Nonette: Paris bistro known for banh mi and Asian-inspired donuts pops up in Singapore

Did you know Paris has a popular banh mi bistro that’s started by a Singaporean?

Nonette was founded in 2021 and has become a cult favourite in the French capital.

It’s recognisable by the assortment of colourful stackable plastic chairs littered around its shopfront — a scene that throws you back to the street food of Ho Chi Minh City!

Interestingly, it also counts former local actress Sharon Au, who moved to Paris in 2018, as one of its loyal customers.

If you’re intrigued, good news: You can now try Nonette in Singapore.

It actually had a short one-weekend pop-up in Singapore in 2022, but this time around, Nonette will be in Singapore for three whole months.

You’d be able to grab Nonette’s beloved banh mi and donuts at Republic Plaza’s events and party venue Rasa Space from now to Oct 4.

It’s open on evenings from Wednesday to Saturday, for those looking to indulge in “apero” (a traditional French ritual of pre-dinner snacks and drinks).

Nonette’s banh mi

What can you expect at the Nonette pop-up? 

It’s a pretty lean menu with three banh mi options, two donuts and four bite-sized dessert options.

You can choose to get any of the banh mi individually for S$12, or donuts at S$4 each.

But we recommend getting the apero box (S$19) for maximum value, as it comes with one banh mi, one donut and two eclairs — basically a S$7 top-up that lets you try a bunch of Nonette’s sweet treats!

Besides the food options, Nonette also has a wine menu for those looking to pair their bites with some adult grape juice!

If you’re wondering what banh mi to go for, we recommend purists go for the jambon beurre (S$12) that is loaded up with housemade French charcuterie, pork floss and a liberal slather of pate.

It’s got all that gratuitous porky flavour you’d expect from banh mi, plus Nonette’s generous pate ratio is great for those who enjoy more pate in their banh mi (like we do).

On the other hand, if you’re looking for something a bit more creative, Nonette also has a Vietnamese fried chicken (S$12) that comes with a juicy and crunchy slab of fried chicken, paired with sriracha mayo for a little spice boost. 

Both were pretty solid, but we did have one complaint — the bread wasn’t as crunchy we’d liked. 

That said, the flavours are on point, so it’s still worth visiting and maybe you’d be there on a better baguette day.

As we mentioned, Nonette also offers wine to go with the food and during our visit, it had local wine supplier The Amphora Project showcasing two bewitching natural wines from Gordia, a Slovenian wine producer.

The Gordia pet-nat white (S$16 for a glass, S$85 for a bottle) is crisp, fruity and refreshing with a subtle brackishness at the tail end, while the Gordia pet-nat rose (S$16 for a glass, S$85 for a bottle) comes with lusher berry notes and a sexy twinge of minerality.

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Donut miss these

If you ask us, the desserts are probably the best reason to visit Nonette’s pop-up — especially the donuts.

There are only two options available, but both are equally delectable and have distinct charms that would appeal to different palates.

The kaya (S$4), in particular, features silky kaya cream that’s chockfull of fragrance, while having a kiss of salinity that adds depth to the pandan and keeps it from being too one-note or cloying.

However, Nonette’s chilli oil chantilly (S$4) is probably much more interesting — it uses lao gan ma in its glaze for that familiar mix of umami, heat and funk.

The magic is in the superlatively airy chantilly cream, which actually pairs wonderfully with the chilli oil and tones down the spice.

We don’t know how Nonette came up with this, but it honestly works really well!

Another uniquely Singaporean dessert you’ll find on the menu is the tau suan eclair (S$4), which features fragrant whipped mung bean inside and crispy fried you tiao on top for extra crunch.

If you’re hankering for some unique desserts and want a banh mi to go with it, head by Nonette for an after-work soiree — there are plenty of beats and vibes at Rasa Space to elevate your dining experience.

For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on the hearty and homely food at Thai restaurant Nampla and the new restaurant with some of the best affordable French food in Singapore.

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out.

You can also book a ride to Nonette to try its banh mi at its Singapore pop-up.