Hello HCG Sandos! - Hello Arigato opens a second eatery for Singapore’s East Siders

Har Cheong Gai Sandos! Yes you heard right, with the sando craze here to stay, we decided to visit Hello Arigato's new Joo Chiat Store.

Written by Ethan Chia

Sushi. Soba. And now, Sandos. Singaporeans can’t seem to get enough of these meaty Japanese sandwiches.

Many places have made them a speciality but with Hello Arigato’s 2nd eatery opening on the east side, we decided to see what the hype is all about.

The Joo Chiat eatery lies a few bus stops from Dakota MRT, playing neighbour to a variety of quaint cafes.

What We Ordered

With a new store came new options - so we first sunk our teeth first into the Joo Chiat Exclusive HCG sando(HCG stands for Har Cheong Gai)($16).

Hello Arigato seems to have a flair for fusion because this did not disappoint. On the surface, the chicken looked crispy and juicy, and both were true.

The 48 hour marinated prawn paste is savoury and the aroma is mouthwatering. While on its own the salt might be abit heavy, the cucumbers and bread help tone it down.

The next item on our list was Hello Arigato’s speciality Gyu Sando($26). A marriage between a generous slab of Angus beef, two toasted pieces of bread and caramelised onion jam.

The public opinion on this one has been mixed and after trying it we get it.

Flavour-wise, the juicy beef and onion jam make a delectable combo and the batter is a nice addition. The milk bread provides an airy contrast to the thick meat.

That being said, the meat was a tad bit hard to chew and I think embarrassingly - the steak might have fallen out of my bread more than once.

We also got HCG Twister fries($13). Yes, they look like Mcdonald's Prosperity twisters, but they can’t compete. It's crispy and lighter than the HCG sando despite sharing its winning savoury flavour. As both the HCG sando and twister share the same flavour profile, my advice would be to pick one. Generally after eating the HCG sando, the HCG fries tasted like normal fries. Perhaps go for the Arigato Truffle fries, which we didn’t order, only to have our mouths water when the table next to us got them.

We also got white coffee($5.50 Ea), which was average, especially since there were specialised coffee houses in the area.

Location & Service

The cafe’s visual aesthetic takes cues from its Thomson predecessor, with a similar Scandinavian look. However the decor only stretches a few steps in, because space is limited. Space constraints are also the reason why seating here is all indoors - except for one bar table outside(Which might not be the ideal place to eat given the main road is just there). That being said, even when the place is full, there’s still ample dining space so it doesn’t ever feel “Crowded”.

Dining wise, customers get 90 minutes which is more than adequate given the food comes relatively fast(Which might change depending on the crowd). You could even check out their decor - some of which are purchasable.

Service-wise, perhaps we had biased treatment due to its soft launch but the staff were friendly. If you told them it was your first time or asked what’s good they wouldn’t blink an eye before giving recommendations.

Our Honest Opinion - "Local Favourite" - 3.5/5

East Siders definitely have a new place to check out.

It’s pricey but the HCG Sando or HCG twisters is a must-try if you do a stopover. The Gyu sando? If you feel like balling you could because the flavour profile is interesting. The vibes are great and the staff also seem more than happy to give some recommendations - just ask. Hello Arigato Joo Chiat is at 314 Joo Chiat Rd, 427565 and opened from 9am - 5pm on Wednesday to Sunday. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.

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If you are looking for places to get good cuts of meat or burgers, DM us @thehonestpeople and we’ll find one for you.

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About the Writer: Y.S. Chia(he/him) is our 20-year-old Honest Agent who loves going on adventures - be it hiking nature trails or checking out Singapore's latest festivals. When he's not out and about, you can find him being a potato watching netflix or on the rare occasion - at the gym.