The challenge: to find a restaurant in Sydney that has been open since the 1980s that we hadn’t yet visited. A harder task than one would think. We needed somewhere to eat that matched Viggo’s car-a mint condition black Trans Am a la Kit from Knight Rider. I asked friends and Teena came up with the idea of Harry’s Singapore Chilli Crab in Surry Hills and it was an excellent suggestion. Open since 1982, the year that Knight Rider started, it seemed entirely fitting.
There is a large illuminated sign with Harry’s face on the outside and a flashing neon red open sign. Attached to the Triple Ace Bar the entrance is to the left hand side. There are signs with vivid pictures of the dishes and people – not celebrities but regular people from companies such as Arnotts and British Airways. I chuckle, I can imagine my dad saying “Look they work at big companies like Arnotts and British Airways, they must be a big deal.”
We walk up the stairs and there are hard shelled crabs in Styrofoam boxes in the foyer. There are pictures of celebrities lining the glory wall (I’m afraid I just recognise The Veronicas but I’m hopeless at sports people). The crabs sit there their pincers tied up with pink plastic twine, their eyes occasionally twitching and darting around. Sorry Crabby, you are cute but you are also the subject of the restaurant’s name and I suspect you’re not feeling very lucky tonight…
Viggo and Louise are sitting waiting for us. The room looks like a cross between a home crossed with operatic set style curtains in various places. The restaurant is full of people this Saturday night. We notice that Viggo has an ice bucket with six beers in it. “Thirsty?” we inquire laughing but no, apparently diners that order beer are offered an ice bucket of six cold bottles and a bottle opener so that they can help themselves whenever they want.
Dining during Chinese New Year means that two raffle tickets sit on the table. Louise explains that these are for the draw where they give out prizes and they didn’t need to buy the tickets, they were just given out. The menu is a laminated two side menu, one with set meals or platters (the top row looks a bit pedestrian whilst the bottom row looks better with the mud crab options). But of course you can’t really go here without trying the mud crab cooked in Singapore chilli sauce which is a sweet, spicy and slightly vinegary thick sauce. We order a range of dishes including a medium sized mud crab-around 2.5 kilos. Cocktails include every fruity cocktail you could think of as well as a “blonde porn star” and “dirty carpet disco” along with their Singapore Sling in a jug or a glass.
Salt and pepper calamari $20.90
The salt and pepper calamari comes out first and it has a good amount of seasoning as well as chilli, green onions and finely diced garlic on top. The calamari is tender and crunchy but not greasy at all.
Gado Gado salad $12
There’s quite a long wait and then the salad appears. And I must admit that I was very worried when I saw that this was our Gado Gado salad. Because as you can see it is a mixed green leaf salad with coins of cucumber and a sweet satay sauce. There’s none of the other adornments of a gado gado salad and the only thing I can think is that this is what Mr NQN might make if left to his own devices to make a gado gado salad.
Singapore Chilli Crab $197.50
We are given our implements, a pair of sturdy claw crackers, a double sided picker and a thin plastic apron to protect our clothes. The crab came out without the usual inspection process where you see the crab and take stock of how it looks. Nevertheless we can’t complain as the crab is enormous with two gigantic pincers and a large carapace filled with meaty, succulent pieces. The sauce is rich and thick with a sweetness and when we ordered it they asked us how spicy we wanted it. We said medium to hot and a rating of 7 although I think this was perhaps more an 8 which I’m not complaining about as I really liked the heat.
Roti $6
Crispy roti were ordered to go with the crab and these came out as two rounds cut in half and they actually go quite nicely with the crab although noodles are always my favourite.
Half peking duck pancake (first course, six pancakes) $38.80
Each half a peking duck comes with six pancakes with the pancakes thin, eggy and crepe-like with small squares of duck meat. It’s not crispy as befits a Peking duck but they’re not bad. Although I don’t think any of us gave these a second glance as we had the crab present.
Sang choy bau (second course, any more than two are $5.50 each)
The sang choy bau came out later too and it is worth noting that there are only two sang choy baus given per half peking duck – extras are $5.50 each and this wasn’t mentioned to us. There is a lot of filling in these although there is the strong flavour of diced celery which I found overwhelmed the rest of the flavours.
Harry comes out and hands a package to each table. “Everyone’s a winner in the draw!” he says and offers us a gift wrapped package. And what should be inside?
Why a pack of Arnott’s Gaiety biscuits!
Now we should have perhaps heeded the warning, when a waitress pulled back the dusky pink velvet curtain next to our table and took a Sara Lee strawberry cheesecake from the freezer. Desserts are not a strong point it must be warned and whilst they never really are at Chinese restaurants, they really get a little strange here.
“Yummy Ice cream cake” $5.80
“Is that… a Monaco bar?” I ask prodding the bar that looks just like one except covered in chocolate sauce squiggles. Yes it is, not exactly a cake and well what can I say, it really was a Monaco bar covered in not at all great chocolate sauce. I think they should have called a spade a spade and called it a Monaco bar on the menu instead of yummy ice cream cake as you can’t help but be disappointed.
Iced Lychee $5.80
Mr NQN ordered these in the hope that this would be lychee sorbet but alas no, this was about a third of a tin of lychees on a plate of ice cubes.
Deep fried ice cream $8.80
Viggo fared better with the deep fried ice cream with his choice of chocolate sauce. It has a crunchy outer layer and again that not great chocolate sauce but at least it was what we expected. We stared out the window and looked at the Colombia convenience store and figured we would have had better luck there. In fact after we left Harry’s, we crossed the road to check out what Colombia had and not only did it have Colombian cheese bread mixes, guava paste, crackers and all sorts of Colombian goodies, there was a drool worthy selection of American and British candy. A case when the unexpected was a good thing 
.
So tell me Dear Reader, do you usually order dessert at Chinese restaurants or do you skip it? And if you do, what do you order?
And here is today’s wallpaper for Wallpaper Wednesday! It is the raspberry and coconut layer cake from yesterday! xxx
Harry’s Singapore Chilli Crab
198 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: +61 (02)9281 5565
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71 Comments | Add your own
What an awesome place…and the crabs look so tasty…I would be happy with the crab and the fried ice cream
Thanks for sharing this post and hope you are having a great weel Lorraine
*giggle* those desserts are too funny!
Haha I laughed at the Gaiety biscuits. I always thought as a kid they were never as good as TimTams. However now I prefer Gaiety.
What a great find…aprons are a must for that crab I’m sure!
That must have been quite a feast but desserts definitely aren’t a strong point at an Asian restaurant. But if I take my kids (even the older ones), we’re not getting out of there without ordering the deep fried ice cream. And I think I grew up on Sara Lee’s frozen desserts coming out of the freezer.
i love how they provided you guys with disposable aprons. hehe.
Oh gosh, that kind of sums up my experience in a lot of 1970s-1980s Chinese restaurants. People like my parent-in-laws love it, but people like me have moved on to bigger and better things. Though I’ve got to say, every so often hubby and I do say to each other that we’re in the mood for some old school Chinese. Luckily we have a really good one near us called Jason’s Kitchen in Cammeray.
It sounds fun despite the desserts. I normally skip dessert at Chinese restaurants, but would order the deep fried icecream, given a choice.
Oh dear! I used to work in Campbell street and know Harry’s but I never actually tried his chilli crab. They used to do a chilli squid which was nice and I used to have it for lunch sometimes. I must say though after your review I don’t think I would visit and would prefer to get my chilli crab fix somewhere else.Those desserts…I thought the Monaco bar was bad until I read about the iced Lychees… geeze!
My siblings absolutely adore the singapore crab here. Sadly I’ve not been so can’t judge for myself. Boo Hoo. The food does look quite “homey” here and comforting! Ahhh what a good feed this would be in this weather!
Always skip desserts at Asian restaurants. They just don’t do desserts well!
We had Singapore Chilli Crab at a restaurant at Neutral Bay and absolutely loved it! Wish I could afford to eat it more often.
Haha those desserts cracked me up! I agree, they should have just called it what it was. Now on to the crab: wow that nipper would be alllll mine. It looks amazing.
We rarely bother with dessert in Chinese restaurants – it is generally an exercise in disappointment. And it gives us an excuse to look for something sinful elsewhere.
If we make it as far as dessert we only ever have lychees with icecream, deep fried icecream or red bean paste with icecream.
I realise you were looking for a place you havent been before but I cant go past Golden Century. Their chilli mud crab is gorgeous.
We do generally tend to avoid desserts at Chinese restaurants BUT if there’s deep fried ice cream the hubby must try it (and then always declared that it’s not as good as Dumpling King’s).
haha.. chinese places can be quite awful when it comes to dessert! especually the chcooatle sauce which i swear could be no frills chocolate sauce or something
Love the necessary implements for crab eating
And love love love mud crab
What an experience! I’m still laughing about the iced lychees. That is so funny. I agree they should say, “our meals are delicious but our desserts are really crap.” LOL
Thanks for a fun post.
I am always worried about the crabs being humanely killed, especially in places where you can see them alive and select which one you want. How do they have time to dispatch the crab via the freezer?
I only have dessert in Chinese restaurants when it is mango pancakes at yum cha!
Hi Di-You know, that’s a really good point. I never thought of that!
Desserts at Asian restaurants aren’t always crap though- with a bit of luck one can sometimes find sticky black rice, coconut milk and palm sugar. My local Malay noodle kitchen in Newcastle makes it, as does the Balinese place in Hamilton. But I agree more effort should generally be made. The glutinous rice balls in ginger syrup are so easy to make, so I’d expect to see them but never do.
Chinese Desserts = PASS!
I would forgive a lot of things for that crab! Desserts are so hit and miss, I love to order mungbean soup/paste or sticky rice cakes if they have them, otherwise I don’t bother. LOve the TShirt
The poor crabs
No thanks!
The food in this almost retro place looks absolutely delightful, beginning with my favourite of calamari! The sang choi bau also appealed with its thick sauce! But I must admit to a double-take at the price of the crab: perhaps it is just as well I live in the country away from such temptations
! And since I hardly ever order dessert in a Western restaurant, Eastern sweets hold but little interest 
!
So was the crab totally amazing and forgave all the rest for being average or in case of dessert below average? How did it compare to other Singapore chilli crabs you have eaten?
Sounds weird but I think my hubby would love that iced lychee for dessert as he always makes one at home for dessert or snacks while watching Tv. And he can finish the whole tin on his own.
I LOVE Harry’s! It is pricey but it is soooooo good!!
Yum, great memories of a fabulous meal while staying in Sydney. Enjoyed the chilli crabs and left so full but happy! Would love to return some day…living in the US, so probably not soon
That is hilarious — it does look like they just unwrapped an ice cream sandwich from the supermarket and drizzled chocolate sauce on it. HAH. Nope, I don’t order dessert at Chinese restaurants — unless it’s dim sum, and then I MUST have a custard tart.
Lorraine, you have to make and share with us ‘the recipe for our own Monaco Bars please!!!!
Oh LOL, those desserts are just too funny. Everything else looks great though – I’ve often wondered about this place.
You definitley don’t go to Harry’s for dessert that’s for sure! I much prefer to eat the delicious Singapore mud crab & roti with my plastic apron on & crab utensil in hand and you are transported to YUMMY Heaven!!! Ahhh Harry’s a real blast from the past I love it!!!!
wowzers! $200 for chilli crab! I remember eating it in Singapore for about $25AUD all you can eat!!!
Has no one here had desert at Spice Temple? Fantastic!
Oh I had to giggle at those desserts! Blatantly ripping off an ice cream bar and a tin of lychees lol. I never order desserts at Chinese restaurants and this post cements the reasons why
BuBbles
x.
If I do have dessert, it will be something predictable like pineapple fritters or deep fried icecream with caramel sauce. I’m not a fan of crab but the peking duck looked great!
Harry’s is expensive – the prices have gone up and up since we’ve been going there but hey – it’s an awesome place and I just can’t get enough of chilli crab wherever it is.
We love the buckets of beer on the table – I’m not particularly a beer drinker but after a bit of hot chilli crab it’s perfect.
Re: deserts – the only desert worthy of ordering at a Chinese in my view is “toffee apples”. Best in Sydney can be found at Mr Chow’s Peking.
Wow, those crabs are rather expensive! We don’t go to Chinese restaurants in US, they put too much sweet on everything. The only Oriental places we go are Thai and sushi. And yes we always order desserts there, too good not to!
We always drive by this place but I’m always skeptical! Some Chinese restaurants do well with desserts and they should keep to what they do best with beans and jellies!
Ah Lorraine, I am so glad you visited Harry’s! It is just around the corner from where I work and every time we drive past Mr K mentions that he is dying to visit. He loves singapore crabs and anything retro! I’ll defn take him along for the crabs – but not the desserts. Too funny!!
Oh no… Lorraine that’s horrible
The desserts are just totally WRONG! They can’t simply provide you with a Monaco bar and call it a ‘Yummy Ice cream’ Cake gosh… and Mr NQN’s dessert…I don’t think I could leave without telling the owners very nicely that this isn’t right hahaha but thank gosh you had that amazing Raspberry Coconut cake 
I never really order dessert at a Chinese Restaurant because they’re never very good…but when I do order anything its usually fried Ice-cream or banana split ~
How hilarious are these desserts! I usually give desserts in any Asian restaurants a wide berth: how the savoury cuisines can be so marvellous but the desserts so dreadful is a mystery.
There are some exceptions: Thai sticky rice desserts, gula sago mulaka, some red bean numbers, and of course deep fried ice cream!
Sometimes I look longingly at the Sarah Lee selection at the supermarket, but I don’t buy it and I don’t want it at a restaurant. We always decline and then seek out the nearest Italian cafe for both dessert and a decent coffee.
Thanks for the post, I’ve always wondered what this place is like. The crab looks fantastic, but how funny about the dessert! The iced lychees are hilarious! and a bit sad. It seems they’d be much better off not doing dessert at all, there’s nothing wrong with sticking to what you do best!
Coincidence Lorraine as I’m making your recipe for Singapore Chilli Prawns for dinner tonight, much to the delight of family.
Most of the dishes on offer look great but sadly desserts at most Asian restaurants for me have been a miss. Chinta Ria at Cockle bay used to have a Lychee ice cream which was delicious but have removed it from the menu.
hee, everything looks good! Congrats on the bisquits! That is so sweet..
Well…iced lychee..what can i say but lol..however..i have to been to a chinese restaurant..if this is allowed i highly recommend a visit if u can..the china house…im not a fan of mango but they had mango icecream crepes that were just BEAUTIFUL.and custard tarts:)maybe theres an exception to every rule:)
Those desserts are HILARIOUS!
I rarely order desserts at Chinese restaurants. I’d help myself to some complimentary orange quarters and then get gelati elsewhere – hahaha!
Crab looks good though!
Can’t get over the prices !
Is this a typical Sydney Chinese ressie or what ?
Those desserts are hideous.
feeling total nostalgia here!! Good ol’ chilli crab! Oh, how I’ve missed you!! I guess immigration to aussie must be quite popular since the 80′s! and wow, that crab seems quite expensive!! Actually, everything seems quite pricey!!
Never knew that Aussie was a pretty expensive place to live in!
The chinese restaurants here are abysmal.
They are the reason why I say I hate chinese food.
The food here looks delicious… except of course the dessert. LMAO
No I don’t usually order dessert either. The only thing I’ve had is deep-fried icecream. I know it’s not that good but sometimes the craving strikes!
gosh, its been a while since i last went to Harrys singapore chilli crab!
I don’t think I’ve ever ordered dessert at a Chinese restaurant since the crushing disappointment of ordering toffee apples when I was under ten and getting not the apple covered in toffee on a stick that mum never let me buy at the supermarket, but soggy battered apple wedges. I was BROKEN.
Those crabs look totally scrumptious and spicy.
I make it a point never to order anything sweet at most Chinese restaurants, but my family sometimes hankers for sesame balls filled with sweet bean paste or almond jelly with tinned lychees in syrup.
Hi Lorraine, I have often wondered about this place as I love crab so may give it a try although I will skip the dessert! I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw the pictures…. We never order dessert after dinner at a Chinese restaurant as it’s never a strong point. We just have the complimentary plate of oranges which is sort of a nice way to finish as we have usually eaten too much! Only exception is mango pancakes at Sea Treasure in Crows Nest after yum cha
Don’t think I could do it…not a shellfish girl.
No desserts at Chinese restaurants, but I must have my fortune and almond cookie. Is that an ice cream sandwich for $5.80. hahahahaha.
Sounds like a very unique and interesting restaurant. Perhaps they should have saved the word yummy for the crabs, or left it out of the menu altogether. If something yummy you don’t need to call it yummy!
I’m allergic to crabs and most shellfish. Which means when I go to eat them I am usually armed with antihistamine.
Interestingly mixed reviews, indeed. I’ve only really eaten at one Chinese restaurant and my experience was not good. I would likely not order dessert, although my Asian friends often pick up pastries at a Chinese bakery and they are often very light and good.
I can’t tell you how often I’ve driven past this place but never tried it. Thanks for the review!
Those desserts were hilarious!
I actually still haven’t been here but I really want to!!!
I recommend Ginger & Spice along Military road at Neutral Bay for Chilli crabs…. their other dishes like ABC squid (my personal fav) are amazing too.
We don’t go out enough for me to tell you we are/are not usually ordering dessert. But after a meal like this, I would have been WAAAY too stuffed to even CONSIDER dessert.
It all looks amazing! Great review!
I’ve always felt like somewhat of a foodie failure because I have just never really appreciated Chinese (or Indian, for that matter) desserts. There. I’ve said it. Not that they are always as bad as these were, but somehow, I can’t seem to wrap myself around them–except for those little Chinese dumplings filled with black sesame paste cooked in a ginger “sauce.” Yum.
I’d recommend Nonya the new malaysian restaurant located in Chinatown, their chilli crab and roti is divine.
I’ve just return my malaysian trip and found Nonya and Mamak is my best malaysian restaurants!
i always order their signature haninese chicken dish, chilli crab, roti, curry puffs! And of cause winter times i cant go without their laksa i still think they have the best laksa in Sydney!
Sinma in Kingsford does a brilliant chilli crab, at about half the price you paid (paired with fried man-tous, wonderful). Re dessert in Chinese restaurants, they do exist! Shanghai pancakes, black sesame ‘mochi’, and lately the more upmarket Chinese restaurants in HK (and soon Sydney, I imagine) have proper dessert menus.
The last time I visited Harry’s was actually in the 80s. He started off at Eastlakes Shopping Centre and he was our local eats.
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