Chinese · Singapore hawker food
Zi Char
Zi Char is a Chinese hawker dish loved across Singapore. Here is what it is, what to order and where to try it, starting at Alexandra Village.
What is Zi Char?
Zi char means "cook and fry": home-style Chinese dishes cooked to order. A whole grouper steamed Cantonese style, with ginger, spring onion and hot oil, is a family-dinner favourite. Zi Char is part of Singapore's hawker culture, recognised by UNESCO in 2020 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Where to eat Zi Char in Singapore
Big family zi char dinners around Alexandra. In Hawker Fantasy, the Zi Char food gem is found at Alexandra Village.
Open Alexandra Village in Google Maps ↗
- What to order
- Cantonese-style steamed grouper with ginger, spring onion and light soy
- Tip
- Come in a group and share
We don't rank individual stalls. Every hawker centre has its own favourites, so ask the regulars and follow the queue.
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