By The Table desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
Crab is the one Singapore dish where the menu often doesn’t show a fixed price. Restaurants usually charge by weight, quoted per 100g or per kilo, and many list it as “seasonal price” or “market price” because the cost of live mud crabs changes with supply. As of 2026, mud crab for chilli crab or black pepper crab typically costs about S$70 to S$150 a kilo before charges, with well-known seafood restaurants at the top end. A crab of about 1kg feeds two, and at restaurants showing “++”, 10% service charge and 9% GST add almost 20% to the bill.
Crab night should be a celebration, not a shock at the cashier. Here’s how to read the price and choose the right size.
Quick facts
- Pricing: usually by weight (per 100g or per kg); some places charge a flat price per crab.
- “Seasonal” or “market price”: the rate changes with supply, so ask before ordering.
- Crabs: usually live mud crabs, often from Sri Lanka, Myanmar or the Philippines.
- Size guide: about 1kg to 1.2kg for two; about 1.8kg to 2.2kg for three or four.
- Chilli crab: a sweet-spicy tomato and chilli gravy thickened with egg, created in Singapore in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Black pepper crab: drier, buttery and peppery; usually priced at the same rate per weight.
How seasonal price and weight work
| What the menu says | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| “Seasonal price” or “market price” | The rate per weight is set daily or weekly by supply and isn’t printed | Ask: “How much per 100g today?” |
| “S$X per 100g” | Multiply by 10 for the price per kilo | A 1.2kg crab is 12 × the 100g rate |
| “S$X per kg” | The full kilo price; a 900g crab is 0.9 × this | Ask the weight of the crab you’re offered |
| A price with “++” | Add 10% service charge, then 9% GST on the total | Multiply by about 1.2 |
| Weight categories | Some restaurants charge a higher rate for bigger crabs | Ask whether two smaller crabs cost less than one big one |
Crabs are weighed live, before cooking. It’s normal to ask to see the crab on the scale, and good restaurants are happy to show you.
How to order: what you can say
| You can say | What it means |
|---|---|
| “What’s the crab price today, per 100g?” | Gets the seasonal rate before you commit |
| “We’re four people. What size do you suggest?” | The staff will suggest one large crab or two smaller ones |
| “About one kilo, please” | Sets your budget by weight |
| “Can I see the weight?” | They’ll show the live crab on the scale |
| “Chilli crab” or “black pepper crab” | The style of cooking; same crab, different sauce |
| “Mantou, one basket” | Steamed or fried buns to mop up the chilli gravy; charged separately |
A worked bill
This example uses an illustrative rate of S$10 per 100g (S$100 a kilo), inside the 2026 range. Your restaurant’s rate will differ.
- Crab: a 1.2kg crab is 12 × S$10 = S$120.
- Service charge: 10% of S$120 = S$12, making S$132.
- GST: 9% of S$132 = S$11.88, making S$143.88 for the crab alone.
- Add the extras: mantou, rice, vegetables, drinks and table items such as wet towels and peanuts all add to the bill, each with ++ on top.
So a S$10-per-100g crab really costs about S$12 per 100g once charges are added. Chilli crab and black pepper crab are usually charged at the same rate, so pick the sauce you love.
The WahLiao Verdict
Always ask the rate per 100g and see the crab weighed before it goes to the kitchen; that one question removes the surprise. For two people, about 1kg is plenty with a couple of sides. For a group, ask whether two smaller crabs work out cheaper than one giant, and order chilli for one and black pepper for the other so everyone gets both.
Questions people ask
Who invented chilli crab?
The National Library Board credits Cher Yam Tian, who sold crabs with bottled chilli sauce from a pushcart from 1956, and chef Hooi Kok Wah, whose tangier 1963 version with egg became the common style.
Why isn’t the price on the menu?
Live crab prices move with supply, so many restaurants mark crab as seasonal or market price. Ask for today’s rate; staff should tell you before you order.
Is a bigger crab better value?
Not always. Some restaurants charge a higher rate per 100g for larger crabs. Compare the rate, not just the size.
Can I get chilli crab at a hawker centre?
Some zi char stalls in coffee shops and hawker centres cook crab, often for less than restaurants and usually without service charge. See how zi char ordering works.
Sources: National Library Board Infopedia, chilli crab history and crab types; Singapore Spirit, 2026 per-kilo prices and crab sizes; Miss Lobang, 2026 per-100g rates, crab weights and extra charges. Prices vary by restaurant and season. The Table explains; it does not endorse.
Read next: What ++ Means on a Singapore Menu · Zi Char Explained · Back to The Table
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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