The shio pan fever in Singapore is showing no signs of slowing down. And if you’re not out joining the queues, you’re probably attempting to recreate the viral salt bread at home with the help of a TikTok recipe. For the uninitiated, shio pan is a soft, salt-topped buttery roll which was first popularised in Japan. It has since made waves across Asia, attracting lines out the door, and for some bakeries, sometimes even selling out as soon as it’s out of the oven. We visited 14 spots in Singapore to try their original shio pans – here’s how we’d rank them, from our most to least favourite.
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1. Butter Town Breakfast Club
From a home-based business to a hawker stall at Holland Drive Market & Food Centre, shio pan vending machines and now its own dine-in café, Butter Town has played a huge role in fuelling Singapore’s shio pan craze. Its OG Shio Pan ($2.80) strikes a sweet spot between fluffy and dense – though it errs on the fluffier side – with a crispy base and a rich, buttery middle. Beyond the classic, the bakery also rolls out flavours like garlic cream cheese, mentaiko onion, chocolate and earl grey cream, plus local variations like kaya butter, kopi-c and even durian cream.
Address: 261 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058810
Opening hours: Sun-Thu 8.30am-6pm; Fri-Sat 8.30am-8pm
Website
2. Fat Kid Bakery
Fat Kid Bakery’s shio pan ($2.70) is for those who like their salt bread doughy, chewy and packed with flavour. Made with homemade salted butter, it has a dense, pillowy texture without that big, hollow middle that some shio pans have. It also springs back after each bite instead of collapsing and flattening over time. Despite its slightly smaller size, it makes up for it with a buttery, oily finish (your paper wrapper will show it) and just enough saltiness. Quantities are limited each day, so head down early before they’re sold out.
Address: 39 Amoy St, Singapore 069865
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 9am-5pm; Fri 9am-6.30pm; Sat 10.30am-4.30pm
Website
3. Gokoku Japanese Bakery
With over 10 outlets across Singapore, Gokoku is one of the most convenient spots to get your shio pan fix. The classic butter shio pan ($2) comes up to almost twice the size of Butter Town’s at just a fraction of the price. The bread is airy and fluffy with a hollow centre, while the interior is generous with butter. And while there are no salt crystals sprinkled on top, the dough itself is savoury enough and enjoyable on its own. If you want to switch things up, there are also fillings like red bean, peanut butter and rennyu (condensed milk), which are equally good.
Address: See locations and opening hours here
Opening hours: See locations and opening hours here
Website
4. Barcook Bakery
Barcook’s original shio pan ($2.40) is one of the most well-balanced among those we’ve tried, sitting comfortably between airy and dense, and light and buttery. The dough is made with reduced sugar, with a slightly crisp exterior that gives way to a pillowy middle, and a decently chewy bite. Its smaller size and mild buttery taste make it ideal for a quick, easy snack that doesn’t overwhelm or fill you up. Other flavours include the crowd-favourite kaya, cheese, and a recent new addition – chocolate. With nine outlets across the island, it’s a solid and convenient pick when the craving hits.
Address: See locations and opening hours here
Opening hours: See locations and opening hours here
Website
5. Donq Takashimaya
One of the unsung OGs in Singapore’s shio pan scene, Japanese bakery chain Donq arrived here in 2012, bringing with it a century of baking experience since its first store in 1905. It reopened in Takashimaya last year, reviving its salt and butter bread ($2.60), which sees salted butter rolled into a light, fluffy and airy dough. The parcel has a crunchy exterior and a savoury centre, though not quite tipping over into overly salty and oily territory. Tip: wait for a fresh batch for the best experience, as older ones can turn slightly stale and may need a quick reheat at home.
Address: 391 Orchard Rd, Ngee Ann City, B2, Food Hall, Singapore 238873
Opening hours: Daily 10am-9.30pm
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