Singapore Expats

Does anyone have any suggestions on a good place to buy fresh crab? Besides NTUC? Ideally on the East Coast, and not something where I have to go to the docks at 4:30am before it sells out.

If I'm buying in bulk, I normally give these guys a call and pick 'em up around 8 in the morning. Prices are better than most places as he's a crab distributor. While Kovan isn't the closest place to East Coast, it's not all that far either (damn sight closer than the docks in Senoko where I sometimes go at 4:30 in the morning - cheaper still) But then I'm buying a couple of dozen mangrove crabs for steaming Chesapeake Bay style. For Chili Crab / Currys, Jim's is closer for say up to a dozen.

https://maps.google.com.sg/maps?ie=UTF8 ... l=SG&hl=en

zzm9980 wrote:Does anyone have any suggestions on a good place to buy fresh crab? Besides NTUC? Ideally on the East Coast, and not something where I have to go to the docks at 4:30am before it sells out.

Why NTUC is bad?

Sergei82 wrote: Why NTUC is bad?

No. but I'm sure there is better and their supply isn't consistant.

zzm9980 wrote:

Sergei82 wrote: Why NTUC is bad?

No. but I'm sure there is better and their supply isn't consistant.

Sheong Siong? They almost always have tanks in their stores.

Sheong Siong is a good choice and slightly less $$$ than NTUC. To get cheaper, some of the wetmarkets would be next on the list. Then comes the distributor's (Jim's is one) and then from the dock/port facilities ) cheapest.

Basically, depends on the quantum. This past weekend NTUC had Mangrove Crabs (really fresh) but they were selling them at $2.99/100gm. I was talking to a guy who was in line at the seafood counter, holding two crabs, that it was going to cost him around $31 for the two crabs. Sure enough, $31.8+ for two crabs. Too much.

Occasionally they will have some decent buys on Flower Crab (Blue Swimmers) But usually they are not "live" so I hesitate to buy as I'll only buy live crabs. Frozen crabs or iced crabs don't have a "died on" date, so I am leery of buying.

nakatago wrote:

zzm9980 wrote:

Sergei82 wrote: Why NTUC is bad?

No. but I'm sure there is better and their supply isn't consistant.

Sheong Siong? They almost always have tanks in their stores.

But .. not all crabs can be kept fully immersed in water .. and flower crabs are not sold alive ..

now, if you take Alaskan King .. well ..

Wait a second, I just saw flower crabs yesterday in NTUC - they were pretty much alive and moving!

Sergei82, were they in the tanks or on ice? Look at the price difference as well.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Sergei82, were they in the tanks or on ice? Look at the price difference as well.

In a tank, although almost completely dry one.
Of course, those that are already prepackaged packeged, can't stand a chance to survive.
But the fact is: I saw live flower crabs in Tampines Mall Fair Price.

Sergei82 wrote:

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Sergei82, were they in the tanks or on ice? Look at the price difference as well.

In a tank, although almost completely dry one.
Of course, those that are already prepackaged packeged, can't stand a chance to survive.
But the fact is: I saw live flower crabs in Tampines Mall Fair Price.

noooo... you didn't ..

I am going to run across the road to take a peek and if they are alive and kicking, gonna pick up a few for my wifey ..

Thanks for the info .. am yet to see flower crab alive in Singapore .. (though I have to admit I am not a crab-cook/eat person at home .. )

ecureilx wrote: noooo... you didn't ..

I swear I did. Honestly, it is there not every day (or every day, but they do not last until the evening), but periodically I keep seeing those - next to fish in ice.

Btw, you also live across the road from Tampines Mall???

Sergei82 wrote:

ecureilx wrote: noooo... you didn't ..

I swear I did. Honestly, it is there not every day (or every day, but they do not last until the evening), but periodically I keep seeing those - next to fish in ice.

Btw, you also live across the road from Tampines Mall???

No joy .. at 15.27 hours ZULU (or 07.27 hours GMT)

they can't be anymore dead !!!!!



Maybe you saw them as they were brought in ..

Sergei82 wrote:Btw, you also live across the road from Tampines Mall???

I work around here and live far away .. like live near Phad Thai

I saw normal ones - not in ice, in tank!
Looks like they're there not every day.

Sergei82 wrote:I saw normal ones - not in ice, in tank!
Looks like they're there not every day.

must mark my calender to do a hop and a trot to TM Fairprice and check one of the days again

No worries