Diner Questions Dark Substance Found on Crab at Singapore Restaurant

A diner in Singapore has raised concerns after finding a dark, mud-like substance around the joints of a crab served in a bowl of crab rice vermicelli.

The diner said restaurant staff initially described the substance as dirt before later explaining that it was seafood paste used in the soup base.

According to the diner’s account, shared in the Complaint Singapore Facebook group, the restaurant’s chef examined the crab and said the residue was homemade seafood sauce that had collected around the shell and joints during cooking.

The restaurant offered the diner a replacement serving. However, the diner said a manager later showed them the seafood paste used in the soup and maintained that it was the same substance found on the crab.

The diner questioned the explanation, saying the colour of the paste shown by the restaurant did not appear to match the residue found on the crab. The diner also expressed frustration over what they described as different explanations given by staff during the incident.

In response to AsiaOne, Chicken Pie Kitchen & Don Signature Crab said the residue was localised around one joint and that its appearance could darken during cooking as seafood paste collected around the crab’s shell and joints.

The restaurant also clarified that an “after” photograph circulating online was not taken at the restaurant or by its staff. It said the image was taken after the crab pincer had been returned to the diner.

The restaurant said the original photograph was taken by its team before the chef examined the pincer and was subsequently provided to the diner at the customer’s request.

The diner later questioned why the restaurant had removed the residue from the crab claw instead of keeping a sample for further examination. The diner said this meant there was no remaining material that could be independently examined to establish what the substance was.

The incident has since prompted discussion about food preparation and customer communication, although there has been no independent confirmation that the substance was dirt or another contaminant.

The restaurant has maintained that the material was seafood paste that had darkened during cooking, while the diner continues to question that explanation.