Yes, if you remember from this post, I did go once and twice and yes, I did go the third time but it was only because I was on the way to the airport to pick up my girl who was flying back from Kuching after attending a course there.
That was Friday, the start of the school holidays and probably many of the army personnel, their wives and children had all flown home for Hari Raya so most of the stalls at this Ramadhan Bazaar were not open. Thankfully, I did manage to get what I wanted – the laksam (RM3.50)…
…that my girl enjoyed so much the previous time I was here and managed to get that for her. I did get myself a packet too and yes, it was indeed very nice.
I also saw somebody selling this roti jala (RM3.50)…
…and of course, I had to buy that to enjoy as well. The last time I had that was here at Nyonya Colours in Mid Valley, KL in 2013 and before that, in 2012 in Auckland when my wonderful friend there made some to welcome us to New Zealand. The ones I had here were kind of different, more like the roti jala I had at one nasi kandar place in Penang in 2011. Other than those, I did stumble across some at the Malay kueh stalls around here but I did not think they were all that great, not anything that would get me rushing back for more, not at all. This one that I bought that day was pretty good, good enough to appease my craving for that for a while, at least.
The ikan bakar (grilled fish) stall was not ready yet so I drove to Sibu Jaya, the satellite township near the Sibu Airport over 15 miles from the town centre. My guess was that they would have some Ramadhan stalls there too and I was right. I waited in the car while my missus went to grab one (RM20.00, if I remember correctly)…
…and we quickly went to the airport after that, getting there just when my girl’s plane had landed.
It turned out that my missus bought an ikan sultan, one fish that we had not bought for a long long time as we get a lot of those farmed ones here and they have that horrendous mud smell…and we really cannot tell the difference between a freshly-caught natural one and one from those fish ponds. Thankfully, this one was very very nice…
– no mud smell, very lemak (fat/oily) and fresh too but of course, we had to be more careful when eating as this fish has quite a bit of bones.
So that was our dinner that night when my girl came back from Kuching, simple and very very nice!
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
Good variety.
Yes, all very nice. Too bad the fasting month is over so the bazaars have closed for the year now, wouldn’t know where to get these anymore. 😦
I never had seen or tried that roti jala and the best part is that you had tried it here in Auckland. Looks interesting.
Yes, my friend knows how to make it, eaten with any kind of curry gravy. Too bad she and the family have moved to another part of the world now, no longer in Auckland.
Exactly what I like, simple & yet yummy. Love the roti jala & ikan bakar. For ikan bakar, I always order the fish (0ne side black & one side white). Squeeze the lime & everything goes so well.
Yes, we like that fish too. But the stall my missus went to just had the ikan sultan and sardine…and we’re quite wary about sardines these days – had one once with maggots inside. One fish that I would avoid here too would be the stingray, parek – strong smell of ammonia – urine, the ones here! We love terubok but can’t find anymore – too expensive, I guess.
I’ve tried laksam about once or twice, love it, the lemak soup taste..
I’ve tried before but was not really thrilled by it but this one is really good. For one thing, the chee cheong fan kind of rolls in it must be very well done, must be fine and smooth and soft.
I don’t think I have ever try laksam. How the taste? Sour and spicy?
Wow! Drove all the way to Sibu Jaya for ikan bakar? I’ve been there once but not much to see. Maybe still new then.
Quite hard to describe the taste, nice…and it’s not an acquired taste, not something strong like Penang asam laksa.
Sibu Jaya is very nice now – not like years ago, a low-cost housing area, quite depressing looking, many times nicer than Bintangor now which is like a ghost town, very impressive. Been to the jungle produce market a couple of times, seems a lot busier in the afternoon. Yet to go round the whole place – there are banks, KFC, lots of supermarkets and coffee shops and more and more blocks of shops coming up.
Now i start to miss Ramadhan Bazaar, have to wait till next year liao…
Yes, but here we have a lot of food fairs, one coming up next week…and usually, there is one more at the end of the year. May get some nice stuff at these…and of course, we have our pasar malam (night market) every night.
Laksam is completely new to me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before.
North peninsula, east coast – Kelantan, one of the fishing states. I never heard of it myself before until quite recently. My girl had that when she was studying in Kedah and she likes it very much!
I don’t often eat roti jala – usually go for roti canai. I like the texture of this though.
Two different things. Roti jala is just egg batter, something like the skin of kueh dadar or kueh ketayap, what we call kueh lenggang here – not as oily as roti canai, nor as fragrant, very much dependent on the curry gravy.
Ooo, I’m not sure I’ve ever had Ikan sultan before – it sure sounds royal! 😉
You would, I’m sure, a very common fish even over at your side. Dunno why it is thus named, the Chinese will call it something like sotan hu…but according to wiki, it is also called ikan jelawat.
https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikan_Jelawat
The roti jala is beautifully crafted and cooked. My kids always said is roti canai…but a pretty version. Haha
Kids. They’re so imaginative. 😀
I never tried laksam. 😅
Hah!!! No Kelantan restaurant in Kuching?
Strangely, I don’t like laksam. Have not had it in years. Maybe I should give it another go at the nasi kerabu place.
You probably have not come across a good one – like I did not really like the ones I had before and the last one my girl had had bones in the mashed fosh, she was so pissed off by that. I did not like the nasi kak wok either that day, but maybe there is one that is really good, I wouldn’t know and I did not like the nasi kerabu too, not as nice as our regular one. I am sure there are others, the not-so nice-nasi kerabu but on the other hand, there are those good ones waiting to be spotted.
Having said that, I would not think laksam is something I would want for dinner – that day was an exception to the rule. I do think it would be something more suitable for breakfast…or maybe 10 o’ clock tea. Serving is not very big.
I think you are very “Malaysian”, i don’t seem to appreciate all these food
Aren’t we all…Malaysians? And shouldn’t we all be?
Not necessary.
No?
The fish looks fresh and inviting.
Very. Never a fan of ikan sultan but this one, we liked!!! Wouldn’t mind buying it again, should we come across any.
Roti jala! ❤
I've never tasted the laksam, though. 😦 I'm definitely in need for some fresh fish – your picture of it looks like it was freshly caught and cooked on the spot. 🙂
Yes, it was fresh, very sweet and moist, not over-grilled till hard dry. We loved it!
Laksam sounds like Asam Laksa…is it the same? I never tried it before.
The ikan bakar looks good, I want some too! yummy…
No, much lighter, not really an acquired taste like the very strong Penang asam laksa…plus they use the chee cheong fan-like rolls. I am not a fan of Penang asam laksa, just ok with it.
Btw, is Laksam a malay food?
It’s Kelantanese, I believe and I do think the cuisines up north are very much Thai-influenced, some similarities and I love Thai food very much so I do enjoy anything like this.