If it’s authentic Thai you’re looking for, stay away from Jungle, a Thai-inspired grill and bar along Ann Siang Hill.
But if you’re all about laidback vibes and are keen on experiencing a unique take on Thai cooking set to a soundtrack of classic funk and soul, you’re in for a treat.
The 50-seater space, coupled with ambient lighting and shelves of wine bottles, oozes an eclectic charm — it’s inspired by the late-night watering holes and food streets in Bangkok — and is flanked by an open-fire kitchen where the magic happens.
Speaking of the food, you’ll be greeted by a tightly curated, one-page menu showcasing regional dishes that draw from Thailand’s rich and vibrant food culture, all prepared with carefully sourced ingredients and artisanal in-house processes.
One starter you mustn’t miss out on is the Pomelo-Lemongrass Salad (S$18); the addictive combination of salty and funky dried shrimp, sweet candied coconut, and juicy chunks of pomelo was honestly out of this world. A must-try.
For something more unique, the Northern Duck Laab (S$20) stars salty, savoury minced duck flavoured with a blend of aromatic herbs and spices. You’re meant to enjoy it with crunchy cabbage for a fun textural contrast, and so we did.
Moving on to the “grill” section of the menu, the Northern Style Grilled Pork Sausage (S$15) will probably be one of the meatiest sausages you’ve ever put into your mouth, in all its smoky, spicy, and herbaceous glory.
Afterwards, head down south for the Southern Style Charcoal Grilled Chicken (S$17), the restaurant’s take on gai golae (coconut milk BBQ chicken), featuring chicken thigh slow-cooked over hot embers, and glazed with a zingy hand-pounded red curry.
The star of the show for most of us, however, was the Sugarcane Smoked Pork Jowl (S$28). Pork jowl is smoked with lychee wood and sugarcane before being finished off over charcoal, yielding tender, fatty, and beautifully charred meat.
It’s incredible on its own, but the accompanying nam jim jaew, a classic Thai dipping sauce that ticked all the right boxes — spicy, sour, sweet, and umami — took it to a whole new level. Honestly, I would’ve gladly purchased that sauce by the jar.
After all that grilled meat, you’re gonna want to indulge in a comforting curry or two, paired with your choice of White (S$3) or Brown Rice (S$4)
if you can’t take spicy food but are all about big and bold flavours, the Beef Panaeng Curry (S$26), dressed with banana chilli and pickled shallots, will hit you with its balance of rich, tangy, and savoury.
On the flip side, the coconut-heavy Southern Crab Yellow Curry (S$30), topped with wild rice shoots, is a lot more delicate in flavour, but packs a fiery kick.
At the time of writing, there is only one dessert available — a moist and fluffy Grilled Banana Cake (S$14) with coconut ice cream served on a banana leaf, drizzled with gula melaka caramel — but you can definitely look forward to more, like these delightful beignet-style donuts with a pandan dip.
Given how new they are to the scene, the menus are constantly being switched up, so you can expect something different every time.
You can choose to complement the food with a selection of alcohol, ranging from wine, beer, and sake to craft cocktails that were unfortunately nothing to shout about.
For instance, I liked that the Mango Sticky Sour (S$18) was refreshing with a creamy mouthfeel, reminscent of a Pina Colada, but it was otherwise run-of-the-mill.
That being said, we recommend visiting Jungle just for dinner, and then going for a tipple or two at a neighbouring bar (this is Ann Siang, after all)!
I can totally see myself returning for their flame-kissed meats and aromatic salads, be it on date night or a cosy gathering with a small group of friends. What about you?
Reservations can be made here.
Jungle
Instagram | Website
📍 10 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069789
🕒 6pm–11pm (Tue to Thu), 6pm–12am (Fri & Sat)
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Photos by Christabel Tan
I'm always feelin' either boozy or boujee ✨