SAM SAM SAM (삼삼삼) @ Novena Square - A Body-Matched Samgyetang Experience Inspired by Korean Herbal Medicine

With the growing number of samgyetang restaurants popping up in Singapore, SAM SAM SAM (삼삼삼) at Novena Square takes a slightly different approach. Rather than simply serving traditional Korean ginseng chicken soup, the restaurant positions itself as Singapore’s first samgyetang concept, developed in consultation with licensed Traditional Korean Medicine doctors, with each variation designed around a different wellness focus.

Stepping into SAM SAM SAM feels like travelling back to 1980s Seoul. The space is styled after a traditional Korean herbal medicine shop, complete with a nostalgic retro aesthetic that ties in nicely with the restaurant’s focus on Korean herbal traditions.

The name SAM SAM SAM (삼삼삼) carries a double meaning. “Sam” refers to the number three, symbolising balance in East Asian culture, while “insam” (인삼) is the Korean word for ginseng. Together, the name reflects the brand’s philosophy of nourishment, balance and shared dining. At the heart of the menu is, of course, samgyetang — whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng, jujube and garlic, then slow-cooked until the meat is tender and the broth takes on all the flavours of the ingredients.

Immunity Black Samgyetang 4.2/5

The Immunity Black Samgyetang ($32) is the most intense and robust variation on the menu, built around slow-aged black garlic from Uiseong. The broth has a deeper, more savoury character than traditional samgyetang, with the black garlic lending mellow sweetness and layered umami without becoming overly heavy. The unmistakable herbal aroma of ginseng and other botanicals still comes through, giving the soup a comforting depth. The whole young chicken comes generously stuffed with glutinous rice, jujube, garlic and Korean ginseng. After being slow-cooked, the chicken is incredibly tender, while the glutinous rice absorbs plenty of the fragrant broth. This is probably the bowl to choose if you prefer your samgyetang with a richer, more pronounced flavour.

Circulation Elixir 4/5

For something lighter, the Circulation Elixir ($29) offers a more delicate interpretation of samgyetang. The broth is light and highly aromatic, with subtle notes of ginseng, traditional herbs and goji berries. Compared to the black garlic version, this feels cleaner and less intense, allowing the herbal fragrance to come through more prominently. The collagen-rich broth comes with the same tender whole young chicken and comforting glutinous rice, making it an easy-to-eat bowl even if you are not accustomed to stronger herbal flavours.

Water Parsley Pancake 4.2/5

The Water Parsley Pancake ($14) was one of my favourite sides. Made with an abundant amount of Korean water parsley, or minari, the pancake is lightly battered and pan-fried until fragrant and crisp around the edges. Rather than being thick and doughy, it has a lighter texture, with plenty of fresh greens giving it a crunchy bite. The minari brings a bright, herbaceous and slightly peppery flavour that works particularly well alongside the rich, herbal chicken soups. It adds a nice textural contrast and freshness to the meal.

Market-Style Tofu & Kimchi 4/5

The Market-Style Tofu & Kimchi ($12) is a simple but comforting combination of warm tofu and stir-fried kimchi. Thick slices of tofu are served warm, silky and mild, providing a clean canvas for the more assertive kimchi. The stir-fried cabbage is savoury, tangy and slightly spicy, with enough seasoning to keep things interesting without overpowering the tofu. It is a lighter option than the fried sides and pairs well with the samgyetang.

Spicy Jan Kalguksu 4.2/5

If chicken soup with glutinous rice isn’t quite enough to fill you up, the Spicy Jan Kalguksu ($27) offers a more substantial noodle option. The dish combines a rich ginseng chicken soup base with house-made Korean chilli paste (jang), giving the broth a fiery kick while retaining the herbal chicken backbone underneath. I enjoyed the hand-pulled, knife-cut kalguksu noodles most. They have a silky yet springy, chewy texture that holds up well against the thicker, spicy broth. The heat is noticeable, but it is balanced by the savoury chicken broth and herbal notes. Definitely one for those who enjoy their Korean noodle soups with a bit more fire.

Ginger Ade, Jujube Ade $6

To wash everything down, we had the Ginger Ade ($6) and Jujube Ade ($6). The Ginger Ade is bold and zesty, with the natural warmth and slight pungency of ginger balanced by sweetness and sparkling carbonation. Served ice-cold, it provides a refreshing contrast to the piping-hot samgyetang. The Jujube Ade is gentler, naturally sweet and fruity, with the mellow caramel-like character of Korean red dates coming through. Both are refreshing choices, especially when paired with the rich, warming dishes.

SAM SAM SAM offers a different take on the samgyetang experience in Singapore by bringing together traditional Korean herbal food culture, a nostalgic 1980s Seoul-inspired setting and its body-matched approach to the menu.

I enjoyed the Immunity Black Samgyetang for its deeper black garlic flavour. At the same time, the Water Parsley Pancake stood out as a particularly enjoyable side with its crispy texture and fresh herbaceous bite. The Spicy Jan Kalguksu is also worth considering if you prefer noodles and a more fiery bowl of soup.

With its focus on chicken, ginseng, jujube and carefully selected botanicals, SAM SAM SAM is not just about having a comforting bowl of samgyetang, but also about exploring the traditional Korean idea of food as nourishment and balance.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


SAM SAM SAM (삼삼삼)
Velocity @ Novena Square
238 Thomason Road
#02-46
Singapore 307683
Tel: +65 8807 3806
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Website
Nearest MRT: Novena (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 3 minutes. [Map]

Racines @ Sofitel Singapore City Centre - The Brand New Ultimate Racines Brunch Buffet, Turf & Tide Edition

Saturday brunch gets a new Surf & Turf spin at Racines with the latest edition of its Ultimate Racines Buffet Brunch: Turf & Tide Edition. Available every Saturday from 12.30pm to 3pm until 31 October, the buffet brings together a generous selection from both land and sea — from fresh seafood on ice and sushi to grilled meats, whole fish, local favourites and, of course, a very tempting dessert spread.

Cured Salmon with Chilli and Yuzu Ponzu

Assorted Sushi and Maki

Poached Prawns

Seasonal Freshly Shucked Oyster

Sea Whelk

We started with the seafood and Japanese selection, featuring Cured Salmon with Chilli and Yuzu Ponzu, assorted Sushi and Maki, Poached Prawns, freshly shucked Seasonal Oysters and Sea Whelk. There’s a good variety of seafood on ice, and more importantly, everything we tried was very fresh. The oysters were a little smaller than we would have liked, but they made up for it with a pleasantly sweet flavour. The poached prawns were another easy pick, especially if you are the kind who can happily spend half your buffet attacking a mountain of seafood. The assorted sushi and maki also make for a nice start to the meal, though with everything else waiting, we would definitely recommend pacing yourself!

Nyonya Fish Maw Soup (Hu Pioh)

Seafood Chowder

There were two soups available during our visit — one Western and one Asian. Unfortunately, the Seafood Chowder was one of the weaker dishes for us. We found it a little too diluted, and the only seafood we really found in our bowls was clams. The Nyonya Fish Maw Soup, on the other hand, was almost exceptional. It was packed with ingredients and had a lovely consistency without being overly starchy. If we had to nitpick, all it needed was some black vinegar and white pepper on the side, and we would have been very happy.

Signature Rojak

Gado-Gado Salad with Peanut Sauce

Beyond the usual suspects such as Caesar Salad and Classic Prawn Cocktail, two items stood out to us — the Signature Rojak and Gado-Gado Salad with Peanut Sauce. The Signature Rojak comes pre-mixed with plenty of fresh fruits, making it refreshing and surprisingly easy to keep eating. We also enjoyed the Gado-Gado, especially since you can DIY your own bowl with as much of that rich, nutty peanut sauce as you like.

Classic Seafood Otak-Otak

Charred Cumin Lamb Ribs

Slow-Roasted Macka’s Beef Striploin

Grilled Red Snapper in French Bouillabaisse

This is where the Surf and Turf theme really comes through, with the grill section featuring a mix of meats and seafood, including Charred Cumin Lamb Ribs, Slow-Roasted Macka’s Beef Striploin, Grilled Red Snapper in French Bouillabaisse, and Seafood Otak, alongside chicken, prawns, and other fish selections. And I have to say, Racines really does its cooked food very well. The Charred Cumin Lamb Ribs were especially inviting with that smoky, spiced exterior, while the Slow-Roasted Macka’s Beef Striploin makes a satisfying choice for the meat lovers. The Grilled Red Snapper is also quite a centrepiece on the buffet line. Served whole in a French bouillabaisse with mussels, it’s one of those dishes that immediately catches your eye as you walk past.

Crabmeat Fried Rice

Whole Nyonya Assam Curry Seabass

Now, I know what everyone says: don’t waste precious stomach space on rice at a buffet. But hear me out. The Crabmeat Fried Rice with Egg Whites, Prawns, Sakura Ebi and Tobiko is really yummy! There are generous chunks of crabmeat throughout, while the Sakura Ebi and tobiko add even more seafood flavour and texture. Seriously, please don’t skip this one.

Another dish worth trying is the Whole Nyonya Assam Curry Seabass. The fish was fresh and meaty, while the gravy was rich and lemak with that familiar tangy-spicy Assam curry flavour. This is definitely one for those who enjoy stronger local flavours.

DIY Noodle Bar

If you somehow still have room, there is also a DIY Noodle Bar, with two noodle options rotating weekly. During our visit, the choices were Kelantan Style Laksa and Creamy Tom Yum Seafood Noodles. Both looked extremely tempting but, unfortunately, we had to make the difficult buffet decision to save whatever stomach space we had left for dessert. And looking at the dessert spread, I think we made the right decision.

Durian & Coffee Tiramisu

Coconut & Blue Pea Flower Jelly

Assorted Choux Puff

Baked Burnt Butter Pandan Cake

Ondeh Ondeh Cake

Assorted Traditional Nyonya Kueh

Assorted Traditional Nyonya Kueh

Fritter Bar (Cempedak, Banana and Ubi Keledek)

The dessert section is probably one of the most visually impressive parts of the buffet. There is a glorious selection covering Western cakes and bakes, local flavours and traditional favourites, including Durian & Coffee Tiramisu, Coconut & Blue Pea Flower Jelly, Assorted Choux Puffs, Baked Burnt Butter Pandan Cake, Ondeh Ondeh Cake, Traditional Nyonya Kueh, Pulut Hitam Gelato and Signature Bubur Cha Cha.

There were hits and misses amongst the desserts, but visually, almost everything looked too good not to try. I particularly like that Racines doesn’t just fill the dessert counter with the usual chocolate cakes, cheesecakes, and pastries; there is a strong local influence throughout the selection.

The Fritter Bar is another dangerous addition, with freshly fried cempedak, banana and ubi keledek. Because apparently after an entire buffet, we still need fried cempedak.

Teh Tarik

Besides the usual coffee and tea, there is also free-flow Teh Tarik. It was fragrant, smooth and, most importantly for us, not overly sweet. It is a simple addition, but a very welcome one, especially after all the rich food and local desserts.

Overall, the Ultimate Racines Buffet Brunch: Turf & Tide Edition offers a good variety for a leisurely Saturday brunch, particularly if you enjoy having both seafood and cooked dishes rather than a buffet that focuses heavily on just one or the other.

The restaurant itself is also a lovely space for a long weekend meal, with full-height glass windows bringing in plenty of natural light.

The brunch is priced at $108++ per adult and $54++ per child. There is currently 40% off adult prices with DBS, OCBC, Citi, JCB and Maybank cards for up to eight persons, while ALL Accor+ Explorer members enjoy 1-for-1 on adult prices for up to eight persons.

Photos and words by Jaslyn. An avid cook who lives to eat and travel for food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Racines
Sofitel Singapore City Centre
Level 5
9 Wallich Street
Singapore 078885
Tel: +65 64285000
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 7am - 1030am, 12pm - 3pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right onto Peck Seah Street. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 3 minutes. [Map]