Shibuya toasts – a sweeter, more indulgent version of the French toast which comes with a scoop (or multiple ones) of ice cream, fruits, toppings and usually uses a thick brick toast which is hollowed out.
Helming from Shibuya, one of the most happening districts of Tokyo, Japan, this thick toast dessert’s popularity has also picked up on our sunny islands of Singapore. If you’re craving for a highly satisfying and indulgent dessert after your meal, Shibuya Toasts are the way to go.
Here are 10 of the best well-known Shibuya Toasts that can be found right here in Singapore.
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1) Dazzling Cafe
It might be a little bit of a cliche but the first outlet which pops into my mind when I think about ‘Shibuya Toast’ would be Dazzling Cafe. Helming from Taiwan, this highly popular cafe was brought onto the sunny shores of Singapore in April, 2015. Ever since then, Dazzling cafe has been making waves on social media – for a few weeks’ straight just after its opening, all I saw on my Instagram feed was consecutive shots of the cafe’s ridiculously photogenic toast.
Even though the hype has largely died down, whenever I pass by Dazzling Cafe on the weekends, I still notice a relatively large crowd within the cafe. Mango lovers should definitely try the Mango and Coconut Gelato Honey Toast ($18.90). It’s one of my favourites out of all that can be found at Dazzling Cafe!
Dazzling Cafe: 11 Stamford Road, Capitol Building, Singapore 178884 | Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday, 12pm to 10pm | Tel: 63843310 | Website
2) Whisk and Paddle
A riverside cafe situated just steps away from the Punggol Waterway, stepping into Whisk and Paddle will make you feel as though you are overseas – it is incredibly tranquil, peaceful and laid-back. So if you’re looking to escape the city madness, Whisk and Paddle is definitely worth checking out: even if you have to travel all the way to Punggol.
Anyway, Punggol is the new up and coming estate area, isn’t it? Serving up all-day breakfast and excellent coffee, Whisk and Paddle seems like the perfect location for a date.
Fans of Shibuya Toast should order their Whisk Original Honey Toast ($12.80) – toast cubes paired with juicy strawberries, custard and a serving of honey: absolutely stunning and delicious.
Whisk and Paddle: 10 Tebing Lane #01-01, Singapore 828836 | Opening Hours: Tuesday-Friday 3:30pm-10:30pm; Saturday/Sunday/PH 9:30am-10:30pm; Closed on Mondays | Tel: +65 6242 4617 | Website
3) The Loft
Situated right in the heart of Chinatown at the top level of a traditional shophouse, The Loft promises all customers a laid-back ambiance and amazing food plus drinks. The Loft has quite an extensive selection of dishes on their menu – Specials, Salads, Flatbreads, Nibbles… but you really have to keep a look out for their Natsu Beri Shibuya Toast ($11.40). A Japanese-style French Toast which has been topped with summer berries, cream and vanilla ice cream: sinful but oh so good.
For all those looking for a cafe which wouldn’t chase you away while you’re doing work on your laptop, The Loft is your choice. With accessible power sockets littered all around the corners of the cafe and free WI-FI, I think you’ll basically need to force me to leave the cafe.
The Loft: 268A South Bridge Road, Singapore 058817 | Opening Hours: Monday —- Closed (rest day for the team); Tuesday to Sunday 7:30am to 11pm (Last order: 1 hour before closing time) | Tel: +65 6221 2103 | Website
4) Loaves Me
SMU (Singapore Management University) students should be awfully familiar with Loaves Me: it is located right at the basement of the main compound of the university. Even though the interior decor of the place is not impressive in comparison to other cafes, the food has been described to be ‘heavenly’. Or at least, that’s what I heard from my friends who are currently schooling in SMU.
Do give their Baby Strawberry Chocolate Toast ($6.50): I loved every bite of it even though I’m not exactly a huge fan of sweet treats. Besides, all their Shibuya Toasts are priced affordably at $6.50! Where else do you find such a good deal?
Loaves Me: 70 Stamford Road B1-45, Singapore 178901 | Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 07:45am – 09:00pm / Sat-Sun 11:00am – 07:00pm / Public Holiday Closed| Tel: +65 9665 1631 | Website
5) Assembly Coffee
Other than being widely known for their excellent coffee, Assembly Coffee has also been stealing the show with their Brick Toast ($12). Spanning over 6 cm in width, the Shibuya thick toast is hollowed out and the core of it will be replaced with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. All you sweet-toothed people will definitely enjoy chomping down on Assembly Coffee’s unique take on the Shibuya Toast – who knew it could still look so pleasing even after having been taken apart?
If you’re worried that the Brick Toast might be a little too cloyingly sweet for you, not to worry: this dish is served with some Greek yoghurt – the tanginess and refreshing nature of it will counterbalance the sweetness of well, the rest of the components of the toast.
Assembly Coffee: 26 Evans Lodge, Singapore 259367 | Opening Hours: 8am – 7pm Tuesday to Sunday; Closed on Monday | Tel: +65 6735 5647 | Website
6) Stateland Cafe
A vintage-industrial themed cafe, Stateland Cafe is located right at the hipster area of Singapore – Bali Lane. The cafe’s menu comprises of many different cuisines; they offer American, French, Italian and even Singaporean! After having seen the popularity of Shibuya Toasts amongst Singaporeans, Stateland Cafe had decided to put a new twist on their very own offering of the thick toast.
Just look at their TAN: Charcoal Coconut toast ($14.90)! This charcoal toast features Charcoal pain de mie, liquid marshmallow, homemade coconut ice cream and salted caramel toasted almonds. They had me the very moment ‘liquid marshmallow’ was mentioned. Just take my money already.
Stateland Cafe: 32 Bali Lane, Singapore 189868 | Opening Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu & Sun: 12pm – 10pm; Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am | Tel: +65 8715 5475 | Facebook
7) Dessert Project
An ice cream parlour and a dessert restaurant, you know Dessert Project is serious about bringing in the best after meal treats for all its customers from its name. While their ice creams are something to look out for, I was more drawn in by their Nutella Toast ($14.90). Topped with strawberries, chopped nuts and a dollop of whipped cream, this was exactly the thing I needed to finish off my meal. Mmm, will definitely be back for more.
Dessert Project: 22 Havelock Road #01-673, Singapore 160022 | Opening Hours: 12pm – 930pm (Mon-Tues, Thurs, Sun), 12pm – 11pm (Fri-Sat), Closed Wed | Facebook
8) Watanabe Coffee
All matcha lovers, listen up: I think I may have found the perfect cafe for you to hang around in all day. One glance at Watanabe Coffee’s Matcha Honey Toast ($16.80) was enough to cause some severe cravings for me.
Full-flavoured matcha and vanilla ice cream paired with ogura Japanese red bean? Hell yeah, any day man, any day. If you want a taste of Japan without leaving Singapore in an airplane, well, you can get a pretty close experience of that right here in Watanabe Coffee.
Watanabe Coffee: 350 Orchard Road Shaw Centre, Swiss Cottage Estate, Singapore 238868 | Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon-Sun) | Tel: 65 6235 0608 | Facebook
9) The Coffee Daily
Are you ready for The Coffee Daily’s version of Shibuya Thick Toast? Well, you better be because while it may not look as aesthetically pleasing as others’ listed in this article, the cafe’s specialty thick toast is heavenly to the taste buds. Salted caramel sauce paired with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream: salty meets sweet – my popcorn dreams. The Speculous Thick Toast was everything I needed right when I was severely craving for some desserts.
The Coffee Daily: 75 Brighton Crescent, Singapore 559216 | Opening Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 0930 – 2230; Fri and Sat: 0930-2330 | Tel: +65 6284 8894 | Facebook
10) Nam’s Cafe
As Singapore’s very first Thai cafe which begun operating in late 2013, it is only right that Nam’s cafe would put a Thai spin on their Shibuya Toast offerings. Nam’s Cafe’s Shibuya Toasts are usually offered as something special – you might want to call the stall beforehand to find out if they’re retailing on that day.
All that trouble is worthwhile, though. You get a scoop of authentic, Thai tea ice cream made from the Number 1 brand from the land of smiles atop your fluffy thick toast. Yum.
