Day 41 of eating at 100 Asian restaurants in Maryland brought me back to one of my ride-or-die spots: Jumbo Jumbo Cafe in Ellicott City, home of my FAVE Taiwanese popcorn chicken in the whole area. If you know, you know, but if you don’t: this is a Taiwanese street food and bubble tea cafe that’s been doing its thing since 2003, and the popcorn chicken alone is worth the trip.
It’s crispy, juicy, perfectly salty and spicy, and seriously snackable. Add a boba and you’ve got the perfect little Ellicott City pit stop. There are three locations total (College Park and Rockville are the other two), but the EC spot’s my go-to. Let me tell you exactly what to get.
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What Makes Jumbo Jumbo Cafe a Standout Taiwanese Spot in Ellicott City
Jumbo Jumbo’s been around since 2003, and it specializes in exactly the stuff I want from a Taiwanese cafe: night-market-style fried snacks and a big bubble tea menu. The star’s the Taiwanese popcorn chicken, but the menu runs deep, think fried squid, fried tofu, spicy wings, beef noodle soup, braised beef over rice, and a whole board of milk teas, flavored teas, and smoothies.
What sets it apart for me is the consistency (it’s my fave popcorn chicken in the area for a reason) plus that customizable heat, so you can dial the spice exactly where you like it. It’s counter service and mostly takeout, the kind of no-frills spot where the food does all the talking. If you’re building a Howard County Asian-eats list, my other go-to nearby for soup dumplings is NanXiang Express. For Taiwanese comfort food in Ellicott City, this one’s a must!
What to Order at Jumbo Jumbo Cafe
Here’s what I get, and what you should too.
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken ($10.05)
This is the order, and my personal favorite popcorn chicken in the area. A carton runs $10.05, and the heat’s fully customizable across five spice levels, I go spicy. The chicken’s cooked super well, crispy on the outside and juicy inside, with a salty, punchy seasoning I’m a big fan of. It’s the kind of thing you plan to share and then absolutely do not share, lol.
The Boba (Thai Coffee and Matcha)
You can’t go wrong with their boba, and there’s a big menu of milk teas, flavored teas, and smoothies to work through. This time around, me and my friend got the thai coffee and the matcha, and both were yum. It’s the ideal wash-down for all that salty, spicy chicken, so grab one to sip while you snack. The boba menu alone gives you plenty of reasons to keep coming back.
Crispy Tofu with Garlic and Spicy Sauce
This was our first time trying the crispy tofu with garlic and spicy sauce, and it was a really good surprise. Crispy little tofu bites tossed in a garlicky, spicy sauce, it’s a great pick if you want something meat-free (they’ve got a few veg-friendly fried options), or just another texture on the table. Solid add-on, and a good first try.
The rest of the menu’s worth a look too, with fried squid, spicy chicken wings, beef noodle soup, braised beef over rice, and chicken rice bowls if you want a fuller meal instead of just snacks.
What Is Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken, Exactly?
If you’ve only had the American version, Taiwanese popcorn chicken (yan su ji) is a different animal. The chicken’s cut into bite-size pieces, marinated, then coated in sweet potato starch, which fries up coarser and crunchier than a regular batter. It’s usually seasoned with five-spice, salt, and pepper, and finished with fried Thai basil for that signature aroma. It’s a night-market classic in Taiwan, and it’s not the same as Chinese salt-and-pepper chicken, the starch coating and the basil are the tells. You can read more on how it’s made, but the best way to get it is to just go order a carton.
The Vibe and Experience
Jumbo Jumbo’s a small, counter-service spot inside John’s Crossing Shopping Center, and it leans takeout more than dine-in. It’s walk-in only, no reservations, quick and easy, which makes it perfect for a solo snack run or grabbing a big carton to share with the family. Since it’s been around since 2003, it’s got that comfortable neighborhood-staple feel, no pretense, just consistent food. Big shoutout to Grace, who took great care of us this visit. It’s not a fancy sit-down situation, it’s a grab-your-popcorn-chicken-and-boba-and-be-happy situation, and I’m all the way here for it.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 9050 Baltimore National Pike Suite 106, Ellicott City, MD, in John’s Crossing Shopping Center. Full menu’s on their website.
- Hours: 11:30am to 8pm earlier in the week, until 9pm later in the week, though the Sunday close is listed a little differently in a couple of places, so double-check before a late run.
- Other locations: College Park (3711 Campus Dr) and Rockville (15192 Frederick Rd).
- Ordering: walk-in only, no reservations; online ordering through Grubhub; cards accepted.
- Spice: the popcorn chicken heat is customizable across five levels, so speak up when you order.
- Good to know: a handful of meat-free fried options (like that crispy tofu), on-site parking, and it’s wheelchair accessible.
Is Jumbo Jumbo Cafe Worth The Money?
YES, and it’s earned fave status for a reason. The popcorn chicken’s the best in the area to me, the boba’s on point, and at around ten bucks a carton, the bang for your buck’s hard to beat. It’s my go-to Taiwanese snack fix in Ellicott City, and if you’re after more affordable Asian comfort food nearby, Siroo & Juk Story is another EC spot I love. Come hungry and get it spicy.
Have you guys tried Jumbo Jumbo yet?! Tell me your go-to order and your boba pick in the comments, Nomsters, and if you’re a spice person, how high do you go on the popcorn chicken? Save this for your next Ellicott City food run and send it to your favorite snack buddy.