All the intoxicating scent in the world, yet nothing beats the overpowering scent of fresh pastries from bakeries — I mean, don’t they just sweep you off your feet? I am a proud victim of the Bakery scene, spending over $30 on bread has already become a norm for me. Psst…Where my carb loafers at?!

Being confined at home has got me craving for fresh bakes. Since then, I have decided to embark on a self proclaimed mission to unravel all the interesting bakes in Singapore. So, this brings me to my first discovery —  Did you know that a handful of bakeries in Singapore are actually influenced by the Japanese scene? Well, don’t be surprised if you didn’t. Bread (パン Pan) as Japanese calls it, can easily be ranked second in their list of staples!

Now, are you ready to follow through this bread binging journey with me? LET’S ROLL!

1. Asanoya Boulangerie

This was the first bakery I patronised, recognised as one of the best bakeries in Tokyo — there is no way I am passing on a taste test on their breads! It is known for its Japanese and European bread and pastries, providing customers with an array of options at their stores. Unfortunately, half of their breads were already wiped out by the time I got there…which was approximately 5 PM? With whatever was left available on the shelves, I picked out 3 different flavours — Honey Apple Bread, Salted Caramel Almond Banana Croissant and Mentaiko Cheese Bread.

Honey Apple Bread ($3.20)

Just like its name, the bread is filled with Honey and Apple from Nagano. The moment you bite into it, you will be greeted with its honey fragrance and a tinge of sweetness from the apples which complements the moistness and fluffiness of the bread. Mmm…comforting, something that honey lovers would appreciate! Overall, the bread texture is great, though I would hope for more apple chunks (evidently, the apple chunks were only found on one side of the bread), which I feel could add some substance to the bread.

Salted Caramel Almond Banana Croissant ($3.20)

This croissant is possibly my favourite out of the 3 that I have tried. I liked how the croissant was baked to crisp, yet not too dry nor overly flaky — retaining some moisture inside the bread. Housed within the fluffy croissant layers are fresh slices of banana and almond paste. However, the salted caramel flavour was not as prominent as I thought it would be — tad bit hoping that the flavour was stronger. One thing for sure is that this pastry is not as sweet as it sounds, so rest assured!

Mentaiko Cheese Bread ($3.20)

Being a fan of both mentaiko and cheese, this was definitely a bread that I had high hopes for. The bread itself was soft and sweet on the inside, with a crispy cheesy topping to enhance its flavour! The mentaiko comes through very subtly as it is overpowered by the cheesiness of the bread. To sum it up, I like how this bread was well balanced in terms of its texture, though I do feel that there could be a stronger kick to its mentaiko flavour such that it balances off with the cheese flavour.

Some popular choices you could try at Asanoya would be their Maple Walnut Pretzel ($3.20), An Pan ($2.20), Melon Pan ($2.40) and its signature Karuizawa Green Tea Bread ($2.60/100g). Also, if you are looking to have these breads at home, a tip would be to reheat them before consumption! It definitely helps in bringing out the texture of the bread!

2. Pullman Bakery

Pullman Bakery was another authentic Japanese bakery which originated from Hokkaido, and later expanded overseas. Its first outlet opened in Singapore back in 2010 and is located at Millenia Walk mall. I would say its pretty tough to miss out on this one because the aroma of the fresh bakes draws you in instantly!

As I stepped into the store, I was warmly welcomed by the myriad varieties of breads, cakes and more — I simply could not decide what to try because there were just too many interesting options to choose from. Off my head, some flavours I remember was their Sweet Potato Donut, Mentaiko Cheese Chikuwa Roll Bread and Hokkaido Curry Donut which is what they are renowned for. After pacing up and down the store for more than 10 minutes, 4 finalists emerged!

Cheese Chikuwa Donut ($2.00)

This bread stood out to me most because of its unique mix of ingredients, definitely something that I have not seen before. The crispy exterior of the donut envelopes the Chikuwa roll perfectly. For those of you who do not know, Chikuwa is a fishcake that is relatively popular in Japan and is commonly found in Oden — a warm Japanese dish often served in dashi broth. Although I am not a huge fan of Chikuwa, the fact that this one was filled with cheese got me very excited! What got me more surprised was the fact that the bread was not overly oily despite being fried.

Melon Pan ($1.30)

Melon pans are definitely a quintessential in Japanese bakeries. A tip would be to consume it as soon as possible, otherwise your bread may turn out like mine above, whereby the sugar melted. I was pretty devastated because I was looking forward to trying this out (realised that I have yet to try out any “classic” Japanese pans). Thankfully, the flavour of the melon pan is still there, blending in very well with the milk taste!

Hokkaido Curry Donut ($2.50)

This donut definitely lived up to its name, something I would forgo my diet for. I heated it up before consuming it and I was so glad that I did that, because it gave the filling such a hearty feeling. For myself, what I thought was well done would be the bread itself — not too greasy, and it comes with a good crisp which pairs up well with the softness and chewiness of the bread on the inside. Despite it being a rather sinful treat for myself, what hits the spot would be the chunky potato bits alongside the curry paste. Pretty worth it for its price no?!

Pear Danish ($2.00)

This was one that I thoroughly enjoyed; being someone that prefers bread over pastries — I was a wee bit skeptical if I would like this one. All I can say is that I did not regret my decision! No doubt, the looks of the pastry caught my attention first and of course, the slices of pear on top of it. The danish strikes a balance with its crispy and flaky texture and its fresh slices of juicy pear that was cooked to perfection. Amidst all that goodness, is the smooth custard filling that sits within it.
Safe to say that this it is a divine combination and the sweetness is made just right; hands down something you should try if you are looking for a light and refreshing bite!

What’s my favourite from this store you ask? It will be the Pear Danish for sure. If you plan to visit their store soon, some of their crowd-pleasers would be the Bacon Egg Bread ($2.20), Sweet Potato Donut ($1.60) and Nuts & Kaya Bun ($1.90). Yes, you must be wondering…Kaya bun made by a Japanese bakery? You will be surprised! It is apparently just as appealing.

3. DONQ Bakery

The next bakery I am featuring is definitely one of my favourite. Situated at the basement of Takashimaya, it was not located within the vicinity of most other bakeries like St. Leaven and Peck but rather it was on its own at the other end. Despite being founded in Japan, DONQ is influenced by the French which probably explains its fancy name. Without further ado, I will jump straight into the bakes that I have tried here!

Mentaiko France ($2.40)

This has got to be my favourite Mentaiko infused bread without a doubt. Every other Mentaiko bread I had thereafter has completely no chance against this one — at least up till now. I have tried Mentaiko Baguette from other bread stores but its just not comparable to this one. I just LOVE how generous they are with the slathering of mentaiko on both the inside and outside of the bread. That aside, the bread is so well done such that its crispy on the outside yet soft and chewy on the inside. Honestly, I could eat this everyday if I want to — Mentaiko Baguette 72 Hours Challenge? I am down. Okay, but if I really had to nitpick on one thing then it would be that the baguette can be tough sometimes and I would be waging a war with the bread BUT not complaining — this goodness is worth every bite.

Aomori Apple & Tea Bread ($2.80)

This bread was a unique mix of Apples from Aomori and an infusion of Earl Grey tea. The curiosity in me tempted me to buy this bread because all that was on my mind was… where on earth is Aomori?

Any who, I loved how the soft and fluffy bread is being paired with the apple chunks — absolutely fit for those with a sweet tooth! My mouth is definitely itching for more apple chunks though also, a stronger earl grey taste.

Naruto Kintoki And Black Sesame ($3.20)

Quick fun fact: Did you know that Naruto Kintoki is one of the top sweet potato that is being produced in Japan? The first thought I had when I saw Naruto was well — the anime of course. The bread itself contained chunks of sweet potato and black sesame which I found was an unusual pairing. The taste of both ingredients came out nicely and was quite prominent. The overall texture of the bread was very chewy. If you are a fan of sweet potato then do give this a try.

Since this has been a bakery that I frequently visit, some other items I would recommend for you to check out would be their Double Cheese Pari Pari ($3.00), An Pan ($2.30) and their highly-raved Uji Matcha Cream & Chocolate Bun ($3.00) that bursts with Matcha flavour.

4. Gokoku Bakery

Drum Rolls… The last Japanese bakery I would like to introduce is none other than Gokoku Bakery. This has been a highly-raved bakery that I have been longing to go and I am so glad that I finally managed to taste the bread here — the travel to Great World City was a worthwhile one. As I stepped into the store, I was blown away by the amount of varieties they had but that also meant that I had a hard time deciding what to taste test. Me being me, I decided to go with what I thought was more peculiar.

Cheesecake Croissant ($2.30)

I picked this croissant due to its unique presentation. I mean, when have you seen a croissant that looks like that? I appreciate how generous they were with the cheese filling and how it is being encased within such flaky crusts that breaks when you bite into it. The cheese just melts in your mouth — this was such a satisfying and comforting bread!

Mochi Mochi Couverture ($2.20)

Mochi-filled breads has been quite the hype recently — this one here is made with deep dark chocolate, orange peels and white chocolate chips. As you bite into the bread, you will be amazed with its softness and how chewy it is. Be pleasantly surprised by their hidden chocolate lava bombs within the bread. Mmm.. This bread definitely speaks a harmonious marriage of well-balanced flavours. If you are a fan of chocolate then this would be a good pick for you!

Fig and Walnut Bun

As a lover of figs and walnuts, this bread was a definite YES for me to taste test. I really loved how well textured this bread is and how both figs and walnuts complemented each other so well. If you love your carbs but still prefers to stay on the healthier side, then this bread is definitely a to go for you! I could not remember how much this bread costs and was not able to find it online either, please pardon me.

Before I sum up, here are some top selling bread of Gokoku that you can try: Yaki Imo Pan ($2.20), Gokoku Matcha Shichifuku ($2.30), Mochi Mochi Cheese ($2.40) and their Coronets which are absolutely soft and filled with generous filling inside!

Alright, carb lover signing off from here. Hope all of you enjoyed my recommendations and be sure to share what your favourite buns are, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW!

*This article and review is independent.