20 Fish Head Steamboat Joints in Singapore For Fresh Fish and Um

Foodies in the east will not be strangers to Hai Chang Fish Head Steamboat. While Tampines Round Market & Food Centre is mostly quiet at night, business is bustling at Hai Chang as it serves up portions of its fish head steamboat. The family-owned business has been around since 2006 and has built up a loyal following. You have three types of fishes to choose from here – pomfret, red snapper and red grouper.

Address: 137A Tampines St. 11, #01-03, Singapore 522137
Opening Hours: 5:30–9 pm Wed to Sun. Closed Mon & Tues

Touted to be the oldest fish head steamboat in Singapore, Nan Hwa Chong dates back to 1927 and has been in operation for over 90 years! Serving up comforting broth cooked with charcoal and made from an original family recipe, you have four fishes to choose from here – pomfret, song fish, snapper and grouper. Add-ons like cabbage, mushrooms and sliced yam are also available!

Address: 812/814/816 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198779
Opening Hours: 11 am–12 am daily

Whampoa Keng Fish Head Steamboat is a renowned spot for fish head steamboat in Singapore, thanks to its addictive broth which is made with over 30 ingredients. The crowd is often a happy mix of tourists and locals alike. Pomfret is a popular option at this Teochew-style steamboat, but if you’re not feeling it, the meaty red garoupa or sliced batang fish will taste great too!

Address: 556 Balestier Rd, Singapore 329872
Opening Hours: 11 am–11:30 pm daily

Since its founding in 1983, Tian Wai Tian has expanded to three outlets in Singapore – a testament to its popularity. Simmered over charcoal for hours, the natural flavours of the fresh ingredients really come through. The fish head steamboat can be served with pomfret, red grouper or bighead carp, but do try to head down early if you’re planning on getting the pomfret as the crowd favourite often sells out as early as 6.30 pm!

Address: Multiple outlets

Located in an unassuming coffeeshop, Chang Long is a lesser-known brand as compared to the other bigger players on the list, but those in-the-know sing high praises of their fish head steamboat. The fragrant soup base is delightfully smoky and comes with a generous serving of fresh sliced grouper fish, fried fish meat, cabbage, yam, and crown daisy.

Address: 122 Bedok North Street 2, Singapore 460122
Opening Hours: 11 am–11 pm daily

With a history dating back to 1919, Ah Orh is quite possibly among the oldest restaurants in Singapore. Enjoy your fish head steamboat with either pomfret or grouper slices, both freshly sourced from the market every single day! The broth here is made according to a secret recipe, and it’s tangier than usual thanks to the addition of ingredients like sour plum and yam. Simmered over charcoal, the rich broth has a distinct and robust smokiness that you can’t find at many fish head steamboat places.

Address: Multiple outlets

Located in Bugis, Xin Yuan Ji is already famous for its fish soup, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that they also serve up piping hot and equally delish fish head steamboat. Take your pick from red snapper or red garoupa. The thick slices of fish make a compelling case to come back time and time again.

Address: 31 Tan Quee Lan St, #01-01, Singapore 188117
Opening Hours: 11:30 am–11 pm daily

Xin Heng Feng Guo Tiao Tan is a stall with two identities – by day, it’s a bustling noodles stall; by night, it transforms into a fish head steamboat outlet. Opening at 5pm, some are even at the stall before it even opens to be the first in line, and once business gets going you can expect an hour’s long wait! The charcoal pot comes packed to the brim with a generous serving of fish slices, yam, seaweed, and cabbage, all in a flavour-packed broth that’s richly flavoured.

Address: 91 Whampoa Drive, #01-14/15, Singapore 320091
Opening Hours: 4–10 pm Wed to Mon. Closed on Tues

136 Hong Kong Street is known for their unique tze char dishes such as the Claypot Bee Tai Mak and Boss Bee Hoon, but they also serve great fish head steamboat with sliced goby fish or red grouper. Expect tender fish meat, and a light, milky broth that goes great with a simple bowl of rice!

Address: 1 Upper Aljunied Ln, Singapore 360001
Opening Hours: 10:30 am–2:30 pm, 5–10:30 pm Sun to Fri, 4:30–10:30 pm Sat

Another great option for fish head steamboat in Whampoa Market is Deli (Jie). You have four fishes to choose from – pomfret, red grouper, red snapper and batang. A portion is generous with firm fish meat and can easily feed up to three. The light and sweet fish broth is also dressed up with Chinese napa cabbage, and yam slices for added texture.

Address: 90 Whampoa Dr, Singapore 320090
Opening Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm daily

Hualong has two outlets where you can get your steamboat fix. Whichever you go to, you can look forward to three fishes to choose from – pomfret, red grouper and red snapper – starring a rich broth made with no MSG. They are simply slow-cooked with fish bones, vegetables, anchovies, yellow beans, sole fish, dried shrimps, sour plum and dang gui for umami, depth and sweetness.

Address: Multiple outlets

Meng Kee Seafood Fish Head Steamboat

Meng Kee’s good ol’ tasty fish head steamboat is a great idea on a cold rainy day. Located in Pasir Panjang Food Centre, don’t miss this stall that offers red grouper, pomfret and batang fish slices, as well as a seafood version! The soup is sweet while the fish is incredibly fresh. Other tze char dishes are also worth a try! 

Address: 121 Pasir Panjang Rd, #01-30/31, Singapore 118543
Opening Hours: 5–10:45 pm Thurs to Mon. Closed Tues & Wed

Huats Kee quickly fries their fish in a blazing hot wok before it is put into a fragrant stock of pork, chicken and fish bones. The result is a beautifully dense, cloudy soup with rich umami seafood flavours. Dried sole fish powder is also added to it for a more robust broth! Served in a classic charcoal steamboat pot, Chinese cabbage, silky tofu, seaweed and tomatoes are also added to it for some variation and texture.

Address: 200 Turf Club Road, #01-05 The Grandstand, Singapore 287994
Opening Hours: 11 am–3 pm, 5–9:30 pm daily

Located at the rooftop of an industrial building in Bedok, this is hardly the place one would expect to find good fish head steamboat. Yet, there seems to always be a crowd at Tian Tian Lai! The broth itself is thick and rich in flavours. They are generous with their ingredients, which includes fresh fish, yam slices and Chinese cabbage.

Address: 3018 Bedok North Street 5, #06-10, Singapore 486132
Opening Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm daily

Mediacorp celebrity Ben Yeo has partnered up with his cousin and recently opened a tze char stall selling charcoal fish head steamboat. The stall has quickly gained popularity and the wait can be up to two hours long! The broth here is crafted with over 10 ingredients, and has a mouthwatering smoky-savoury-sweetness. Complete with your choice of giant grouper or red grouper, vegetables and dried sole fish, this dish is umami and comforting!

Address: 5 Kallang Pl, Singapore 339152
Opening Hours: 1–10 pm daily

At Meng Seafood Steamboat, your choice of pomfret, red grouper or red snapper arrives separately, so you can add it to the soup as and when you like. The broth is sweet and has an appetising herbal note, however the fish slices are thin and can disintegrate easily in the charcoal pot. The special garlic chilli comes highly raved and it’s super addictive!

Address: 530 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, #01-2381, Singapore 560530
Opening Hours: 11 am–12:30 am daily

Chef Patrick proudly traces his lineage to his grandfather who brought Teochew dishes over to Singapore’s shores in the early days of the nation’s independence. Indulge in Lai Huat Signatures’ fish head steamboat which is boiled over charcoal, resulting in a savoury, smoky and rich flavour. Served with the freshest fish slices and a variety of greens, it is definitely a wholesome dish!

Address: Multiple outlets

Located directly outside Buangkok MRT, residents of the nearby Compassvale and Sengkang East would be pretty familiar with Teck Ee Seafood Fish Head Steamboat. Serving simple tze char dishes that are done well, regulars often come for their fish head steamboat. Simmered for hours, the flavours of the fresh ingredients impart a slightly sweet tang. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area!

Address: 277C Compassvale Link, #01-13, Singapore 543277
Opening Hours: 12:45–10:45 pm daily

Bugis Fish Head Steamboat does not disappoint. Featuring a robust broth that you can tell was boiled over long hours, the fish head chunks are sweet, meaty and fresh, and you will no doubt ask for a refill. Other standout dishes include the BBQ Sotong Squid, Crab Bee Hoon and Mongolian Pork Ribs. You will definitely leave here with a very satisfied belly!

Address: 63 Kallang Bahru, Singapore 330063
Opening Hours: 11 am–11 pm daily

Tucked away in Jurong, Jia Wang Fishhead Steamboat serves up yummy old-fashioned home-cooked dishes. The charcoal steamboat fish head is one of their signature dishes, featuring an umami broth that is packed with your choice of small or large fish head and a generous amount of vegetables. Expect a crowd especially during weekends!

Address: 221 Jurong East Street 21, #01-875, Singapore 600221
Opening Hours: 3–10 pm daily