Having been a regular patron of this inconspicuous looking bakery for more than a decade, there is always a familiar nostalgic feeling when I revisit this quiet corner at the basement of Katong Shopping Centre. Strangely enough, this bakery famous for their freshly baked banana pies is always the first food place at the back of my head when I get asked 'What to eat at Katong area huh?'. It might take some finding around within the once illustrious shopping centre which had now transformed into pretty much a mall that houses at least 30-40 domestic worker agencies. The good thing is, once you smell that beautiful intoxicating aroma of buttery pastry baking in the oven, you know you have found gourmet heaven!

Banana Pie (S$2.20/slice; full pie of 10 slices for S$22/-)



This wedge of banana pie tastes so good that it kept me coming back over the years. Topped with a generous layer of diced almonds, it added a good crisp crunchy texture to the bite. The pastry chef prided  herself with the use of good quality butter and remarked that margarine was not fragrant enough to deliver the desired aroma. Baked to perfection with a golden brown crust, the pastry was  flaky yet not excessively greasy. It simply crumbled in our mouths with a rich satisfying taste of butter. Sandwiched between the beautiful pastry was the 'to-die-for' banana fillings. The banana slices were evenly portioned and stacked uniformly across the entire pie and for those with a prissy palate would notice fresh shredded coconut and cream being added into the soft filling to enhance the flavours though these elements serve to complement rather than overwhelm.

The sweetness of the banana pie was natural and owed to the selective choice of only 'ang ba cheo' (red-flesh bananas) and 'pang cheo' (fragrant bananas). It was just nice and highly delectable by our standards and admittedly we are rather intolerant of overly sweet pastries or desserts. The particular choice of those small bananas typically have a rich and sweeter taste compared to their larger counterparts commonly found in supermarkets. Even for takeaway orders, I would highly recommend to try one promptly upon purchase where it usually would still be warm (at least for ours), where you get to savour the freshness of a freshly baked pie, 'Oh God, I need to feed myself another slice before I continue writing..'

The prices had gone up considerably over the years (I recall buying them for around S$1.50/slice) but then again so has inflation. Definitely a MUST-TRY.


Label me a confectionery traditionalist, but I believe good pastry and bread should be prepared and baked with heart. It is this extra touch that spells all the difference even if you are using premium ingredients.