6 Bakeries To Get Your Shio Pan Fix in Singapore
Deceivingly simple, shio pan (a.k.a salt bread) is an airy, crispy Japanese bread that everyone’s been in love with. Here’s where to get the best ones in Singapore.
Buttery and soft with a delightfully crispy bottom – no, we’re not talking about a croissant. These are the qualities of a star shio pan, or Japanese salt bread, the internet’s recent baked fixation. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the bakeries to get the best shio pan in Singapore, from the OGs to the most innovative flavour combos.
P.S.: You’ll also love our round-up of best hidden cafes in Singapore and our compilation of where to get the best flavoured matcha lattes.
BEST SHIO PAN IN SINGAPORE
1. Baker’s Bench Bakery
Why we love it: Baker’s Bench Bakery probably sounds familiar, and for good reason – the cosy bakery located in the vibrant Keong Saik neighbourhood is well-known for its wide array of bakes and exciting weekend specials. With such a solid repertoire, it’s no surprise that their shio pan is also a winner. Available in a rotating variety of flavours, their current offering includes a fragrant truffle pate.
The bakery specialises in sourdough, and that includes the shio pan. Yet, it remains light, fluffy and crispy – all the best parts of a good salt bread.
Address: 6 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089820
Where to find them: Instagram
2. Shio & Sato
Why we love it: Run by the same folks behind Sourbombe Bakery, Shio & Sato was a massive hit from the start. It focuses on fun, out-of-the-box flavours – what brought Sourbombe Bakery its virality in the first place – with offerings like green chilli onion, matcha hokkaido milk and even pineapple tart shio pan for Lunar New Year.
Unfortunately, their bakery at The Centrepoint will shut its doors on April 26 this year, though Shio & Sato will definitely still be around on a pop-up basis.
Address: 176 Orchard Road, #01-33F/G The Centrepoint, Singapore 238843
Where to find them: Instagram
3. Butter Town
Why we love it: Butter Town is undoubtedly an OG in the shio pan game. You might recall their innovative chicken curry and shio pan set, which has unfortunately been discontinued for the time being due to manpower constraints. They offer an array of sweeter and more decadent flavours of the salt bread, including pistachio white chocolate and azuki mochi. At their original Holland Drive Market location, they even have Mao Shan Wang durian cream shio pan, as well as savoury shio pan sandwiches.
They even have Singapore’s first-ever shio pan ‘ATMs’ which dispense their signature salt breads at three locations across the island. Although their bakes are sold from a vending machine, they don’t compromise on quality – the ATMs are re-filled with new shio pan (individually sealed for even more freshness, BTW) twice a day.
Address: 44 Holland Drive, #02-35 Holland Drive Market, Singapore 270044.Shio pan ATMs are located at Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre, Hillion Mall and Our Tampines Hub.
Contact: Instagram
4. Kohpan
Why we love it: This quaint bakery specialising in shio pan operates from a tiny house in Springleaf, which only adds to its charm. It has a small menu of just three flavours: Original Crispy Crust, Fukuoka Mentaiko and Premium Truffle Mushroom, but it goes big on the ingredients. The bakers use only French Lescure butter, which gives it a buttery aroma that isn’t greasy or heavy.
It’s takeaway only, but their breads reheat wonderfully in the oven or air-fryer. Pre-orders are also highly recommended as only small quantities are baked daily.
Address: 13a Thong Soon Avenue
Contact: Instagram
5. 1816 Bakes
Why we love it: At 1816 Bakes, it’s a simple concept: a new monthly selection of four creme dips that pair perfectly with their original shio pan. There’s always a mix of sweet and savoury, so there’ll always be something for everyone’s tastes. For the month of February, the quartet comprises of black sesame creme, maple clotted creme, espresso ganache montee and egg mayo butter.
P.S. From March onwards, salt buns will only be available from Wednesdays to Fridays as the bakery expands its array of offerings.
Address: 183 Jalan Pelikat, #B1-13 The Promenade, Singapore 537643
Contact: Instagram
6. Pawa Bakery
Why we love it: Who doesn’t love a treat that’s made just a little healthier? Pawa Bakery, known for its healthy Japanese-style bagels that are under 250 calories, also offers guilt-free shio pan made with less salt, sugar and oil. Despite being a less indulgent option, their shio pan doesn’t compromise on taste – they’re still light, fluffy and with a perfectly crisp bottom. The price point here is also a plus, with the salt bread retailing for under $3.
Address: The Star Vista, Plaza Singapura, Raffles Place and Suntec City. Find the full list of addresses here.
Contact: Instagram