Where to get the best sandos in Singapore

Sando lovers, here’s a newfound paradise in the heart of Tanjong Pagar. This Japanese butchery fronts a sando shop that offers top-grade Japanese Wagyu fat-fried katsu sandos. Sink your teeth into a thick slab of well-marbled A5 Japanese Wagyu crusted in panko and fried to a perfect golden crisp. While Wagyu beef remains the lead, the lighter supporting acts are equally satisfying, featuring a crunchy Ebi Katsu Sando ($28) and a fluffy Tamagoyaki Katsu Sando ($18).

TRY If you have some spare change, go with the melt-in-your-mouth striploin cut ($48). Also in our review, we tried out different Wagyu grades to find out which is the most value for money, read more to find out your perfect cut.

Café Natsu has recently opened their doors on the ground floor of Crane Joo Chiat, a stunning 1920s Peranakan heritage building. One glass panel overlooks bustling Joo Chiat Road, while those lucky enough to clinch a table at the open-aired windowsill seats will get a glimpse of the pastel-coloured Koon Seng shophouses. The menu at Café Natsu doesn’t disappoint either, with sando options like egg mayo ($22) and chicken katsu ($29).

TRY The standout, true to form, is the Wagyu sando ($30) – beef short rib sandwiched between soft, crustless bread.

A freshly constructed sando, or sandwich, is the main draw at Hello Arigato. They've also recently opened their second outlet at Joo Chiat. What to order but the sando? Slices of toasted milk bread cradle teriyaki-glazed chicken ($15) or pink-hued Angus striploin ($26).

TRY Our favourite: bread stuffed with thick-cut Muar-style otah patty ($20), juicy and meaty – its spiciness balanced with sweetness from smears of coconut mayonnaise and kaffir lime sambal.

At Yujin Izakaya, as part of the Les Amis group’s diverse portfolio, they're more of a traditional izakaya rather than a sando kiosk.

TRY But with that said, the katsu sando ($20) is still worth a try for its medium rare US beef katsu that's been lightly slathered with a pommery mustard and tangy tonkatsu sauce – all sandwiched between toasted bread.  

Originally known for its cream buns, Pipes by Hattendo has branched out to include savoury sando sandwiches. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly small interior of this café in Outram Park’s Dorsett Residences – the lengthy menu rivals the best of other sandwich joints. 

TRY Besides the cream buns or puddings, it’s the Nitamago Potato Salad Sando ($14) that proves popular with the crowds. This comes with an ajitsuke egg sliced into half to reveal its gooey yolk, as well as a homemade potato salad filling drizzled over with truffle oil. 

Just when we think Singapore doesn’t need another Japanese-inspired bar, Live Twice swoops in to make us eat our words and drink our classics. It's the highly raved about beef katsu sando ($32) slathered in tonkatsu sauce and Japanese mayonnaise, that we believe lives up to the hype here.

TRY For something unique, the ebi and corn sando ($22) is a very upmarket version of the popular McDonald’s creation – aka a perfect booze-sopping accompaniment to your cocktails.

Grids and Circles is more than just a pretty café. Taking over three stories of a shophouse in Chinatown, you’ll find a minimally decorated space with an eclectic menu – one with various sando options. While the café might have started with a traditional tamago sando, they've since branched out into more eclectic sandwiches.

TRY The Brekkie Trail ($15), a spam and scrambled egg sandwich with a furikake aioli. 

Like the Japanese art of Kabuki, which combines dance and drama, Kabuke blends sake with zany bar bites. You don’t have to be an expert to appreciate the pairings either – everything is easily broken down and you’re encouraged to order sake by the glass or carafe to savour a range of types throughout your meal.

TRY For an extra indulgent treat, try the black truffle wagyu sando ($68) where the cream cheese spread comes perfumed with black truffles, and the whole sando is crowned with even more freshly shaved truffles. 

Baristart Coffee might be best known for the coffee, using Biei Jersey milk from Hokkaido to make a cuppa that’s rich and buttery – but they've also got a range of savoury mains. 

TRY The tonkatsu sando ($18.80) where breaded pork cutlet is served between soft white bread with mustard butter and tonkatsu sauce, alongside some fries and gherkins.