During the Muslim Holy Month, I always look forward to visiting Ramadan Bazaars. Bazar Ramadan is the best opportunity to enjoy many types of traditional Malay and Halal dishes at the same place. It's a feast for all our senses - the colours, smells, sounds of food prepared, flavours of the delicious food and feeling the spirit of the community.
Buddies Ben and Catherine suggested that I visit the Bazar Ramadan in Taman Suria as there are many traditional food stalls here.
My buddies are right indeed. There are about 200 stalls here offering many interesting dishes. Follow me as I walk around the bazaar.
Ayam golek, chicken marinated in traditional spices and roasted on a rotating spit over charcoal fire. As oil dripped from the golden brown roasting chicken, the charcoal below hissed, sending up white clouds of aromatic fumes that perfumed the air.
Who can resist the taste of fresh charcoal grilled chicken, right?
This is the warm response I often get when I asked for permission to take photos 😄
Ikan bakar, fish laid on banana leaf and slathered with a blend of chili and spice, and grilled over a flat cast iron griddle.
The most popular fish for ikan bakar is ikan pari or stingray. I could hardly see that stingray covered by a smothering blanket of chili, onion, garlic and other spices.
The second popular ikan bakar fish is meaty sea bass.
The kambing golek, lamb grilled over charcoal. Only bone was left at 5:30pm. The stall holder told me that I need to come here at 4:00pm to photograph the lamb 😂
The stall holder offered me a piece of lamb, urging me to try. I stepped away out of sight to taste it as it was not break fast time yet. Ou... the tender and juicy piece of lamb was naturally sweet with subtle lamb gaminess. I love it 😋 If you like lamb, and is at Bazar Ramadan in Taman Suria, do check out this stall.
The bazaar is crowded and waiting time for the more popular stalls can be long. Many people come with long shopping lists 😄
Chicken rendang, chicken cooked in coconut milk and hot aromatic spices.
Roti jala or "net bread". Flour and egg batter with cumin drizzled from a special cup with nozzles at the bottom onto a flat griddle. The "net bread" is eaten with curry and meat.
Kueh Tiau Kerang or fried flat rice noodles with cockles.
Fried lekor or fish cake.
Sup kambing or mutton in spicy soup.
The friendly stall holders are very busy but they always remember to have fun.
Roti John, a long soft loaf sandwiching an omelette with minced meat and chopped onion.
Putu bambu, rice cake with palm sugar steamed in bamboo.
Ondeh Ondeh, steamed rice balls coloured with pandan juice, filled with palm sugar and coated with grated coconut.
Freshly pressed fruit juice.
Chendol, a cold sweet dessert of rice flour "worms" coloured and flavoured with pandan juice. Layered with sweet red beans and palm sugar. Eaten with sweet and creamy coconut milk. Home made with real pandan juice (not food colouring and chemical essence). Yummy.
There are a few nasi lemak stalls - this is the most popular one. I also got my dinner from here. It was good! The coconut flavoured rice is flavoursome and aromatic. The chicken is well marinated with mild spices. The fried chicken was crisp outside while inside it was tender, juicy and naturally sweet. The sambal chili was mildly spicy and not overly sweet.
Ayam goreng berempah, fried chicken marinated in spices.
Murtabak, fried flat bread with eggs, minced chicken, beef or lamb folded inside.
Lontong kering or dry lontong - steamed rice cakes eaten with sides of spicy meat, fried grated coconut, vegetable and slathered with peanuty spicy sauce.
👉 If you like a crash course on Malaysia's rich Malay street food culture, there is not better place than at the annual Ramadan bazaars. There is still a week before the end of the Muslim Holy Month this year. Go to a Bazar Ramadan - you will enjoy a feast that is a treat for all your five senses. It's a giant cook out 😄😋👍
Another interesting Bazar Ramadan at S'Mart Pandan 👈 click
Bazar Ramadan Taman Suria
Address: Jalan Suria 18, Taman Suria, Johor Bahru
GPS: 1°30'17.0"N 103°45'40.7"E | 1.504731, 103.761304
Time: Be there around 4pm for first pick. Many stalls sold out by 6:30pm
All food sold are Halal
Date visited: 19 Jun 2017
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This bazar is the 2nd closest to my house but my favourite to visit. Reason being that it has a wide variety of food on offer, as clearly indicated in your lovely photos above.
ReplyDeleteawwwww we were next to the keropok lekor stall.selling cheese steak..wish you took a photo of us.haha..rumors said this year wil be the last bazaar there..we still hope the rumors are not true. please visit us on Instagram and Facebook sir. goes by the name woodfirejb =) have a good day
ReplyDeleteah.... It was raining that day and was getting too dark. OK will visit you :-D Hope the rumours are not true and hope the same group of stalls stay together. Wish you and family Selamat Hari Raya!
DeleteIkan bakar - mana bole dapat ?
ReplyDelete