Hairy Crab Season Is Here — 10 Restaurants & Online Stores To Get Them
Steamed hairy crabs, crab roe xiao long bao, and more delicious ways to enjoy the crustacean
By Michelle Lee SM -
What is a hairy crab and what is the best way to enjoy it?
Hairy crabs, also known as Chinese mitten crabs, are freshwater crabs recognised by their distinctive furry claws. These crabs are seasonal, typically available between September and November, and especially coveted for the succulent meat and the rich roe of the female crab.
So, what's the best way to enjoy these exquisite crustaceans? The answer lies in simplicity: steam them. This method allows the natural flavours and aroma of the crab to shine through. Because the crab is said to be “cooling” for the body, it is recommended to balance it with something that is “heaty”. Ginger is known to be ‘heaty’, so having the crab with ginger tea is a good combination.
We've rounded up a list of places to get your fix of hairy crabs in Singapore before the season's gone.
Michelin-starred restaurant Shang Palace is presenting this autumn delicacy from Taihu Lake in a myriad of ways to showcase its rich, yet delicate flavours. A six-course set menu ($268++ per person, min. two diners) features dishes like Sauteed Egg White with Hairy Crab Roe served in Crispy Spring Roll Skin, Braised Bird’s Nest Broth with Hairy Crab Roe and Bean Curd, and Steamed Glutinous Rice with Hairy Crab Roe served in a Basket.
Guests enjoy a complimentary bottle of eight-year-old Chinese yellow wine (375ml) with every two sets ordered.
The a la carte menu is brimming with crustacean dishes too. Enjoy the Steamed Hairy Crab on its own to savour the fresh natural flavours, or dive into dishes like Braised Winter Melon Imperial Bird’s Nest Ball with Hairy Crab Roe and the Sauteed Egg White with Conpoy topped with Hairy Crab Roe.
Available daily for lunch and dinner until Nov 30, 2024. Call 6213 4398, email dining.sls@shangri-la.com or visit its website for reservations or more information.
Shang Palace is at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Rd, Singapore 258350.
The Chinese fine dining restaurant has unveiled a new seasonal menu dedicated to hairy crabs that’s available till Nov 24, 2024, and spotlights crustaceans from Taihu Lake using a mix of traditional and innovative culinary techniques.
Kickstart your experience with the inventive Avocado & Crab Meat Tartare served in Crispy Shell ($28++ for six pieces) or the Cucumber Jelly with Hairy Crab Roe & Crab Meat ($38++ for six pieces).
Then move on to mains like Traditional Steamed Hairy Crab With Perilla Leaves ($148++), and the intriguing Baked Hairy Crab with Lemongrass, served with Longan & Osmanthus Ginger Tea ($148++). Both are served with osmanthus and wolfberry ginger tea.
For bite-sized morsels, there is hairy crab-themed dim sum too (available during lunch) — Crispy Pancake With Hairy Crab Roe & Shredded Radish, and Beancurd Skin Rolls Stuffed With Hairy Crab Roe (each at 18++ for three pieces).
Available till Nov 24, 2024. 11.30am to 2pm (last seating at 1.30pm for lunch), and 6pm to 9.30pm (last seating at 8.30pm) for dinner. Yì by Jereme Leung is at #03-02 Raffles Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 188719. Visit its website for reservations.
Cantonese restaurant Man Fu Yuan is shining the spotlight on crabs from Yangcheng Lake, prized for their rich roe and sweet, tender flesh.
Highlights include the Steamed Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crab (from $69.80++ per crab), as well as other crab-centred dishes like the Boiled Seafood Soup with Hairy Crab Meat ($48++), and the Braised Tofu with Hairy Crab Meat and Crab Roe ($88++).
For heartier sharing plates, go for the Braised Rice with Hairy Crab Meat, Crab Roe and Superior Pumpkin Sauce, and Braised Rice with Hairy Crab Meat, Crab Roe and Superior Pumpkin Sauce (both at $88++).
Available till Nov 30, 2024. Man Fu Yuan is at InterContinental Singapore, Level 2
80 Middle Rd, Singapore 188966. Visit its website for reservations or more information.
If it's the classic you're going for at Cantonese restaurant Yan, then go for the Steamed Hairy Crab ($98++ per 220g), served with ginger and vinegar.
Order it on its own, or enjoy it as part of a tempting six-course menu ($198++, min. two persons) that's specially curated for hairy crab season. This stars other dishes such as a slow-cooked Truffle Broth with Diced Seafood, e Crispy Dried Tofu with Hairy Crab Meat and Roe topped with Minced Chinese Ham and Vegetables, and Stewed Noodles topped with Shrimps, Eggs, and Roasted Duck.
For another crab-focused dish, get the Sauteed Pea Shoots with Hairy Crab Meat and Roe ($48++ per portion) from the a la carte menu.
And if you like, the restaurant is offering an 8-Year-Old Shao Xing Rice Wine ($78++ per 750ml bottle) to go with the spread.
Available daily for dine-in at Yan during lunch and dinner (11.30am to 2.30pm, and 6pm to 10pm) till Nov 30, 2024. Call 6384 558 or e-mail reserve@yan.com.sg, or visit its website for reservations or more information.
Goodwood Park Hotel’s Min Jiang and Min Jiang at Dempsey is wooing diners with stellar set menus and a la carte options that shine the light on the crustacean, exclusively available from now till Nov 17, 2023.
New items to feast on this year: Baked Hairy Crab with Chef’s Homemade Spiced Sea Salt at Min Jiang, and Braised Meat Ball stuffed with Crab Meat with Vegetables and Stir-fried Crab Meat and Egg White with Whole Abalone Min Jiang at Dempsey.
Past crowd-favourites have also made a return, from the Steamed Hairy Crab with Glutinous Rice served in Bamboo Basket (Minjiang) to the Steamed Hairy Crab with Ginger Rice Wine (Minjiang at Dempsey).
Six-course set menus are available at both outlets, as well as a la carte dishes.
A six-course menu starts from $168++ per person (min. two persons) at both Minjiang and Minjiang at Dempsey. For reservations, call Min Jiang at 6730 1704 or click here, or call Min Jiang at Dempsey at 6774 0122 or click here.
Specially procured from the Yangcheng Lake in Jiangsu Province, China, savour the delicate flesh and creamy roe of the hairy crab in a variety of a la carte dishes at Crystal Jade's group of restaurants.
From fine-dining outfits Crystal Jade Palace, Crystal Jade Golden Palace and
Crystal Jade Pavilion, you'll be sampling Hairy Crab Steamed with Shiso Leaf or Drunken With Chinese Wine (both at seasonal prices), or the crowd-favourite Hairy Crab Roe Xiao Long Bao ($16.80 per piece, min. 2 pieces), brimming with umami-rich crab roe stock.
Depending on which Crystal Jade fine-dining restaurant you go to, you can dive into other specialties like Steamed Scallop with Chinese Wine & Chicken Oil topped with Hairy Crab Roe (Crystal Jade Palace), and juicy Pan-fried Hairy Crab & Pork Teochew
Dumpling ($28 for six pieces) at Crystal Jade Golden Palace.
And over at Crystal Jade's casual dining restaurants, you can expect plates like Hairy Crab Roe & Chinese Yam Congee at Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen, as well as Hairy Crab Roe with Fresh Lily Bulb & Sweet Pea on La Mian (Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao).
Available at Crystal Jade Palace, Crystal Jade Golden Palace, Crystal Jade Pavilion, Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen and Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, from now till Dec 15, 2024. Visit its website for more information.
Cantonese fine-dining restaurant Madame Fan's star of its hairy crab menu is the Salt-Baked Hairy Crab ($88++ per piece), which sees each crustacean stir-fried in hot salt then baked to maintain its natural sweetness.
You can also order snacks like the Hairy Crab Roe & Hairy Crab Meat Wonton ($38++ per portion), or the Hairy Crab Roe & Hairy Crab Meat Roll, Chilli Oil ($28++ per roll).
For something comforting, go for the Poached Tofu Rice with Hairy Crab Braised Fish Maw with Hairy Crab Roe, Golden Sauce | $48++ per person. Roe & Hairy Crab Meat ($28++ per person), which has handcrafted seafood beancurd and lotus leaf-steamed rice drizzled with a secret crab roe sauce , and a touch of 20-year Gu Yue Long Shan. Another indulgent carb option is the Inaniwa Noodles with Hairy Crab Roe, Hairy Crab Meat and Black Truffles ($38++ per person).
Available till Nov 30, 2024. Madame Fan is at 32 Beach Rd, The NCO Club, Singapore 189764. Visit its website for reservations or more information.
Get your hairy crab fix at Imperial Treasure's selected restaurants with sumptuous dishes centred around the crustacean.
What you can look forward to: Silky smooth Braised Beancurd with Hairy Crab Roe, and for noodles, there's the Braised Thick Noodles with Hairy Crab Roe. Other must-tries are the returning Braised Flour Skin with Hairy Crab Roe and the Steamed Egg White with Hairy Crab Roe for comforting, robust flavours and textures.
There are also outlet exclusives, including Braised Pea Sprout with Hairy Crab Roe (Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine), Sauteed Hairy Crab Roe and Sauteed Shrimp with Hairy Crab Roe (Imperial Treasure Fine Shanghai Cuisine), Braised Spinach Beancurd with Hairy Crab Roe at Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck (Asia Square)
Available at:
Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine (Marina Bay Sands, Level 2 Dining)
Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck (Asia Square, Paragon, Jewel Changi)
Imperial Treasure Fine Shanghai Cuisine (Takashimaya S.C.)
Imperial Treasure Cantonese Cuisine (Great World)
Visit Imperial Treasure's website for the list of participating outlets and more information.
If you prefer to savour the delicacy in the comfort of your home, check out online delivery stores like Hairy Crab At Home, which flies its crabs in from Lake Tai.
The live crabs are sold in bundles of four, six and eight, and you can choose between male or female crabs. With each order, you'll also get ginger tea, perilla leaves (for steaming) and vinegar. The crabs come bound, and there are cooking instructions available on the website.
Priced from $248 for four crabs. Delivery is available islandwide, excluding Jurong Island. Visit its website to order or Instagram page for more information.
This homegrown company stocks various meats and seafood and subsequently added the hairy crab to its range of offerings. Its crustaceans are caught from either Yang Cheng Lake or Lake Tai.
You can choose from several bundles, with prices starting from $258 for six female crabs (175g) each. You'll also get an exclusive gift box, deshelling tools, dried perilla leaves, vinegar and ginger tea.
Delivery is free for orders above $150. Visit its website to pre-order.