Here are 5 stalls to check out at the Geylang Serai Ramadan bazaar

Among the many bazaars that pop up across Singapore during the festive season, the Geylang Serai bazaar (or Bazaar Raya Geylang Serai, as it is officially known as) is one that always to look out for — thanks to its sheer scale, bustling crowds, and huge variety of stalls every year.

Running from February 26 to March 30, from 10am until midnight daily (and until 4am on March 31), the bazaar boasts 150 F&B stalls, alongside over 500 retail and festive shopping booths.

To ease congestion and to make for easier navigation, the F&B section is divided into four zones — a move that seems to be working well this year, as we saw when we made our way down.

Yes, you read that right. We braved the crowds and here are five of our picks out of the stalls we tried from this year’s Geylang Serai bazaar.

1. Thai Dessert House (Stall 67)

Run by a friendly Thai lady, Thai Dessert House keeps it simple with just two crispy fried offerings: Banana (Seven pieces for S$6) and sweet potato (seven pieces for S$6).

The snack may resemble goreng pisang, or fried banana fritters, but the batter is notably different — more similar to fried Chinese sesame balls, which are denser and less airy. 

The fried banana snack is cooked to perfection, delivering a satisfying crunch with every bite. It also maintains a nice chewiness that allows the natural sweetness of the banana to shine through.

2. Roti Awan (Stall 145)

This stall, which hails from Penang, and its titular offering, Roti awan (or “cloud bread”) have taken social media by storm, thanks to its colourful aesthetic and rich fillings.

Long queues are a given. We waited nearly an hour for these three classic flavours (S$5 each): Lotus biscoff, peanut butter, and kaya kelapa (coconut). Those looking to indulge can also get its premium flavours (S$6 each), such as the creamy durian cheese which comes with grated cheese on top. 

You can also add other toppings such as Oreo crumbs, Biscoff crumbs, and chocolate rice, to your bread for free.

Our thoughts? The bread was freshly steamed and pillowy soft, which made it comforting.

But, there was nothing particularly groundbreaking about the roti awan’s taste, which really just tasted like bread. We think it’s clear its appeal seems to lie in its aesthetic charm more than in its taste, so manage your expectations if you do decide to join the queue.

3. First King Juicy DengDeng (Stall 63)

A short queue isn’t always an indicator of poor-tasting food, and this stall with no lines, but great tasting fare, proves just that. Selling grilled deng deng — which is essentially meat jerky — this store offers three meat choices: Spicy beef, original beef and honey chicken (from S$14 for 200g).

We tried the original beef and honey chicken. The beef stood out with its bold, savoury flavour and gratifying chew, enhanced by just the right amount of smokiness to deepen its richness. Meanwhile, the honey chicken had a pleasant sweetness with an equal touch of savouriness.

4. De’tako (Stall 96)

Managed by a friendly and cool owner, De’tako by Degenerous stands out visually with its comic-style branding. You’re sure to spot this creative look amidst the sea of stalls in the crowded bazaar.

The brand, which moves around bazaars and pop-ups, is best known for its Japanese takoyaki and sushi bakes, but its bazaar stall focuses on the latter, offering six different sushi bakes to choose from.

We went straight for the Kani mentaiko (S$15), a creamy crab stick and mentaiko sushi bake that comes with a pack of seaweed sheets to have your rice with.

Sushi bakes can sometimes be overly salty from the mentaiko and seaweed combination, but De’tako gets the balance just right.

Its mentaiko sauce adds a rich, umami taste to every bite without being too cloying, while the sticky, well-seasoned rice ties it all together with its generous heaping of crab meat. Every bite of this was a satisfying indulgence, and one we didn’t mind sacrificing our calories for. 

5. Lii-mau by Japrique (Stall 64)

Thirsty from all the sweet and savoury snacks? Lii-mau by Japrique is a sub-brand which specialises in a lemonade series, while the main Japrique brand is better known for serving up a variety of drinks, including coffee, mojitos, and a matcha-based series.

We went for the classic lemonade (S$5), though other flavours such as mango, kiwi and peach (S$6.50) are also available. There is also an option to add fizz at a S$1 top up. Each drink comes in a generous one-litre cup, which we think is good enough to share, unless you are really thirsty. 

Refreshing and tangy, the lemonade is not overly sweet or made with syrupy. Rather, it consists of freshly squeezed lemon juice and real lemon slices — a true and gratifying thirst-quencher.

For the latest news on what to eat, check our our round-up of this year’s Kampong Gelam Ramadan bazaar or our compilation of new openings around town. 

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You can also book a ride to the Geylang Serai Ramadan bazaar.