Cheap eats at the Geylang Ramadan Bazaar
Ramadan bazaars are back, and there’s no bigger one than the granddaddy of them all, the Geylang Ramadan Bazaar! While the institution has faced criticism in the last few years for being overly expensive, the bazaar this year will have lower rental rates, and each stall is supposed to feature at least 2 items priced $3 and below.
With that in mind, we headed down to the Geylang Bazaar, and scouted out some of the best cheap eats.
S’mores Dip ($3) at Alley SG – Stall 148
Satisfy your sweet tooth with Alley’s S’mores Dip, which goes for $3. A gooey, chocolatey dip topped with torched marshmallows, this treat is freshly prepared upon order. You can choose to top up an additional $1.5 for additional crackers to properly enjoy this treat, but we think digging straight in like an animal isn’t such a bad idea too.
But their signature here has to be the poffertjes ($6.5), aka Dutch mini pancakes! Available in both Maple Butter and Biscoff Nutella flavours, these tiny pancakes are soft, fuffy, and generously drizzled with toppings.
Cheese Coin Waffle ($5) at Happiness in a Box – Stall 166
Korean cheese coin waffles are all the rage, and Singapore’s first halal cheese coin makes its appearance here. At Happiness in a Box, the Original Cheese Coin Waffle ($5) is packed with a healthy amount of cheese, allowing you to recreate a signature cheese pull with a minimum of fuss.
If you want to be even more eye-catching, opt for the Rainbow Cheese Coin Waffle ($6), which gives the cheese an additional pop of colour.
Taiyaki ($3) at Ahae Taiyaki – Stall 204
Standing out from the crowd with their eye-catching stall, Ahae Taiyaki specialises in taiyaki, a Japanese pancake invented in 1909. These fish-shaped pancakes come with a range of fillings, ranging from sweet (red bean, custard cream) to savoury (chicken sausage and cheese). The best part? Each of these taiyaki go for a very wallet-friendly $3, regardless of flavour.
Popiah Mozza Carbonara (2 for $3) at Krumbz and Kraves
At first glance, this stall carries a confusingly wide range of fried snacks and drinks, including a massive deep-fried Argentina Squid ($10). But one item really caught our eye here: the Popiah Mozza Carbonara (2 for $3).
Freshly fried upon order, these steaming hot spring rolls are packed with chicken bits and stringy melted mozz, eveloped in a rich cream sauce. Crisp, creamy, and decadent all at once.
Thai Fried Banana (6 for $4) at Thai Dessert House – Stall 141
Tucked beside a stall selling Thai food, this humble booth forgoes a signboard, instead simply telling you what they sell. The signature Thai Fried Banana (6 for $5) is made with a smaller breed of bananas, ensuring maximum sweetness.
Apart from bananas, they also offer fried sweet potato and yam, also at $5 for 6 pieces.
Ramly Burger ($4) at First King Juicy Dengdeng – Stall 123
The rate of Ramly burger inflation is one of the economists to really ponder, but we’ve found possibly the cheapest Ramly’s here at First King Juicy Dengdeng. At $4, the Ramly Special hits all the right spots, including the prerequisite omelette blanket for the beef or chicken patty, and generous lashings of sauces.
There’s even a slice of cheese hiding in the bottom bun, adding an extra layer of creaminess and depth.
Dim Sum Goreng (3 for $5) at Kakak Dim Sum – Stall 227
Located away from the bustling main food area of the Geylang Bazaar, Kakak Dim Sum offers a twist on traditional baos and snacks by simply deep frying them all. There’s a wide range of items here, ranging from savoury to sweet, with each going for $2, or any 3 items for $5.
Go straight for the Milo Pau, which impressed us with a gooey chocolate centre, while the Charcoal Salted Egg Pau was disappointingly dry on the inside.
Taster Size Fries ($3) at Lapan Lapan Kentang – Stall 255
Fries here at Lapan Lapan Kentang are made with 100% potato, freshly sliced and fried here on the spot. Prices start from $3, where a modest portion of fries comes with the choice of one accompanying sauce. You’ll be spoiled for choice though, as they stock no less than EIGHT (that’s probably where the lapan comes from), including Spicy Korean BBQ, Nacho Cheese, and Black Pepper.
Masal Vadai + Tea ($3) at Ministry of Rojak – Stall 202
Perfect for a mid-day snack, the masal vadai and tea combo ($3) is a 2-in-1 solution for when you’re only 30% hungry. And it even comes with a hot tea to wash it all down! Value indeed.
If you need something more substantial, Ministry of Rojak offers a wide range of Indian rojak classics, including egg and vegetable options. Preselected rojak sets start from $6, or you can simply kiap and create your own rojak set.
Great budget options at Geylang Ramadan Bazaar
Most of the food stalls at the Geylang Bazaar are concentrated on the area beside Wisma Geylang Serai. From the Paya Lebar MRT Station, exit towards Paya Lebar Quarter and head for Exit E. Turn left, and walk through between PLQ 1 and 2, until you reach the traffic light. Cross the traffic light, and you’re at the bazaar!
This year, you don’t have to worry about not enough seats, as the back of the tentage is packed with long tables and benches, along with some tall tables so that you can dine in comfort.
For more Ramadan Bazaar content, check out our Bazaar Survival Guide, featuring special guest Sya!
Dates: Until 10 April 2024
Address: Beside 1 Engku Aman Rd, Singapore 409923
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 12am
