Behind twists and turns, sitting next to mamak stalls lies a quaint café tucked away from the bustling city. Upfront you’re welcomed by the delicate jade green arched entrance coated in a rough texture that takes inspiration from the traditional Thunder Tea Rice (Lei Cha) Mortar’s shape, with an ideal outer sitting area to spend the afternoon lazing about. 

Once you tire of sunlight, you can bask in the air conditioned café where you’re greeted with a paradise that reflects their love for tea. Incorporating a blend of modern minimalistic design meets quirky traditional fixtures, the interior is painted a fusion of green and beige with pops of bronze and colour, tying the sleek look with a cozy touch. The décor was tasteful and artsy, the key highlight – an unconventional ‘painting’ of tens of matcha whisks artfully arranged. You’ll find nooks and barseats overlooking the window, making for a perfect study space. Did I also mention how there were not one, not two but eight lucky cats lounging about? Mayhaps to spread blessings to visitors.

When seated, we were greeted by friendly staff members and introduced to signature dishes featured on their quite extensive menu. Jamboo café boasts an actual hole-in-the-wall where you can opt to receive beverages. There you’ll find a spread of delicately crafted cards featuring every drink option. Simply ring the bell and pass your order to the monster claw clad hand greeting you, the perfect system for introverts and a social media worthy moment. Amidst photos, the claw pops back out, drink in hand awaiting you. With such instagramable worthy spots and interactions, the wait for our food was simply too short. Stomach grumbling in tune to the trendy curated music playlist, we dove into the divine smelling feast. 

Conversation flowed as we sipped on two gorgeously layered matcha drinks – Jamboo-Cha and Mango-Cha. The matcha was subtle and perfectly smooth. Highly recommended for beginners who dislike the hint of bitterness of matcha. The Jamboo-Cha with pink guava juice made it subtly sweet and tart, while the Mango-Cha had chunks of fresh mango and pops of sago. The next victim of our hunger were the tantalizing otak-otak fries paired with sambal aioli. Don’t let their simplistic appearance fool you. With a thin batter and delicate crunch, the exterior shattered like glass, uncovering the beautifully spiced otak-otak that melted on the tongue. Bet you never had such a unique otak-otak dish that absolutely stole the spotlight and my heart. Who needs a man when you can have good food instead.

Eagerly with expectations through the sky, we reached for our main dish – laksa inspired pasta, cooked perfectly al-dente with an addictive creamy laksa sauce coating every strand topped with juicy prawns. Our taste buds danced happily as it met the nostalgic laksa flavours sprinkled with a western-touch. My seafood allergic self licked up every drop of sauce, we listen and we don’t judge alright?

For our second main dish, we simply had to get their signature customisable Lei Cha bowl, with a daunting list of 61 varying ingredients. We decided on white rice; corn, pucuk manis, cucumber and cherry tomatoes for added health; seasoned steak for protein gains, and finished with fried tofu puffs, crispy potato, and hot honey sauce for a hit of heat and sweetness; this was where things went south. To our surprise, we received Lei Cha without the Cha. Turns out your options are either sauce or Lei Cha soup, not both. Albeit slightly sad, we enjoyed every bite. The vegetables (sourced mostly from local farms!) were fresh and well-seasoned, the tofu puffs and crispy potato paired with fluffy rice added the perfect crunch and savouriness. Unfortunately, the steak, while nicely salted, was a tad too chewy for our liking. We recommend you opt for a different protein option.

For the grand finale, we absolutely had to get their silky yogurt bowls that were fully customisable with a decent spread of fresh fruits, dried toppings, and more adventurous options like osmanthus jelly. Once loaded on toppings, your cup is filled with lucious yogurt, either plain or blue spirulina, we opted for blue spirulina. I feel healthier simply writing this. The yogurt tastes reminiscent of the childhood calci yum in red cups,  sweet and creamy with a slight tang, with no hint of spirulina powder. Searching for the toppings hidden beneath became a fun mini little treasure hunt amidst the sea.  

Overall, Jamboo café is an ideal social media worthy hangout spot with amazing vibes paired with healthy flavourful food that blends tradition with a modern twist. Albeit on the pricier side, they work to support local farms and foster sustainability, so do stop by when you’re in the area looking for a café to hide away!

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Drinks: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Interior: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Article by Jia Wei

Photos by May Ping