roland Restaurant are all famous for chilli crab. Jumbo is the most well-known, but Roland offers a heritage family recipe that many East-siders swear by.
Is 328 Katong Laksa a sit-down restaurant or a hawker stall?
It is a casual eatery inside Roxy Square on East Coast Road. You order at the counter, grab a table, and the laksa arrives quickly. It is no-frills but air-conditioned.
Do these East Singapore restaurants take reservations?
Most of the larger seafood restaurants like Jumbo, Long Beach, and Roland accept reservations, especially for dinner. 328 Katong Laksa is a walk-in spot. It is best to call ahead for groups.
Are there vegetarian options at these restaurants?
Indian cuisine at Zaffron Kitchen usually has a wide vegetarian selection. Al Forno can prepare pasta without meat, and Baba Chews has some plant-forward dishes. Chinese seafood restaurants are more limited, so let them know in advance.
Which East-side restaurant is good for a romantic date?
Al Forno’s cosy, wood-fired Italian setting works beautifully for date night. Baba Chews, with its stylish Peranakan-modern vibe, also suits a long, conversation-filled evening.
What is the price range like for these restaurants?
A crab dinner at Jumbo or Long Beach can be a splurge, while 328 Katong Laksa is a budget-friendly meal under ten dollars. The others fall somewhere in the middle, with mains typically between $15 and $35 depending on what you order.
