My wife and I will be visiting Singapore in May. I have heard a lot about chili crab. How hot and spicy is it. My wife is not overly fond of hot and/or spicy dishes.

I dont like my food too hot or spicy but the chilli crab is fine. A GREAT alternative is the black pepper crab on the corner of Joo Chiat Road (ask any cab driver to take you there its very famous) be prepared to queue but honestly its worth the wait. get there around 5.45/6pm

How does the black pepper crab compare. I'm not familiar with it. Does it have a strong pepper taste?

basically, the ingredients are the same (I was told by a local friend)except for that the chili crab uses red chili peppers while the black pepper crab, uses black peppers.

though i have not tasted the black pepper crab, i can imagine that the chili crab is better.

you can get it at east coast marina. yum!

I have tried both (chilli Crab at East coast Seafood centre) and Black pepper crab at Joo Chiat road). I prefered the black pepper crab. Not just becuae i dont really like very spicy food (although the chilli crab isn't that spicy) i just though the bp one allowed the crab flavour to come thru (and i dont normally like crab) the chilli crab had way too much sauce on for me and semed to drown out the crab.
You will not be dissapointed in the black pepper crab....

I believe the place at Joo Chiat Smeagol is referring to is Eng Seng.
Some nice photos to give you an idea. Most places would offer mantou to dip into the chilli crab gravy. Very nice.

http://food.rumspace.com/2007/07/08/...the-crab-nazi/

I haven't tried it even though I live nearby. The long queues put me off. Anyway I would prefer Mattar Road Seafood staff located at the Old Airport food center. Cabbies would know the place. They are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesday to prepare their special chilli sauce. Their barbequeued sting ray is very good.

i prefer the chili crab, as i find the bp too pungent.

km, thanks for another great website.