Chinatown Seafood Restaurant, also known as "The Yellow Chair Restaurant," is a vibrant open-air dining establishment located at 51-53 Pagoda Street in the heart of Singapore's historic Chinatown district. Operating daily from 12:00pm to 12:30am with distinctive yellow chairs and outdoor seating, this bustling restaurant offers an authentic local dining experience just steps from Chinatown MRT Station. Renowned for their Singapore Signature Chilli Crab and exceptional Black Pepper Crab, the restaurant allows customers to personally select their preferred crab size before ordering. Beyond their famous crustaceans, the menu features deliciously steamed Xiao Long Baos filled with soupy meaty goodness, fresh and bouncy Shrimp Cereal, and traditional tze char dishes like Sambal Kang Kong. The loud, energetic atmosphere makes it ideal for groups and families, while the charming street views add to the authentic Chinatown experience. Popular with both locals and tourists, this establishment represents Singapore's renowned seafood culture, offering takeout, delivery, and dine-in options with advance reservations available. The restaurant's strategic location and reputation for quality seafood dishes make it a must-visit destination for those seeking authentic Singaporean flavors in Chinatown's bustling dining scene.
Terrible service, incredibly unfriendly staff (especially towards foreigners). Yes, the beer is cheaper here during happy hours but that doesn’t justify such behaviour…
There were plenty of free seats but was not allowed to choose which seat we wanted. We saw them even reject multiple foreigners by waving them away…
It is at a nice location though, very central in Chinatown but as a foreigner I would stay clear of this place! Great alternatives are the bars in Clarke Quay and Boat Quay. Bars there are a lot more welcoming and friendlier to all races :)
Positive Reviews
Wann :D
The seafood is delicious. There are many menus. This restaurant is crowded with both locals and tourists. The chilli crab menu is quite different from other restaurants in Singapore. The restaurant lets you choose the size of the crab before ordering. It is recommended to eat it with a bun. The shrimp cereal is also very delicious. The shrimp is very fresh and bouncy.
Aria Phuong Anh
Chinatown Seafood Restaurant is easy to find, located right in the heart of Singapore’s Chinatown. The restaurant has an open-air setup, making the space feel airy and casual. The food is generally flavorful and suits Asian palates well. I particularly enjoyed the chili crab, which was rich and satisfying. However, the fried rice was underwhelming and lacked depth. The fried buns were hot, crispy, and quite enjoyable. One downside was the service — it was slow and the staff seemed a bit impatient during busy hours. Overall, it’s a decent spot for local seafood, but don’t expect warm hospitality.
Robert Obłój
Very tasty cuisine. The music (western style) is a bit too laud - that is something restaurant could change and play more local music in the background. Neverless I truly recommend this place because the most important is food and this is delicious.
Winston Teo
Had an unforgettable dinner with my colleagues at the Chinatown Seafood Restaurant (51 Pagoda Street)! 🍴 The flavours were off the charts, starting with crispy anchovies and perfectly fried baby squid that were both super tasty and addictive.
We also enjoyed a delicious stir-fried beef dish, and of course, no meal is complete without the classic juicy 'xiao long bao'—so tender and full of flavour! 😋 The long beans were crunchy and cooked just right, and the pineapple fried rice added the perfect sweet and savoury touch to balance everything out.
One of my favourite dishes was the fried pork, with a thin, crispy outer layer and tender within with just the right amount of fat to bring out the flavour!
But the real star of the show was the spicy and tangy chilli stingray 🌶️, a true highlight that had us all coming back for more! We washed it all down with plenty of cold beer 🍻, making the night even more perfect. Great food, even better company, and memories that’ll last.
If you’re ever in the area, make sure to check out this spot for an amazing seafood feast!
#sedapsing #supershiok
Jinjuta Rattakarnkowiboon
The atmosphere is nice, you can see people walking by and enjoying themselves.
There are many types of food to choose from here, the taste is not bad.
Please come and try. I came alone, so it was a bit lonely LoL.