There is something wonderfully comforting about a steaming bowl of chicken soup, especially when the soup is light, fragrant and full of flavour without feeling overly heavy.
That was exactly what I found at OMMA Chicken Soup at Compass One Kopitiam in Sengkang. I tried two of their flavours — the Ginseng Chicken Soup and Kimchi Chicken Soup — and both surprised me in different ways.
What I particularly enjoyed was that the soup did not taste like an overly commercialised version of Korean chicken soup. The flavours were clean and distinct, and the kimchi reminded me of the kind of fresh kimchi I would eat in Korea.
For a casual meal in a shopping mall, the pricing is also fairly approachable, with sets starting from around $9.90 for an adult meal and a $7.90 student set based on the prices I paid/observed.
OMMA Chicken Soup at Compass One
You can find OMMA Chicken Soup inside Compass One Kopitiam, at 1 Sengkang Square, #04-11. The stall is currently listed as operating daily from 10am to 9pm.
OMMA Chicken Soup specialises in Korean-style chicken soup, with options including collagen, ginseng and kimchi variations. The concept has also appeared at other food centres and mall food courts around Singapore. Recent food coverage describes its soups as a lighter, more approachable take on Korean chicken soup rather than the extremely rich type.
And that lighter style is actually what I liked about it.
My Ginseng Chicken Soup Experience
I ordered the Ginseng Chicken Soup set, which came with a choice of rice or mee sua and a side dish.
The soup was refreshing rather than overpowering.
What stood out to me was how clearly I could taste the two main flavours separately: the chicken broth had its own savoury flavour, while the ginseng had a recognisable earthy aroma and taste.
Sometimes ginseng chicken soup can become too medicinal or bitter, but this bowl was much easier to drink. You could actually appreciate the ginseng without it completely taking over the chicken soup.
The chicken was also a generous portion. There were two large pieces of chicken, including a drumstick, making the bowl much more substantial than the word “soup” might suggest.
The meat was tender and worked particularly well with the warm broth.
The Kimchi Chicken Soup Was My Other Highlight
Then came the Kimchi Chicken Soup, and this one had a completely different personality.
The kimchi tasted fresh.
That may sound like a small detail, but it made a big difference to me.
It wasn’t the extremely sour, fermented-tasting kimchi that can sometimes dominate a soup. Instead, it had a pleasant tanginess and freshness that reminded me of the kimchi I had eaten freshly made in Korea.
The flavour was just right — enough kimchi character to make the soup interesting, but not so much that it became aggressively sour or spicy.
If you enjoy Korean kimchi but prefer something more balanced and refreshing rather than intensely fermented, this is one I would consider trying.
Don’t Expect a Separate Bowl of Mee Sua
One little detail that caught me by surprise: if you choose mee sua instead of rice, the noodles don’t arrive in a separate bowl.
The mee sua is actually placed inside the soup pot.
I quite liked this because the noodles soak up the chicken broth while you eat. It also makes the whole dish feel more like a complete one-pot comfort meal.
If you’re expecting a separate serving of noodles on the side, don’t be surprised when your mee sua is already swimming happily in the soup!
What Does the Set Come With?
The adult set I ordered was $9.90, and it came with:
- Chicken soup
- Choice of rice or mee sua
- One side dish
The portion of chicken was satisfying, especially considering that you get two sizeable pieces, including a drumstick.
For students, there is also a $7.90 student set, which makes this a relatively affordable option for students looking for a filling meal around Compass One.
For those who simply want the soup without the set, the basic Collagen Chicken Soup is around $7.90, while the Ginseng and Kimchi Chicken Soup are around $8.90 à la carte, based on the menu pricing I encountered.
Prices can change, so it is worth checking the stall’s current menu when ordering.
A Little Korean Food History: Why Ginseng Chicken Soup Is So Comforting
Ginseng chicken soup is closely associated with samgyetang, a traditional Korean dish where a whole young chicken is stuffed with ingredients such as glutinous rice, ginseng, jujube and garlic before being simmered until tender.
It is traditionally associated with nourishing, restorative food, particularly during Korea’s hottest summer days.
The interesting thing about Korean chicken soup is that it doesn’t necessarily need to be heavy or intensely seasoned to be satisfying. Much of the appeal comes from the chicken, herbs and long-simmered broth.
OMMA’s version follows that general idea but makes it more approachable for a casual Singapore meal. Other food reviews have similarly noted the light, clean character of the broth and the presence of traditional ingredients such as red dates, wolfberries and lotus seeds. (Burpple)
Is OMMA Chicken Soup Worth Trying?
For me, the biggest attraction isn’t simply that OMMA serves Korean chicken soup.
It’s the clean and refreshing flavour.
The Ginseng Chicken Soup lets you taste the chicken broth and ginseng distinctly, while the Kimchi Chicken Soup brings a fresh, pleasantly tangy kimchi flavour without becoming overwhelmingly sour.
And the two generous pieces of chicken make the meal feel substantial rather than like you’re simply paying for a bowl of broth.
The $9.90 set also makes sense if you want a complete meal with rice or mee sua and a side dish. Students get an even cheaper option at $7.90.
If you’re already at Compass One and craving something warm, comforting and distinctly Korean, OMMA Chicken Soup is worth adding to your food list.
My personal pick? The Ginseng Chicken Soup if you want something soothing and clean; the Kimchi Chicken Soup if you want something fresher and more tangy.
And if you’re a mee sua fan, don’t forget — your noodles come right inside the soup pot.
OMMA Chicken Soup Compass One — Quick Info
Location: Compass One Kopitiam, 1 Sengkang Square, #04-11, Singapore 545078
Opening hours: Listed as daily, 10am–9pm
Adult set: Around $9.90 based on my visit
Student set: $7.90
Collagen Chicken Soup: Around $7.90 à la carte
Ginseng Chicken Soup: Around $8.90 à la carte
Kimchi Chicken Soup: Around $8.90 à la carte
Noodle option: Mee sua is served directly inside the soup pot
Best for: Korean comfort food, a light lunch, students, families and anyone craving a warm bowl of chicken soup
