ministry of crab

The Declaration

Ministry of Crab was created in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2011, as a culinary homecoming of Sri Lanka’s legendary mud crab, which had long gained popularity outside of the island for decades. Ministry of Crab opened in Shanghai in 2018 and is located on the 1st floor of Barbarossa in the heart of Shanghai’s picturesque People’s Park. This restaurant has the distinction of being the first Ministry of Crab international outpost.

Our Crabs - The ‘stars of the show’ range from 500g to 2KG with ‘Crabzilla’ being our ‘showstopper’, plated in variety of flavours from the zesty Pepper Crab to the unique Garlic Chilli Crab, and the decadent Crab Liver Pâté. We also celebrate a variety of seafood, from the Freshwater Prawns of China, to our amazing clams. Freshness is of utmost importance to us and we only source the highest quality ingredients from Sri Lanka and China, to plate up the finest crustacean dishes in Shanghai.

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CRAB STORY
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ministers

Meet the founders of the most iconic crab restaurant in Asia.
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AMENDMENTS

The Crab Line showcases the iconic Sri Lankan Mud Crabs ranging from ½ kilo to 2 Kg.
The Prawn Line showcases our selection of Black Tiger Prawns, Freshwater Prawns and Lobster.
A discretionary 10% service charge will be added to your final bill.
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Due to high demand we highly recommend you book in advance. Click below to reserve through Chope
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Constitution

The Constitution of Ministry of Crab, Sri Lanka
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Article I
When it comes to crab, we don't serve them small, meatless, with one claw missing, or with unevenly sized claws – only the best of the catch.
Article II
We don't buy anything frozen and we do not freeze our seafood. The only use we've found for freezers is storing our food refuse for disposal.
Article III
If a restaurant serves good quality seafood, it should be able to serve it as Sashimi. Many don't/can't/won't. We do.
Article IV
We treat all our ingredients with the utmost respect, using techniques which stem from Japanese culinary philosophies and practices. These same principles are employed at the finest Japanese restaurants, such as our sister restaurant Nihonbashi.
Article V
We consider forks and knives merely an option. We have specialized crab utensils to help you pry succulent crab meat from its shell, but digging in with your hands is NOT frowned upon.
Article VI
We aim to remind you that Sri Lanka is a beautiful island nation, which is reflected in the seafood available to us. Our oceans, unlike those in many Southeast Asian countries, are clean and this is why our seafood is simply amazing.
Article VII
We aspire to be one of the lowest 'food-mile' restaurants in the world; hence we do not import any major ingredients.
Article VIII
We are proud of the reputation enjoyed by Sri Lankan Crab in Singapore - thank you Singapore! But we're even prouder of being the first institution in Sri Lanka dedicated to serving you the best of our Mud Crab here in their home country.
Article IX
Our crabs are not farmed and are wild-caught. Their supply is based on the daily catch which is absolutely dependent on rainfall, strong winds and ambient temperature. We apologize in advance if the size (of crab) you require is not available. We consider it a privilege to serve you this crab in Sri Lanka, the true home of the legendary Sri Lankan Crab.
Article X
We are privileged to be serving you inside a building that was constructed over 400 years ago by the Dutch. We designed this restaurant to exemplify the beauty and history of this building, using special methods to preserve the floor and walls. Your chair may wobble a bit, but we hope you will enjoy such charms!

BARBAROSSA

Ministry of Crab is housed at the Barbarossa Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, a 3-floor Arabian-style building, built across a large pond at the People’s Park in the heart of Shanghai city.
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