While they serve the popular Singapore Chilli crab and pepper crab, Mellben Seafood is well known for its Claypot Crab with Vermicelli and Creamy Butter Crab. There are 2 outlets in Singapore. The original one is in Ang Mo Kio and a second one was opened in Toa Payoh. They do not belong to the same owners. The second Toa Payoh outlet was opened by the original Ang Mo Kio Outlet’s owner. The original Mellben Seafood Ang Mo Kio is the one that has made it to the Michelin Guide Singapore 2016.
We have eaten at the Toa Payoh outlet on many occasions, but have not tried the original one in Ang Mo Kio. Last month, when we were craving for the Mellben crabs again, we were unable to reserve a table at the Toa Payoh outlet. The Toa Payoh outlet now accept online reservation through Chope and so same day reservations on weekends are now almost impossible. So we decided to go check out the Mellben Seafood Ang Mo Kio outlet which does not take reservations on weekends and public holidays.
When we arrived at 6.15pm on that Saturday evening, there was already a long queue. They were orderly and efficient in their handing of the queue. The restaurant is really a neighborhood coffee shop that is not air-conditioned. Nonetheless it is well ventilated and so was quite comfortable. Even the quest atea was installed with fans.
We were given the menu while we waited, and they took our orders while we were still waiting for our table. It is to be noted that the menu at the Ang Mo Kio and Toa Payoh outlet does vary, but the 2 popular dishes, Claypot Crab With Vermicelli and Creamy Butter Crab are available at both outlet. Noteably, the Golden Sand crab which is essentially the creamy butter crab with added fried cereal is only available at the Toa Payoh outlet. We waited 30 mins for our table.
We ordered the Claypot Crab with Vermicelli with addition portion of vermicelli and soup, the creamy butter crab, 5 bamboo clams, beer battered fried chicken wings, venison fried with spring onions, garlic fried Kailan, and 2 servings of fried mantou (buns). After we were seated, we waited another 35mins for our food.
The bamboo clam was delicious. The beer battered chicken wings were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The venison was tender.
The Claypot crab vermicelli was very tasty. We love the crab as well as the soup. DH and I agreed that this dish is better than the one at the Toa Payoh outlet.
But their creamy butter crab, we felt was not as good as the Golden Sand crab served by the Toa Payoh outlet. Although the mantou goes very well with the creamy butter gravy. Overall, it was an enjoyable meal despite our long wait.
The bamboo clams cost SGD10 each while the crabs were at SGD70 per kg. Our 2 crabs cost SGD168. The surprisingly cheap item on our bill was DH’s big bottle of Carlsberg. It was only SGD8. The total bill for 5 of us came up to SGD320.
When we left just after 8pm, there was no more queue and there were in fact a few empty tables. So if you don’t want to queue and don’t mind having a late dinner, come after 8pm.