It’s that time of the year when we all flock to bustling Ramadan bazaars for our fill of retail therapy and street eats.
What better place to soak in the festivities than at the annual Geylang Serai Bazaar 2024?
The festival bazaar — officially called Bazaar Raya Geylang Serai 2024 — will run all the way till 10 April 2024 from 10am to 11.59pm daily.
There are around 500 stalls, as compared to last year’s 700, with 150 F&B stalls and the others selling clothes, beauty products, decorations, and Hari Raya snacks.
I liked that the majority of the food and drink options are clustered in one area, so visitors can easily make their purchases before finding a seat. The expansive dining area has both high tables and long benches for larger groups — all evenly spaced out, so you won’t have to squeeze past other diners to get to your table!
If you head down early, you might be able to snag a seat at the outdoor dining area along the road, with fairy lights and rustic “kampong vibes”.
Speaking of the food, you can, as usual, find a good mix of modern and traditional bazaar fare. Aside from classics like dendeng, Ramly burgers, vadai, lekor, and biryani, we spotted quite number of contemporary creations — many of which you may have seen all over social media.
For instance, we spotted neverending queues at stalls like the TikTok-viral Mango Bossku specialising in crispy kunafa, as well as the Thai-run Thai Dessert House.
Singaporeans cannot get enough of the Thai Fried Bananas (S$4 for six pieces), which are freshly fried in batches (hence the wait) — sweet, crispy, and oh-so addictive.
Another trendy food item can be found at Happiness In A Box in the form of Cheese Coin Waffles (S$5), which come in flavours like Nutella (S$6), Maple Syrup (S$5), and of course Rainbow (S$6). I think we’ll be seeing these sweet pancake-like waffles with a satisfying cheese pull for awhile.
Bingtanghulu, crunchy sugar-coated fruits on skewers, are also all the rage these days. You can find them at BTHL, where prices range from S$2 to S$8 per skewer.
You may know Fooditude for their crowd favourite Praffles — a blend of prata and waffles — topped with chilli crab, truffle cheese, and more. This year, they’ve launched a rather IG-worthy creation, The Fries Society (S$10), seasoned and loaded fries served in a “cigarette box”.
They’ve got an array of sauces to choose from, but we opted for the Creamy Garlic, which did pack a garlicky punch, only to be let down by how salty the entire dish was. Your best bet would be to enjoy the fries with an ice-cold drink in hand!
If you’re a fan of the popular Indian street snack pani puri, you can find the classic iteration at both Chai O’ Clock and Mr Pani Puri, that’s said to be the first Muslim-owned pani puri joint in Singapore. Instead of the classic Pani Puri (S$12), go for the unique Taco Puri (S$10 for six), which pairs minced beef with spiced potatoes and mayo.
We found them to taste more like spicy samosas, not so much tacos, but they were still enjoyable nonetheless.
For something extra hearty, look no further than Frank on Wheels, who’ve not just brought back their iconic nine-inch Buldogis (from S$11.90), but also launched their new Smokey Fries (from S$11.90) slathered in sauces like Mac & Cheese Turkey Bacon, Cheezy Black Pepper Beef, and more.
If you only have the space for one item from the entire Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2024, let it be the pop-up-exclusive Rendang Padang Tacos (from S$5 each) filled with chicken, beef, or lamb from Muslim-owned restaurant The Padangton.
We opted for the beef tacos, which were juicy, flavourful and mildly spicy, with melted cheese and achar to cut through the richness. A must-try, in my opinion!
It’s important to stay hydrated at bazaars, so don’t forget to hit up BALANG.SG for a vibrantly-hued drink at just S$5. There are 22 flavours to choose from, all served in a one-litre bucket cup, with popular options like Blue Coral Paddlepop, Yammy Taro, Calamansi Asam, and our eventual pick, Solero.
It really did taste like a milkier version of the nostalgic ice cream, with a subtle hint of lime.
If you’re visiting with kids, let them have a go at Petrol-Licious, a “petrol station” dispensing refreshing sweet drinks in flavours like Mango Kiwi, Peach Lychee, and Strawberry Melon. Definitely a novelty item, given that drinks are priced at one for S$6 and two for S$10.
Although the bazaar technically opens at 10am daily, most F&B stalls only start setting up in the evening from 4pm onwards, so don’t head down too early.
So, will you be rounding up your friends and family to eat your way through the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2024?
PS. Be sure to check out the Kampong Gelam Ramadan Bazaar 2024 as well!
Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2024
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📍1 Geylang Serai, Singapore 402001
🕑 10am–11.59pm (Daily), Open all the way till 6am on 10 April 2024 (Eve of Hari Raya)
🗓️ From now till 10 April 2024
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Photos by Christabel Tan
I'm always feelin' either boozy or boujee ✨????