Singapore’s Korean food scene has spent the last two years getting louder — more K-BBQ, more fried chicken, more queues for things that come with a side of spectacle. So it’s a little disarming when something opens quietly at Cross Street and turns out to be the most comforting meal we’ve had in months.
JIHO Samgyetang SBCD is the Southeast Asian debut of JIHO, a Korean brand that’s spent over three decades refining hanbang-style cooking — a tradition built around medicinal herbs and slow, restorative broths. It’s brought to Singapore by the same team behind SBCD Korean Tofu House, which tells you something about the pedigree before you’ve even sat down.
The Broth Does the Talking
We went in expecting something herbal and slightly medicinal-tasting. It isn’t. The Healthy Samgyetang ($29.80++) — the most classic version on the menu — is deeply savoury and silky, with a whole young chicken that falls apart with almost no effort. It’s the kind of dish that grows on you spoonful by spoonful rather than announcing itself.
For more personality, the Perilla Samgyetang ($32.80++) brings a nutty, creamier edge from perilla seeds — particularly good on a rainy afternoon. The Spicy version, built around Cheongyang chilli, builds heat gradually without losing the broth’s clarity.
It’s the kind of meal that leaves you full but not heavy — the rare dish that doesn’t make you want to nap immediately afterwards.
Beyond the Soup
If a whole chicken feels like too much commitment for lunch, the Samgyejuk options — the same broths, served as porridge with boneless chicken — are the smarter weekday choice. For groups, the Seafood Pancake and Squid and Minari Salad round things out well; the squid in particular was notably fresh.
Worth it for: the kind of dinner you book when you actually want to feel better afterwards, not just full. JIHO Samgyetang SBCD is at 18 Cross Street, B1-01, Singapore 048423.