Kampong Gelam Ramadan bazaar 2024: 5 must-visit F&B stalls for truffle-loaded beef fries, hearty Korean toasts and more

This March is all set to be an exciting month — we welcome the return of the highly anticipated Kampong Gelam Ramadan bazaar! The event — named Gemilang (which translates to “glorious” in Malay) Kampong Gelam — will run throughout the festive month until Apr 5. 

The 2024 edition is bigger and better than ever, boasting over 107 F&B and retail vendors such as Muslim-friendly Korean restaurant Meokja and popular cafe Rumi The Poet’s Cup, among others. The F&B stalls line the bustling Kandahar, Baghdad and Muscat streets, all of which tout a variety of tantalising cuisines. 

This year’s bazaar also coincides with the grand Sultan Mosque’s bicentennial year. To commemorate the event, there will be an enthralling light show that spotlights the building’s iconic history since the 1800s. 

Catch a glimpse of the visual performance from Friday to Sunday, which will be on full display from 7.30pm onwards.

Swing by Kampong Gelam with a rumbling belly, as you’ll be spoiled for choice with the plethora of F&B options available.

Not sure which to make a beeline for? Then read on to find out our curated list of five must-visit stalls at the Kampong Gelam Ramadan bazaar.

1. Korean toasts from Meokja (Booth KFT3)

Get a taste of Korea with Meokja’s Korean toasts at the Kampong Gelam Ramadan bazaar. For those unacquainted with the brand, it’s helmed by a husband-and-wife duo and has a physical outlet at Grid shopping mall in Selegie. 

While Meokja’s brick-and-mortar space tempts diners with a range of affordable Korean dishes, its stall at the bazaar features a streamlined menu of Korean toasts and kimchi pancakes. The former caught our attention — it comprises toasted bread heaped with a variety of ingredients. 

We tried the beef bulgogi (S$10) with tender strips of grilled beef atop a fluffy egg omelette and melted cheese. The succulent beef, which is coated with a savoury marinade, is absolutely yummy,

Despite its unassuming appearance, the dish is very indulgent and filling, thanks to the hearty toppings sandwiched in between. 

2. Samyang pastas and smashed burgers from The Halal Corner (Booth K18)

Those who frequent Haji Lane will be familiar with The Halal Corner, a beloved cafe best known for its wallet-friendly western dishes and fusion fare, specifically its fiery Samyang-based pastas. 

This year, the popular joint has set up a booth at the bazaar, where diners can skip the cafe queue and savour its pastas on the go. You can also catch the chefs in action, as they deftly toss and twirl the noodles to al dente perfection. 

A signature item is the Samyang carbonara chicken noodles (S$10), which are chock-full of cheese and spice. The lemak chilli api chicken pasta (S$10) is another fan-favourite dish, which is every bit as delicious and creamy as it sounds.

Not feeling noodles? Then perhaps the loaded smashed burgers — also priced at S$10 each — will catch your fancy. There are three different varieties available: The classic smashed, house smashed and spicy smashed. 

We had the house smashed burger, which was served with two juicy beef patties, a whole lotta melted cheese and a secret housemade sauce. 

Crunchy caramelised onion pickles are also wedged between the crisp toasted buns, which lend a subtle sweetness that balances the savouriness of the burger. 

3. Truffle-loaded beef fries and coney dogs from Kream (Booth K28)

The truffle-loaded beef fries (S$10) from Kream was our favourite dish of the night, as it saw crispy fries laden with smooth truffle cream and slices of beef. 

The best way to enjoy the delectable snack is by dipping the fries into the aromatic truffle dressing, adding additional oomph and flavour to the golden-brown potato crisps.

For the true-blue bazaar experience, don’t forget to tuck into hotdogs — a quintessential street food item —  that are garnished with a myriad of sauces and toppings. 

Besides its bestselling frites, Kream also specialises in coney dogs, which are an elevated variation of the classic American hotdog. 

Kream’s version touts drool-worthy, loaded hotdogs slathered in sauces, such as savoury teriyaki, mentaiko and nacho cheese. We had the Tokyo Dog (S$8) with teriyaki sauce doused over a crunchy sausage and then sprinkled with fragrant bonito flakes.  

4. Durian goreng from Bo-Geh (Booth K13)

Forget goreng pisang (fried banana fritters), have you tried durian goreng (fried durian) before? If you haven’t tried this unique fried dish yet, quickly make your way to Bo-Geh, a snack stall that is reputed for its traditional Malay treats. 

Decadent durian flesh is moulded into round mounds and then deep-fried to a golden-tinged shade. The folks at Bo-Geh fry the durian goreng (S$10) just right for optimal crispiness without it being too greasy. 

And when you break the fried pastry apart, it reveals lush, creamy durian meat that melts in your mouth. We prefer this version over the fresh fruit as it’s easier on the palate. 

5. Pink matcha latte from Offday Coffee (Booth BS1)

When it comes to beverages, we’d recommend skipping the ubiquitous milk teas and sodas for something more unique. How about the iced pink matcha (S$8) from Offday Coffee, which is a ’gram-worthy drink with pink and green hues?   

It’s the bestseller at the stall, which sees a harmonious blend of sweet bandung and fragrant matcha cream. Admittedly, although the drink looks pretty, we find that the taste of rose syrup is much more pronounced. It would be better balanced if it had stronger, earthier notes of green tea. 

Separately, there are also two seasonal brews specially concocted for Ramadan: Caramel milk with burnt meringue (S$7) and hot chocolate with burnt meringue (S$7), both of which are adorned with a frothy cloud of burnt meringue cream. 

This was a hosted tasting.

For the latest eats, savour applewood-fired meats at Fireplace by Bedrock in One Holland Village and Swensen’s Unlimited buffet with 48 free-flow ice-cream flavours. Alternatively, catch up on the newest openings in town. 

Book a ride to the Kampong Gelam Ramadan bazaar. 

Do explore the GrabFood Dine-in service for awesome deals.