The Kampong Gelam Ramadan Bazaar is back in full swing after 3 years! Also known as the Raikan Cahaya Ramadan 2023, the bazaar will run from now till 16 April 2023. With more than 100 food and retail stores along Baghdad Street, Kandahar Street and outside the Sultan Gate, the bazaar spans the majority of the Kampong Glam area. Seating areas include a mezzanine stand with fairy lights, as well as ground floor seats located both outdoors and indoors (with air-con).
Without further ado, let’s introduce you to what we think are the must-trys here!
1. Quesa Birria Tacos
It’s been two days since we’ve visited and I still can’t stop thinking about the Quesa Birria Tacos from Barista’s Palace (3 for $15). The pulled beef was juicy and flavourful without being overly salty, and the taco shells were grilled to a smokey perfection. The tacos were completed with a generous sprinkle of mozzarella cheese, which added a nutty flavour and made for a great cheese pull.
Each set of 3 tacos also comes with a slice of lime and an addictive gravy which made each mouthful burst with flavour. We just couldn’t stop taking bite after bite!
2. Durian Goreng
We didn’t have very high expectations for the Durian Goreng (5 for $10) from Bo-Geh, since we had already tried their Goreng Pisang (which didn’t wow us all that much). However, one bite in and we were sold. Unlike their Goreng Pisang, the Durian Goreng was super crispy on the outside and the explosive durian filling was sweet, creamy and not too bitter. The contrast of textures between the deep fried batter and gooey filling also made sure this dish never got boring!
3. Smoked Beef Brisket with Mac and Cheese
The Smoked Beef Brisket with Mac and Cheese ($10) from bigpawpawsbbq is also a fan-favourite. Apart from getting the luxury of watching the chef prepare each brisket slice live, their queue system is also highly efficient and clear-cut. The Mac and Cheese was alright, nothing too mind-blowing. However, the beef brisket slices were juicy and perfectly charred. The BBQ sauce drizzled atop it further elevated the smokiness of each cut, and we were pleasantly surprised by this dish. We also tried their shoestring fries, but would recommend spending your $5 elsewhere.
4. Chicken Mandi
Finally, we’ve come to our #1 fav of the night – Chicken Mandi ($15) from House of Mandi. The stall is tucked towards a corner at the end of the street, so the area was relatively empty and we weren’t sure if this would be worth our money. However, one scoop into the fluffy and fragrant rice and we couldn’t stop attacking this dish. The chicken thigh was also very succulent and grilled in a mouth-watering, herby gravy. Each set comes with 2 large cuts of chicken and a sweet, tangy and savoury chilli sauce, so we felt that the price-point was completely justified.
5. Gaosyp One-litre Drinks
If you’re looking for a refreshment, Gaosyp provides in-house crafted drinks by the litre. We tried the Berry Limeade ($6) and Teh Ais Pandan (6.50), but would recommend skipping the latter because it tasted too sweet and artificial, with almost no trace of pandan flavour at all.
5. Tropical Coconut Ice Cream
Finally, to end off our visit on a sweet note, we ordered the Tropical Coconut Ice Cream ($10) from IIceage. It was definitely a nice, icy dessert with a strong coconut flavour, but we would think twice about spending $10 on this if we come back again.
Apart from food stalls, you can also be sure to find retail shops scattered here and there selling traditional clothing, snacks and accessories. There was even a stall selling halal pet food! Overall, we would highly recommend making a visit at least once, just because the food is oh-so-tasty.
