With Ramadan just around the corner, Singapore’s biggest pasar malam event is back again this year—yes, it is the highly anticipated Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar! Soak in the festive vibes and exciting atmosphere at the night market which will be running from 12 May to 14 June 2018 along Haig Road and the Malay Village.

This year’s Geylang Serai bazaar proves to be equally spectacular—featuring both classic, traditional Muslim cuisine to creative hipster food that is created to stand out on your social media feeds. The plethora of street food and Halal delights that are offered at hundreds of stalls in this massive bazaar is nothing short of impressive and it will probably take you more than one visit to see everything.

As usual, admission to the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar is free so there is really no reason why you shouldn’t be making plans with your family and friends to be a part of the buzzing Ramadan festivities these few weekends!

DRINKS

PASSIONFRUIT AND MANGO BUTTERFLY PEA SODA

Quench your thirst with the refreshing Passionfruit & Mango Butterfly Pea Soda (S$5). The carbonated drink is very much welcomed when you are dealing with the extreme heat and it doesn’t hurt that it is made for the gram too.

Where
Mr Q Snacks

PINEAPPLE JUICE

We cannot look at pineapple juice the same way anymore. Blending the real pineapple fruit in its pineapple husk and filled with plenty of adorable toppings as well as a ‘smoky’ effect from the liquid nitrogen, this is truly #NextLevel pineapple juice (S$9.90).

Where
Stall 229

FOOD

TWIST POTATO

A staple at bazaars, the twist potato (S$3) is a crowd favourite we could not resist ordering. Choose among flavours such as Nacho Cheese, Mayonnaise, BBQ Powder, Curry Powder and Seaweed Powder.

Where
Take A Bite, Stall 193

MINI VADAI

Expect to see traditional South Indian snacks such as the mini vadai, which is essentially savoury fried fritters. Some common ingredients include fish, crab and chicken. Stalls offering these deep-fried bites are common at Geylang Serai so you are spoilt for choice.

Where
Multiple stalls at Geylang Serai Bazaar

MEATBALLS IN A BUCKET

The Chicken Satay Meatballs In A Bucket (S$9) was one of our top picks out of the numerous food items we tried there. Apart from looking good, the satay sauce was extremely flavourful and you get a whole bucket of ingredients such as chicken meatballs, soft ketupat, sliced onions and cucumbers.

Where
Sofnade, Stall 244

SWISS ROSTI RACLETTE

Making a comeback this year is The Raclette Factory and what you can expect from them is mouthwatering rosti raclette (S$12) that is made up of thin sliced of fried potatoes coated with a generous serving of torched cheese. What’s more, you can also have the rainbow-coloured Lemonster Drink (S$8) to go along with your cheese dish!

Where
The Raclette Factory

DESSERTS

EDIBLE BALLOON

Who can resist trying out an edible balloon (S$8.90)?! These balloons are filled with helium and wrapped around a Pocky stick for consumption. The fun part comes when you inhale all the helium—which turns your voice into Chipmunk-like!

Where
Stall 229

FLAMING UNICORN

The Flaming Unicorn is a showstopper you should not miss at the night market; the dessert is just like a parfait with fruity pebbles and ice cream on top. But the best part comes when they torch the dessert to give it that extra oomph. Don’t even blink or it will be over before you know it!

Where
Stall 229

D24 DURIAN CHURROS

Love it or hate it, durian is a popular Southeast Asian fruit and what gets better than D24 Durian Churros? That’s right, nothing. At Loco Loco, you can have a cup of durian goodness for S$6.

Where
Loco Loco, Stall 183 along Haig Road

RIBBON FRIES

A creation that is remarkably similar to Royce’s Potatochip Chocolate, Alley aims to offer this delicious treat ($6) without a heavy price tag. Whole potatoes are peeled and sliced at the stall before it is drenched with sticky chocolate sauce.

Where
Alley, Stall 37

Ramadan Bazaar @ Geylang Serai 2018
12 May 2018 to 14 June 2018
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

Read: Artbox Singapore 2018 – What to expect and the must-visit stalls at this hipster market.

Uncle Ringo—Singapore’s favourite amusement and theme park—is happening at Punggol Bazaar from now until 25 June 2017.

With adulthood creeping up on most of us, fun is often something we take for granted. But let us not allow ourselves to fall into the endless cycle of monotonous routines and instead, unleash our inner child at Singapore’s favourite carnival—Uncle Ringo.

This time, Uncle Ringo is making its appearance at the Punggol Bazaar. Be prepared for heaps of good food, carnival games and rides that you can have a go at.

Happening from now until 25 June 2017, the Punggol Bazaar can be easily located as it sits just next to Exit D of Punggol MRT, right opposite Waterway Point.

Begin your evening by digging into the countless rows of food stalls. Most of the food items come in sizeable portions but to enjoy more varieties, it’s better to share them with friends. Here is what we had!

#1 Appam with assorted fillings and syrups

Being the Singaporeans that we are, we decided to start with the longest queue in the whole bazaar—Apam Balik Power. For the uninitiated, Appam is an Indian-style pancake that is made with fermented rice batter and coconut milk.

There were many toppings to choose from—sweet corn, Nutella, banana, peanut. Feel free to mix and match to your preference.

We had the pisang (banana) and Nutella option (S$4). Buttery, crispy, sweet and definitely something you might need an hour on the treadmill to burn off.

#2 Instagram-worthy puddings

‘Hipster Mix’ is a stand that sells colourful puddings in adorable containers. They even have a Minions one that is flavoured with sweet corn.

We got the paddle pop flavoured pudding (S$6) just because it was rather pretty to look at. Not really worth the price, but it sure livened up our Instagram feeds.

#3 Twister fries on steroids

Twist potatoes are available at most, if not all bazaars around but we just had to get it because it is that delicious. Crispy potato that comes in twirls, with your choice of seasoning—piping hot, crispy and utterly delicious.

We chose to get ours with cheese which cost us just S$3. Pretty worth it considering how filling it was.

#4 Quench your thirst with old-school beverages

All the walking and eating really worked up a thirst, but instead of the more hip drinks available, why not settle for the classic bazaar staples—such as iced blueberry, iced rose and iced honeydew just to cite a few. A sizeable cup like that only cost us S$1 each!

#5 Blueberry Tutu Kueh

Tutu kueh is also another generic food item that can be found at most bazaars, but what drew us to ‘Chub Tutu’ was the fact that he introduced blueberry as a filling instead of the usual coconut.

It really was an interesting combination. The tangy blueberry coupled with the chewy tutu kueh almost made it feel as though we were chewing on gummy candies. Not joking. Get yours at only S$3.

#6 Bao-werful Baos 

Combining the fresh elements of a taco and the savouriness of a kong bak pau, the Deng Deng Gula Pau (S$7 for 2) from ’T.I.T’ is definite must-try at the Punggol bazaar.

Deng Deng (the halal version of bakwa) is sandwiched between soft steamed buns and topped with fresh salsa, cilantro and a homemade garlic aioli. But stay away from the spicy version if you are not a fan of spice because the spicy bun includes bird’s eye chilli and it is insanely spicy.

#7 Winner winner chicken dinner

Nothing beats a good old fried chicken, but doing it with tandoori spices instead of the usual seasonings just elevates it tenfold.

We tried a mixture of chicken skewers (S$5 for 3) ranging from boneless chicken thighs, chicken backsides and chicken gizzards from ‘Mr. Tandoori Steak’. Do not be thrown off by the odd combination because the tandoori spices and the crispy exterior does incredibly well to mask the taste.

FUN FUN FUN AT UNCLE RINGO

Right after you fill up your hungry tummies, have fun at the many carnival attractions and rides at Uncle Ringo that sits right outside the Punggol Bazaar.

Starting at S$5, you can try your hand at a wide variety of exciting carnival games. Serious professionals may even stand to walk home with life-size plushies!

With a myriad of different carnival rides—think carousel, pirate ship, bumper car, trampoline bungee and more—both adults and young children can be sure to have an evening of great fun!

Much to our surprise, the Uncle Ringo was almost a full house. A culmination of families, couples and friends, both young and old, coming together to just let loose and have fun was just such a stunning spectacle to witness.

It made us feel a little warm inside seeing how happy those people were with simple pleasures.

The Punggol Bazaar and Uncle Ringo carnival runs from now up till 25 June 2017.

Punggol Bazaar x Uncle Ringo
Daily: 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Punggol (Exit D)

Foodies, are you ready? The annual Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2017 is finally here! This year, the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar will be held from 26 May 2017 to 24 June 2017 around the areas of Geylang Serai market, Joo Chiat Complex and along Haig Road with more than 1,000 stalls expected to be part of the event’s lineup.

From a variety of foods that includes traditional Hari Raya favourites to a crazy number of Instagrammable desserts, you will be in for a wild ride!

Admission to the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar is free and there are endless reasons why you should not pass up on the chance to thrive in the festivities at Singapore’s largest pasar malam. Curious to know what treasures you can find there? Read on to find out more!

DRINKS 

THAI ICED TEA

Who can say no to some Thai Iced Tea and Thai Green Milk Tea? For those who gave up any hope of grabbing some at Artbox Singapore previously because of the ridiculous snaking queues, you can purchase some from Bangkok Café and satisfy any remaining cravings for the delicious drink.

Where to find
Bangkok Café at Stall 66 and 67

UNICORN STARLITE DRINK 

A shoutout to unicorn lovers because you should totally get your hands on the Starlite (S$9.90) that comes in 6 different flavours: bubble gum, lavender, cherry blossom, matcha, oreo and pandan. Albeit a little pricey, the glamour of the drink from Rainbow Works was just so worth it.

LIGHT BITES 

CHICKEN SCOTCH EGGS WITH PEKING DUCK SAUCE 

How about some Chicken and Beef Scotch Eggs with Peking Duck Sauce (S$5)? Crunchy, wholesome and yummy; this totally redefined the classic British favourite.

Where to find
Stall 7 at the Malay Village along Engku Aman Road
Stall 11 at Haig Road/Onan Road in front of the Alwadi Coffee Shop

DEEP FRIED OREO WITH ICING

Did someone say deep-fried Oreos?! Each serving comes with 5 pieces and costs S$3 for a topping of icing sugar, S$3.50 for chocolate sauce, S$3.50 for condensed milk and S$3.50 for caramel sauce.

Where to find
Stall 34 at the Malay Village

SEAFOOD EXTRAVAGANZA

Have a taste of the ocean right here at the Ramadan Bazaar. The Seafood Platter (S$38) will be a dream come true for all seafood lovers but if not, you can fuel your seafood dreams with the Mini Crab (S$5 for medium; S$10 for large) or the Grilled Half Shell Oyster (S$3 for 1 piece; S$10 for 4 pieces).

Where to find
Oyster Gangster, Stall 143

THE RACLETTE SET

If you are obsessed with cheese, this will be love at first sight for you. Halal-certified molten Raclette cheese exclusively imported from France is freshly scraped and layered over pan-fried baby Dutch yellow potatoes and gourmet chicken cocktail sausages. The Raclette Factory’s Raclette dish (S$12) is worth the indulgence.

However, do take note that you will have to wait at least 10 to 15 minutes for your food.

Where to find
Stall 78 beside the Muslims Converts’ Association of Singapore

RAINBOW TAMAGOYAKI

Have a taste of the Rainbow Tamagoyaki (S$6), a genius creation by WaTamago and top it off with their special Mentaiko Mayo sauce and Bonito Flakes. Oishii!

Where to find
Stall 61

DESSERTS 

DRAGON’S BREATH

Another dessert that you may have chanced upon but did not get a taste of at Artbox Singapore is the Dragon’s Breath. But not to worry, for Coyoro is back at the Ramadan Bazaar and their Didi Ball (S$6.50) is available too!

Where to find
Coyoro at Stall 15

RAINBOW PLANET ICE CREAM PUFF

We all have a penchant for pretty desserts and the Rainbow Planet Ice Cream Puff (S$8) is no exception. Grab one for yourself from Fairy Puff during the Ramadan Bazaar!

Where to find
Fairy Puff at Stall 33

THAI MILK TEA SOFT SERVE 

Thai Milk Tea Soft Serve (S$4) is a classic dessert that we will always be delighted to have. Rich, creamy and refreshing; this is what we came for.

Where to find
Stall 7 at the Malay Village along Engku Aman Road
Stall 11 at Haig Road/Onan Road in front of Alwadi Coffee Shop

WATERMELON VOLCANO 

After all the milky desserts, it would be good to cleanse the palette with an icy cold Watermelon Volcano (S$6.90 for small; S$12.90 for a large). As this dessert is good for sharing, take a moment to cool off from Singapore’s humidity and revitalise your senses with the Watermelon Volcano.

Where to find
Happy Rollies at Stalls 130, 131 and 132 at 12 Haig Road.

SOME TIPS TO CONQUER THE GEYLANG SERAI RAMANDAN BAZAAR 

Whether this is your first time to the Ramadan Bazaar or not, here are some tips to bear in mind should you intend to make your way down to join in the festivities.

Firstly, make sure that you have enough cash on hand. It would be such a letdown if you find yourself lacking spare change, especially once you have set your heart on that particular treat and it is finally your turn in the line.

As always, be prepared for the extreme weather. We Singaporeans often say that Singapore has two seasons—hot, hotter, hottest; wet, wetter, wettest. Thus, be mindful of Singapore’s adverse weather and dress according to the weather. If it is going to be a wet day, prep your brollies and ponchos.

For those who are driving, it would be wise to park at the nearby malls (i.e. OneKM Mall) instead and then walk over to the Ramadan Bazaar. You definitely do not want to be caught up in the crazy parking queue like there was at Artbox Singapore! Otherwise, the nearest MRT station to the Ramadan Bazaar is Paya Lebar Station.

Lastly, just have fun! The Ramadan Bazaar would make a great outing with the family, friends or your partner as food and shopping options are endless; it is time makan to your heart’s content.

Ramadan Bazaar @ Geylang Serai 2017
26 May 2017 to 24 June 2017
Geylang Serai Market, Joo Chiat Complex and along Haig Road

Our quest to find even more awesome grub this Ramadan has brought us to Tampines. The bazaar here is a lot smaller than the booths at Geylang Serai, but it still many food and drinks to offer and tempt.

Some of the booths are the exact same ones at Geylang Serai, so those who live around the area need not travel all the way down to Haig Road to satisfy their cravings. A good thing to note is to visit about half an hour before or after the period of breaking fast as many of these stalls go for breaks.

We scoured the entire Tampines Ramadan Bazaar to find our favourite treats. From Gula Melaka Donut Balls to Taro Jelly Bagged Drinks and Chendol Soft Serve, here are our top picks from Tampines Ramadan Bazaar 2016.

CAKE DONUT BALLS

The Softnade booth offers a variety of different grub but the Cake Donut Balls stood out the most for us. They come in four flavours – Ferrero Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Strawberry with Cheesecake Crumbs and of course, Gula Melaka with Coconut (S$4 per cup).

Naturally, we went for the gula melaka one and we were sure impressed. The donut balls were crunchy on the inside and fluffy on the inside – the sweet gula melaka only made it better.

CHENDOL SOFT-SERVE

Softnade also overs a Chendol Soft-Serve (S$3.50). Interesting flavour for ice cream. However, our only small gripe was the fact that the soft-serve melted almost immediately, leaving us with only a short time to actually enjoy it. Nevertheless, it was a good call. It was not overly sweet and the texture was perfect.

XXL COFFEE DRINKS

We only saw huge drinks like that in Bangkok. Well, the ones at the Tampines Bazaar is probably three times more expensive at S$5 a cup. But all’s well when you need some sweet drinks to combat the heat while walking through the bazaar, yes?

You can pick from coffee options such as latte or mocha, and sweeter options such as Strawberry and more.

COLOURFUL BAGGED DRINKS

There were two separate stalls that served colourful bagged drinks but we went for this adorable one instead. They had a variety of colourful flavours but our eyes went straight for this Barney-coloured Taro (yam) drink.

We topped it off with some jelly and a scoop of ice cream for S$6 in total. The price is pretty reasonable for that huge serving. Again, the drink was a bit too sweet for our liking but the ones with a sweet tooth will love it.

BEEF SATAY BURGER

Our eyes went straight for this satay burger. You can pick from different meats such as beef, chicken or even deer meat. We went for the beef (S$6) and the burger failed to impress. Our tip – stick to Ramly Burger.

About the writer:
Cheryl is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She loves a good steak and an even better cuppa. She eats just about anything and everything. In her free time, she regularly starts on sci-fi or fantasy movie marathons.