Eager to try KFC’s Chilli Crab Mantou Chicken Burgers? Here’s your chance to go #mantoumad for KFC’s Chilli Crab and Mantou-inspired Burger and Chicken, plus flaunt a Mantou-inspired Crossbody Bag.
Several people I know have been wondering why every fast-food chain was coming out with their version of chilli crab-inpired menu to celebrate National Day. It has definitely brought up once again discussions about what makes a dish special to people or a nation.
The answer is probably a mix of: a focus group deciding to go for a “low-hanging fruit” since it’s hard to go wrong, red gravy on white meat or buns is very National Day colours, or the fact that it’s just Finger Lickin’ Good.
Chilli Crab Wars have Begun!
No matter the reason, the chilli crab war has broken out and we have to taste and choose our sides (bun intended). KFC has announced its Chilli Crab Mantou menu and you will be able to have them from 23 July to 2 September 2025.
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CARNIVAL OF CHRISTMAS CHEER: Celebrate and Win at Plantation Plaza and Northshore Plaza!
SNOW MUCH TO CELEBRATE: Christmas Fun at The Centrepoint
Review of KFC Chilli Crab Mantou Menu
That Gravy. That Sauce. That Dip
Firstly, just a look at the gravy. Appreciate that it’s neither a thin, runny pink sauce nor a scary scarlet red, thick, starchy gloop. It was somewhere in between, a gravy you would be happy to have your crabs luxuriating in.
Before I started actually eating the individual items, I snuck a fry into the sauce and into my mouth to see what we were dealing with. It was tangy, well-seasoned, a little heat and not overly sweet. Apart from a personal preference for a spicier sauce, it was not bad at all!
Mantou Madness
Time to take the plunge into the sauce. We start with the Mantou, which were probably quite easy to get right. With a crisp, thin fried exterior and a soft centre, it was not oily and was a great vehicle for enjoying the chilli crab sauce.
I do enjoy larger Mantou that have been given a longer fry even if they do soak up a little bit more oil, but this was pretty good. We heaved a collective sigh of relief, having not been let down by this most basic item.
Dip Dive into the Chilli Crab Sauce
We could also appreciate the sauce a bit more now with the Mantou able to bring more of the sauce into our mouths. It was a thick, savoury sauce, with a good balance of sweetness, spiciness and tanginess.
There was some egg in the sauce as well, completing the necessary textures required for a Chilli Crab sauce. I think KFC got their recipe right this round and this is likely going to be a crowd-pleaser.
The Zinger lives up to its name – better with Chilli Crab?
We moved on to the Chilli Crab Mantou Zinger, which looked to be the headliner. KFC’s signature spicy Zinger (fried chicken thigh fillet) drenched in the Chilli Crab sauce and enveloped by a an “extra-large mantou”, which resembled a fried lotus leaf bun.
The list of textures is as such – the bun was crispy, the batter of the zinger crunchy, the lettuce added freshness, the Chilli Crab sauce coating everything and the thigh meat in the zinger patty tender and juicy.
All in all, a pretty good bite. A Chilli Crab Mantou Zinger Meal (1 Zinger, 1 Reg Fries, 1 Reg Sjora Mango Peach) would only cost you $9.80.
The OG Fried Chicken
You could also opt for the Hot & Crispy Chicken served with two pieces of Mini Mantou and a Chilli Crab Dip.
KFC was the OG fried chicken place we grew up eating and when they served up their crispy, juicy fried chicken like we got today, it was a good reminder why it was many a student’s choice of food after school.
It paired well enough with the Chilli Crab Dip but the distinctive and nostalgic taste of the chicken made me eat most of it by itself.
Get your Chilli Crab Chicken Meal (2 pc Chicken, 1 Chilli Crab Sauce Tub, 2 pc Mini Mantou, 1 Reg Whipped Potato and 1 Reg Sjora Mango Peach) for $10.80!
All-time Favourite Egg Tarts in Ondeh Ondeh variety
KFC brought back their popular Ondeh Ondeh Egg Tart ($2.50) once again to tempt us to overeat.
Naturally, I did and savoured the flaky tart filled with a creamy pandan custard and topped with desiccated coconut and flavoured with Gula Melaka. A very satisfying mouthful that I was very pleased to end the meal with.
For completeness, I have to comment that the fries were slightly under-seasoned and not as crispy but perhaps I took too long to get to them. They were nevertheless quite handy for eating with the Chilli Crab Dip.
A Mantou Bag is a Bag You Want
Finally, KFC presented us with their limited edition Mantou Crossbody Bag. I can assure you I have no credibility reviewing a handbag so I refer you to my wife, who said that it was cute, a good size (not too big or small), and the strap was quite comfortable, though it made you a living KFC advertisement.
The little crab charm hanging on the zip fastener was also a nice detail. So, if you are in the market for such a bag, it’s a no-brainer to get it as a discounted price of $19.90 (U.P. $24.90) when you buy any Chilli Crab meal or bundle. While stocks last!
