Penang Fruit Rojak Buah on a Motorbike in Johor Bahru! 新山流动檳城罗惹

Take a careful look at this mobile rojak stall. Did you notice the Penang licence plate on the motorbike?

According to the rojak man, he came from Penang to Johor Bahru nearly 20 years ago riding this very same small motor bike to seek a living. Today, he is a well known rojak man with his fans trailing his mobile stall everywhere he went. He has also set up his family here in JB.

His old faithful - a classic Honda Cub - is still with him and is still his reliable business partner. To borrow local Honda distributor Boon Siew Honda's corporate philosophy, the Honda Cub has powered this rojak man's "Passion towards Dreams".

Rojak man has a constant stream of regular customers stopping by his stall along Jalan Maju next to Pelangi shopping centre. Some came on foot while many drove by in their cars or motorbikes to buy the take away version.

Many intricate details go into making this seemingly simple dish. It starts with selecting the right fruits. The fruits are specially picked by the rojak man every morning to ensure that they are all fresh, juicy, and crunchy.

Even the seemingly straightforward task of cutting the fruits is in itself, an art. As explained to me by the rojak man, how the fruit is cut affects its texture, water content, bite and ultimately its taste.

Only an artist can create a work of art like this.

The other key ingredient is the sauce. This sauce is totally different from those that I have tried before anywhere else. This sauce is a thick goo that flows like hot melted cheese. It also reminds me of melted chocolate in a fondue fountain, but thicker.

This delicious snack costs RM4.50

When I got my box of rojak, I immediately stabbed it with the two skinny wooden picks and was about to give the sauce and fresh fruit pieces a vigorous stir when the rojak man hurriedly stopped me. He was like an artist whose work of art was about to be vandalised.

He then suggested that I just eat the rojak and allow the sauce to naturally sink and coat the cut fruits. Apparently, it is better not to stir the rojak as that would only drive the moisture out of the cut fruits and turn the rojak into a soggy mess. True enough, the sauce sank down through the salad, coating the pieces of fresh fruits below as it passes.

The flavour of the sauce is exquisite. Totally unexpected of a mobile stall on the back of a motorbike!

The sauce is a delicate blend of subtle sweet and savoury with the flavour of ground peanuts and fermented prawn paste or hae ko (the signature of Penang rojak). Together with the naturally sweet, tangy, juicy, and crunchy cut fruits, this rojak is just marvellous. No kidding.

After eating all the pieces of fresh fruit, I tipped the box and let the unfinished sauce slowly flow into my mouth. Rojak man earlier told me that students love his sauce so much that many would eat his sauce on its own. Well, I did too, as it was that good.



->> Give this Penang rojak a try - exquisite taste on the back of a moped. The cut fresh fruits are "dry" and that caramel sweet and crustacean savoury sauce is so addictive. Try it to believe it.

More rojak for you to try in Johor 👈 click

Restaurant name: No name mobile Penang rojak stall on motorbike

Address: Along Jalan Maju next to Pelangi shopping centre in Taman Maju Jaya (this mobile stall moves around in various locations and pasar malams)

Map: http://g.co/maps/r3865
GPS: 1.480613,103.765461 / 1°28'50.2"N 103°45'55.7"E
Hours: Mobile - only hours of the Pelangi location given here. Mon and Tues - 12:30pm to 3:45pm; Weds to Sun - 12:30pm to 5:00pm. Off on Thurs

No pork, no lard, No Halal Cert

Date visited: 22 Feb 2012

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