Viral Korean mocha bun concept Standard Bun now in Singapore with limited-time pop-ups

Viral bakes have been taking over the food scene lately, and joining the wave is the Korean brand Standard Bun, a popular mocha bun concept, which will be in Singapore for a limited time.

The brand is known for drawing long queues across its three locations in Seoul, thanks to its soft, buttery mocha buns, maple-infused butter, and wide variety of flavours.

The pop-up will run in Singapore at two locations: The first is at Suntec City, taking over the former Bakery 1946 spot from June 4 to August 3, while the second is at Bugis Junction, from June 10 to July 13.

When we visited its pop-up at Suntec City, its sleek branding stood out to us immediately, placed against its gorgeous-looking (and tasty) pastries, it’s clear Standard Bun wasn’t just your average Korean bakery. . 

Aside from its popular mocha buns which earned the brand its popularity, it boasts plenty more inventive flavours, both sweet and savoury — 25 in total, to be exact. 

Standard Bun flavours we loved

With so many to choose from at Standard Bun’s Singapore pop-up, it can get a little overwhelming — so here are some of our favourite picks.

First off, it would be a crime to skip Standard Bun’s signature salt mocha bun (S$4.20).

It may be simple compared to the other offerings, but it is definitely perfected. It comes with a crunchy exterior and a soft and fluffy inside, while the mocha flavour works smoothly with the salt — we can see why it’s the brand’s signature item.

The garlic cream cheese bun (S$5.50) is another memorable bite (if you love cheese). Even by just looking at it, you can tell it is brimming with cheese and as you tear into it, there’s even more cheesy gooey goodness that greets you. 

Here, the savoury and fragrant garlic cream shines through, and its crusty exterior ties it all together satisfyingly.

For the sweet-toother, the apple cinnamon bun (S$5.60) is a sweet classic done right. In this bun, you get chunky apple toppings, a kick of cinnamon, and a slab of butter on a moist and tender bun. It is sweet and indulgent, without being too much.

If you love red bean desserts, the red bean butter bun (S$5.80) is worth a try. It’s a taste most Singaporeans would be familiar with but with an extra oomph from the butter. 

Lastly, if you’re the sort that doesn’t like to leave without maximising your bun haul, try the cookie bun (S$5.40), which tastes exactly what it sounds like. You get a soft, chewy bun but with the taste of cookie dough — a reliable sweet treat especially for the cookie lovers.

More buns, coffees, and butter

There’s more to the menu than just sweets — there are some sandwich buns, too. Savoury options include the Jambon bun (S$7.50), layered with ham, cheese and sweet jam. It’s a good mix of sweet and savoury while being very delicious at the same time. 

Among the selection of handmade cream buns, we also tried the intriguing earl grey cream bun (S$5.80), mildly indulgent thanks to the cream yet not too heavy, with a light whiff of earl grey aroma. 

While you’re at it you’ll want to also try its unique coffee options.

We went for the iced almond mocha java cream coffee (S$7.50). Best enjoyed all stirred together, the drink comes with rather subtle almond and chocolate undertones, while being smooth and easy to drink.  

If you need a real heat quencher, the ice cream latte (S$8.50), topped with a homemade soft serve is a good one to beat the heat with. 

The soft serve topping is sweet, creamy and incredibly addictive. Have a bit of the soft serve before mixing it all into your coffee for a smoother, more well-rounded brew. 

While you’re there, you’ll also want to check out another of the Standard Bun’s signature offerings, its house-aged maple butter spread (S$2.90 for 50g), which can be bought separately. 

The butter is smooth, light, and versatile, great for breads or anything, really. That said, we were expecting a stronger maple flavour, and found their version a bit too subtle for our liking. (Or perhaps we’re just really sweet-toothed people?)

According to Gold Moon, the company which has brought the Standard Bun concept into Singapore, there aren’t any plans to make things permanent yet. 

But hey, we’re feeling hopeful, judging by the brand’s track record of turning pop-ups permanent, like what they did with Bakery 1946 and Seoul Noodle Shop. 

In the meantime, we’d suggest just taking your time during these two months to try out all of its 25 buns if you’re bread lovers like us — there’s more than enough flavours to keep you occupied! 

This was an invited tasting.

For the latest food news, read our stories on Firebird, a wood-fired omakase restaurant by chef Makoto Suetomi and the popular Korean grilled chicken concept at Song Gye Ok.

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You can also book a ride to Suntec City and Bugis Junction to try the wide array of flavours at the Standard Bun Singapore pop-up.