TL;DR:
- Jiho Samgyetang in Cross Street is a samgyetang speciality restaurant from Korea with over 70 outlets
- Popular for thick Korean ginseng chicken soup in non-traditional flavours like Black Garlic and Spicy
- The Singapore menu features 6 flavours of samgyetang with prices ranging from $29.80 to $32.90
If you’ve been chasing the samgyetang craze in Singapore, add Jiho Samgyetang to your list! This popular Korean ginseng soup chain from Korea is bringing its popular thick, rich samgyetang to Telok Ayer in unique flavours. As a Korean-centric publication, we’ve eaten plenty of samgyetang in Singapore and we were keen to see what Jiho Samgyetang offered.
What Is Jiho Samgyetang?
Jiho Samgyetang is a recognised samgyetang chain in Korea, with over 70 outlets in Jeollanam-do and Gyeonggi-do.
They are popular for their thick variation of samgyetang – Korean ginseng chicken soup – in flavours like Perilla Seed and Black Garlic.
They have 100 overseas outlets in Sydney and Shanghai, with Singapore being their first Southeast Asian outpost.
The space in the basement of 18 Cross Street is huge, seating up to 100 pax. It’s a collaboration with SBCD F&B Group, which you will recognise for their soondubu-jjigae.
With extensive outdoor, semi-private and private seating options, there’s room for work lunches and intimate gatherings.
Jiho Samgyetang Singapore Menu
The Jiho Samgyetang Singapore menu brings 6 flavours of samgyetang from Korea.
- Healthy Samgyetang ($29.80): Herbal base with ginseng, dates and a special herbal sachet infused into the soup to boost energy.
- Beauty Samgyetang ($29.80): Made with a herb mix that helps with beauty and skin, best for women.
- Spicy Samgyetang ($32.80): Spicy samgyetang infused with cheongyang pepper.
- Perilla Samgyetang ($32.80): Thick soup infused with perilla seeds.
- Mung Bean Samgyetang ($32.80): Samgyetang topped with mung beans (nokdu), known for health benefits like reducing cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Black Garlic Samgyetang ($32.80): Savoury samgyetang soup flavoured with savoury, smoky black garlic.
They also offer Samgyejuk, which features rice cooked in the gravy to a thick, nutritious porridge. These are available in the same 6 flavours as the samgyetang.
Other items to look forward to include their signatures, such as the Cheonma Duck Health Soup ($119.80 for 3-4 pax) and Spicy Braised Chicken ($59.80 for 2 pax).
Something exclusive to Singapore is the Meals and Side Menu section.
Choose from Korean classics like Bibimbap ($22.80), Samgye Kalguksu ($29.80), alongside sides such as Kimchi Pancake ($19.80) and Japchae ($23.80).
What We Tried
Of the six samgyetang flavours, we would recommend the Health Samgyetang and Perilla Samgyetang.
Every samgyetang comes bubbling in an earthenware pot with a whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice.
Unlike traditional samgyetang, this iteration has a thicker, richer soup, almost like a sauce for the chicken.
The Health samgyetang came with a herb packet, infusing the soup with a light herbal flavour that isn’t bitter or overpowering.
The soup retained that familiar ginseng flavour, mellowed out by a rich, sweet chicken taste. This is the classic version and best for those who like it simple.
The chicken meat was fall-apart tender, best paired with salt and pepper or their housemade banchan – geotjori (fresh kimchi), radish and marinated garlic, which turned out to be our favourite!
For those who prefer heavier flavours, the Perilla Samgyetang would be up your alley.
The soup was almost like gravy, speckled with dots of floral perilla seeds that perfume the entire dish.
If you like spice, get the Spicy Samgyetang. Its deceivingly plain soup was punchy with a kick at the back of the throat thanks to cheongyang peppers, but had us going back for more.
We sampled the Mung Bean Samgyejuk ($32.80). It’s priced the same as the samgyetang because every samgyejuk comes with 1 chicken’s worth of meat, hand-plucked and mixed into the soup!
Thick, hearty and comforting, this is a definite hit for the cold weather or when you need something simple.
Something that surprised us was the Cheonma Duck Health Soup. This requires a reservation 24 hours in advance on WhatsApp, and for good reason.
It had a whole duck stewed in a spicy, herbal broth and Korean chives. The soup was surprisingly flavourful and 0 gameiness, finished with a sweetness from the duck.
The chilli helped cut through the soup’s greasiness and made it moreish, with the fork-tender duck meat. While it is pricey, it’s a lot of meat and good for sharing.
It’s served alongside a complementary porridge cooked in the moreish soup, making it a perfect finish to the meal.
We also liked the two sides, like Fried Chicken Gizzards ($19.80). Crispy, savoury and chewy, these were crunchy and addictive!
The Squid & Minari Salad ($29.80) was served with seaweed and avocado, an unusual but surprising combination of textures and flavours.
Verdict: Is Jiho Samgyetang Worth It?
Yes, Jiho Samgyetang is worth it. With a whole chicken and nutritious, tasty soups, their samgyetang makes for a filling meal, albeit at a higher price tag of ~$30 per bowl.
If you’re not fond of samgyetang, check out more Korean restaurants in Singapore or other food spots in Telok Ayer for your weekday lunches!
FAQ About Jiho Samgyetang
What is samgyetang?
Samgyetang is Korean ginseng chicken soup, featuring a whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice and boiled in a medicinal soup with herbs like garlic, ginseng and jujube.
What is inside samgyetang?
Samgyetang is usually served with a whole, stuffed young chicken, nourishing soup and glutinous rice.
Why do people eat samgyetang?
Samgyetang is nutritious and accessible, making it a popular summer health food. It is traditionally eaten on the hottest days of Korean summer to "fight fire with fire" and encourage energy and nutrients lost through perspiration.
Where is Jiho Samgyetang in Singapore?
Jiho Samgyetang is at B1-01, 18 Cross Street. It is near Telok Ayer MRT and Chinatown MRT.
Jiho Samgyetang
18 Cross, B1-01, 18 Cross Street, Singapore 048423
*This article is based on a media-tasting event, but all opinions expressed about the food are entirely our own.
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