Harry’s Singapore Chilli Crab Restaurant

There was a certain synchronicity about lunch today. I went to Spice I Am because… well just because. No need for a reason to go to that place.
But I didn’t have my usual lemongrass salad with prawns. I had stir fried prawns with cashews not realising it was a lunch dish which left me still a bit on the peckish side.
Walking back to work (slowly) I saw Harry’s Singapore Chilli Crabs new place in Elizabeth Street. Neat and new, nothing like the old place on the first floor of a pub. Thing is, The Spice I Am folks have moved in to where Harrys used to be with their new place catchingly called ‘Surry Hills Eating House’
Anyhow, the sign said «lunch from $ 6» so I popped in — you know, just to have a look…
Short story, I had another lunch. Salt and Pepper Calamari. I have a powerful love of Calamari and absolutely no willpower.
I really like the new place but the bloke behind the counter told me the regulars don’t like it because they loved the old place! I disagree. The new place is really nice and there are no dingy stairs. The chairs are comfy, the tables are more spacious and there’s an outdoor area. I also love it that Harry Lau has called himself «Chairman» and from the banquet menu you can choose the ‘Executive’, the ‘Senior Executive’ or the big daddy, …‘The Director’! I get the impression Harry is perhaps a little self important remembering that this is a crab joint, admittedly an old and important one. Its not BHP Billiton and last time I checked it was still not a listed stock.
The salt and pepper calamari was very good, but I am used to Phamish’s so only four stars at the moment. I will go back with some mates, and maybe Warren Buffet and a couple of Hong Kong Tai Pans, and get a big muddy (a bin of which greets you at the door) after which I will consider another star for one of Sydney’s most famous places.

Harry, life has treated you well! No more dirty carpet and pink, hole-​y table cloths, it’s only modern hanging lights, floor to ceiling windows and whiter than rice tablecloths now! Harry’s has moved a block up the road towards the nicer end of town and has upgraded its décor to boot, but the celebrity photos are still there and the quality of the food is just as good, so all’s well in the world.
All you need is the signature Singapore Chilli Crab (we got medium but totally could have gone for hot — it wasn’t even Sriracha level hot) and fried buns to mop up the sauce (or steamed if you’re trying to be good) and you’re set for a fun night of eating with friends. The other dishes… I’ve had much better at other Chinese restaurants but really, who needs eggplant or kang kong when you you can have an spring, a nut cracker and 3.6kg of crab!
Don’t come here for a catchup, this is so-tasty-I-can’t-talk kind of food, and the concentration needed to extract every last bit of meat from the shells only reinforces the need for silence.

I have been wanting to go to Harry’s ever since I first arrived in Sydney and walked past Harry’s massive grin with his outstretched arms, beckoning us crab-​lovers into his aptly-​named establishment. Fast forward a year and many longing glances at Harry’s sign later, and a Singaporean friend suggested a trip there as having great food. When I inquired about the prices, he admitted it was on the pricey side but worth it.
Four of us converged on a half-​empty Harry’s on a Sunday evening, which is curiously situated on top of a cheesy-​looking pub. The décor is pure Asian-​chintz. Have you ever seen the Chinese restaurant scene from A Christmas Story? I half expected the gaggle of staff to begin singing «fa ra ra» as we were seated.
We were promptly greeted with a bucket of Tiger beer on ice and ordered: salt and pepper calamari, two crabs: one salt and pepper style, one Harry’s Signature chilli style, and roti. The staff member informed us of the size of the crabs– between 2.1 and 2.6 kilos, and they were going for the market price of NINETY dollars a kilo!!! But, my friend did say it was pricey. I held my tongue.
First: the calamari. For $ 20, it was a massive portion, which four of us tucked into. Pretty tasty, not the best I’ve ever had but still quite good. Next, the staff came round with not just bibs, but full-​on plastic APRONS to protect our clothes.
Then: those CRABS! Yes, they were stupidly expensive. But holy crumbs these crabs were MASSIVE. And freaking tasty. The chilli sauce was quite spicy and sweet but you got used to the spice. The crab meat itself? Sweet, juicy, really just delicious. They were cooked perfectly and we happily and messily stripped the crabs of all of its expensive flesh with gusto. The roti was also great– buttery, crispy on the edges, and chewy on the inside.
The (big!) downside: Our bill was a whopping $ 550 for a few beers, calamari, bread and crab!
My advice: if you love, and I mean love, crab, and are willing to pay stupid amounts for it, this is the place for you. Super glad I finally went, but would need to save up for another year to go again anytime soon…

If you’re after a good fun and pretty inexpensive night out then Harrys Singapore Chilli Crab could be the place to go.
Your usual entrée and main course options are available but it’s Harry and his Singapore Chilli Crab that people visit this place for. (Yes, I agree it’s well named!).
Crab can be a hassle at the best of times but once you put on the bib (you’ll need it, trust me) and start cracking off the shell and sucking out the meat you’ll be immersed in the crab and have sauce all over your face to prove how enjoyable it can be.
Once you’re done and have cleaned yourself up you might want to indulge in some fruit or desert or maybe head down stairs to the pub and grab a drink. You may even combine all of the above!
It’s a good fun night out.