Fan’s Cafe at Far East Plaza has S$3 shio pan, matcha and coffee crafted with heart

Ever since I tried the Japanese-inspired shio pan buns from cult-favourite bakery Butter Town at Holland Drive Market & Food Centre, I’ve been hooked.

I’ve made it my mission to uncover the best spots for these salted butter rolls in Singapore, and recently found a gem located on the first floor of Far East Plaza: Fan’s Cafe. 

It’s a no-frills joint helmed by a one-woman show: Fan, 55. Her vision for the cafe is simple — a cosy corner for diners to unwind at after a day of traipsing along the streets of Orchard. 

The star at Fan’s Cafe is its fluffy shio pan rolls, which Fan meticulously crafts, each night as soon as the store closes. 

She then begins the arduous process of baking the bread from scratch, from kneading the dough to shaping them into their signature crescent shape. 

Fan bakes about 200 buns, give or take, to ensure there’s a fully stocked display when the cafe opens for business the next morning. 

Most shio pan flavours tend to sell out by lunchtime (when the store is at its busiest), so those who’re keen on snagging a bun should head down early.

There’s an interesting story behind the origins of the cafe, too — Fan tells us that she’s a former banker and had started Fan’s Cafe as a passion project. 

She had specialised in offshore accounts, but eventually left the industry to become a full-time housewife. 

Fan has three sons — the youngest is currently 21 years old. 

“I started to think: ‘What should I do after my kids grow up?’,” recalls Fan. “Now that my children are older, I thought that I should find something to busy myself with.”

The banker-turned-baker decided it would be lovely to open a cosy space of her own, where she could devote all her time to baking — a passion she never had the chance to explore when she was younger. 

Fan first dipped her toes in pastry-making when she was studying overseas in Wisconsin — her host family baked biscuits for church, and often roped her in to help out.

She has many fond memories of baking on Friday nights alongside her hosts. “I learnt many things from them,” she recalls, wistfully. Fan has been in love with the craft since.

But it was a dream that she had to put on hold. Upon returning to Singapore, she found herself prioritising a stable career in corporate instead.

After 20 years as a housewife, it was finally in 2023 that Fan decided to take a leap of faith and turn her baking dreams into reality. 

She was inspired by the bakeries in Japan and wanted to launch a similar concept. 

“The bakeries there are usually run by one person,” Fan explains. “It opens for a few hours, and when the breads are sold out, it closes for the day.” 

She adds: “The bakers still have their own lives. They’re not too busy, so they have enough free time to enjoy other hobbies — that’s what I want, too.” 

Fan also chose to specialise in Japanese-inspired pastries, as she found them to be a healthier alternative to the rich French-inspired viennoiseries.

“I learnt the basics from a local bakery in Yufuin, which is a few hours’ drive from Fukuoka, Japan,” she recalls. She’d wanted to learn from the best, in the most authentic way possible. 

There, she picked up recipes for shio pan, shokupan (Japanese milk bread) and sourdough.

Once Fan returned, she set out to open the cafe, putting her own spin on the recipes she learnt by experimenting with different ingredients, ratios and flavours. The R&D process for her bakes took about four months.

The end result? The pastries we see today at Fan’s Cafe employ only premium ingredients. And while they’re meant to be indulgent, she hopes to offer healthier, more sustainable alternatives without compromising on taste. 

“We use high-protein Japanese flour to prepare our shio pan rolls,” she adds. “The protein percentage in our flour is 14.7, while the usual amount used in breads is about 10 to 11.” 

The higher the protein percentage in the flour, the better the rise and airiness in the dough. It results in a chewier texture and a crispier crumb.

“Our shio pan bread also has very little sugar,” says Fan — only 25g.

Her shio pan comes in six flavours: Original (S$3), hamu (S$3.80), kani (S$4) crafted with imitation crab meat, coffee-infused khohi choco (S$4), kurugoma (S$3.50) — a black sesame delight — and garlic (S$3.30). 

Each roll is huge and uber-fluffy, with a crispy base underneath — the hallmark of a good shio pan.

The body itself is light and airy, and brims with mouthwatering, buttery notes. And on the outside, it boasts a crackly shell, which lends the shio pan a firm bite. 

My favourite is the savoury hamu, with chunks of juicy ham and cheese nestled within. I can see it being a breakfast staple, with just enough flavour and oomph to perk you up. 

You can’t go wrong with the original, either — a classic choice that all will love.

For those who prefer sweeter flavours, the khohi choco is imbued with strong notes of coffee. It’s also adorned with a creamy chocolate sauce on the top for extra decadence.

Besides its signature shio pan rolls, Fan’s Cafe also has cakes, such as tiramisu and Swiss rolls, as well as yoghurt on the menu. 

The Swiss rolls are pretty popular, too. 

“I only make a few Swiss rolls every day,” Fan says. “From the moment I open them, customers buy them straight away, and they sell out!”

We know pastries are best enjoyed with brews, and Fan’s Cafe has a slew of sips to choose from. There’s matcha made with premium powder, as well as coffee. 

Fan tries to get creative with her coffee flavours, which include the likes of banana latte (S$6), sakura latte (S$6) and salted caramel latte (S$6). 

From 9am to 11am, early risers can also enjoy the breakfast promotion at Fan’s Cafe, which comprises an original shio pan and your choice of coffee and tea — at just S$6.50! 

So, if you’re in the heart of Orchard and in the mood for a light bite, you know where to go: Fan’s Cafe at Far East Plaza. 

For the latest eats, read about new Mexican taqueria Tomatillo Mexican Food and Bar at Esplanade and Cheeky Cuppas at Upper Thomson for matcha and cakes. Alternatively, check out the newest openings in Singapore here. 

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out.

You can also book a ride to Fan’s Cafe for its shio pan.