My colleague swears by Chin Huat Live Seafood and she has been raving about this place for months. It piqued my interest so I went with a friend to check out this restaurant.
Located in Sunset Way, it’s not easily accessible by public transport, not that it will deter foodies like myself.
It has taken over the whole coffeeshop on the ground floor of Block 105 Clementi Street 12. Big bold letters on the headboard proudly proclaims 鎮發 Chin Huat Live Seafood.
Beneath the signboard are huge glass tanks which houses the live crabs, lobsters, fish and oysters.
The rest of the coffeeshop serves as air-conditioned seating area with big round tables as well as alfresco seats outside.
This restaurant reminds me of Keng Eng Kee Seafood, which also started with humble beginnings.
Chin Huat Live Seafood – The Food
We started off the meal with Live Oyster [Small S$8.80, Large S$11.80]. The oyster is cooked with garlic and soybean sauce that highlights the freshness of the oyster.
Chin Huat Live Seafood offers three types of crabs – Sri Lanka Crab, Dungeness Crab and Alaskan King Crab. The staff catches the crab from the tank and weights it on the large scale besides the tanks.
You can choose to cook your crab in the following styles:
- Steamed with Egg White and Chinese Wine
- Chilli Crab
- Black Pepper
- Golden Sauce
- Superior Broth
- Fragrant Salted Egg Yolk Crab
- Superior Broth Bee Hoon (Small/Medium/Large)
Golden Sauce is Chin Huat’s signature cooking style. It combines the sweetness of pumpkin with grainy saltiness of salted egg yolk to create this addictive sauce.
Fried Buns [S$1.50 per bun] or Steamed Buns [S$1.50] are perfect for mopping up the delicious Golden Sauce.
There is just one problems with the Golden Sauce way of cooking crabs. It involves deep-frying the crabs first which makes the crab meat stick to the shell.
I am not sure if this is only for the Golden Sauce but they don’t pre-crack the shells so you have to do it yourself. That can become very messy with all sauce.
I am amazed at how crunchy the Baby Kailan [S$8] is. The vegetable has such a vibrant green color even after cooking.
Chin Huat Live Seafood
Address: 105 Clementi Street 12, Sunset Way #01-30, Singapore 120105
Telephone: 67757348
Opening Hours: Thursday – Tuesday 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm; Closed on Wednesdays
Website: https://www.chinhuatliveseafood.com
