The shio pan fever in Singapore is showing no signs of slowing down. And if you\u2019re not out joining the queues, you\u2019re 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\u00a0across Asia, attracting lines out the door, and for some bakeries, sometimes even selling out as soon as it\u2019s out of the oven. We visited 14 spots\u00a0in Singapore\u00a0to try\u00a0their original shio pans \u2013 here\u2019s how we\u2019d rank them, from our most to least favourite.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: <\/strong>The best bakeries in<\/a> Singapo<\/a>re<\/a>\u00a0and The 50 best caf\u00e9s in Singapore<\/a> <\/p>\n 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 caf\u00e9, 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 \u2013 though it errs on the fluffier side \u2013 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\u00a0variations like\u00a0<\/span>kaya butter, kopi-c and even durian cream.<\/p>\n Address:\u00a0<\/strong>261 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058810 <\/p>\n Fat Kid Bakery’s\u00a0shio\u00a0pan ($2.70) is for those who like their\u00a0salt bread doughy, chewy and packed with flavour. Made with homemade salted butter, it has a dense, pillowy texture without\u00a0that big, hollow middle that some shio pans have. It also springs back after\u00a0each bite instead of collapsing and flattening over time. Despite its slightly smaller size, it makes up for it with\u00a0a buttery, oily finish (your paper wrapper will show it) and just enough saltiness. Quantities are limited each day, so head down\u00a0early before they’re sold out.<\/p>\n Address:\u00a0<\/strong>39 Amoy St, Singapore 069865 <\/p>\n With over\u00a010 outlets across Singapore, Gokoku is one of the most convenient spots to get your shio pan fix. The classic butter shio pan ($2)\u00a0comes\u00a0up 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.\u00a0And while there are no salt crystals sprinkled on top, the dough itself is savoury enough and enjoyable on its own.\u00a0If\u00a0you want to switch things up, there are also fillings like red bean, peanut butter and rennyu (condensed milk), which are equally good.<\/p>\n A<\/strong>ddress: <\/strong>See locations and opening hours here<\/a> <\/p>\n Barcook’s original shio pan ($2.40) is one of the most well-balanced\u00a0among those\u00a0we’ve tried, sitting comfortably between airy and dense, and light and buttery. The dough is made with reduced sugar, with a\u00a0slightly crisp exterior that gives way to a pillowy middle, and a decently chewy bite.\u00a0Its smaller size and mild buttery taste make it\u00a0ideal 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 \u2013 chocolate. With nine outlets across the island, it’s a solid and convenient pick when the craving hits.\u00a0<\/p>\n Address: <\/strong>See locations and opening hours here<\/a> <\/p>\n 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\u00a0sees salted butter rolled into a\u00a0light, fluffy and airy dough. The parcel has a crunchy exterior and a savoury centre, though not quite tipping over into overly\u00a0salty and\u00a0oily 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.<\/p>\n Address:\u00a0<\/strong>391 Orchard Rd, Ngee Ann City, B2, Food Hall, Singapore 238873 Kohpan’s original shio pan ($11.70 for a set of three) is one of the pricier ones out there, coming up to $3.90 per piece, but\u00a0not without\u00a0reason. The bakery uses high-quality ingredients like Lescure butter from France \u2013 and a generous portion at that \u2013 as evidenced by the glossy sheen on each roll. The base is also impressively crispy, while the interior is dense and pillowy with a small cavity, so you get a full, satisfying bite each time.\u00a0While the original can lean slightly oily, there are flavours like mentaiko or premium\u00a0truffle\u00a0mushroom\u00a0for those\u00a0craving something different.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Address:\u00a0<\/strong>981 Upper Serangoon Road, Suites@Kovan,\u00a0#01-01,\u00a0<\/span>Singapore 534729 <\/p>\n For those who prefer their shio pan soft and comforting, Hong Kong bakery So Good’s version comes halfway\u00a0close to the stellar ones you\u2019d find in Korea. At $2.20 (up from its original $1.80 years ago), it remains reasonably priced and substantial in size, with a light and fluffy interior that pulls apart nicely. While it’s not as chewy as some others on our list, it has the satisfying bite of a soft butter roll and a saltiness that’s evenly spread out throughout the dough. If\u00a0a crispy base is a deal-breaker for you though,\u00a0this might not meet the mark. But if you can do without it, there are six outlets on the island to make a dash for.<\/p>\n Address:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>See locations and opening hours\u00a0<\/span>here<\/a> <\/p>\n A spin-off by local bakery chain Swee Heng, Crolo specialises in croissants and waffles, but also offers its own take on shio pan. It launched its sea salt shio pan ($2.20) in 2023, followed by flavours like pandan kaya and garlic, all available at the same price, or three for $6 \u2013 quite the deal. The original is\u00a0for those who prefer their shio pan more buttery, though it’s still not as intense as Fat Kid Bakery’s or Kohpan’s, while the bread leans more airy and light rather than dense and chewy. There are also mini rolls ($1.30)\u00a0stuffed with options like sausage, ham or fried fish fillet.<\/p>\n Address: <\/strong>See locations and opening hours here<\/a> <\/p>\n Better known for its artisanal\u00a0bakes like pumpkin pies\u00a0and sourdough egg tarts at Great World City, Windowsill Pies may not be the first place that comes to mind for shio pan. The bakery only introduced its own version a few months ago, but it’s already made a pretty solid impression so far.\u00a0Its\u00a0shio pan ($3.80) comes in just one flavour and has a\u00a0noticeably\u00a0rounder shape. Expect a crisp exterior\u00a0that gives way to a soft, buttery middle \u2013 it definitely leans towards\u00a0the fluffier, airier side with a balanced richness. And while it’s one of the pricier options on our list, you can snag bakes at 50 percent off towards the end of the day.<\/p>\n Address:\u00a0<\/strong>1 Kim Seng Promenade, Great World City, B1-K114,\u00a0<\/span>Singapore 237994 Its name itself is a clue \u2013\u00a0this bakery in Tampines\u00a0is known for its chewy bagels that come in different flavours, but it also has a small selection of shio pan. Like Crolo, it’s another bakery concept by Swee Heng. The standard sea salt butter shio pan ($2.50) leans light and fluffy instead of dense, with a gentle buttery flavour, though it lacks the crispy base found in some versions. The Taiwan Taro, filled with a sweet orh nee paste is an interesting twist we haven’t seen elsewhere. Available at $6.50 for three, these shio pans are a decent, fuss-free choice if you’re in the area, though perhaps not the most memorable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Address:\u00a0<\/strong>2 Tampines Central 5, Century Square,\u00a0#01-32A,\u00a0<\/span>Singapore 529509 <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Homegrown\u00a0brand Pawa Bakery is best known for its low-oil and low-sugar bagels, but it also offers a decent selection of shio pans across its five outlets, including its newest at Paya Lebar Quarter. The plain shio pan ($2.50) first impressed us in 2024 with its golden-brown base, fluffy, chewy centre and balanced butteriness with each bite. On a more recent visit, the bread was noticeably drier and tougher, with less of the rich, buttery flavour from before \u2013 luck of the draw, we guess. Still, there are unique shio pan flavours worth a shot, including sweet potato, maple ganache and a recent popular pick: pistachio cream cheese shio pan.<\/p>\n Address:\u00a0<\/strong>See locations and opening hours here<\/a> <\/p>\n No shio pan roundup would be complete without Breadtalk, Singapore’s ubiquitous bakery chain with outlets in almost every neighbourhood\u00a0mall. Its classic\u00a0shio\u00a0pan ($2) is one of the\u00a0more economical options we tried, offering the most straightforward and no-frills take on Japanese salt bread\u00a0on this list. While it lacks the crisp buttery base and rich flavour of our top few picks, it’s consistent, convenient and does the job when the craving strikes. The red bean shio pan is arguably the more popular of the two, filled with sweet red bean paste and two slabs of butter, while other flavours include garlic, mentaiko and cocoa.<\/p>\n Address: <\/strong>See locations and opening hours here <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A Japanese bakery that has been in Singapore since 1999, Provence is located on the ground floor of Raffles Holland V Mall. It offers two types of shio pan: the regular\u00a0salt\u00a0butter ($2) and a healthier whole wheat version. The former has a\u00a0nice\u00a0golden-brown\u00a0crust and a good rise,\u00a0but its denser crumb makes it feel closer to a baguette than a light, fluffy roll. It\u2019s also one of the plainer shio pans we’ve tried, with just a slight savouriness. But for anyone who prefers a more bread-like texture, substantial bite and doesn’t mind slathering on their own butter, this is an acceptable pick for $2.<\/p>\n Address:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>118 Holland Ave, Raffles Holland V Mall, #01-04, Singapore 278997 <\/p>\n Korean bakery-caf\u00e9 Noci Bakehouse at Suntec City drew us in with its European farmhouse\u00a0design and wide, trendy selection of bakes. The classic shio pan ($4) looks the part, but its\u00a0interior\u00a0is dense and bready instead of fluffy and airy. The base, too, lacks crispiness, while the buttery centre is noticeably missing. Flavoured versions like matcha with red bean and mentaiko are creative, but are similarly dense, with\u00a0tiny\u00a0kinks\u00a0like the\u00a0matcha powder being a tad bitter for our liking. While it’s worth a stop for its aesthetic and variety, Noci Bakehouse’s shio pans need more consistency to justify\u00a0their higher\u00a0price tags.<\/p>\n Address:\u00a0<\/strong>3 Temasek Blvd, Suntec City Tower 3, #01-604\/605, Singapore 038983 READ MORE:<\/strong><\/p>\n Home-based snack business Tiaptiap opens a physical store in Joo Chiat with Peranakan treats<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n1. Butter Town Breakfast Club<\/h2>\n
![\"Butter](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427850\/image.webp\")
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Opening hours: <\/strong>Sun-Thu\u00a08.30am-6pm; Fri-Sat 8.30am-8pm
Website<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n2.\u00a0Fat Kid Bakery<\/h2>\n
![\"Fat](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427755\/image.webp\")
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Opening hours: <\/strong>Mon-Thu 9am-5pm; Fri 9am-6.30pm; Sat 10.30am-4.30pm
Website<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n3. Gokoku Japanese Bakery<\/h2>\n
![\"Gokoku](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427756\/image.webp\")
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Opening hours: <\/strong>See locations and opening hours here
<\/a>Website<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n4. Barcook Bakery<\/h2>\n
![\"Barcook](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427757\/image.webp\")
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Opening hours: <\/strong>See locations and opening hours here
<\/a>Website<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n5. Donq Takashimaya\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Donq](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427759\/image.webp\")
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Opening hours: <\/strong>Daily 10am-9.30pm
Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n6.\u00a0Kohpan<\/h2>\n
![\"Kohpan\"](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427764\/image.webp\")
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Opening hours:\u00a0<\/strong>Daily noon-8pm
Website<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n7. So Good Bakery\u00a0<\/h2>\n
![\"So](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427795\/image.webp\")
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<\/strong>Opening hours:\u00a0<\/strong>See locations and opening hours\u00a0<\/span>here
<\/a>Website<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n8. Crolo by Swee Heng<\/h2>\n
![\"Crolo\"](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427774\/image.webp\")
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Opening hours: <\/strong>See locations and opening hours here<\/a>\u00a0
Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n9. Windowsill Pies<\/h2>\n
![\"Windowsill](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427804\/image.webp\")
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Opening hours:\u00a0<\/strong>Daily 11am-9pm
Website<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n10. Baegal<\/h2>\n
![\"Baegal\"](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427830\/image.webp\")
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Opening hours: <\/strong>Daily 9am-9.30pm
Google Maps<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n11. Pawa Bakery\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Pawa](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427842\/image.webp\")
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<\/span><\/strong>Opening hours:\u00a0<\/strong>See locations and opening hours here
<\/a>Website<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n12. Breadtalk\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Breadtalk\"](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427846\/image.webp\")
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<\/a>Opening hours:\u00a0<\/strong>See locations and opening hours here
<\/a>Website<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n13. Provence Bakery\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Provence](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106427781\/image.webp\")
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Opening hours:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Daily 9am-8.30pm
Google Maps<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n14. Noci Bakehouse<\/h2>\n
![\"Noci](\"https:\/\/media.timeout.com\/images\/106396543\/image.webp\")
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Opening hours: <\/strong>Daily 8.30am-8.30pm
Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n