Taman Tun Dr Ismail Ramadan Bazaar
When it comes to Ramadan bazaars in Kuala Lumpur, the one at Taman Tun Dr Ismail might be the first spot that springs to mind. The bazaar is popularly known for having a long list of stalls, some known for their outlandish food creations and others for their eye-bulging prices.
To help you explore one of KL’s most popular bazaars on a budget, we visited TTDI Ramadan bazaar to see how much we could get with just a RM50 bill.
What can you get with RM50 at TTDI bazaar?
It’ll be difficult to resist the tantalising aromas that waft from the stretch of stalls. Whether it’s the fragrant smoke of grilled meats, the spiced aromas of curries, or the brightly coloured ice-cold drinks, it’ll be hard not to splurge on anything and everything, especially when you’re fasting.
But here are our picks to inspire you on your own trip:
Fresh pomegranate juice from Reena Juice
Fruit juices are definitely a go-to drink for those breaking their fast and anyone who needs a refresher in Malaysia’s scorching heat. It’s sweet and refreshing, even more so when it’s freshly squeezed and ice cold.
Although the pomegranate juice was priced at RM13 a bottle, it was well worth the money as the bottles had no fillers, just 100% freshly-squeezed pure pomegranate juice. It’s a great choice from your typical air balang, especially if you’re looking for something healthier, just as refreshing, and without any added sugar.
Maggi martabak from Sue Martabak
One of the many dishes synonymous with Ramadan bazaars in Malaysia is martabak. This folded, square-shaped pancake is typically stuffed with meats and vegetables, but at this stall we found at TTDI bazaar, it was packed with instant noodles.
For RM8, each pan-fried martabak was well worth its price, as it was huge, about the size of a palm. It could easily feed two people. The murtabak was spiced primarily from a curry seasoning sachet found in Maggi instant noodles, and filled with generous helpings of minced chicken, onions, and the instant noodles.
If you had to get just one item from the bazaar, it would be this. These neatly folded square parcels are flavour bombs that’ll satiate your hunger pangs from just their taste.
Dim sum from Secita Rasa
Something that caught our eye was the array of colourful dim sum from Secita Rasa. The stall sells an assortment of siu mai made with different proteins such as chicken, crab, and squid.
We ordered a set of eight different siu mai, which came with a packet of sweet chilli sauce and kicap manis. This set us back RM11. The siu mai themselves were savoury, and the sauces helped amp up their umami. Overall, it was a decent set of dim sum.
The stall also has a variety of unique pau that look like actual vegetables and fruits, each with its own unique fillings, including corn, barbecue chicken, curry chicken, kaya, and mushroom carbonara.
Nasi lemak from Nasi Lemak Sudu 9
Nasi lemak is Malaysia’s national dish for a reason – it’s fragrant, savoury, and incredibly filling.
At Nasi Lemak Sudu 9, you could smell the nasi lemak from a few stalls away – the perfume of pandan, mixed with the savoury aroma of sambal and various fried goods, was impossible to miss. Safe to say, it was enough to entice us.
Considering the other hefty dishes that we previously purchased, we ordered a simple pack of nasi lemak with the usual accompaniments of sambal, ikan bilis, cucumber, and a fried egg for RM4.
While the portion for the nasi lemak wasn’t huge, it was certainly enough for a solo diner. The rice had a strong pandan-coconut aroma that wasn’t too overpowering. But the sambal was the true star component of the dish – spicy, and not sweet like your usual KL sambal, with fragrant hints of ikan bilis.
Churros from Street Churros
While churros originated from Spain, the stick-shaped fried pastry is widely popular all around the world, including in Malaysia. There’s even a stall that sells freshly fried churros at TTDI.
We bought a small pack of churros, which had eight sticks for RM7. It came with a dip of your choice, which includes options like pistachio, chocolate, strawberry, and caramel.
When eaten fresh, the churros had a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior. And while the churros weren’t dusted with sugar or cinnamon, the dip was sufficiently sweet, which allowed us to enjoy it without feeling cavities form in our teeth immediately after one bite.
Baby crabs
Displayed on metal trays are aromatic baby crabs for RM7 per box. They are prepared with four different seasonings: original, spicy, garlic, and tempura butter.
The seafood lover in us had to get a box, specifically, the spicy variant. The box was filled to the brim with baby crabs, and while they were seasoned to the bone, it was definitely more salty than your usual snack. You might need a liquid of choice to sip on after downing these crabs.
What to get at TTDI Ramadan Bazaar in KL
There’s a reason why TTDI’s Ramadan Bazaar is famous, as their selection of food is diverse not only in price range but also in their cuisine offerings.
You’ll notice food from all over Malaysia across the bazaar – laksa from Sarawak, sata goreng from Terengganu, laksa utara from Kedah and Perlis, and otak-otak from Johor. Alongside these are international delights, such as mac and cheese, lasagna, churros, barbecued beef ribs, and steak sandwiches.
For the price range, you can expect snacks to start from RM5, while mains start from RM4 and go all the way up to RM35. While we used up the entirety of our RM50 budget, you could certainly spend less while satisfying your bazaar cravings.
Address: Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 2, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 4.30pm-7pm, Daily
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia
Photography by Brooklyn.