If you were to ask us what food reminds us of nights in Chongqing and Chengdu the most, we would instantly say a heaping plate of steamed crayfish covered in spices. Crayfishing is something of a holiday in China, with groups of friends gathered around tables, wearing gloves, popping beers, and peeling shell after shell of shrimp while laughing until the early hours of the morning.
That’s why when we heard about Xiahuang (虾皇小龙虾) here in Bugis, Singapore, we just had to check it out.
After one meal at this restaurant, we could see why Xiahuang has become one of the most popular crayfish spots in Singapore. Not only were the crayfish incredibly fresh, but the service was better than we could have imagined and there was much of the atmosphere you look for in a Chinese crayfish restaurant.
Will we go back?
Yes. Most definitely yes.
- About Xiahuang Crayfish
- What We Ordered
- Crayfish with Dry Chilli and Garlic (S$19.90)
- Oiled Braised Crayfish (S$29.90)
- Fresh Live Crayfish Make A Difference
- Bullfrog in Double Peppers (S$28.80)
- Sour Radish Stewed Old Duck Soup (S$18.80)
- Friendliest Service We Have Experienced
- Ambience
- Is Xiahuang Crayfish Worth The Price?
- Amazing customer service
- A Few Things To Know
- Final Verdict
About Xiahuang Crayfish
Xiahuang is a live crayfish (小龙虾) place, cooked in many styles of regional Chinese cooking. While lots of seafood places slap some crayfish onto their menu, at Xiahuang the crayfish definitely takes centre stage.
Some of their standard options include:
- Oil Braised Crayfish
- Garlic Crayfish
- Dry Chili Garlic Crayfish
- Hot and Spicy Crayfish
- Sour Pickled Vegetable Crayfish
- 13 Spice Crayfish
In addition to crayfish they also serve frog, soups, fish, and some Sichuan style stir fries that compliment the seafood well.
The atmosphere at Xiahuang is fun but not deafening. The walls are lined with traditional Chinese character signboards. Bright neon lights and quirky football themed decorations give it a playful vibe you can just kick back and enjoy with friends.
What We Ordered
We ordered four dishes on this visit:
- Crayfish with Dry Chilli and Garlic – S$19.90
- Oiled Braised Crayfish – S$29.90
- Bullfrog in Double Peppers – S$28.80
- Sour Radish Stewed Old Duck Soup – S$18.80
Quite unexpectedly, it made for a well-rounded meal of spicy mains with soothing soup.
* Prices as of July 2026 when this post is published
Crayfish with Dry Chilli and Garlic (S$19.90)
Probably our biggest surprise of the night.
Coming in at under S$20 we weren’t expecting much. In fact, this ended up being one of our favourite dishes.
The crayfish tasted noticeably fresh. The shell separated easily from the meat, which stayed succulent without getting chewy.
What really impressed us was how the crayfish were seasoned.
Rather than smothering the crayfish in sauce, Xiahuang loaded theirs with lots of chopped garlic and dried chillies. Each mouthful was filled with savoury goodness from the garlic while the chillies added aroma rather than heat.
Speaking of spice, it was sufficiently spicy to keep things interesting but never got to a point where you couldn’t taste the natural sweetness of the crayfish.
If you’re ever skeptical about eating at Xiahuang, we’d recommend coming here just for this dish.
Oiled Braised Crayfish (S$29.90)
If Xiahuang’s Crayfish with Dry Chilli and Garlic showcased the sweetness of crayfish, their Oiled Braised Crayfish was pure decadence.
The shell of each crayfish was glazed with a shiny brown sauce that had penetrated deep into every corner of the shell.
Once again, the meat stayed juicy while soaking up all that delicious flavour from the sauce.
In many places that serve braised crayfish, we’ve found the sauce can become overpowering and too salty. Thankfully, Xiahuang kept things well-balanced by giving their sauce a slight sweetness to complement the savoury flavours.
Word of warning: this option is definitely messier.
Don’t stress too much though because Xiahuang provides gloves and aprons so you can dig right in without worrying about stains.
Fresh Live Crayfish Make A Difference
We had mentally noted how fresh each dish we tried was. But it really came into focus when we ate the crayfish.
You know when crayfish have been frozen for too long. The meat is mushy and sticks to the shell.
None of that here.
The crayfish Xiahuang served us had meat that pulled away from the shell with little resistance. Each piece of meat was plump and juicy.
The freshness really made a difference if you’ve had poor quality crayfish elsewhere.
Bullfrog in Double Peppers (S$28.80)
Yes, crayfish may be the main draw here. But Xiahuang’s frog dishes are worth highlighting too.
Covered in a mountain of chopped green and red chillies, garlic cloves and aromatic sichuan peppercorns, Xiahuang’s Bullfrog in Double Pepper was as gorgeous to look at as it tasted.
Luckily, Xiahuang didn’t just throw this on the dish for show. The frog meat stayed tender while absorbing all the savoury flavours from the sauce.
Sichuan dishes often have that signature “mala” (numbing spicy) feel to them. Here, the combination of fresh chillies and peppercorns gave the dish that familiar, numbing sensation that builds with every bite.
If you love the numbing spice of authentic Chinese food, be sure to get this to enjoy along with the crayfish.
Sour Radish Stewed Old Duck Soup (S$18.80)
We’d spent so long binging on spicy crayfish and frog that a bowl of Sour Radish Stewed Old Duck Soup was welcome relief.
The broth had a rich yet clean taste like it had been cooking for hours.
Filled with tender chunks of duck, the soup was tangy from the preserved radish but not overwhelming.
Speaking of the duck, it was beautifully cooked and tender enough to fall off the bone.
Soup is often an afterthought at seafood restaurants.
Not here. This was good enough we’d return just for the soup even if Xiahuang didn’t serve crayfish.
Friendliest Service We Have Experienced
What we didn’t expect was the FRIENDLINESS of the service.
Staff constantly patrolled the floor taking away empty crayfish shells so our table didn’t get overcrowded.
If you’ve ever eaten crayfish you’ll understand how many shells rack up!
It’s these little things that really made dining here enjoyable.
Disposable gloves and aprons were provided before we began eating which just shows how knowledgable the restaurant are when it comes to what their customers need.
Staff were friendly, efficient and prompt with clearing plates whenever we requested it.
It’s the little things like this that go a long way.
Ambience
Xiahuang serves their food in a bright atmosphere that’s casual instead of stuffy.
Bright decorations, Chinese calligraphy, neon signs and quirky football themed memoranduems are some design choices that make Xiahuang feel fun without being too hectic.
Most tables seemed to be ordering multiple dishes to share which we fully recommend when visiting Xiahuang..
Is Xiahuang Crayfish Worth The Price?
With quality seafood that’s SUPER FRESH, huge servings and fantastic service we found Xiahuang offers pretty good value for money.
Our favourite dish, the Dry Chilli Garlic Crayfish is only S$19.90!
A lot of seafood places in Singapore overcharge for seafood restaurants that come frozen in comparison to Xiahuangs crave-worthy crustaceans.
All together with TOP notch service and thoughtful gestures like clearing our shells and supplying gloves and aprons made dining at Xiahuang feel like an experience.
Amazing customer service
- Server cleared away our shells as we ate
- Provided disposable gloves and aprons
- Casual vibe for groups to enjoy
- Pretty good value taking into consideration how amazing the food was.
A Few Things To Know
Eating crayfish takes time, its kind of a slow eat.
Service is quick but if your hungry and looking for a quick meal then maybe pick somewhere else.
Chilli oils are used so if your not into spicey food, pick your dishes wisely.
Getting to Xiahuang Crayfish @ Bugis
Address: 26 Liang Seah St, Singapore 189047
Overall Rating: 4.8/5
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Food Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) |
| Freshness | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) |
| Service | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) |
| Atmosphere | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) |
| Value for Money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) |
| Overall | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.8/5) |
FAQ
Is Xiahuang Crayfish worth visiting?
Yes. Xiahuang serves fresh live crayfish cooked with traditional Chinese flavours. They also have great service and affordable prices. Don’t forget to order the Dry Chilli Garlic Crayfish!
What flavours of crayfish should I get?
Our personal favourite was the Crayfish with Dry Chilli and Garlic. However the Oiled Braised Crayfish was a close second.
Are their dishes at Xiahuang spicy?
Yes, many of their dishes are inspired by Sichuan cuisine and have a medium spice level. However spice level will vary based on your order.
Do they give you gloves at Xiahuang?
Yes! Xiahuang provides diners with disposable gloves and aprons. They are a great touch as they allow you to enjoy your crayfish and not feel like a hot mess afterwards.
Is Xiahuang good for groups?
Yes! Xiahuang’s menu is perfect for sharing with your family or friends while you enjoy some quality time together.
Final Verdict
We entered Xiahuang looking for a good crayfish dinner. We left already planning what to order next time.
Firstly, the crayfish themselves are really fresh. The rest of the service – from attentive waiting staff to comfortable ambience to nice touches like gloves, aprons and shell clearing – just makes the experience that much better.
Our favourite dish has to be the Dry Chilli Garlic Crayfish, with the Oiled Braised Crayfish a close second. We also really enjoyed the Bullfrog in Double Peppers. The Sour Radish Stewed Old Duck Soup was the perfect pairing as well.
If you’re looking for good Chinese-style crayfish in Singapore, Xiahuang deserves a spot on your list.
We know we’ll be back craving crayfish again.
Xiahuang Crayfish Review Singapore (虾皇小龙虾) – Fresh Live Crayfish Worth Trying?