Salt bread has taken over Batam’s food scene, and itc.h is where a lot of it starts. Tucked away in Penuin, this small, cosy cafe is built entirely around the Japanese-style pastry known as shio pan, and it has quickly become one of the most talked-about salt bread spots in the city.
The space itself is compact, but it’s warm and inviting, the kind of place that suits a quick coffee stop just as well as a slow morning with friends.
What Makes Salt Bread So Popular
Salt bread originated in Japan as a simple butter-laminated roll finished with a sprinkle of sea salt, prized for its crisp, golden crust and soft, buttery interior.
The concept has since spread across Asia, picking up creative fillings and flavour twists along the way, from Korean garlic versions to fruit-and-cream variations. Its appeal lies in the contrast: a light crunch on the outside gives way to a pillowy, rich centre, making it just as satisfying with coffee in the morning as it is as an afternoon snack. That same balance of texture is exactly what itc.h has built its menu around.
What to Order at Itc.h
itc.h’s menu runs deep, with a wide range of salt bread variants to choose from, but we went straight for two of their bestsellers during our visit.
The Milk Cream keeps things soft and buttery, filled with a smooth milk cream that stays light rather than cloying, letting the bread’s texture take the lead. The Garlic Cheese, on the other hand, goes savoury: the garlic comes through clearly, and the cheese adds a creamy richness, while the bread underneath stays just as soft and fluffy as the sweeter version.
Between the two, they cover both cravings in one visit, and they’re a solid starting point if it’s your first time trying the menu, before working your way through the rest of the lineup.
Drinks Worth Trying
The drink menu is just as extensive, but we paired our bread with the Apple Oolong Cheese Foam. The apple brings a sweet-tart edge, the oolong tea adds a noticeable aroma underneath, and a creamy cheese foam sits on top to round the whole drink out. It’s an easy pairing with either the Milk Cream or the Garlic Cheese, cutting through the richness of both without overpowering the bread itself.
Worth noting that this is just one pick from a much longer drinks list, so there’s plenty of room to explore on a repeat visit.
Getting to itc.h cafe
Location: Jl. Komp. Sinar, Jl. Komp. Penuin Centre Blk. C No.5, RW.6, Batu Selicin, Lubuk Baja, Batam City
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
If salt bread has been showing up on every Batam food account lately, itc.h is where it’s coming from. Worth the stop if you’re exploring Penuin and want to see what the fuss is about, and worth a second visit to work through the rest of the menu.
Book your Singapore to Batam ferry tickets with Horizon Fast Ferry
