Best Cereal Prawns in Singapore: 13 Best Spots (2026)
Cereal prawns (麦片虾) are a beloved Singaporean zi char staple: prawns are deep-fried then tossed in a fragrant, buttery tangle of toasted cereal (usually Nestum oats), curry leaves, chilli padi and a touch of sugar until crisp and golden. There isn't a single dedicated cereal-prawn restaurant in Singapore — the dish lives on the menus of the country's best zi char and live-seafood houses, so the "best" versions come down to wok hei, the crunch of the cereal and whether the prawns are shelled or served head-on. The venues below are established, currently-open spots spread across the island, from Michelin Bib Gourmand institutions in Keong Saik to old-school seafood restaurants along the East Coast.
Last verified: September 2026. Hours and prices can change — we re-check our guides regularly, but do confirm before a special trip.
The list
Kok Sen Restaurant Cantonese zi char · $$
Michelin Bib Gourmand zi char institution on Keong Saik whose cereal butter prawns are a listed signature alongside its famous big-prawn hor fun.
- Cuisine: Cantonese zi char
- Price: $$ · Cereal butter prawns $15 / $23 / $30 by portion; most dishes $15–$57
- Must-try: Cereal butter prawns, Big prawn hor fun, Claypot yong tau foo
- Where: 4 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089110
- Area: Keong Saik / Chinatown
- Nearest MRT: Outram Park / Maxwell
- Hours: Tue–Sun 12–2:15pm & 5–9pm; closed Mon
- Halal: No
Two Chefs Eating Place Zi char (Chinese) · $$
Popular heartland zi char where deep-fried cereal prawns and the famous butter pork ribs are both listed must-tries, with a second outlet in Sin Ming.
- Cuisine: Zi char (Chinese)
- Price: $$ · Most dishes $4–$18; butter pork ribs ~$10–$18
- Must-try: Cereal prawns, Butter pork ribs, Prawn paste chicken (har cheong gai)
- Where: Blk 116 Commonwealth Crescent, #01-129, Singapore 140116 (also 410A Sin Ming Ave, #02-01, S570409)
- Area: Commonwealth (and Sin Ming)
- Nearest MRT: Commonwealth (Sin Ming outlet: Bright Hill)
- Hours: Commonwealth: daily 11:30am–2:30pm & 5–11:30pm
- Halal: No
Keng Eng Kee (KEK) Seafood Chinese seafood / zi char · $$
Third-generation zi char near Alexandra Village, renowned for coffee pork ribs and moonlight hor fun, with cereal prawns among its long seafood menu.
- Cuisine: Chinese seafood / zi char
- Price: $$ · Most dishes $12–$28; crab at market price
- Must-try: Cereal prawns, Coffee pork ribs, Moonlight hor fun
- Where: Blk 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-136, Singapore 150124 (also SAFRA Tampines & SAFRA Punggol)
- Area: Bukit Merah / Redhill
- Nearest MRT: Redhill
- Hours: Daily 11am–2pm & 5–10pm
- Halal: No
Sin Hoi Sai Eating House Zi char / seafood · $$
Late-night Katong zi char known for its buttery fried prawns and open into the early hours, a reliable stop for cereal-style prawns after midnight.
- Cuisine: Zi char / seafood
- Price: $$ · Fried prawns with butter from ~$20; most dishes from $10
- Must-try: Fried prawns with butter, Cereal prawns, Marmite chicken
- Where: 187 East Coast Road, Singapore 428893
- Area: Katong / East Coast
- Nearest MRT: Marine Parade (TEL)
- Hours: Daily 4pm–3am
- Halal: No
Por Kee Eating House 1996 Zi char (Chinese) · $$
Long-running Tiong Bahru zi char famed for champagne pork ribs, serving cereal prawns as part of its classic wok-fried repertoire.
- Cuisine: Zi char (Chinese)
- Price: $$ · Signature champagne pork ribs ~$24; dishes typically $12–$30
- Must-try: Champagne pork ribs, Cereal prawns, Salted egg yolk crab
- Where: 69 Seng Poh Lane, #01-02, Singapore 160069
- Area: Tiong Bahru
- Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru
- Hours: Tue–Sun 11am–2:30pm & 5–10:45pm
- Halal: No
JB Ah Meng Restaurant Malaysian-style zi char · $$
Feisty, wok-hei-heavy Geylang zi char run by Malaysian chefs, best known for white pepper crab and san lou bee hoon with prawn dishes on the menu.
- Cuisine: Malaysian-style zi char
- Price: $$ · Bee hoon from ~$9; crab at market price
- Must-try: White pepper crab, San lou bee hoon, Salted egg prawn roll
- Where: 534 Geylang Road (Lorong 30), Singapore 389490
- Area: Geylang
- Nearest MRT: Aljunied / Paya Lebar
- Hours: Approx. 5pm–2am daily (confirm before going)
- Halal: No
Long Ji Zi Char Zi char / seafood · $$
Outram Road zi char known for crab bee hoon and wasabi prawns, with cereal prawns among its wok-fried seafood options.
- Cuisine: Zi char / seafood
- Price: $$ · Wasabi prawns from ~$22++; crab bee hoon at market price
- Must-try: Crab bee hoon, Wasabi prawns, Cereal prawns
- Where: 253 Outram Road, Singapore 169049
- Area: Outram
- Nearest MRT: Outram Park
- Hours: Daily 5pm–10:30pm
- Halal: No
Hua Yu Wee Seafood Restaurant Chinese seafood / zi char · $$$
Old-school bungalow seafood restaurant on Upper East Coast Road, a nostalgic spot for classic zi char seafood including cereal prawns.
- Cuisine: Chinese seafood / zi char
- Price: $$$ · Prawn roll ~$13; seafood pricier, crab at market price
- Must-try: Deep-fried baby squid, Prawn roll, Cereal prawns
- Where: 462 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 466508
- Area: Upper East Coast
- Nearest MRT: Bayshore (TEL) / Bedok
- Hours: Daily 5pm–11pm
- Halal: No
Kai Xin Crabs Seafood (crab) zi char · $$
Value-focused seafood zi char in the Circuit Road heartland, best known for Sri Lankan crab; a general wok-fried seafood menu where cereal prawns would be a standard option (not source-confirmed).
- Cuisine: Seafood (crab) zi char
- Price: $$ · Sri Lankan crab from ~$38; salted egg chicken ~$15
- Must-try: Sri Lankan chilli/black pepper crab, Salted egg chicken
- Where: 76 Circuit Road, #01-18, Singapore 370076
- Area: MacPherson / Circuit Road
- Nearest MRT: MacPherson / Mattar
- Hours: Daily 11am–9:30pm
Zheng Zichar Zi char / seafood · $$
Breezy seaside zi char out at Changi Coast Walk, a prawn-forward destination best known for its claypot white pepper Szechuan tang hoon with prawn.
- Cuisine: Zi char / seafood
- Price: $$ · Claypot white pepper Szechuan tang hoon with prawn ~$32++
- Must-try: Claypot white pepper Szechuan tang hoon with prawn
- Where: 11 Changi Coast Walk, NSRCC Sea Sports Centre, Singapore 499740
- Area: Changi
- Hours: Daily 12pm–9pm
Jiak Modern Tzechar Halal Chinese zi char · $$
Halal-certified modern zi char at HillV2 mall — a rare option for Muslim diners wanting cereal or butter prawns; confirm current halal status before dining.
- Cuisine: Halal Chinese zi char
- Price: $$ · Curry fish head ~$25; hotplate black pepper beef from ~$18
- Must-try: Curry fish head, Hotplate black pepper beef, Butter/cereal prawns
- Where: 4 Hillview Rise, #02-04 HillV2, Singapore 667979
- Area: Hillview
- Nearest MRT: Hillview
- Hours: Daily 11:30am–9:30pm
- Halal: Halal-certified
Mellben Seafood Chinese seafood / zi char · $$$
Michelin-recommended Ang Mo Kio crab house famed for claypot crab bee hoon; a well-known seafood stop that also does wok-fried butter prawns.
- Cuisine: Chinese seafood / zi char
- Price: $$$ · Crab at market price; claypot crab bee hoon a signature
- Must-try: Claypot crab bee hoon, Chilli crab, Butter prawns
- Where: 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #01-1222, Singapore 560232
- Area: Ang Mo Kio
- Nearest MRT: Ang Mo Kio (approx. 10-min walk/bus)
- Hours: Daily approx. 5pm–10:30pm (confirm before going)
Long Beach Seafood Premium Chinese live seafood · $$$
Long-established premium live-seafood chain best known for black pepper crab, with cereal prawns on the menu across its multiple outlets.
- Cuisine: Premium Chinese live seafood
- Price: $$$ · Live seafood at market price; higher-end dining
- Must-try: Black pepper crab, Chilli crab, Cereal prawns
- Where: Multiple outlets: Dempsey, Robertson Quay and UDMC (East Coast Seafood Centre)
- Area: Dempsey / East Coast (multiple)
- Halal: No
At a glance: compare every spot
| Spot | Cuisine | Price | Area | Halal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kok Sen Restaurant | Cantonese zi char | $$ | Keong Saik / Chinatown | No |
| Two Chefs Eating Place | Zi char (Chinese) | $$ | Commonwealth (and Sin Ming) | No |
| Keng Eng Kee (KEK) Seafood | Chinese seafood / zi char | $$ | Bukit Merah / Redhill | No |
| Sin Hoi Sai Eating House | Zi char / seafood | $$ | Katong / East Coast | No |
| Por Kee Eating House 1996 | Zi char (Chinese) | $$ | Tiong Bahru | No |
| JB Ah Meng Restaurant | Malaysian-style zi char | $$ | Geylang | No |
| Long Ji Zi Char | Zi char / seafood | $$ | Outram | No |
| Hua Yu Wee Seafood Restaurant | Chinese seafood / zi char | $$$ | Upper East Coast | No |
| Kai Xin Crabs | Seafood (crab) zi char | $$ | MacPherson / Circuit Road | — |
| Zheng Zichar | Zi char / seafood | $$ | Changi | — |
| Jiak Modern Tzechar | Halal Chinese zi char | $$ | Hillview | Halal-certified |
| Mellben Seafood | Chinese seafood / zi char | $$$ | Ang Mo Kio | — |
| Long Beach Seafood | Premium Chinese live seafood | $$$ | Dempsey / East Coast (multiple) | No |
Your questions answered
What are cereal prawns and what makes a good plate?
Cereal prawns are deep-fried prawns tossed in a wok with butter, toasted cereal (usually Nestum oats), curry leaves and chilli padi. A good plate has crisp, non-greasy cereal that clings to the prawns, prawns that are juicy rather than overcooked, and a savoury-buttery flavour that isn't cloyingly sweet. You'll see two styles: shell-on (crunchier, eaten whole) and shelled (easier to eat).
How much do cereal prawns cost in Singapore?
At most zi char restaurants a plate of cereal prawns typically starts from around $15–$18 for a small portion and scales up with size, so a shared plate often runs $18–$35. At premium live-seafood restaurants prices are higher and prawns may be sold by weight at market price. Prices change often, so treat these as indicative and confirm when ordering.
Are there halal or Muslim-friendly options for cereal prawns?
Most traditional zi char and seafood restaurants are not halal, as they commonly serve pork and alcohol. Halal-certified zi char outlets such as Jiak Modern Tzechar are the safer bet for Muslim diners wanting cereal or butter prawns. Halal certification can change, so always confirm the current status with the outlet before you visit.
Which areas are best for cereal prawns?
Cereal prawns are island-wide, but strong clusters include the Keong Saik/Outram and Tiong Bahru area (Kok Sen, Por Kee, Long Ji), the East Coast/Katong stretch (Sin Hoi Sai, Hua Yu Wee), Geylang (JB Ah Meng), and the heartlands like Commonwealth, Bukit Merah and Ang Mo Kio. Choose by neighbourhood and price rather than expecting one 'best' district.
Do I need to make a reservation or expect a queue?
Popular spots like Kok Sen and Two Chefs can see 30–60 minute waits at peak dinner and weekends, and many zi char places take reservations or phone orders. Live-seafood restaurants generally recommend booking, especially for larger groups or crab. Hours vary and some outlets close one day a week, so call ahead to confirm opening times and availability.