Korean cuisine is so much more than greasy barbecues and fiery dishes. There’s also boyang-sik, which are foods that are packed with health benefits and meant to nourish the body. One of the most well-known of the bunch is samgyetang or Korean ginseng chicken soup. The dish is typically enjoyed throughout summer as it energises the body in the warmer months. In other words, perfect for those of us here in Singapore who are perpetually simmering in the relentless heat.
While you can find samgyetang at plenty of Korean restaurants here, there’s a new spot that specialises in this dish in particular. Modu opens its doors this month at Orchard Road, and it offers six variations of samgyetang, alongside other boyang-sik. Opened by the same people behind Drim Korean Steak House – yes, the one that Korean heartthrob Cha Eun Woo visited last year – this new concept is also perched on the second floor of Mandarin Gallery. The 40-seater is elegantly styled with Hanok-inspired elements, and you can either grab a counter seat by the open kitchen, or dine in private rooms that seat up to 12 guests.
All samgyetang broths at Modu are slow-cooked for minimally eight hours. The black chicken samgyetang is the cleanest-tasting of the lot ($37), featuring a whole spring chicken stuffed with glutinous rice. Black chicken or ogol-gye is said to be more nutrient-dense than regular chicken, with a leaner meat texture. More unique picks on the menu include the perilla seed samgyetang ($38) which has a thicker, gruel-like consistency from grounded perilla seeds, and a nuttier aroma.
There’s also the Hangover Samgyetang ($37) which gets its name from its ability to cure nasty hangovers. The spicy broth – made from a secret house chilli blend – is meant to work up a sweat that’ll rid those toxins from the body, or at least jolt the senses awake. But even if not, it’s still worth a try, seeing that we’ve yet to find spicy versions of samgyetang elsewhere in Singapore. Other flavours on the menu include a collagen-rich herbal soup base ($35); black sesame ($38); as well as the Beauty Samgyetang ($37) brimming with medicinal herbs to help you achieve that glass skin glow.
On top of samgyetang, you can fill up on a range of sharing sides, including lesser-seen traditional Korean dishes. Fans of seafood pancake – a staple order at Korean joints – can try the minari pancakes ($18), which swap out chives and squid for water parsley and Bori shrimp.
Or, go for the tofu samhap ($18), where a platter of grilled tofu is served with condiments like fish roe and braised cabbage, as well as gamtae seaweed to wrap the ingredients in. For something snackable, the hwangtaechae ($20) – dried pollock strips – come with a savoury soy-mayo dip and are extremely addictive.
Modu also brings in a range of Korean teas ($9) boasting various health properties. Instead of the usual barley tea, sip on the Nightgate tea which promotes blood circulation and kidney health, or try the roasted sunchoke tea for digestion, bellflower tea for colds, or tangerine peel tea for boosting immunity. There’s also a ginseng series which sees the superfood infused in makgeolli ($20), sparkling ade ($15), or tea ($9).
Find out more about Modu here.
Modu is open daily from 11.30am to 10pm at 02-37, Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road, Singapore 238897.
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