Sin Hoi Sai Eating House : Recommended Zi Char Place

Sin Hoi Sai Eating House at East Coast Road

Written by Zul Chua | October 02, 2024

Image: Alex CityHunter

Best for

Late-night Chinese home-style food

Prices

S$18 per pax

Address

187 East Coast Road, Singapore 428893

Phone

+65 6440 6956

Opening hours

Daily 16:30 - 05:00

Sin Hoi Sai is the perfect place to watch the Singaporean locals go by. You can eat by the roadside, order as many Zi Char dishes as you want, sit back and swig a bottle of ice-cold Tiger beer, and have a small talk with the aunties/uncles. These scenes could be someone’s description of the best Zi Char restaurant, but as dining experience is as subjective as beauty, each is still his own. Below are some of the highlights that could differentiate Sin Hoi Sai from other Zi Char eateries in Singapore.

Highlights:

Friendly eating house: It is no secret that Zi Char eateries run by aunties and uncles do have a reputation for being a place with no non-sense and straightforward customer service. At Sin Hoi Sai, the friendly atmosphere makes the difference, as the aunties themselves are approachable and cordial. You may even exchange food ideas with them or ask for any food requests.
Get your hands dirty with live seafood in tanks: Have a pound of crabs, prawns, squids, or red snappers cook to order. The freshness of the seafood draws the crowd in because you’ll get what you want right here, right now. Try the best-selling chili crab and brace yourself for the explosion of hot and spicy flavor in your mouth, yet the succulent and sweet crab meat balances the tanginess of the chilies.
Vegan-friendly starters and mains: Don’t be surprised when you see a couple of Indians coming by this eating house because the menu is vegan-friendly. While the chefs don’t necessarily make Indian dishes, they know how to cater to their vegan patrons. Mock meat dishes are available for your mains and you may specifically tell them to not put ingredients that you don’t want in your food. Some of the must-try vegetarian dishes include dried chili chicken, sambal Kang Kong, sambal chicken fried rice, and curry mutton.
Eat by the roadside till the break of dawn: While most eateries do have alfresco dining, Sin Hoi Sai is one of the few that allows its guests to dine at the alleyway till 04:00. It doesn’t help that the location itself is a busy road, along East Coast in Katong, so you get to watch many locals pass by or flock to the restaurant. More importantly, you’ll have the chance to observe the very simple and quaint side of Singapore.

MENU: The menu is expansive with a lot of vegan and non-vegan food selections. Mock meats are available upon request in order to cater to vegans. The regular menu is also customizable according to your specific diet, and the owners are open to feedback and suggestions. In fact, part of Sin Hoi Sai’s tradition is to include dishes popular by demand on their menu.

AMBIANCE: Tucked along the busy East Coast Road, Sin Hoi Sai is a tourist attraction on its own. It is why a boisterous, jam-packed crowd during its peak hours has been a normal scenario in this eating house. However, the spacious area, cool breeze, and friendly staff make up for these oddities. The laid-back ambiance feels like enjoying a hearty meal with your friends and relatives.

RECOMMENDED DISHES: