Petit Pain Review: Queue-Worthy Croissants At Joo Chiat By An Ex-Artisan Boulangerie Co. Baker

That said, I as well love simple pleasures such as a hearty bowl of soup or freshly baked bread. Petit Pain definitely got my attention when pictures of its unassuming croissants, as well as rumours of its perpetual snaking queues, kicked off popping up on social media.

Food at Petit Pain When we first arrived at Petit Pain, we were greeted with empty shelves and nothing for us to buy on the spot. There were only rolls of dough slowly getting baked in the ovens, without a care in the world—a stark contrast to diners getting jittery as they wait for a new batch to be ready.

We have as well taken a picture of their daily bake times for those who are looking to head down without pre-ordering, as a portion will be saved for walk-ins. Based on reviews, the Classic Croissant ($3) seemed to be its best-seller and I can see why.

Petit Pain definitely nailed its texture wonderfully, but I wished the layers were denser in the centre, with a stronger taste of butter. If you’re searching for a croissant with more oomph, dole out $0.50 more to get their Pain Au Chocolat ($3.50) instead.

This croissant hides two strips of dark chocolate in the centre, lending a bittersweet boost of flavour in each bite. They in addition serve sweeter options such as Apple Danish ($3.80) , Orange Chocolate Escargot ($3.80) , and Raisin Escargot ($3.60) which are great for those with a sweet tooth. Other than plain bread or pastries, the only savoury item on the menu is their Shiitake Flatbread ($4.50) .

You can tell they are sticking to their ethos “small batch from scratch” really strictly, as this baby is one of the few bakes which are only available once a day, specifically at 1:30pm! It will be worth it to work your schedule around its bake time as this bread was a favourite amongst some of my colleagues and I.

Get at least two of this Shiitake Flatbread lest you want to end up fighting over it like we did in the office. It is almost criminal if you leave a boulangerie without getting a Traditional Baguette ($3.60) .

Some might prefer their baguette slightly softer or not-too-cooked, but I love Petit Pain’s just the way it is—a good, crusty one that is great for pinching directly off the loaf. In the hopes of recreating desserts such as Shibuya toast and French toast back home, we in addition got a Honey Toast ($5.50/$8.50) to-go.

Ambience at Petit Pain Petit Pain might very well be a takeaway kiosk, as there are only two small tables at one corner and two benches at the other corner. Either way, I suggest savouring your baked goodies slowly at the comfort of your own home, or if you’re lucky, grab a comfy spot—with a book about bread from their mini library in the wooden cabinet—in the cafe.

Their dedication to the little shop can as well be felt and seen through their consistent bakes which impressed me most in terms of texture, followed by taste. If you love all things bread, check out this list of artisanal bakeries to get your hands on cruffins, zhnged-up croissants and more!