Video of Mellben Seafood chef cutting crab on tablecloth goes viral. ‘Secret recipe revealed’

A seafood restaurant in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore, is facing scrutiny after a video surfaced showing a chef preparing a crab directly on a tablecloth rather than using a cutting board. The 60-second clip, which shows CCTV footage from Mellben Seafood, was posted on TikTok on November 17, garnering significant attention with over 160,200 views.

The video captures multiple chefs handling the crab, including one who cuts it on a cloth while another wipes down the kitchen countertop with the same fabric. A customer in the video questions the chef about this practice, to which the chef responds that the cloth is washed frequently and is intended for wiping dishes.

On November 16, a customer alleged that the crab served had its head “replaced with a shell.” In response, restaurant owner Sun Dewei stated that only one large crab was available that evening, making it impossible to substitute. He also noted that the customer was allowed to view the CCTV footage to clarify the situation.

Sun expressed the restaurant’s commitment to addressing the issue and acknowledged the need for improvements, offering apologies to customers for the incident.

Mellben Seafood’s Response

The restaurant emphasized its transparency in addressing the concern, stating, “If we were hiding anything, we wouldn’t have let him view the CCTV.” In light of the video’s release, the restaurant is taking steps to enhance its food safety practices.