SingaporeMotherhood | Family Fun
May 2018
Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2018: 17 Goodies that are Fun, Fancy & Absolutely Lit!
With the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2018 off and running over the weekend, we trooped down to get you an early scoop of what’s sizzling!
Last year’s Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar was not without its controversies, with many lamenting that the sanctity of the season had been lost amid gloriously Instagrammable hipster snacks, questionable Halal certification and skyrocketing rental costs. Still, it didn’t seem to damper the spirits of visitors who thronged the Malay enclave in search of novelty street foods and traditional Raya goodies alike.
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When the SingaporeMotherhood Team visited on Saturday, it was clear that there was much anticipation in the air. While not all the stalls were up and running, we have no doubt that by the official start of Ramadan on Tuesday, 15 May, the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2018 will be just as busy and colourful as the brilliant street lights overhead. Here are the yummiest highlights to look out for:
1. Mentaiko Beef Cubes
Owned by local actor and celebrity daddy Danial Ash, Beef Bro delivers Singapore’s first mentaiko blow torch grilled beef. Made with premium rump steak cubes, it starts at $12 for a basic serving. Up the yum factor with a topping of cheese, mentaiko – our pick!, seaweed, Japanese rice and pink salt. Oh, and if you’re lucky, your dish could even be sizzled and served up by the equally dishy Danial himself!
Stall Beef Bro (Stall GS 70)
How much $16.00
2. Watermelon Juice
Need a refreshing – and IG-worthy – drink? Get a juice that’s blended and delivered in its own shell, topped with liquid nitrogen for the perfect smoky effect. The watermelon was cool and sweet, although it takes some doing to slurp it up through the adorable twisty straws! The drink is also available in pineapple and orange.
Stall Rainbow Works (Stall GS 42, GS 229 & TK 21)
How much $7.90
3. Voice-changing Edible Strawberry Balloon
This is a must for IG story-tellers and parents who love to make your little ones giggle! Suck on one of these bright pink balloons and as it deflates, say the first thing that comes to mind. Yes, it’s perfectly edible, and we promise plenty of hilarity with this innovative and sugary treat. Served on a Pocky stick, there’s also a blueberry version for a Smurf-like effect.
Stall Rainbow Works (Stall GS 42, GS 229 & TK 21)
How much $8.90
4. Flaming Unicorn
Yet another colourful creation from Rainbow Works is the Flaming Unicorn. The purple vanilla ice cream sitting atop a cup of Fruity Pebbles is a must-try for My Little Pony fans. The pretty parfait is topped with marshmallow, fondant and a pink balloon (non-edible this time). Just when you think it couldn’t get any more magical, it’s lit up with a flaming swoosh!
Stall Rainbow Works (Stall GS 42, GS 229 & TK 21)
How much $9.90
(See also: Ramadan 2018: Iftar Buffets & Hari Raya Bazaars Not to be Missed)
5. Aligot with Chicken Meatballs
In town to battle it out with Swiss Raclette is French Aligot – a blend of mashed potato in melted cheese. Watch in awe as they stir and stretch out the gooey cheese that put the average pizza cheese to shame. When it reaches the perfect consistency, it’s served to you with a choice of chewy chicken or beef meatballs. It’s surely a dream come true for any fan of cheese and carbs.
Stall Rainbow Works (Stall GS 42, GS 229 & TK 21)
How much $8.90
6. Extra Long Fries
We had to try one last thing at this prolific stall. And they weren’t kidding when they named it Extra Long Fries! Prepare to hold each one way above your head as you wolf it down. We discovered the secret: it’s actually made out of mashed potato that’s reshaped into giant fries. A choice of homemade dressing, such as sour cream and onion or wasabi mayo, is drizzled over the crispy fries.
Stall Rainbow Works (Stall GS 42, GS 229 & TK 21)
How much $7.90
7. Gangster Beef Ribs Cup
The Word. is out: There’s something new making it to your Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2018 bucket list. Here to rival Word.’s signature bucket drinks is their Gangster Ribs Cup. True to form, the ribs, either lamb or beef, are huge and meaty. The juices from the flavourful ribs soak into the crispy fries beneath, so be prepared for some finger-licking goodness!
Stall Word. (Stall GS 39)
How much $12.00 for a serving, $25 for half a slab, $40 for a full slab
8. Bucket Gangster Mat Salleh
Of course, it would be wrong not to follow the Gangster Ribs with a Bucket Gangster, so we did just that. Out of the seven vivid flavours on offer, we picked Mat Salleh butterscotch float. It’s a bucket of ice cubes topped with vanilla ice cream and an overturned bottle of non-alcoholic Butterscotch Beer. Other equally wittily named options include Ah Beng (mango), Ah Lian (green apple) and Mat Rep (assam boi).
Stall Word. (Stall GS 39)
How much $10.00
(See also: 17 NEW Must-Try Delectable Street Foods at The Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2017)
9. Chocolate-coated Ribbon Fries
Another one of my personal favourites are the freshly corkscrew sliced and fried-on-the-spot Ribbon fries. While it can also be topped with sea salt and black pepper or spicy chipotle, it’s the chocolate-coated one that calls to me. The quality chocolate is dark and rich enough to be the perfect foil for the savoury potato ribbons. It’s a match made in Geylang Serai heaven!
Stall Alley (Stalls GS 37, GS 190 & TK 23)
How much $6.00
10. Chicken Satay Meatballs in a Bucket
Step aside, Ikea, here comes Sofnade’s Meatballs in a Bucket. Popular with our entire team, the bucket is filled with chicken meatballs, ketupat, onions and cucumber, all drenched in a delicious satay gravy. The large serving makes for a hearty meal for one or a great sharing portion. Not into spicy? Then go for beef meatballs with mash or twister fries, topped with brown gravy and cranberry or cheese sauce!
Stall Chef Syed x Meatballs in a Bucket by Sofnade (Stall GS 244 & TK 04)
How much $9.00
11. Fresh Watermelon Lemonade
Time for another thirst-quenching drink in a bucket. This time a combination of lemonade, watermelon juice and mango popping boba, ideal to combat the sweltering weather. Other popular bucket drink choices are Circus Fiesta (grapefruit, Kickapoo and mint), Blue Pirate (blueberry, mint and lemonade), Blue Pea Lychee Tea and the classic Bubble Milk Tea. Toppings are free!
Stall Chef Syed x Meatballs in a Bucket by Sofnade (Stall GS 244)
How much $6.00 for one bucket, $10.00 for two buckets
12. Thai Banana Egg Prata
Do you love a good egg prata but also miss Thailand’s ubiquitous banana pancake street stalls? Now you can get both fixes in one! The classic egg prata is filled with banana, flipped and pan-fried. Afterwards it’s cut into squares for easy picking and drizzled over with chocolate sauce. Fusion street food at its finest!
Stall Chef Syed x Meatballs in a Bucket by Sofnade (Stall GS 244 & TK 04)
How much $5.00
(See also: 12 Must-Try Non-Hipster Street Foods at the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar)
13. Chocolade Fountain Banana Cheese
No one can resist a chocolate fountain and at Markozar, they’ve got not one but three! The Fountain Banana Cheese (below; top left) starts with a dish of golden banana fritters. Next, melted milk chocolate scooped from the fountains is poured over the fritters. Finally, cheese is grated right over the gooey decadence. You can also choose Stroopberry (berry chocolate), White Chocolade (white chocolate) and Ferrero (Nutella).
Stall Markozar (Stall GS 202)
How much $6.00
14. Martabak Manis
Goodies from Markozar (clockwise from top left): Fountain Banana Cheese, Martabak Manis, Keria Viral
Naturally, you can’t visit Markozar without having a taste of the original Martabak Manis (above; top right). Imagine an ultra-light and fluffy ‘min chiang kueh’ topped with grated cheese and condensed milk. It’s really quite addictive and great for sharing. Extra toppings include chocolate rice, crushed peanuts and the ever-popular Nutella.
Stall Markozar (Stall GS 202)
How much $6.50
15. Keria Viral
Keria Viral (above; bottom left), a doughnut cake made of sweet potato, makes its return to the Ramadan bazaar again this year. Coated with gula melaka syrup, this nondescript snack may not be the most Instagrammable item here, but it’s definitely become a modern Malay classic and a must-have during this festive season.
Stall Markozar (Stall GS 202)
How much $5.50 for four pieces, $8.00 for six pieces
16. Swiss Rosti Raclette
The Swiss Rosti Raclette Combo Set
With the entrance of Aligot cheese to the street food battle this year, The Raclette Factory isn’t resting on their laurels. In fact, they’ve upped their game by introducing Swiss Rosti to the torched melted cheese dish. Their version is sliced more thinly than how Marché does it, giving it a softer ‘mouthfeel’. With a dollop of sour cream on the side, it works well with the chicken sausages and raclette cheese.
Stall The Raclette Factory (Stall GS 221)
How much $12.00
17. Lemonster Drink
Beware the Lemonster! Thankfully, it’s simply a tummy-chilling drink topped with shaved ice and marshmallow. You can choose one of the four rainbow-coloured flavours: Apple Sparkle, Peach Perfect, Passionfruit Royale and Grapefruit Surprise. Have it with the Swiss Rosti Raclette Combo Set at $19 or order the Fantastic 4 ($30 for any four Lemonster drinks).
Stall The Raclette Factory (Stall GS 221)
How much $8.00
Good-to-Know
The Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2018 runs till 14 June. Do note that while the bazaar is technically open from 10am each morning, most food stalls don’t open for business till around 3pm or later, with peak hour starting at around 7pm. Apart from food, it’s also a fun experience for the whole family, with all manner of unique decorations and traditional Muslim costumes on offer. There are even amusement park rides and bouncy castles for the kids!
The SingaporeMotherhood Team wishes all our Muslim readers a blessed Ramadan!
The letters in the stall numbers above stand for:
GS: Geylang Serai − stalls lining both sides of Geylang Road
TK: Tanjong Katong − stalls outside Tanjong Katong Complex
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