Pasar Malam Corner: Your daily pasar malam experience with ramly burgers and takoyaki
It was not long ago that pasar malams were a thing of the past (at least temporarily) with the increasing concern of Covid-19 and subsequent circuit breakers. I remembered it like it was yesterday…oh, the things we’d do for a chicken Ramly burger! Then came Pasar Malam Corner, which was first mentioned in a viral tweet on 3 Feb 2021 by the owner’s daughter who said, and I quote word for word: “will bring the pasar malam to u !”
It’s 2022 now, and it seems like there’s a pasar malam near my area (Woodlands) almost every three months. In fact, one is currently being set up beside Causeway Point as I am writing this. Despite that, Pasar Malam Corner is still surviving with its stall just beside JCube.
However, it’s not all rainbows and roses, as many have pointed out how Pasar Malam Corner’s food items were pre-cooked in huge batches, which to be honest does happen at a pasar malam. There were also netizens who warned about the rudeness of the staff there. Either way, I came mentally prepared for both.
What I tried at Pasar Malam Corner
To address the elephant in the room: yes— most, if not all the items were prepared way before any customers came. I looked in horror as my order of Beef Ramly Burger (S$4) was completed in a matter of 5 seconds. The lady took it out from a styrofoam box, ready-wrapped and oddly warm.
Similarly, my order of Hotdog Takoyaki (S$3) was taken from a pile of dough balls stacked upon one another. It was finished with a splattering of cold mayonnaise and takoyaki sauce and topped with bonito flakes. In a twist of fate, the lady told me I had to wait for at least 10 minutes for my order of Apam Balik Chocolate (S$4) to which I gladly agreed.
They also had fried fritters such as Yam (S$2), Goreng Pisang (S$2), Wadai (S$2.50) and both Curry and Sardine for S$2.50 all at 3 pieces per serving. Apparently, there are Malay dishes such as Nasi Sambal Goreng, Nasi Lemak and Ayam Penyet though I couldn’t find them when I came. Also, the staff were nice.
The cold Hotdog Takoyaki tasted like the usual takoyaki you get at a legit pasar malam, minus the warmness of course. I’ve always liked the addition of bonito flakes as the chewiness and umami taste elevates the dish.
It might have been a placebo but I thought the Hotdog Takoyaki wasn’t as filled as compared to those I had before. It was kind of hollow but still had enough bite. Maybe there’s a reason why they offer 6 pieces for the usual price of 4.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I was never a fan of Ramly burgers. The mixture of sauces and dry patties just doesn’t do it for me. The mess afterwards alone isn’t worth the price. But I digress, Pasar Malam Corner’s Beef Ramly Burger was surprisingly warm despite not being cooked to order and being eaten in the middle of a heavy rain.
Surprisingly, I enjoyed it. It wasn’t as dry as I had expected and the sauce added to the experience instead of detracting from it. Based solely on its taste, they used chilli sauce, nacho cheese, mayonnaise and I think a slice of cheese.
I also appreciated that the sauce was on the egg, instead of the patty, which made it cleaner to eat. Honestly, it tasted better than the ones I had in an actual pasar malam.
Finally, onto the only freshly cooked items for lunch. I don’t think all of Pasar Malam Corner’s apam balik were cooked fresh as I saw many pre-made ones. I guess I got lucky with my flavour. The other flavours include Original/Peanut (S$3.50), Oreo (S$4), Sweet Corn (S$4), Coconut (S$4) and Cheese (S$4).
My first bite was a fluffy one and it reminded me of pancakes. It was also still very warm despite being eaten last. The warmness helped ensure that the chocolate filling remained in a melted state. Speaking of which, the chocolate wasn’t completely sweet and was definitely aplenty. Overall, a very good and warm snack to have but I would recommend sharing a portion.
Final thoughts
Overall, I thought Pasar Malam Corner presented a decent pasar malam experience. Yes, you won’t get the iconic sweltering heat of such fairs and the bustling noise that comes with it but at least the food was up to standard.
Moving forward, I would love to have seen more unique pasar malam food such as fried Oreos, ayam percik and Thai milk tea to bring it closer to a definitive experience. Price-wise, it was comparable and even slightly cheaper than a pasar malam.
Expected damage: S$4 – S$11 per pax
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