SingaporeMotherhood | Family Fun
April 2024
8 Zi Char places and Restaurants with Private Rooms for Family Feasts and Celebrations
We’re Singaporeans, when we want to have good food with the extended family outside, we go to a zi char restaurant. Right? Chances are, your family already has its familiar favourite when it comes to eating places to feast at. Whether they be restaurants or zi char outlets, these places serve up comfort, nostalgia, and familiarity through heartwarming, wok-fuelled fare that’s ah ma and ah pa-approved, bonding generations though – what else? – food.
If you are looking more places to try, these below may hit the spot. Furthermore, they all have private rooms so you can indulge as a family away from the crowd. In addition, some come with perks like Karaoke machines, a private toilet, and free corkage and glasses. So round up the fam, cue up the playlist, and and get ready to have a bigger (and louder) celebration with your nearest and dearest.
(See also: MOTHER’S DAY 2024: 31 FEASTS & CAKES TO SWEETEN HER SPECIAL DAY)
1. Crown Prince Restaurant (Aranda Country Club)
Situated in the East, this Malaysian zi char specialist is always good for a gathering, whether it’s an intimate meal or a family feast. With an extensive menu, it has something to satiate every palate. Dig into meats like the aromatic Herbal Roasted Duck, or pre-order the Whole Barbecue Suckling Pig, and spice it up with the Steamed Patin Fish in Nonya Style. But don’t miss the chao ta bee hoon with seafood, which this zi char royal truly takes the crown for. Flattened to look like a pancake, it is crispy, crunchy, and full of wok hei goodness. Repeat orders are not uncommon!
Crown Prince Restaurant has two private rooms which can accommodate 12 persons each, or up to 22 people in both rooms, with Karaoke available. Minimum spend: $800/table (weekdays); $1,000/table (weekends). A deposit of $300 is also required. While this deposit is non-refundable, a change of date is allowed. What’s more, the restaurant offers one free bottle of red wine per table.
Where #01-01, Aranda Country Club, 60 Pasir Ris Drive 3, Singapore 519497
Opening hours Daily, 11am – 3pm (Last order 2.30pm), 5pm – 10pm (Last order 9.30pm)
Reserve Call or WhatsApp 8801 8111
Web https://crownprince.com.sg/
2. Eastern House of Seafood
Unpretentious and rather under the radar, this nondescript zi char place is situated in a corner of a basement in a building that’s a two-minute walk from Marymount MRT station (exit B). It’s easy to walk past and miss it but I’m glad we didn’t because there is some interesting food here.
While they specialise in local seafood zi char and offer their own specialities like lobster porridge, lobster hokkien mee, fish head steamboat, and Assam fish head, Eastern House of Seafood also has dishes that would not be out of place at a five-star steakhouse. Think charcoal grilled lamb cutlets, porterhouse steaks, and Grilled Iberico Secrero, what they call a “Secret” Cut of Pork. There’s also a Tea Smoked Chicken that fans say is a must-order.
There are two private rooms available, each with one table that can seat up to 12 people. The middle partition can be removed to form one bigger space for 24 people. No deposit is necessary, but there is a minimum spend of $600++ per table.
Where 37 Jalan Peminpin, #B1-02, Mapex, Singapore 577177
Opening hours 9am – 10pm (10am – 10.30pm on Sat & Sun). Closed on Mondays
Reserve Call or WhatsApp 91508172
Web www.facebook.com/EasternHouseOfSeafood/
(See also: 24 FUN & FREE ACTIVITIES IN SINGAPORE FOR KIDS & FAMILIES IN 2024)
3. HEY KEE HK Seafood
From its vintage barbershop corner to the retro bus-stop outside, Hey Kee is a visual feast that transports you into the golden age of Hong Kong – no time travel needed. No wonder it gets our vote for the most Instagrammable place for a fun family meal (and a great place to keep the kids occupied while waiting for food to arrive).
But Hey Kee, whose interiors are inspired by Hong Kong’s famed ‘dai pai dongs’ (open air stalls), serves more than just style. Its menu of heartwarming Cantonese classics includes the Fragrant Harbour’s best street foods: Stir-fried Typhoon Shelter Crabs, Temple Street Roast Chicken, Signature Claypot Live Seafood Porridge, Sauteéd Beef Tenderloin with Black Pepper and Potatoes, among others. What’s more, there’s no service charge – win!
The private dining rooms here fit groups from eight to 20 people, and must be booked at least one day in advance. Choose from VIP rooms that seat up to 10 (these require a $100 deposit), or the VVIP Room that accommodates up to 20 guests comfortably and comes equipped with a KTV lounge. For this room, a $300 deposit and a minimum spend of $1,500 secures your booking.
Where 102 Guillemard Road, #01-01 Singapore 399719 (former Singapore Badminton Hall)
Opening hours 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30 – 10.30pm (Mon to Sun)
Reserve https://lounge.oddle.me/en_SG/heykee
Web www.heykee.sg/en_SG/
4. JUMBO Seafood – Riverwalk Outlet
Does JUMBO even need an introduction? Established in 1987, this seafood restaurant has fed its award winning Chilli Crab and Black Pepper Crab to generations of Singaporeans. JUMBO’s first outlet at East Coast Seafood Centre still stands. But you can also savour its delicacies (like the Golden Salted Egg Prawns, Crispy Fried Baby Squid, Mocha Pork Ribs, and Golden Phoenix Chicken) at its five other outlets around Singapore.
For private celebrations though, we’d choose this one along the Singapore River, just minutes away from Clarke Quay MRT station. With Boat Quay and Funan Centre within walking distance as well, it’s easy to continue the celebrations post-meal, or indulge in a spot of shopping after.
The restaurant has six private rooms which can hold between 10 and 14 persons, and four of the private rooms (VIP 2 to VIP 5) can have their partitions open to accommodate up to 50 people. Each sound-proof room comes with its own Karaoke system so everyone can brandish their vocal chops without fear. Who cares about going off-key when you’re with family, eh? While no deposit is required, there is a minimum spend of $600++ per table.
Where 20 Upper Circular Rd, #B1-48 The Riverwalk, Singapore 058416
Opening hours Daily, 11:30am – 11pm (last order 10:15pm)
Reserve www.jumboseafood.com.sg/en/reservations or call 6534 3435
Web www.jumboseafood.com.sg/en/home
5. JUMBO Signatures
We already featured one JUMBO above, why another? Well this JUMBO is different from the others. It’s a JUMBO, but premium and elevated. So while you can still order its signature Chilli Crab, for instance, this comes plated like an art piece. In addition, this outlet features iconic local flavours from the JUMBO Group, such as Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh, and offers sommelier wine pairing with your Orange Glazed Pork Rib or your Japanese A4 Wagyu Beef Fillet.
Four private VIP rooms here hold six to 20 people, with the largest (VIP 3) accommodating 20 around a long table. There’s a minimum spend of $150++ per pax required, but no deposit is needed to book a private room.
Where 2 Bayfront Avenue, #B1-01B, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018972
Opening hours Lunch: 11:30am – 3pm (Monday to Friday, last seating 2pm, last order 2.15pm); 12pm – 3:30pm (Saturday & Sunday, last seating 2.30pm, last order 2.45pm). Dinner: 5:30pm – 10:30pm daily (last seating 9:15pm, last order 9:30pm)
Reserve www.jumbosignatures.com.sg/en/home or call 6688 7023
Web www.jumbosignatures.com.sg/
(See also: SINGAPORE’S MOST MAGICAL & BEAUTIFUL BIRTHDAY CAKES FOR CHILDREN IN 2024)
6. Keng Eng Kee Seafood (KEK)
KEK, as its moniker is usually shortened to, is no stranger to foodies in Singapore. Visited and recommended by British celebrity chef James Martin and the late Anthony Bourdain, this family-run zi char restaurant has been serving Hainanese and Cantonese food for three generations.
What started as a small hawker stall at Old Havelock Road in the 1970s is now a staple in any local gourmand’s little black book, and has even received the Michelin Plate Restaurant award from 2016 to 2022. Signature dishes include the Claypot Premium Collagen Soup, Signature Moonlight Hor Fun, Coffee Pork Ribs, Golden Pearl Roll, Chilli and Black Pepper Crabs.
While KEK has three locations (Bukit Merah, Tampines, Punggol), only the Tampines outlet has private rooms. The three VIP rooms here can fit 10 to 12 people each. When opened up, the extended room accommodates up to 36 persons. One more table can be added to fit 40, if you don’t mind it being a bit cramped. A minimum spend of $300 per table is required, plus a $100 deposit for your booking. While this deposit is non-refundable, it can be used towards your next purchase.
Where 1A Tampines St 92 #01-K2, SAFRA (Tampines), Singapore, 528882
Opening hours 11am – 2pm, 5pm – 10pm
Reserve https://reserve.oddle.me/en_SG/kengengkee/ticket/2?outletId=1584
Web http://www.kek.com.sg/
7. Yang Ming Seafood Village 扬名海鲜煮炒
If you live around Bishan you are probably familiar with this homegrown zi char eatery and its array of iconic dishes that have made Yang Ming well known among local foodies. There’s the must-order Andrew Lobster Chee Cheong Fun, Salt Baked Crab, San Lou Burn Bee Hoon, Pig’s Stomach Chicken Soup, and Umami Crab Seafood Pao Fan just to name a few – on top of the usual zi char repertoire. What keeps this on our favourites list is the fact that the food is consistently fabulous every time we go.
In 2022, Yang Ming opened a new outlet at Ubi and this is where they have a large private room for diners to use. The room has three tables, and can be segregated with dividers into three separate rooms, with 12 at each table. Booking one large private room comes with perks: you can play your own music, have the use of your own private toilet, and enjoy free corkage and glasses. A minimum spend of $500 per table is required, but no deposit is needed.
Where 71 Ubi Crescent, #01-05 Excalibur Centre, Singapore 408571
Opening hours 11.30am – 2pm; 4.30 – 10.30pm (Tues to Sat) | 11am – 2pm; 4.30 – 10.30pm (Sun & Mon)
Reserve Call 8028 2230 or WhatsApp 9780 5395
Web www.facebook.com/yangmingseafood.sg/
(See also: BOOST FERTILITY, SAFEGUARD PREGNANCY & HAVE A DRAGON BABY WITH TCM!)
8. Zui Yu Xuan Teochew Cuisine
Housed within a two-storey heritage building, this is where Teochew ‘nang’ (“person/people” in Teochew dialect) can find refined renditions of their traditional cuisine. Crossing its classic doorway can make you feel as if you are stepping back in time, and inside, you’ll find authentic Teochew fare from signatures such as Deep Fried Liver Rolls and Wok Fried Kway Teow with Diced Kai Lan and Preserved Radish, to Teochew Oyster Omelette ‘Gooey Style’ and Teochew ‘Puning’ Fermented Bean Chicken.
There are six private rooms here. Four accommodate 10 per table and two rooms seat 13 per table. If a larger space is needed, partitions for the four smaller rooms can be swept back to create one large room with four tables. All rooms have Karaoke facilities, and some even have a built-in TV where you can project videos and images. Do note that there is a minimum spend of $600++ (for the four rooms with 10 pax/table), and $800++ (for the two rooms with 13 pax/table). Reservations with three tables and above will require a deposit of $200 per table.
Where 130/131 Amoy Street, Far East Square, Singapore 049959
Opening hours Lunch (11.30am – 2.30pm; last order at 2pm) | Dinner (5.30pm – 11pm, last order at 10.15pm)
Reserve https://zuiyuxuan.zui-teochewcuisine.com/en/home or call 6788 3637
Web https://zuiyuxuan.zui-teochewcuisine.com/en/home
Gather together in a private room for your next family feast and celebration
We’re Singaporeans; when food and family come together, a good time is guaranteed for all. With their private rooms, these zi char outlets and restaurants offer an added level of enjoyment, where everyone, young and old, can feast and revel without inhibition. So if you’re put in charge of planning the next family celebration, you know where to book your room!
Information is accurate at time of publishing. Do get in touch with the outlets directly for updated terms and conditions.
Featured image: freepik
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