Hiap Joo Bakery (协裕面包) is a well-known name in Johor Bahru for its wood-fired banana cakes. To try their aromatic and moist banana cakes, Singapore residents will need to go over the Singapore-Johor border to get them from Hiap Joo Bakery in Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk.
Here’s a good news: HYPHA, a vending stations provider in Singapore, brings the banana cakes over from Johor Bahru and sells them through their unmanned vending machine (or Self-Serve Bar) — at Senja Hawker Centre in Bukit Panjang. Since its launch on 17 May 2025, the Self-Serve Bar has been drawing long queues to get its banana cakes, which sold out fast after every stock-up.
The banana cakes are sold at S$8.60 per box from the Self-Serve Bar and limited to 1 box per purchase. The cakes will be stocked up twice daily at 11:30am and 4:30pm except Monday — if there are leftovers from Sunday, they will still be available on Monday, although chances seem very slim. Each stock-up is about 48 boxes, so there are 96 boxes per day.
The freshly-baked banana cake in sturdy plastic container is still warm and pre-cut into 10 pieces — exactly the same way as those purchased directly from Hiap Joo Bakery in Johor Bahru. Plastic carriers are available by the side of the vending machine for the banana cakes — but, bring your own carrier if possible.
The cake is soft and fluffy with wood-fired banana aroma and is mildly sweet. It is great for breakfast or as snack for afternoon coffee / tea.
Each box of banana cake costs RM13 in Johor Bahru — or around S$4 based on exchange rate of S$1 : RM3.28 in May 2025 (risen to S$4.20 in March 2026).
Some passers-by commented that the price of $8.60 is pricey. Of course, buying the cake is cheaper in Johor Bahru if one happens to be there. But, considering the efforts by HYPHA to bring the cakes over the border, the cost of the vending machine, its running electricity, rental, profit margin, etc, the price is quite reasonable to be fair — anyway, food delivery services charge is S$3 per delivery (more for longer distance), or a deliberate journey over the border and back will probably be more than S$4 using public buses.
I wish HYPHA brings in Hiap Joo Bakery’s coffee cakes, butter cakes and buns too, including their popular wood-fired coconut buns.
Address:
Senja Hawker Centre
2 Senja Close, Singapore 677632
Stocking Time:
11:30am & 4:30pm daily except Monday
Nearby:
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