If you have been putting off a visit to Tai Seng because it is mostly known for offices and warehouses, here is a reason to reroute your next meal. JUMBOREE, the JUMBO Group’s first-ever food hall, has opened at 26 Tai Seng Street.
Occupying a fully air-conditioned space with outdoor seating areas, it brings together more than ten familiar brands under one roof from Kok Kee Wonton Noodle to Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh, alongside JUMBO’s own seafood dai pai dong concept, JUMBO 1987. Here are some of the items that we had during our visit.
Jumboree At Tai Seng
Zhen Ji Noodles
Zhen Ji’s Prawn Noodles ($8.80) is served with pig skin, lean meat and prawns. The broth keeps the prawn flavor up front rather than leaning into pork bone sweetness, with a subtle heat from chilli powder mixed in for added complexity. Small distinctions, but ones prawn noodle purists will appreciate.
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Lau Lim Mee Pok
Lau Lim’s Signature Mee Pok ($8) arrives generously dressed with fishballs, meatballs, sliced and minced meat, fish cake, prawns and pork lard, all working together in one bowl. The chilli carries a kick that builds with every mouthful. This matches what regulars know from the original Tanjong Katong outlet so fans will feel right at home. The noodles also hold their bounce well, standing up to the sauce without turning mushy.
Bao Zai Chicken Rice
The Chicken and Char Siew Duo Platter ($15.80) came in a relatively small portion for its price but impressed with its char siew. Enough fat had rendered through to keep it from tasting dry without tipping into greasiness, while the burnt edges lent a pleasant smoky char. The chicken itself was tender, coming through with a savouriness that let the dipping sauces do the heavy lifting.
A nice touch was the chilli, which carried a slight lime note to make it a bit more unique. The accompanying ginger sauce leaned more towards the watery end, so if you like yours thick and punchy, this version comes across a touch mild by comparison.
JUMBO’s Da Pai Dong Menu
The Crispy Golden Phoenix Chicken ($24 for half, $46 for whole) is prepared in the traditional Cantonese style, where a seasoned seafood paste is stuffed under the chicken skin before being deep fried. Served together with prawn crackers, the texture is closer to the prawn fritters one would find at dim sum restaurants than a whole cut of chicken. The chicken flavour is carried mainly by the skin, rather than the filling.
And then there is JUMBO’s signature Chilli Crab ($38.80 for a limited time), the dish the entire Group built its reputation on. The sauce strikes a well-known balance of sweet, spicy and tangy, thickened with egg and rounded out by a tomato-based gravy that allows the natural sweetness of the crab meat to shine through. JUMBO has become something of a Singapore seafood institution, so being able to order their crabs at casual food hall prices feels like a small luxury made accessible.
Craft Beer on Tap
For those eager to wind down with a cold mug of beer after a long day, the perk is the craft beer on tap. Diners can create their own beer flight menu. Unique flavours include Moutai ondeh and kueh salat.
The Verdict
JUMBOREE works because it does not compromise between hawker comfort food and JUMBO’s seafood pedigree. Diners get both under one roof, with the added convenience of QR ordering and a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere that gets livelier in the evenings with live music. For those working in or near Tai Seng or anyone willing to make the trip, JUMBOREE is a worthwhile addition to Singapore’s food scene.
Families will appreciate the variety of food at JUMBOREE. Even the fussiest easters will find something they enjoy. Do note that the live music can get quite loud especially in the indoor dining area. For a quieter meal, try the sitting area at the back or the outdoor seating area.
JUMBOREE
Where: 26 Tai Seng Street, #01-02, Singapore 534057
Nearest MRT: Tai Seng (CC Line), Exit C
Opening Hours: Mon–Sat, 7am–12am; Sun, 7am–10:30pm
