Think Ayam Penyet, Coconut Shake, Sambal Stingray and traditional kuehs.
We’re already halfway through Ramadan and perhaps by now, you’ve either personally experienced or read about the saga surrounding the Geylang Serai Bazaar.
The yearly affair has shifted from one with a balance of tradition and new, to solely a platform for creative young entrepreneurs to come up with the most Instagrammable, exotic and unusual dishes.
For those purists who die die want more of a traditional Ramadan Bazaar, look no further. The Ramadan Bazaars in JB take it onto a whole other level – it will leave you high in the spirits of the fasting month, and of course with your bellies happy.
Scattered all over JB, these bazaars have literally everything; we’ve rounded up what you can expect:
Roti Goreng Lami
Chances are, you’ve never seen this anywhere back home. Basically a deep fried bread roll that’s stuffed with either a curry chicken or beef filling, this snack is perfect for when you want something filling for your hungry bellies. You’ll probably see more than one stall selling this bazaar staple, so look around before you bag some home!
Satay
We have our fair share of decent satays but you’ll instantly be a convert after trying the ones in JB. Think juicier and fattier chunks of chicken and beef, with a mean peanut sauce to boot.
They’re not only cheaper, but also way more satisfying and sinful.
Grilled Seafood with Sambal
Feast on grilled stingrays, prawns, giant squids, cockles and their local catch of the day, for a fraction of what you pay in Singapore.
Nothing here goes for more than RM20, which is a steal for these deliciously flavourful seafood dishes.
Ayam Percik
An Indonesian favourite, the chicken is doused with a sweet, savoury black sauce before being grilled. The end result? Juicy, flavourful chicken wings with just the right amount of charred bits – you won’t be able to stop at one.
Traditional Malay Kuehs
The trays of kuehs such as Putri Salat, Ondeh-ondeh, kueh lapis will be a nice change from the standard offerings of Goreng Pisang and the likes.
Fancy something more refreshing? Give the assortment of agar-agars a try, which ranges from flavoured jellies, milk pudding to those with fruit toppings.
The Endless Varieties of Rice and Noodles
Exercise some self-control as you feast your eyes on the likes of Nasi Lemak, Ayam Penyet, Biryani, and Mee Goreng. Even though they are usually pre-packed a few hours before opening hours but if you want a fresher pack, they’re more than happy to oblige.
If fried rice and noodles are your thing, these ones are prepared with plenty of wok-hei, and don’t worry about cold, soggy noodles, it’s left on the stove till a customer orders.
Of course, there are also the more interesting and new dishes you can expect to see such as Mango Sticky Rice, Thai Milk Tea or even the popular Thai prata pancake.
Ramadan Bazaars in JB also helps your stretch your dollar, with the currency still in our favour.
List of Ramadan Bazaar can be found here.