Our 10 fave spots for soft, fluffy shio pan in Singapore
Croissants and bomboloni, move over — 2025 is the year for shio pan (Japanese salted bread rolls), and we aren’t stopping our obsession with it anytime soon.
The cult-favourite salted butter bread has taken Singapore (and even some other countries, too) by storm, with almost every other bakery coming up with their own rendition now and then.
Fluffy, buttery and with a crispy base underneath, we can see why it’s such a hit among Singaporeans! It’s usually enjoyed plain (to best taste its buttery hues) or stuffed with a sweet or savoury filling — depending on what you prefer.
If you’re a shio pan enthusiast like us, and on the hunt for the best shio pan in Singapore, we’ve narrowed it down to 10 spots in town that are worth your penny and the calories:
1. Butter Town
To kick things off, one of our favourite spots for getting those shio pans in Singapore is Butter Town, a homegrown brand by sisters Serene and Danielle Tan. Well-loved for its fresh and fluffy shio pans, the bakery first made its debut at Holland Drive Market & Food Centre in 2023, and it has since become a go-to brand for many bread lovers.
In January this year, Butter Town launched its first-ever vending machine concept at Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre, giving shio pan lovers a novel, fuss-free way to get your cravings fixed. All without having to travel out of your way to its CBD and Holland Village outlets, too! (We headed down to Butter Town’s shio pan “ATM” for some buttery breads, and here’s what we thought.)
Flavours here range from classics such as the OG shio pan (S$2.20) and garlic cheese shio pan (S$2.60), to creative variations such as the kopi-c shio pan (S$2.80), along with monthly specials to keep things fresh.
2. Sugar Thieves
Tucked along Kreta Ayer Road, Sugar Thieves has made a name for its watermelon cake, a take on popular cake by Black Star Pastry in Australia. But besides its watermelon cake, its shio pan is another hot-favourite that you wouldn’t want to sleep on, too.
Every month, the menu offers a rotating assortment of Japanese salted bread rolls, with a good mix of returning favourites and new flavours. Sugar Thieves’ shio pans stand out for their deep-brown, extra crispy crust, revealing rich, buttery layers that will easily win over fans of bold flavours.
If you want to try more shio pans at a go, the bakery has rolled out a salt buns mix box (S$26 for five pieces) which features two original shio pans, plus one each of the spring onion, truffle, and matcha flavours. However the selection might change, so it’s best to check and pre-order this via Whatsapp (98504377) to secure your stash, before heading down to its brick-and-mortar store.
3. Fan’s Cafe
If you’re scouring for shio pans in Orchard, let this be your sign to pop by Fan’s Cafe at Far East Plaza. It’s just the place to head to if you’re seeking a pit stop after clocking hours of shopping, especially if you’re nearby at somewhere like Tang Plaza!
The name behind the cafe is none other than 55-year-old Fan, who first started the cafe as a passion project for herself this year, and dishes out crispy shio pans that are freshly baked in small batches. Fast forward six months, this cosy spot has become a comforting escape for her diners from Orchard’s bustling streets.
Savoury lovers will enjoy the hamu (ham shio pan, S$3.80) and kani (S$4) with imitation crab meat, while sweet tooths can go straight for the coffee-flavoured khohi choco (S$4) or black sesame-laced kurugoma (S$3.50).
4. Gokoku Japanese Bakery
Originating from Japan, Gokoku Japanese Bakery by RE&S Group brings over 60 years of bread-making expertise, blending Japanese techniques with high-quality, imported ingredients — a sign that its Japanese salted bread rolls mean serious business.
While most head to Gokuku for its variety of breads, you may not have realised that it dishes up a mean shio pan, too! What we love is that Gokoku’s version is significantly larger than many other shio pans you find in Singapore, but remains reasonably priced.
The classic butter shio pan goes for S$2, while flavours such as the peanut butter shio pan and rennyu butter shio pan, with housemade condensed milk cream, are S$2.30 each.
5. Shio & Sato
When talking about where to get shio pans in Singapore, it would be remiss not to mention Shio & Sato, a cult-favourite concept that has made temporary appearances at The Star Vista and Tom’s Palette earlier this year. The viral concept is helmed by Masterchef Singapore finalist Genevieve Lee, who is also behind bomboloni speciality concept Sourbombe Bakery at Holland Village.
Primarily a pop-up takeaway concept that moves around Singapore, Shio & Sato’s latest pop-up at The Centrepoint not only comes with a dine-in space, but appears to be sticking around until the end of this year or early next year, at least!
On its menu, you’ll find a variety of sweet and savoury options, totaling to 10 permanent flavours. We particularly enjoyed the kombu shio pan (S$4.80), infused with lightly salted kombu (kelp seaweed) butter. On the sweeter end, the matcha Hokkaido milk shio pan (S$5.80) and azuki butter shio pan (S$6.50) are pretty solid picks!
6. Pawa Bakery
Known for its freshly baked, low-sugar bagels, Singapore-born Pawa Bakery also offers a slew of delectable and uniquely flavoured shio pans — all of which are priced under S$4!
So far, the bakery has three stores across our sunny island — at Raffles Place, Plaza Singapura, and a newly opened one at The Star Vista.
Besides the plain shio pan (S$2.50) with a satisfyingly buttery base, some of the recent creations have caught our attention, too! There’s the maple ganache shio pan (S$3.50) that brings together maple chocolate ganache and toasted walnut crunch, and the pistachio shio pan (S$3.80) with pistachio cream cheese and toasted pistachio bits.
7. Johan Paris Isetan
If you’re a huge bread lover, chances are that you’ve heard of Johan Paris Isetan before or have smelt it when doing your grocery rounds at Shaw House’s Isetan basement.
Despite having only one outlet in Singapore since it began in 2013, the brand has a stream of loyal followers, all of whom love its French-Japanese bakes that unite classic French techniques with premium Japanese ingredients.
While it stocks many varieties of breads, we can easily understand why the shio pan (S$2.60) remains a top-selling item here — it’s soft, chewy, and delicately buttery with a lightly salted finish that just keeps fans coming back.
8. Baker’s Bench Bakery
Beloved for its naturally leavened breads and pastries, Baker’s Bench Bakery has earned its reputation as a trusted spot for sourdough enthusiasts for the past five years. It’s not uncommon to spot lines leading out of the bakery on weekends — a testament to its unrelenting and enduring dedication to quality.
Led by Joey and Vera, the bakery is driven by a heartfelt commitment to craft and quality. All of its bakes are handcrafted in small batches, ensuring freshness and attention to detail in every bite.
If you’re swinging by for shio pans, they’re only available in two variations — plain (S$3.50) and garlic (S$4). Its sourdough take on the classic shio pan is quite unlike anything you’ve tried in Singapore, armed with a crisp, buttery base, and a subtle tangy touch. Combining the best of both pastries (the sourdough and the shio pan), it’s definitely an irresistible pick for die-hard bread lovers.
9. Bread & Butter by XY
Bread & Butter by XY first began as a home-based bakery in 2020 and has now grown into a cosy shop in Oxley Tower, where it draws a steady CBD crowd seeking delectable carbs and sweet treats to ease those workday woes.
If you’ve never been to the bakery before, its all-pink space adds a playful pop of colour to the otherwise muted row of shops, which makes it impossible to miss. It’s also a welcome change-up from the monotony of the business district.
Among its selection of baked goods, the classic Japanese shio pan (S$17.40 for six pieces) is one of its best-selling items. It is adored for its soft, pillowy texture and a well-balanced medley of buttery richness and brininess, and is an easy crowd-favourite.
10. Bae.Gal
If you’re an eastie and you’re looking for something nearer to the heartlands, you’d want to save Bae.Gal on the list of shio pans to check out in Singapore. Launched by homegrown Swee Heng Bakery, which has close to 100 outlets around Singapore, this speciality bakery concept Bae.Gal serves up classic bagels with a distinctive Asian spin.
At present, its only Tampines has a small assortment of shio pans on its shelves.
You’ll find the classic sea salt butter roll, plus Asian-inspired flavours such as the Taiwan red bean shio pan, Taiwan taro shio pan, and seaweed chicken floss shio pan, all priced affordably at S$2.50 each — a no-frills, comforting treat in today’s economy.
Phyllis Leong contributed to this article.
Hungry for more eats? Read more about our list of home-based cafes and the newest openings in Singapore.
Shannon has the taste buds of a grandmother and perpetually struggles with a food coma.
Read more stories from this writer.
