JING Review: Popular Halal Hotpot Buffet From $41.90++ At KINEX Mall

JING has halal hotpot and grill buffet at KINEX Mall

Few things are as comforting as a delicious hotpot meal with friends and family. But with only a handful of halal options available, I realised I haven’t had many opportunities to enjoy the same experience with my Muslim friends. That’s why my colleague and I were glad to discover JING, a popular Muslim-owned hotpot and grill buffet conveniently located in the heart of Paya Lebar at KINEX Mall.

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The restaurant offers their 90-minute buffet at $41.90++ per person for lunch and $47.90++ per person for dinner from Monday to Thursday. The feast is also available on Fridays and weekends at $47.90++ per person for both lunch and dinner. Given the affordable prices and wide assortment of ingredients to choose from, this was a spot we were excited to try.

Food at JING

Before we delve into the food, we have to give a special shoutout to the unique table setup. Unlike other hotpot and grill restaurants, each table comes with four mini induction hotpots and one central grill. This means you get to cook and enjoy your individual hotpot at your own pace, all without having to compete for the last pieces of the best ingredients like in a communal pot!

JING has five different hotpot broths on the menu, all made in-house with premium ingredients: Tom Yum, Savoury Tomato, Herbal Mushroom, Creamy Herbal Chicken, and Signature Mala. We went with the latter two soups, which are their top-sellers.

FYI, you can customise the Tom Yum and Signature Mala broths with your preferred spice level. As I don’t have the highest spice tolerance, my spice-loving colleague and I agreed to get the Mild version of their mala broth.

Do note that refills of these five broth flavours cost an extra $5++. However, they do give complimentary top-ups of their Chicken, Beef, and Vegan Mushroom stock.

We kicked things off with the Signature Mala soup, and boy, did it wake us up! Despite opting for the Mild version, the broth was spicy and numbing thanks to the Sichuan peppercorns. Beyond the heat, it also had a herby depth that made it surprisingly pleasant to drink.

That said, the broth did get a tad greasy after a while, and we found ourselves downing a couple of drinks to curb the heavier flavours.

Up next was the Creamy Herbal Chicken soup. Unlike the Signature Mala broth, this one was a lot lighter in flavour.

The creamy base and delicate herbal notes made every sip feel soothing and nourishing. It also had a savoury depth that wasn’t overly rich or greasy, making it all the more addictive.

Pro tip: Leave some of the beancurd rolls in the pot to soak up all that creamy, herbal goodness!

We also recommend pairing this broth with a healthy serving of fresh veggies and seafood to add a touch of natural sweetness.

If you’re at a loss for what seafood to get, we recommend going straight for the tiger prawns and freshwater patin fish.

The huge tiger prawns certainly impressed us with their juicy, plump, and meaty flesh.

The fish was just as fresh, boasting ultra-soft, flaky, and fall-apart tender meat.

That said, not all the seafood items were a hit. While the asari clams were meaty, they tasted too fishy and had a gritty, sandy texture that we didn’t enjoy.

Seafood aside, JING also offers several specialty house-marinated meats, including chicken, beef, and mutton options. As recommended by the staff, we went with their signature items: Sarawak Black Pepper Beef, Mutton Satay, and Goji Berry Chicken.

If you’re a fan of spice, get yourself a serving or two of the Sarawak Black Pepper Beef. Each slice was coated in a rich and peppery marinade with subtle woody notes, reminiscent of the sauce in McDonald’s Prosperity Beef Burger.

The meat itself was of great quality, and was delightfully tender and juicy.

We also enjoyed the Mutton Satay. Many people I know tend to avoid mutton due to its gamey flavour, and if you feel the same way, fret not. The thicc, juicy slices were well-marinated, boasting a delicious balance of sweet, herby, and savoury flavours that masked the gameiness of the meat.

On the other hand, the Goji Berry Chicken tasted quite bland on its own. Nonetheless, it had a subtle fragrance that paired well with the bolder Signature Mala broth.

Pro tip: cook the chicken on the grill for a tad longer to bring out a smoky, caramelised char that elevates the otherwise mild flavours.

If you visit during dinner from Monday to Thursday or any time from Friday to Sunday, you’ll also get access to a rotating selection of cooked side dishes. During our meal, we had the chance to try their Dumplings and Mala Noodles.

For a humble side dish, we were impressed by how good their Dumplings were. Each piece was fried to perfection and filled with a load of juicy minced chicken and shrimp. Don’t forget to dip these in the Thai chilli sauce for a delicious, spicy-sweet finish.

Sadly, the Mala Noodles were a miss. Though paired with tender beef slices, the noods lacked that springy, al dente texture we were hoping for, while the sauce was too salty for our liking.

If you’ve got a little extra to splurge, we recommend getting their JING Angus and Wagyu Platter as well. At $60++, it may seem pretty steep at first, but when split among a group of four, this works out to just $15++ per person. For that price, you get a trio of Australian Angus Beef, Australian Wagyu MB 4/5, and Australian Wagyu MB 8/9, making it an excellent value in our books.

Unfortunately, the restaurant ran out of Angus beef during our visit, but it wasn’t a total loss as they replaced the cut with more of the Wagyu!

Both Wagyu cuts were juicy, tender, and succulent, but it was the Australian Wagyu MB 8/9 that truly stole the show.

Each slice was beautifully marbled, lending a naturally rich, buttery flavour and an irresistibly melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Ambience at JING

JING sports a warm, moody interior, featuring hanging pendant lights, white marble-top tables, and cushioned seating for a sleek yet cosy atmosphere. The restaurant has ample seating, with enough space to accommodate around 90 diners comfortably, in tables of four to six.

Our only gripe was the lack of overhead exhausts, which meant that the space did get a tad smoky after a while.

JING is conveniently located on the second floor of KINEX Mall, a quick eight-minute walk from Paya Lebar MRT Station.

JING – Eatbook review

JING does a solid job in offering a satisfying, Muslim-friendly hotpot and BBQ experience. While not everything was a hit, the variety of meats, flavourful broths, and excellent value make it worth a try. Throw in the fact that halal alternatives are hard to find, and it’s a spot we see ourselves returning to with our Muslim friends.

In related content, check out our guide to the best halal hotpot places in Singapore. Otherwise, read our guide to the best 24-hour halal spots in Singapore for more delicious finds.

Address: 11 Tanjong Katong Road, #02-19/20, KINEX Mall, Singapore 437157
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 10pm
Tel: 6022 1926
Website
JING is Muslim-owned.

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Photos taken by Nivian Chiang.
This was a media tasting at JING.