The Viral Bakery Everyone’s Been Raving About
I’ve been scrolling through countless posts about Bao’s Pastry on RedNote, and honestly, the FOMO was real. So many posts about their incredible pastries, and I’m absolutely chuffed that we can finally get our hands on their treats without booking a flight to China!
This popular bakery chain, also known as Bao Shi Fu (鲍师傅), has set up shop within Scarlett Supermarket at Paya Lebar Square. The relief of not having to travel to China just for some pastries is immeasurable.
Naturally, whenever something new pops up in Singapore, expect those long snaking queues. I waited patiently for a few weeks for the hype to subside slightly before making my way there. Smart move, because when I rocked up at 11.30am on a Friday, there were only 7 people ahead of me. Phew!
Fresh Pastries Made Right Before Your Eyes
The first thing that hits you when you walk into Bao’s Pastry is the open kitchen concept. You can see so many pastry chefs furiously making pastries away – it’s like watching a well-choreographed dance.
This is brilliant when there’s high turnover rate because it means 100% freshness guaranteed. No day-old pastries sitting around here. The transparency is refreshing, and watching your pastries being made adds to the whole experience.
The Star Player: Xiao Bei Crispy Floss Cake
Right, let’s talk about the main event – the Xiao Bei Crispy Floss Cake ($6.90 for 4 pieces). This is Bao’s Pastry’s signature and best-selling item. They sold 200 million pieces in one year in China alone. That’s the one item that goes viral on social media, and now I understand why.
The first time I had a meat floss cake like this was from BreadTalk’s Momoji series, which I quite enjoyed. It’s actually a unique combination of sweet cake with mayonnaise, coated in savoury pork floss.
After trying this from Bao’s Pastry, I genuinely like this version better because it stands out more as a savoury cake. It’s less sweet overall, which lets the savoury elements shine. The floss coating the cake gives a lovely crispy texture, whilst the seaweed adds fragrance.
I’d read reviews about it tasting cloying, but I thought it was perfect. The cake was soft and moist with just the right amount of mayonnaise to give that creaminess. Whilst I understand the prices for Bao’s Pastry are way more expensive than in China, I think it’s still pretty good value at $6.90 for 4 pieces by Singapore standards.
Other Treats on the Menu
Butter Mochi ($4.90 for 6 pieces)
This Butter Mochi wasn’t bad at all. Less greasy than Swee Heng’s version, maybe that’s why the exterior isn’t as crispy either. Overall, it’s still pretty good because I just love that chewy texture on the inside.
But it’s not as tasty as Swee Heng’s version because I think Swee Heng uses salted butter, whereas this tastes more like unsalted butter. That makes quite a difference to the overall flavour profile.
Croissant Egg Tarts: Caramel vs Pistachio
Two varieties here – Caramel ($2.90) and Pistachio ($4.50). The caramel version absolutely smashes it. Layers of crispiness that stay light and flaky even when left out for a few hours after purchase.
There’s a lovely touch of caramel flavour from the caramel on top, but it’s not overwhelming in a way that masks the egg custard flavour. Brilliant balance.
The pistachio version has the same flaky crust, but somehow I can’t really taste the pistachio, even though there are chopped pistachios on top. Not sure what those green-coloured crispy bits are either – they don’t add much flavour. The caramel one is definitely nicer.
Velvet Taro Egg Tart ($2.90)
Now this is a proper winner. Crispy flaky crust with thick, creamy yam that’s not sweet. I think they’ve added purple sweet potato for that gorgeous purple colour. There’s black glutinous rice at the bottom, which adds a lovely textural element.
The egg custard is so silky smooth, and everything tastes fresh and natural. The yam flavour isn’t strong, so it doesn’t snatch away from the egg custard flavour. It’s like a Portuguese egg tart with added creaminess and heartiness. Absolutely love this one.
Oozing Lava Cheese Tart ($3.60)
This one didn’t ooze because I ate it much later. You’d probably have to heat it up to get that molten texture. The filling is like thick cream, but it’s a little sweet for the cheese filling, so you can’t really taste the cheese flavour.
The crust is very soft and crumbly, but honestly, this isn’t my kind of cheese tart. I’d give this one a miss.
The Little Details That Count
Paper bags are charged at $0.20 per piece, which is fair enough. They’re so thoughtful to provide disposable gloves to customers so you can use your hands to eat the pastries without dirtying them.
It’s also brilliant that they indicate shelf life and storage instructions for every item, so you can enjoy them at their maximum freshness. These little touches show they really care about the customer experience.
Word of warning: Do check your receipt before leaving the bakery after making payment. We got overcharged as one of the items was keyed in incorrectly. Instead of paying $3.60 for the cheese tart, we got charged $6.90 for a box of 4 Golden Portuguese Egg Tarts. By the time we got home and realised it, it just wasn’t worth the trouble to return for a refund.
Beyond the Basics: What’s Still on My List
What I’ve covered in this review is just a portion of what they have. They’ve still got loads of other items I want to try like their cranberry walnut scones, pineapple tarts, golden yolk pastries, chilled goods, and pre-packed pastries too.
The variety is genuinely impressive, and it’s clear they’ve put thought into catering to different tastes and preferences. Singapore’s food scene is always evolving, and additions like this keep things exciting.
The Bottom Line: Is Bao’s Pastry Worth the Hype?
If you haven’t tried Bao’s Pastry before, definitely go grab some pastries to try. Having Bao’s Pastry join Singapore’s competitive bakery scene is a very welcome addition because they bring a different style of pastries that we locals haven’t had the chance to get more exposed to.
This gives bonus variety to what we usually get from other bakeries, and I’m all for that. The quality is solid, the freshness is guaranteed, and whilst the prices are higher than China, they’re reasonable by Singapore standards.
Of all that I’ve tried so far, the Xiao Bei Crispy Floss Cake, Velvet Taro Egg Tart, and Caramel Croissant Egg Tart are absolutely the best. These three alone make the trip worthwhile.
This viral Chinese bakery chain has definitely earned its reputation, and now we can enjoy their legendary treats without needing to book a flight to experience what all the fuss is about with Bao’s Pastry 鲍师傅.