Address: 331 New Bridge Rd, #01-02 Dorsett Residences, Singapore 088764
Pipes by Hattendo menu
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 9:00am – 6:00pm, Closed on Mondays
Instagram: hattendo_singapore
I wasn’t looking for cream puffs, because I was a little tired of eating custard after Chateraise and Baristart. But my search for cream puffs back then also led me to discover a hidden gem: Pipes by Hattendo. Hattendo is a household name for many of us; we all love its creamy custard buns that come in different flavors. While its leaning towards a bread execution — and I prefer a choux exterior for anything custard-related — I love its chocolate, custard and adzuki bean flavors. They’re affordable at $2.70 and so filling at any given time of the day.
But, I am not at Pipes by Hattendo to grab some custard buns for takeaway. To my surprise, Hattendo is actually in the Sando bandwagon (albeit not as well-known). We all know how the whole of Singapore seems to be smitten by katsu and wagyu sandos lately. Hello Arigato, Breakfast Grill, SANDO at Alexandra Technopark, 46 Mittsu… I can go on and on and on about the different places where you can grab a sando. But so far, none has impressed me the way Pipes by Hattendo did.
Pipes by Hattedo serves an Iberico Pork Katsu Sando at an attractive $22. It’s pretty expensive if you’re treating this as a coffee shop, but put it among the rest of sandos, and it’s competitive. The best part about this is that it’s legit. The meat is thicc. Juicy and oozing with that tangy tonkatsu sauce, sandwiches in Nama Syokupans. These buttered toasts are also available for order at Pipes by Hattendo, and I am tempted to grab a square loaf as well. This could very well be the best katsu sando in the whole of Singapore.
They also serve Saba Miso (which was unfortunately out of stock at my time of visit), Otah Sando (because it’s trendy nowadays), Kaki Fry (yes, they’re Hiroshima oysters!), and Wagyu Sando (cheaper at $18). I am hesitant to try the latter because I still am terrified of eating tough-to-chew wagyu meats ala Hello Arigato.
Pipes’ coffee also does not disappoint. In fact, it’s roasted fresh on site, and the smell of the restaurant will tell you that it is indeed serious in coffee business. They sell Blue Mountain, Panama Geisha, and some some fruity drips that you can buy in single packs. Many of these merit a closer look, something worth a try for you coffee aficionados out there. The closest competitor who has executed its coffee the same way is Cowpresso Coffee Roasters, but I leaning towards Pipes by Hattendo. (I’m biased toward Japanese chains since my visit to Ueshima Coffee Company museum back in Kobe; let’s get it out there. But I wouldn’t hesitate to name these two as one of the default coffee shops in your mind in their respective areas.)
The drips come in different variants, and Hattendo sells these on Shopee as well!
1. Summer Geisha – a blend of Guatemala, Colombia and Panada Geisha
2. Honey Trap – a blend of Brazil, Colombia and El Salvador
3. Nasty Nut – a blend of Brazil, Colombia and Vietnam
4. Sanctuary – a blend of Costa Rica, Ethiopia and Nicaragua
5. Anti Matter – a blend of Brazil, Guatemala and Indonesia
The only drawback is that it can be out of the way for many of you. Pipes by Hattendo is located beside Outram MRT station, but you can also get off at Chinatown and take a longer walk at Eu Tong Sen Street. Either way, you’re bound to reach a destination that’s going to make you want to eat sandos everyday — even though it’s going to burn a hole in your pocket.