Korea-Famous Samgyetang Chain Opens In Chinatown—Here’s a First Look

JIHO Hanbang Samgyetang opens in Chinatown

Search for Korean food on Google, and you’ll be bombarded with a load of K-BBQ recommendations. While grilled meats will always have their appeal, the scene can feel somewhat saturated. This makes the arrival of JIHO Hanbang Samgyetang all the more exciting. Opening yesterday at 18 Cross in Chinatown, the Korea-famous chain has brought its signature ginseng chicken soups to Singapore, alongside a tasty lineup of authentic Korean sides.

10 Best Samgyetang Restaurants In Singapore From $15.90++

JIHO is a well-established name in Korea’s samgyetang scene. Founded by Dr Lee Ji-Ho in 1991, the brand focuses on serving food that’s both rich in flavour and health, drawing on hanbang, the centuries-old Korean practice of using natural herbal remedies.

The brand has since become a huge hit, winning multiple awards and opening over 80 locations in Korea, Sydney, and Shanghai.

We were lucky enough to be invited to their ribbon-cutting ceremony, and of course, have a first look at their offerings. Read on to find out if the restaurant is truly worth a visit!

Food at JIHO Hanbang Samgyetang

We started with the Squid & Minari Salad ($29.80++), featuring fresh cucumber, carrots, onions, minari, AKA watery celery, perilla leaves, chillies, and squid doused in a spicy-sweet dressing, served alongside crisp nori sheets and sliced avocado.

As instructed by the staff, we put all the ingredients onto one plate and mixed everything up before digging in.

The dish instantly perked up our taste buds. The sauce packed a punch with its sweet, spicy, and tangy flavours, pairing perfectly with the earthy creaminess of the avocado. The mix of crunchy veggies, velvety avocado, and soft, chewy squid created a satisfying contrast with each bite.

Our only gripe was that the squid wasn’t charred, which meant it lacked the smoky depth we were hoping for.

A brief note of caution: do watch out for the chillies! Biting into one unexpectedly may trigger a coughing fit, as I found out the hard way.

Up next was the Fried Chicken Gizzard ($19.80++), starring battered chicken gizzards tossed with green and red chillies.

As someone who isn’t fond of innards, I was quite apprehensive about trying this dish. But being the foodie I am, I gave it a shot—and it turned out to be a great call, as I couldn’t stop popping them into my mouth.

Surprisingly, the gizzards had no gamey taste whatsoever. In fact, I had to double-check with the staff to confirm if I was really eating gizzards! What made the dish especially addictive was its texture: lightly crisp on the outside, yet chewy and juicy on the inside. We also appreciated how it didn’t turn greasy, retaining its crispiness even when left out for a while.

The only downside was the portion size—it was too small and didn’t justify the nearly $20++ price tag.

Appetisers aside, it was finally time for the star of the show: the samgyetang. JIHO offers six types of ginseng chicken soup at their Singapore outpost: Healthy ($29.90++), Spicy ($32.80++), Beauty ($29.80++), Mung Bean ($32.80++), Black Garlic ($32.80++), and Perilla ($32.80++).

Out of the ones we tried, the Perilla Samgyetang was our favourite.

The broth was thick, creamy, and slightly gritty from all the finely ground perilla seeds. Flavour-wise, the perilla seeds lent the soup a tasty, aromatic nuttiness that worked well with the rich savouriness of the chicken.

We also had the Healthy Samgyetang. We were told that this broth is meant to help relieve fatigue and restore energy—and it definitely delivered. Unlike the Perilla Samgyetang, this one was a lot lighter on the palette. Each slurp was warm, comforting, and soothing to the stomach, making it perfect for the rainy weather that day. The soup was well-balanced with a mild, sweet, and herbal flavour that paired nicely with the chicken.

Apart from the usual mix of red dates, chestnuts, and ginseng, each samgyetang also comes with a whole chicken.

The meat was incredibly succulent and tender, practically falling off the bone with the lightest pinch of our chopsticks. The skin was equally well-executed, perfectly soft and silky in texture.

That said, the meat tasted a tad bland on its own. But this wasn’t a significant issue, as it’s meant to be enjoyed with their salt and pepper blend. It may look unassuming, but the extra seasoning did wonders in bringing out the flavours of both the chicken and the broth.

Each chicken also comes stuffed with a generous portion of soft, sticky glutinous rice. For the best experience, we recommend scooping it out and dunking it into the soup to soak up all the delicious flavours of the broth.

Don’t forget to add a piece of garlic kimchi to each bite, for a fragrant, pungent finish. If you aren’t a fan of garlic, go for the radish or cabbage kimchi instead. The former has a tangy profile, while the latter offers a deeper, more fermented flavour. FYI, the kimchi here is complimentary, so you don’t have to worry about paying extra.

JIHO also offers samgyejuk, AKA ginseng chicken and rice porridge, on the menu. Traditionally made from leftover samgyetang, their samgyejuk features the same tasty broths and rice, but with boneless, shredded chicken instead of a whole bird.

The samgyejuk dishes are priced the same as their samgyetang counterparts, with each pot containing one whole chicken’s worth of shredded meat.

During our visit, we were given a bowl of Mung Bean Samgyejuk ($32.80++) to try.

As we’re not huge fans of mung beans, this naturally wasn’t our top pick. Still, it was a hearty bowl of porridge, filled with a ton of ultra-tender shredded chicken. We also appreciated how the beans weren’t too mushy.

Ambience at JIHO Hanbang Samgyetang

The restaurant offers a spacious dining area, accommodating around 170 diners at a time, in tables of two to four. Whether it’s the cushioned wooden chairs or sofa seating, you’re guaranteed to dine in comfort. Design-wise, the space sports a modern, sleek aesthetic, complemented by an earthy colour scheme for a warm and cosy vibe. Lighting is ample, making it ideal for snapping the perfect IG story.

Apart from the space in their main unit, they also offer a larger open-style dining area right outside the restaurant.

If you’re coming in a larger group, the restaurant offers two private dining rooms, seating 12 to 20 people.

JIHO Hanbang Samgyetang is located in the basement of 18 Cross, a quick three-minute walk from Telok Ayer MRT Station and a five-minute walk from Chinatown MRT Station. It’s also within walking distance of Maxwell, Raffles Place, and Tanjong Pagar MRT Stations.

JIHO Hanbang Samgyetang – Eatbook review

JIHO Hanbang Samgyetang certainly impressed us, not just with their comforting broths, but also their delicious sides. That said, prices are pretty steep, and we felt they didn’t always justify the portion sizes. Still, for the food quality and convenient location, they’re a spot worth considering for a solid bowl of samgyetang.

In related content, check out our guide to the best Korean restaurants in the CBD for legit jjajangmyeon, K-BBQ and more. Otherwise, read our guide to the best Korean BBQ buffets in Singapore, from $18 per person.

Address: 18 Cross Street, #B1-01, 18 Cross, Singapore 048423
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: 8242 6988
Website
JIHO Hanbang Samgyetang is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.

10 Best Samgyetang Restaurants In Singapore From $15.90++

Photos taken by Paula Formantes.
This was a media tasting at JIHO Hanbang Samgyetang.