Hawker shio pan specialist Butter Town unveils cafe in Chinatown

The all-new Butter Town Breakfast Club

Alongside the brand’s all-time favourites — which regulars will already be familiar with — are a handful of sweet and savoury creations that will be available only at its South Bridge Road outpost.

There’re even locally inspired shio pan flavours such as a kopi-C (S$2.80) and kaya butter (S$3.20), too!

Here, the lineup spans from tried-and-tested flavors such as the OG shio pan (S$2.80) and garlic cream cheese shio pan (S$4), to more adventurous variations such as earl grey cream (S$5.20), and even a durian cream shio pan, which is set to launch soon. 

Sharp-eyed fans may recognise some returning flavours, such as the mentaiko onion (S$5.80) and milk cream shio pan (S$4.50), which had previously appeared as limited-time specials on Butter Town’s menu. They’re now here to stay as permanent items at the Breakfast Club. 

Besides the expanded shio pan offerings, the two-storey cafe caters to customers looking to grab-and-go, as well as diners looking for a comfy spot to enjoy their loot, fresh from the oven. 

The set-up on the first floor mirrors a classic bakery experience, with shelves of freshly baked shio pans on display. 

Head upstairs and the setting makes way for a cosy seating area with warm-toned furnishings, where diners are invited to settle in for a slow breakfast, or tea break.

And as with any respectable cafe, there’s a selection of beverages to indulge in, too. Butter Town has specifically teamed up with homegrown Crema Cafe, specialising in Melbourne-inspired and classic brews, to pair with the bakery’s butter rolls. 

Chicken curry to pair with your shio pan? Say less

But perhaps the biggest surprise here is the return of Butter Town’s signature Nyonya chicken curry — a dish that was discontinued in 2024, due to production limitations.

The recipe, courtesy of Danielle’s father-in-law, had earned a spot in the hearts of many regulars back then — and yes, it’s meant for dunking your shio pan, straight into that bowl of curry goodness!

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Here, the dish is part of a S$8.90 set, comprising a bowl of Nyonya chicken curry and one of Butter Town’s signature OG shio pan. 

The fluffy bread roll is already delicious on its own, thanks to its crisp and buttery base. 

When dipped into the creamy and gently spicy curry, the gravy coats the bread beautifully and soaks well into its soft interior.

Even after a generous dunk, the shio pan still holds onto a slight crunchiness around the edges. The curry also tempers some of the bread’s buttery richness, allowing the medley of flavours to play off one another without being overwhelming.

Safe to say, this pairing scored a solid 10 out of 10!

More shio pan flavours to try

We also couldn’t resist trying the brand-new lemon meringue shio pan (S$4.80), topped with a marshmallow-like meringue and generously filled with housemade lemon custard.

Think of it as Butter Town’s spin on the classic lemon meringue tart, albeit reimagined in shio pan form. It still carries the unmistakable citrusy notes that make lemon meringue so instantly recognisable, without the sharp tang of the original dessert.

The filling-to-bread ratio is spot-on, too. Each bite delivers enough silky lemon custard to complement the buttery roll without coming across overly cloying, making the entire shio pan dangerously easy to finish in one sitting. 

Another flavour that quickly won us over was the mentaiko onion shio pan (S$5.80), one of the newer additions to Butter Town’s growing line-up. 

I have to admit that I’m usually wary of anything mentaiko. Most of the time, I find that mentaiko-laden dishes end up feeling extremely rich and leave behind a cloying aftertaste. 

Thankfully, Butter Town knows when to stop and doesn’t go overboard with its filling, allowing the creamy savouriness from the mentaiko, sweet onions, and buttery bread to coexist in harmony. 

It’s a combination that feels decadent, yet well-balanced — we think mentaiko lovers will surely enjoy this one!

If you’re a sucker for the classics, the double chocolate shio pan (S$3.80) is a reliable and well-loved flavour. Finished with a glossy chocolate coating, alongside a thick layer of chocolate ganache buried within, this one is unapologetically made for all chocolate lovers. 

Here, the flavours are rich without being too gao (thick) or cloyingly sweet. It strikes that sweet spot where you get a good amount of cocoa goodness without feeling like you’ve just eaten dessert for breakfast. 

Then there’s the kaya butter shio pan (S$3.20) — a classic for a reason, considering how many Singaporeans (ourselves included) are obsessed with this pairing.

The buttered base contributes a deeply caramelised aroma, while the slab of butter inside delivers a softer, creamier richness. Together with the mildly sweet kaya, it feels like an elevated take on our beloved kaya butter toast, jazzed up with the bonus of the shio pan’s fluffy interior and crisp bottom. 

If you’re after a heartier breakfast, the kaya butter shio pan is available as part of its soft boil egg set (S$5.60), which comes with a pair of soft-boiled eggs. Alternatively, you can swap it out for the azuki butter shio pan (S$3.20), if red bean is more your thing.  

No cafe visit is complete with a caffeine fix to go with the bread. And if you’re in the mood to treat yourself, we’d point you straight to the Crema Lioness (S$8) — a Mont Blanc-inspired creation comprising an iced latte, topped with cream and fresh orange zest. 

Much like a Mont Blanc, there’re two ways to enjoy it. You could sip it as-is, allowing the silky cream and citrusy notes to hit first, or give everything a good stir for a more balanced taste. 

The drink is light and smooth, though serious coffee aficionados may find themselves wishing for a little more intensity. Still, it pairs well with Butter Town’s very buttery rolls, helping to cut through some of that richness between bites. 

Another intriguing option is the peanut butter Cloud latte (S$9), where a thick layer of peanut butter cream brings prominent nutty and earthy notes with every sip. There’s also familiar staples such as a latte (S$5.50), matcha (S$6.50), and even hojicha (S$5.50).

Whether you’re a longtime fan of the bakery, or simply curious to see what the shio-pan hype is all about, Butter Town Breakfast Club gives plenty of reasons to pop by for its signature buttery rolls and speciality coffee, all under one roof. 

This was a hosted tasting.

Love shio pans? You’d want to check out our favourite spots for these buttery rolls around town and this under-the-radar, Muslim-owned bakery in Kovan.