Bread lovers are all too familiar with the classic shio pan, also known as Japanese salt bread. Originating from Japan during the early 2000s, this crescent-shaped bread roll is deceptively simple; it may seem plain, but achieving the perfect shio pan is no easy feat. Ever since its resurgence in popularity, many bakeries have pushed out their versions of this beloved snack, and we are on the hunt for the best of the best shio pans in Singapore.
How we conducted the shio pan taste test
Over the past week, I visited five well-known bakeries in Singapore to try their shio pans. I recorded my observations for each one.
Because food preferences can be subjective, I also invited my colleagues to join the tasting. After collecting the shio pans from bakeries in the town area on a Sunday afternoon, I brought them to the office the next day for a second round of testing with the team.
Our office does not have an air fryer or toaster oven, and microwaves are not ideal for reheating shio pan. As a result, the breads tasted by the team were around one day old.
And to keep the comparison consistent, we only tested the original-flavoured shio pan from each bakery.
Reviewing the best shio pans in Singapore
1. Gokoku Japanese Bakery
Big, buttery and impressively fluffy
Starting strong with Gokoku Japanese Bakery: A crowd favourite thanks to their delightful selection of premium-quality bread, including their signature mochi bread, shichifuku pan and, of course, their shio pan. I bought their buns from their Wisma Atria outlet, where the Original Shio Pan is priced at $2.20 per piece, though other outlets may sell them for just $2.00. Their shio pans are one of the cheapest items on their menu, which is a great deal considering their size. On top of that, they also offer flavoured variations such as the Rennyu Shio Pan (condensed milk) and Peanut Shio Pan for $2.50, and An Shio Pan (red bean) for $2.60.
First impressions
As compared to the other shio pans on this list, Gokoku’s shio pan is notably larger and longer, making it the best value for money. Despite the bread’s texture appearing visibly lumpier after a day and the colours skewing more yellowish than golden-brown, it nevertheless looks very appetising.
Taste test
One of my colleagues remarked that Gokoku’s shio pans taste vastly superior when they are fresh out of the oven, and I have to agree as a fellow loyal customer. The flavours come through really well when fresh. Though I feel that the coating can be crunchier, the soft, airy texture is basically textbook quality. Paired with its fragrant aroma, the freshly-baked shio pans are simply too hard to resist and make for a comforting, delightful breakfast.
After a day, the bun has lost its crunchiness but remains surprisingly soft and “impressively fluffy”, as noted by one colleague. As seen from the pictures, the bread is visibly and generously loaded with butter filling, allowing the buttery flavour to come through. However, some from the team felt that the salt was more prominent and that it even overpowered the butter. But for me, the flavours tasted somewhat balanced. Overall, while its magical quality is lost after a day, I do think that Gokoku’s Shio Pan remains a valiant contender for the title of best shio pan in Singapore.
| Category | Rating | Notes |
| Taste | ★★★★☆ | Rich buttery flavours that balance well with notes of salt. |
| Texture | ★★★☆☆ | Lacks crispy exterior, though the inside is amazingly soft and pillowy. |
| Appearance | ★★★☆☆ | Bright yellow hues with a slightly lumpy texture. The shape resembles an elongated crescent. |
| Price | ★★★★★ | Incredible value for its portion size and price. |
| Overall | ★★★★☆ | Delicious and fluffy, a guaranteed return purchase. |
2. BreadTalk
Muted salt and butter notes with dense, chewy texture
A beloved and established brand in the local bakery scene, BreadTalk is a jack of all trades when it comes to all things bread. It’s therefore no surprise that shio pans are included in their catalogue as well.
While their Original Shio Pan is usually priced at $2.00, it costs $2.20 at their 313 Somerset outlet because, well, the location is Orchard. My colleague also recommended that I try the Red Bean Shio Pan ($2.60), a delectable variation that is stuffed with decadent red bean paste and thick slabs of butter. Recently, BreadTalk has also unveiled new shio pan flavours such as garlic, mentaiko and chocolate.
First impressions
BreadTalk’s shio pan has a nice symmetrical form. However, its dull brown coating is giving more of a dime-a-dozen than elite quality. The wrinkly texture also leaves more to be desired, making the bread visually less appealing than its competitors.
Taste test
Unfortunately, BreadTalk’s shio pan tasted like any other bread that does not hold up well after one day: hard, dry and overall stale. The flavour profile was also lacking as the salt and butter were non-existent. As shown in the picture above, it has a considerably dense interior that impacts the fluffy texture, and there seems to be little to no butter filling visible within.
When I tried the BreadTalk shio pan on the day of, it tasted significantly better. While the butter and salt were still rather muted, I liked how the two flavours came together harmoniously. However, although the butter and salt taste came through, the texture remained less than satisfactory. Not only was the crispiness absent, but the bread was also still rather hard to chew. All in all, BreadTalk’s shio pan works as a satisfying afternoon snack, though it is easily outshone by its competitors.
| Category | Rating | Notes |
| Taste | ★★★☆☆ | Mildly salty and buttery; flavours are there but can be richer. |
| Texture | ★★☆☆☆ | Rather underwhelming overall: Lacks the crunch, and at times hard to chew. |
| Appearance | ★★★☆☆ | Symmetically-shaped but dull and wrinkly. |
| Price | ★★★☆☆ | A fair purchase, though overall quality leaves more to be desired. |
| Overall | ★★★☆☆ | A satisfactory snack: Consume immediately after purchase for the optimal experience. |
3. Butter Town
Pillowy and buttery with a mildly crispy finish.
What started as a humble hawker bakery at Holland Drive Market soon evolved into a viral culinary sensation. Butter Town’s premium baked goods are a must-try for any bread fanatic out there, hence why I am so determined to get my hands on one of their signature salt breads even if I have to travel across the island for them! Besides their Original Shio Pan, they serve over 20 innovative variations of their salt bread, such as bold fusion flavours like the Au Chocolat Shio Pan and the Kopi-C Shio Pan. You can pre-order their buns via their online system and self-pickup at their physical stores in Holland Drive Market and CT Hub 2.
As their physical stores were closed on Sunday and Monday, I decided to pick up their shio pans at one of their Shio Pan ATMs instead. Do note that the shio pans in their ATMs are only sold in packets of 3 and 4, so I got their Original Shio Pan at $9.60 for 4. There were other flavours offered as well, such as the Garlic Cheese Shio Pan, which was sold at $8.40 for 3. I tried one of their shio pans straight out of their vending machine, and another one was shared amongst my colleagues the next day.
First impressions
In terms of appearance, I like that the shio pan is lightly garnished with salt. However, similar to BreadTalk, they had more of a toasted brown colour instead of the desired golden-brown finish. The shape is more round than it is crescent, resembling that of an average sausage bun.
Taste test
Nonetheless, their shio pans did not disappoint our taste buds. On both tries, I noted that the buttery and salty flavours complemented each other well. The butter, strong without being too overpowering, was infused seamlessly into the entire bread. However, while my colleagues and I agreed that the bread was sufficiently buttery, we preferred the saltiness to be more evenly distributed. Some parts felt a little too salty, especially with the light salt dusting on top of the bun.
Texture-wise, although its coating wasn’t as crunchy as I would have liked, I did enjoy the texture of the underside on my first try, which had an almost sugary texture to it. On the second try, though, while one colleague could taste the crispy underside, the crispiness was mostly lost for the rest of us. However, the interior remained pillowy and soft.
I also gave the remaining 2 loaves of bread to my parents, who remarked that the buns were “very very nice”. In other words, not only are the shio pans colleagues-approved, they are also Asian parent-approved (not too sweet, and actually pretty good).
| Category | Rating | Notes |
| Taste | ★★★★☆ | Great buttery flavour, though the saltiness can be inconsistent. |
| Texture | ★★★☆☆ | Has a slightly crispy bottom and a satisfyingly fluffy interior. |
| Appearance | ★★★☆☆ | More bulbous than crescentic, and has a dull brown coating. |
| Price | ★★★★☆ | Overall affordably-priced, though you can only buy in bulk. |
| Overall | ★★★★☆ | Comforting and delectable, an appropriate breakfast option. |
4. Shio & Sato
Crunchy and comforting – the model shio pan.
Shio and Sato is a viral pop-up bakery founded by Masterchef Singapore finalist Genevieve Lee and popular food influencer Seth Lui. Their beloved salt breads have dominated recommendation lists and my social media algorithm, so I have been dying to try them. Their original Sea Salt Shio Pan costs $3.60 for the regular size and $2.80 for the mini size. They also have an array of interesting (albeit more expensive) flavour variations, such as the Truffle Shio Pan (priced at $4.80 regular-sized) and the Matcha Hokkaido Milk Shio Pan (priced at $5.80 regular-sized).
Their pop-up, nestled within The Centrepoint, serves coffee and has dine-in tables where you can comfortably relax and savour their breads. Do note that the physical store will be closing on 26 April 2026, so make sure to grab those yummy salt breads before it’s too late!
First impressions
I love how smooth and well-formed this bun looked. With their plump golden-brown shape and delicate aroma, their shio pans looked irresistible in the store, so I gave in and bought 2 (1 mini-sized one to try for myself on that day, and 1 regular-sized one to share with the office the next day). The day-old shio pan was slightly lumpier, similar to Gokoku’s, though overall it still has a nice smooth texture.
Taste test
The first bite told me that I had made the right decision. Texture-wise, they nailed it. The bun packed a satisfying crunch while also being impressively soft, thanks to its airy interior. While I felt that the coating was a little too greasy at first, I eventually realised that this was due to the generous amount of butter, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Even after being left out for one day, my colleagues and I agreed that the bread still packed a good crunch, especially at the bottom, a testament to its stunning quality. Although the butter filling does not appear visible in the pictures, we noted that the butter taste was actually very pronounced, permeating through the entire bread. At the same time, it remained well-balanced with the subtle hints of salt. Overall, the bread was rich, comforting and simply delightful. Despite their steeper price point, we agreed that it was worth the price, and I will definitely be coming back for seconds! I was quite sad to find out about their impending closure, because their shio pan was easily the most impressive out of all that we tasted.
| Category | Rating | Notes |
| Taste | ★★★★★ | Richly buttered, which pairs well with the subdued salty flavours. |
| Texture | ★★★★★ | Basically flawless: Packs a satisfying crunch with an airy and fluffy interior. |
| Appearance | ★★★★☆ | A nice and plump crescent shape with a mostly smooth texture and the classic golden-brown finish. |
| Price | ★★★☆☆ | On the pricier side, but a worthwhile treat considering its impeccable quality. |
| Overall | ★★★★★ | Shio pan perfection achieved through amazing technical execution: A top recommendation! |
5. So Good Bakery
Visually: Amazing. Gustatorily: Satisfactory.
A hotspot for traditional pastries and bread, So Good Bakery serves a wide array of baked goods like their signature bolo buns and their very own iteration of shio pans. Sold at $2.20 at their 111 Somerset branch, I was struck by the bakery’s fragrant aroma upon walking in, before being greeted by baskets of mouth-watering shio pans laid out at the centre of the store.
First impressions
For me, this bun takes the crown visually. While the buns seem to be on the smaller side, I love the beautiful gradients, with the caramel brown fanning out into streaks of golden yellow. Similar to Butter Town, I also noted that their shio pans all have a light garnish of salt, which gives their bread a unique personality.
Taste test
In terms of taste and texture, the bun was quite frankly average. The exterior noticeably lacked the distinct crunchy texture, though the insides were soft and pillowy. Butter is definitely present (as seen from the picture above), but my colleagues noted that the butter wasn’t very evenly spread out; some were unable to taste the butter, while one of them even bit into a tiny butter cube. Some noted that there was a subtle fruity flavour that added an interesting element to its flavour profile, and the light dusting of salt gave sporadic bursts of salty flavour. Personally, while the bun was overall pleasant to eat, it didn’t particularly stand out to me among its competitors. Does it check off most of the boxes? Yes. Do I have the urge to buy another shio pan from their bakery? Debatable, since I have other similar options too.
| Category | Rating | Notes |
| Taste | ★★★☆☆ | Appropriately buttered and salted with occasional unique fruity notes. |
| Texture | ★★★☆☆ | Soft and pillowy, sometimes leaning towards chewy. Crispiness is absent. |
| Appearance | ★★★★☆ | A neat crescent shape with pleasing gradient colours and a light garnish of salt. |
| Price | ★★★☆☆ | Economically priced with satisfactory quality. |
| Overall | ★★★☆☆ | A decent shio pan, though it may not stand out amongst its competitors. |
Final verdict
After tasting the various contenders, we unanimously agreed that Shio and Sato takes the cake (or bread) for serving the best shio pans in Singapore.
My colleagues and I noted how the flavours were leagues above most other buns, with the buttery flavour bursting through each bite without being too overwhelming. Besides being elite in terms of taste, what truly stood out to us was its crispy coating, which the other competitors lacked. We were impressed by how well-maintained the texture was, crisp and crackly on the outside and pillowy on the inside, even after a day. While yes, Shio and Sato costs around a dollar more than the rest, I consider it every cent well spent.
Tips for the best shio pan experience
As with most perishable foods, shio pan is best enjoyed fresh, though it can last up to 2 days at room temperature and up to 3 days in the refrigerator. However, if your shio pan contains filling such as custard, egg mayo, or red bean, it should be eaten within 1 day.
Your shio pan will need to be reheated if kept in the refrigerator. For the best results, lightly mist the shio pan with water and reheat in the oven or air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 3 minutes (2-3 minutes on each side). Your shio pan should come out hot and crispy!
If you find yourself accidentally buying too many shio pans, you can also freeze your shio pan in a ziplock bag for long-term storage. Just pop them in the toaster oven directly from frozen whenever your cravings hit.
What we look for in the best shio pans in Singapore
A good shio pan should be crisp, fluffy, and buttery at the same time. The best ones achieve a balanced contrast of flavours and textures.
When evaluating the best shio pans in Singapore, we focused on several key factors:
1. Texture
The exterior should be crisp and lightly crunchy, while the inside remains soft, airy, and fluffy. When you bite into a well-made shio pan, you should hear a satisfying crunch before reaching the tender interior.
2. Flavour balance
A good shio pan balances rich butteriness with a light pinch of salt. The salt enhances the flavour without overpowering the bread.
3. Appearance
An ideal shio pan usually has a neat crescent shape with visible layers and an even golden-brown crust.
4. Value for money
Price also matters. In Singapore’s current economic climate, we considered whether each shio pan felt worth the price.
| Criteria | 1 (Poor) | 2 (Fair) | 3 (Average) | 4 (Good) | 5 (Excellent) |
| Taste
Assesses overall flavour balance, saltiness and butter richness. |
Off-flavours or overwhelmingly salty/oily. | Imbalanced (too salty, bland, or greasy); lacks richness. | Pleasant but mild; flavour is noticeable yet not memorable. | Well-balanced and flavourful; slightly lacking depth or complexity. | Perfect balance of buttery richness and salt; deep flavour with clean, satisfying finish. |
| Texture
Evaluates crust crispness, interior softness, and overall mouthfeel. |
Hard, soggy, or stale texture. | Dense, tough, or overly greasy; poor structure. | Acceptable texture but lacks contrast or feels slightly dry/heavy. | Good contrast of crisp exterior and soft crumb; minor dryness or density. | Crisp, lightly golden crust with soft, fluffy, slightly chewy interior. |
| Appearance
Assesses shape, colour, finishing, and visual appeal. |
Unattractive; visibly overbaked, underbaked, or messy. | Pale, burnt, or poorly shaped. | Looks ordinary; minor flaws in colour or shape. | Slightly uneven browning or shaping, but still visually appetising. | Even golden-brown colour; neat crescent shape; appealing salt sprinkle. |
| Value for Money
Judges quality relative to price and portion size. |
Significantly overpriced or poor quality for the cost. | Slightly overpriced for what is offered. | Fair price, but quality or portion could be better. | Good quality for the price paid. | High quality and satisfying portion at a very reasonable price. |
Indulge in the best shio pans in Singapore today
Money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy you salt bread, and that is a pretty close alternative for me. Try grabbing one of the best shio pans in Singapore for a quick pick-me-up today! Here’s a pro tip: Consider pairing them with a cup of coffee; the combination is sublime.
If you are on the hunt for other types of bread in Singapore, check out our article on where to find the best sourdough in Singapore. Looking to make your own bread at home? Browse through this list of the best bread makers that you can add to your kitchen collection.
