Families and friends gathering to break their fast at the Pandan Indah open field during Ramadan. — Photos: GLENN GUAN/The Star
THE Pandan Indah Ramadan bazaar in Ampang Jaya, Selangor, might not have been their usual go-to spot but Amiera Ismail and her friends were tempted to visit after she saw it mentioned online.
The 21-year-old college student, who made the trip with three friends, said she saw several of the stalls highlighted on TikTok and was tempted to try them out.
“We travelled from Taman Shamelin Perkasa and this is our second visit here.
Edywest BBQ Chicken has garnered a loyal customer base after being at the bazaar for 10 years.
“It has been fun trying something new,” she told StarMetro.Bandar Baru Ampang resident Ermieyati Mohd Nordin, 38, said she would frequent the bazaar every year to visit the Nasi Lemak Ibu Siti stall.
“Their quality has remained consistent and the price is also affordable,” she said.
“There are a few other stalls here selling dishes that are my family’s must-haves to break fast with.”
She added that her family would sometimes break fast at the adjacent field which had a nice atmosphere.
Sup Gearbox Utara owner Nor Aslinda says she prepares up to 12kg of meat daily.
The Pandan Indah Ramadan bazaar is not the biggest in Ampang Jaya, but still draws its fair share of customers thanks to its unique offerings.
Stalls selling murtabak and roti john remain crowd-pullers, but visitors were also drawn to Edywest BBQ Chicken that sells various barbecued meats.
Proprietor Mohd Fariz Mohd Faizal, 33, said they had been selling at the bazaar for the past 10 years and had garnered a loyal customer base.
“We use a specially imported Thai chilli sauce in the marinade, giving it a spicy and sweet taste.
“It can be eaten on its own, although our customers prefer to have it with chicken rice,” he said, adding that he also sells crab sticks and sausages.
The Pandan Indah Ramadan bazaar draws a diverse crowd wanting to try out the variety of offerings.
The enticing aroma of smoked chicken and friendly stall attendants ensured a continuous line of customers at the stall.
Another unusual offering is a stall selling tom yam soup noodles where each order is made on the spot.
“Customers can request for meat or seafood, as well as the type of noodles they prefer.
“It is cooked fresh so the soup is piping hot and the noodles don’t get soggy,” said the stall’s owner Siti Nor Aisyah.
Customers lining up for nasi lemak at the bazaar in Jalan Pandan Utama.
Meanwhile, the large pots of bubbling soup are sure to make many visitors stop at Nor Aslinda Muhammad’s stall.
The 40-year-old sells her special sup gearbox with the option of adding noodle soup.
“This is my first time selling soup here. In previous years, I sold fruit juice.
“It has been a hit so far and hopefully the good response will continue,” said Nor Aslinda.
As the time to break fast approached, many of the bazaar visitors were spotted heading to the nearby field to pick a spot.
During Ramadan, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) has invited the public to break fast at the field.
Dates, mats and praying areas are also provided, making it conducive.
Pandan Indah resident Adi Norman, 45, said he and his family would typically break fast at the spot two to four times during the Ramadan month.
“It is nice to be around other families and without the usual distractions at home.
“We definitely missed the experience over the past few years when there were no bazaars,” the father-of-three said.
