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I’m sure many of us have our secret spots for local bakes, whether it be a famous place like Dona Manis Cake Shop or a small neighbourhood bakery. Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionary, in Serangoon Garden Market and Food Centre, is another great place to get some nostalgic bakes that’s sure to be a comforting snack.
There is just something about the breads in local bakeries that modern ones cannot replicate. It seems many Singaporeans think so too, considering the popularity behind Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionary. Having been around since the 1970s, it is definitely one of Singapore’s oldest bakeries.
Despite it being in the early morning, a queue had already formed. Not just that— I noticed that many folks bought the bakes in bulk, almost like they’re forming a food stash throughout the week. “I don’t blame them,” I thought, as the smell of freshly baked loaves wafted through the hawker centre. That definitely seemed especially convincing to buy some to eat when I’m back home.
Uncle, who was in charge of packaging orders, moved with godlike speed. He packed the goods whilst still making small talk, a skill that I will forever admire. On the other end, the rest of the staff prepped the next few batches with incredible efficiency. Definitely a sight to behold.
As expected, the hawker centre had a light crowd since it was a weekday morning. From my observations, many of the folks who bought the bulks of bread left briskly whilst the others sat down for a quick breakfast with a cup of local Joe and bread in hand.
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It was an experience indeed, watching all the bread disappear into boxes or plastic bags in a short period of time. Rumour has it that 2pm is their final sell out time, so best be early!
What I tried at Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionary
With recommendations from both the internet and a colleague, I was optimally prepared in terms of what to order. Of course, we had to go for the iconic Hamburger (S$1.30) which was one of the bakery’s common favourites.
It wasn’t all too difficult to find out why. I adored the way the bread was still slightly warm, and how the fluffy bread went incredibly well with the greasy luncheon meat. Yummy, yet light. With no hesitation, this felt like a prime breakfast option.
An interesting option was the Cream Puff (S$1.20). Because of my prior experience as a pastry student, I was a tad curious on what a local Pâte à Choux would be like. Would it be the same or contain a local flair?
Surprisingly, the cream filling was firm and not runny. The pleasant kicker was its flavour, which was extremely pleasant. With a slight hint of vanilla and no lumpy texture, anyone could appreciate it.
Curry Bun (S$1.40) is a must-buy for the spice lovers. The curry filling reminded me of a lighter Indian chicken curry, but with aromatic qualities. I adored the potatoes inside, as they still had a slight munch rather than being mushy. This bun would make for an excellent light lunch, especially for those rushing for time.
I am a complete sucker for anything banana, so the Banana Cake (S$1.20) was my absolute favourite purchase. Upon opening the plastic, the sweet banana scent was incredibly strong, appealing immensely to my stomach’s unease.
Since there are pieces of actual banana flesh embedded into the cake, the baked good tasted heavily of banana. It is slightly denser than most of the banana cakes I’ve tried, but it was a change I happily accepted.
Final thoughts
Although Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionary is quite a distance from home, I felt that it was worth coming here. With these bakes being my idea of the perfect snack, I can wholeheartedly see myself coming back to try some more treats! My eye is on the Kaya Bun (S$1.20) and more of that heavenly Banana Cake.
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