Our team is serious about our matcha desserts; we also love a good cup of earthy, bittersweet matcha latte from Hvala. As huge fans of the popular cafe chain, we were naturally excited about their unexpected collab with Butter Town, a humble hawker stall in Holland Drive that specialises in shio pan. FYI, you can try the outlet-exclusive shio pan menu only at Hvala Raffles Specialist Centre, the cafe’s latest opening.
The shio pan series features three items and after having tried all, we concluded that our favourite was The Three Musketeers ($23.90++). A plate stars three bite-sized sliders made with Butter Town’s shio pan, and stuffed with smoked salmon, scallops, and chicken chashu.Â
The smoked salmon was fresh with a hint of tang from the sauce, while the scallop was topped with zesty-spicy mentaiko mayo. Finally, the chicken chashu was tender and savoury. Though a little steep in price, we appreciated that the sandwiches were filling and substantial.
There’s also the Chuck Wagyu Beef ($20.90++) for meat lovers; you get a generous portion of thinly sliced chuck Wagyu beef packed in Butter Town’s signature shio pan and topped with a house-made spicy sauce that’s not too intense.
For a wallet-friendly option, we recommend the Deviled Egg Mayo ($6.90++): Butter Town’s crispy, airy, and buttery shio pan brimming with a creamy egg mayo filling.Â
It’d be remiss of you not to get a drink at Hvala, so grab a cup of their Matcha Hojicha ($9.50++) for the best of both matcha and hojicha worlds, or Genmaicha ($9.50++) for a lovely balance of nutty and toasty flavours.
As dessert lovers, we had to try Hvala’s newly launched Kyoto Banana ($9.90++). This banana sponge was beautifully layered with banana cream filling and fresh banana chunks. FYI, this dessert tasted similar to the famous Tokyo Banana!
If you can’t get enough matcha, opt for the Shiro Matcha Coconut ($9.90++) instead; this matcha coconut sponge cake sees delicate layers of Shiro matcha, which is said to be rich and complex, paired with coconut cream, mascarpone, and chantilly cream. It’s also adorned with matcha chocolate and crispy genmai bits.
Besides the items mentioned, there are starters, cold soba, quiche, and pies, perfect for breakfast or lunch, so consider dining at Hvala Raffles Specialist Centre if you’re in the area. The cafe is conveniently located two minutes by foot from Bugis MRT Station.
If you’re looking for more good eats in the area, read our Bugis food guide. Alternatively, check out the best matcha powder in Singapore, where we ranked some of the most popular brands.
Address: 585 North Bridge Road, #01-01, Raffles Specialist Centre, Singapore 188770
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 8pm
Website
Hvala is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Paula Formantes.
This was a media tasting at Hvala.