Singapore is renowned for its culinary delights, and among the city-state’s beloved dishes is the famous chili crab. Tourists from all over the world flock to experience this mouthwatering treat.
However, for one Japanese tourist named Junko Shinba, what was supposed to be a delightful dining experience turned into a nightmare.
A Craving for Chili Crab
Junko Shinba and her family, along with some friends, visited Seafood Paradise at Clarke Quay on a warm August evening. They had just finished a sightseeing tour and stumbled upon the restaurant, hoping to satisfy their craving for Singapore’s renowned chili crab.
As they perused the menu, a waiter enthusiastically recommended a particular type of crab, priced at $30. However, there was a crucial detail missing from this recommendation—the fact that the price was based on the crab’s weight, specifically $26.80 per 100 grams.
The diners, unknowingly, chose the Alaskan King Crab for their chili crab dish. Alaskan King Crabs are known for their impressive size, often weighing between two and five kilograms. This choice would later lead to an unexpected bill.
A Shocking Bill
When the bill arrived, it sent shockwaves through the group. The chili crab dish alone cost an astonishing $938, and the total bill amounted to $1,322.37. In comparison, the other dishes they had ordered, such as Black Pepper Beef Fried Rice and Crisp-fried Yam Ring, were all reasonably priced at about $20 for each item.
Shinba remarked that her family and friends become lost for words when they got the bill, asking how could it cost for much for a dinner for four. She added that they were not informed of the crab’s weight before the dish was prepared for them.
They ended up not being able to finish the three plates full of crab and the other dishes.
Seeking Police Intervention
In her frustration, Shinba decided to call the police to resolve the matter. According to her, the police arrived at the restaurant to mediate the situation. To prove their innocence, the restaurant staff presented Shinba with a receipt from another customer who had ordered a similar dish, in order to prove that they were not dishonest in their service.
After a tense standoff, the restaurant manager offered the tourist a $107.40 “goodwill” discount for the meal, which Shinba’s friend used his credit card to make payment for. Shinba also brought the incident to the attention of the Singapore Tourism Board, and the matter was then relayed to the Consumers Association of Singapore.
Paradise Group responds
A spokesperson for Paradise Group, which owns Seafood Paradise, explained that their staff member had purportedly communicated the price and weight of the crab “clearly” to the diners.
They claimed that the staff members “even brought the whole Alaskan king crab to show them before preparing the dish for them, and when the customers wanted to make a police report, their manager helped them lodged one.