The new Bomul Samgyetang at Chijmes offers 10 different ginseng chicken soups — plus ginseng ice cream

There’s a new samgyetang restaurant located within Chijmes — Bomul Samgyetang. It joins Modu, which opened at Orchard in January, as one of the few spots in Singapore dedicated to Korean ginseng chicken soup.

Samgyetang is a broth with whole chicken stuffed with rice, and simmered with garlic, red dates and ginseng. It’s a nourishing, restorative dish known for its clean flavour and subtle herbal flavour — a dish people turn to for something soothing.

Bomul Samgyetang stands out for offering 10 variations of samgyetang, the widest range in Singapore. The menu is health-forward, with options said to help with everything from detoxing to anti-ageing. 

Admittedly, the prices here are on the steeper side, with bowls starting from S$29. But if you’re after a well-prepared, well-flavoured bowl that allows you to indulge without any guilt, the price may feel justified.

Ginseng chicken soups

Wellness aside, several bowls had genuinely good flavour — enough that eating healthy starts to feel like a bonus, rather than the point.

The chickens are also consistently pull-apart tender and paired with the deep, aromatic broths that make for very easy meals.

Its organic chickens are grazed for 50 to 60 days and raised in cage-free environments at local farm Toh Thye San, contributing to the clean flavour and soft texture.

My top pick was the black truffle (S$38). The truffle aroma is noticeable, without being overwhelming, adding a savoury depth to the already fragrant broth. Its earthy notes complements the tender chicken, creating a bowl that is both soothing and full of flavour.

Rejuvenation (S$36), infused with aged black garlic, is a deeply soothing bowl. The black garlic gives the broth a rounder, more robust flavour profile.

As a spice-lover, I also enjoyed the spicy Cure (S$22) with chilli pepper, chives and enoki mushrooms. It’s not aggressively spicy, but the heat adds dimension and makes the bowl a lot more savoury.

For those who prefer something milder, the healthy samgyejuk (S$22) offers a porridge-style take. The flavours are gentler, but still comes through, making it a good option if you want something comforting without the intensity of the full broth.

The samgyejuk comes in other broth flavours too — from spicy Cure (S$22) to pumpkin (S$25).

Sides, desserts and drinks

Beyond the soups, the duck and chicken ddukgalbi (S$22) turned out to be the most memorable. 

The minced duck and chicken breast are formed into a patty and glazed with a sweet-savoury sauce — simple, but very addictive, and a great meaty side to have on the table.

Bomul Samgyetang serves ice cream, too, and it was pretty good. The signature black sesame (S$6) has a clean, nutty flavour that doesn’t overpower — smooth, earthy, and easy to keep going back to.

The ginseng (S$6) ice cream was something I didn’t expect to enjoy, but it works — mildly herbal, a touch sweet, and far less medicinal than you’d imagine.

We had both flavours in one cup, which turned out to be the best combination, balancing out each other nicely.

A shoutout, too, to the signature honey ginseng tea (S$9): Light, clean and great alongside the meal. There’s also Suntory draft beer (S$13.50) and other alcoholic options if you want to linger at the space over conversations.

Bomul Samgyetang’s addition to Chijmes is slightly premium, centred on comforting dishes that are thoughtfully prepared and executed with care. 

While it’s not the most affordable option, it’s worth a stop if you’re after a nourishing meal with good flavour and some variations to explore.

This was a hosted tasting.

For more ideas on what to eat at Chijmes, read on our list of 14 restaurants at Chijmes to dine and unwind in and what we thought about Almost Famous’ reopening with its new Korean concept.