Sam Sam Sam review: Get a taste of nourishing ginseng chicken soup backed by traditional Korean medicine

Forget regular samgyetang. Backed by traditional Korean medicine, the ginseng chicken soup from Sam Sam Sam is said to nourish you from the inside out.

With the number of Korean restaurants popping up in Singapore, it can feel like rinse-and-repeat after a while. But Sam Sam Sam is no carbon copy of the rest. This samgyetang specialty restaurant is said to be Singapore’s first Korean wellness dining concept. The nourishing bowls are formulated in consultation with licensed traditional Korean medicine doctors and created with a distinctive wellness focus. Hearty ginseng chicken soups with health benefits? Say less. I dropped by the restaurant at Novena to give them a try.

Sam Sam Sam review: Details at a glance

Best for: Nourishing samgyetang that will leave you feeling good inside-out
Must-try items: Immunity Black samgyetang; spicy jang kalguksu; market-style tofu and kimchi
Price: Main dishes from $21; sides from $12; set for two at $88; drinks from $4
Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 10pm
Address: Sam Sam Sam, #02-46, Velocity @ Novena Square, Singapore 307683

Turn back the clock to 1980s Seoul

If you’ve been to other dining concepts under Initia Group – think Drim, Song Gye Ok and Bomul Samgyetang – the ambience should feel familiar. From cave-like architecture to traditional hanok settings, these restaurants always nail their interiors.

Sam Sam Sam’s retro interiors are a nostalgic blast to 1980s Seoul, emulating a traditional Korean herbal medicine apothecary. The multi-drawer apothecary chests, dried herbs and labels are fun touches that realistically recreate this atmosphere.

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Chicken soup packed with health goodness

Samgyetang (aka ginseng chicken soup) is traditionally known to be a ‘health food’ in Korea. At Sam Sam Sam, this nourishing dish goes to a whole new level by taking inspiration from traditional Korean herbal medicine.

Priced from $29, the samgyetang line-up is formulated in consultation with licensed traditional Korean medicine doctors across internal medicine, cardiovascular and neurologic medicine, neuropsychiatry and more. Packed with herbs and botanicals from Korea, every bowl is built on medical expertise, so you know you’re slurping on real goodness.

The store even has a simple wellness diagnostic chart to help you identify which samgyetang is best for your current condition. Dealing with indigestion or stomach sensitivity? The Vitality Tonic is your best bet. Feeling out of sorts and stressed lately? Sip on the Thermal Detox instead.

I tried the Vitality Tonic samgyetang ($29), a signature item recommended for first-timers. Formulated for daily recovery and general nourishment, each bowl comes with tender young chicken, Korean ginseng, jujube, garlic and glutinous rice.

Unlike the usual samgyetang I was used to, the bitterness and herbal notes in this broth were much more pronounced. Think of a cross between a savoury soup and bitter herbal medicine – tastes potent but it’s probably ‘good for you’.

Of the two soups I tried, I preferred the Immunity Black samgyetang ($32). Perfect for when you’re feeling sluggish or under the weather, the robust broth features naturally-aged black garlic from Uiseong. This premium black garlic is packed with antioxidants and immune-boosting nutrients which can help with vitality and immunity.

Every spoonful was rich, savoury and umami-filled, with the black garlic lending mellow sweetness. I liked how this broth was more layered, but still didn’t feel too heavy. Both soups came with a huge portion of chicken – a guaranteed happy sight for anyone who is ‘proteinmaxxing’ and great value-for-money.

Other unexpected hits on the menu

Given that Sam Sam Sam’s crowning jewels are the samgyetang, my expectations weren’t high for other menu items. But, the spicy jang kalguksu ($27) is that dish I would gladly travel to Novena for again.

I might be biased as a knife-cut noodle and ban mian lover, but the hand-pulled noodles were cooked to the perfect texture. The springy and chewy noodles paired superbly with the bold and spicy broth. This soup is said to warm and refresh the body. I honestly couldn’t tell if it was the spice working its magic, but my stomach felt warm and nourished after.

The a la carte sides also stood out for their uniqueness. I mean, how often do you see deep-fried ginseng at a Korean restaurant in Singapore?

The fried fresh ginseng ($18) came with three substantial pieces of golden-fried whole ginseng served with honey and bean powder. While I’m personally not a fan of ginseng, my dining partner appreciated how the cooking style and accompaniments made the bitterness of ginseng more palatable. I had no complaints about the kimchi pancake ($12), which was crunchy outside, moist inside, and balanced in tanginess and savouriness.

But my top pick had to go to the market-style tofu and kimchi ($12). The dish of warm tofu and kimchi looked deceptively simple, but the flavours knocked it out of the park. Each block of tofu was drizzled with fragrant sesame oil, and elevated when paired with the savoury stir-fried kimchi. After trying this dish, I’m convinced that stir-fried kimchi is the way to go.

I’ll be honest. I came into this meal with slight scepticism. How different (and good) can samgyetang backed by traditional Korean medicine be? Is this Korean restaurant actually different from all the others that have popped up recently?

After my food coma-inducing dinner, Sam Sam Sam has safely earned a spot on my list of restaurants for comfort food. I’ll return for the hearty soups generously packed with succulent chicken, classic sides done right, and prices that won’t cause a dangerous dent in the wallet.

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