Dona Manis Cake Shop – Old School Banana Pies and Life Changing Chocolate Tarts

As someone who is not a fan of anything sweet, especially chocolates and pastries, I seldom crave it. However, from time to time, I would think of the crumbly melt-in-my-mouth chocolate tarts and the old school gooey banana pies from Dona Manis Cake Shop.

This traditional bakery has been around for more than 30 years. Even though it’s being parked in the basement of Katong Shopping Centre, it has a large fan base and regulars that keep coming back for more of their banana pies and other bakes. If you’re having difficulties finding the shop because it’s your first time there, just walk around till you smell the sweet aroma and follow it.

There used to be a wider selection comprising bakes like hotdog buns, butter buns and red bean buns. However, they have stopped baking these breads since 2020 due to the lack of manpower. It was devastating news for me because I absolutely LOVED their butter buns that had a core of thick, flowy butter mix that oozes out easily! Sadly, now I can only dream of it.

Everything they have is handmade from scratch. From mixing to piping, to baking, everything is done by hand by the elderly team. I really have a lot of respect for the team who work so hard to produce these delicious bakes every day.

I got half a Banana Pie ($2.80/piece, $14 for half a pie, $28 for a whole pie), Cream Puffs ($4 for 5 pieces), Chocolate Tarts ($5, for 5 pieces) and a Walnut Cake ($7.50 for the whole loaf).

First up, their signature Banana Pies. It’s really one of a kind and arguably, the best that you can find in Singapore. This might be a controversial statement, but you have to taste it to find out. The crust is firm, yet easily broken apart. It is crumbly and has a strong buttery fragrance that complements the gooey banana filling so well. A pro-tip: sit down and enjoy this beautiful pie with a cup of tea. It makes the perfect afternoon tea dessert! One might not be enough though! Also, it can get messy if you’re eating it on the go.

It is possible to pre-order the whole banana pie but remember to call them up before heading down. Leave your particulars and make payment upon receiving your pies. Do note that they only accept cash payment!

Next, the cream puffs. It’s one of the few times that I would willingly eat cream because I would always remove them from the cakes that I eat. However, this cream was just right. It has a very light and smooth texture, and pairs extremely well with the puff.

It’s not as jelak as you might expect it to be. The cream is not overly sweet and has an old-school taste that would somehow remind you of your childhood, and evoke nostalgia for your parents or grandparents.

Now, moving on to the best thing that they have in the shop in my opinion. The perfect chocolate tarts. It is really life-changing for me because I really don’t take anything chocolate flavoured until I tasted this. To date, this is the only chocolate-flavoured thing that I would willingly eat. This chocolate tart looks pretty normal until you pick it up.

The chocolate filling is still molten though it appears solid, and it is best eaten upon purchase. If you’re saving it for later, do freeze it for a while before eating it because it might just break off if you pick it up immediately after leaving it out for too long. The crust is buttery and it breaks off easily, yet it is strong enough to be picked up before melting completely in your mouth along with the chocolate filling. The chocolate filling is very well balanced, not too sweet or too bitter. It is also slightly flowy and you can even “drink” it if you just suck it from the crust. 10/10.

Last but not least, the walnut cake. It is not usually available too, but I just got it that day since it was fresh out of the oven. It resembles the chocolate marble cake, but it is sprinkled with bits of walnut. It is not the best thing on their menu, as it’s rather dry for a cake. But I do think that if you enjoy butter loaf cakes, you would like this too! Maybe eating it with a cup of tea or milk would be good.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a good pie or chocolate tart, be sure to check them out!

MissTamChiak.com made an anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

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