Chow Kit Road Market

Warning! This market (and some of these pictures) are not for the faint hearted....or vegetarians!

Chow Kit Road Market is in the Chinatown area of KL. It opens around 6am and is all done and dusted by 2pm. It is a typical asian "wet market". Apparently the term "wet market" was coined in Singapore in the late 1970s to differentiate traditional markets from newly popular supermarkets at the time. Selling fresh and perishable produce, they get their name from their wet floors, the result of melted ice from seafood stalls and water used to clean up after slaughtering live animals. Whilst I am pretty confident the slaughtering side of things is now done off site, the place is still a riot of colours, sights and sounds. And yes, the floors are still wet! (Best wear your closed toe shoes). You will find the freshest and the cheapest produce here and as such this is where the locals mostly shop. Compared to the supermarkets, the prices are crazy cheap.

I absolutely love wet markets. I never feel the need to barter as the prices are so low. They assault every one of your senses as you weave through. Vendors calling out their stalls wears and prices, cleavers clunking into massive wooden chopping blocks, fish flopping around in buckets in vain trying to make a last minute escape. Cigarettes dangling from the corner of mouths as everyone assures you their produce is superior! I also love shopping where the locals go and learning about different foods, herbs and spices. Malaysians are incredibly friendly and helpful. Most speak at least a little english and are more than happy to explain what something is and how it is used. I get a few strange looks but mostly big smiles as they are so proud of their offerings. Everything I buy here just tastes better. Fresher and more flavoursome. As mentioned above, its not for the faint hearted. In fact, the optional wearing of masks is an unexpected bonus from COVID! The smells can get, shall we say....pungent!

Nose to tail.  Nothing is wasted.

Still not too sure what this is but was with the coconut people selling fresh coconut milk.  Was described and a key ingredient for traditional Rendang.

My shopping haul

Roti Special in Kampung Baru

Many moons ago I saw a YouTube video of someone eating a roti dish in KL that ticked all of my boxes! From my (limited) understanding, eating roti here is very definitely a breakfast thing. Ordering it in the afternoon is akin to ordering a cappuccino in Italy in the afternoon. Basically if you can find it after breakfast (good luck with that) it is not really the done thing. For the uninitiated, Roti Canai is a traditional Malaysian pan-fried flatbread made with flour, water, eggs and fat. The dough for Roti Canai is repeatedly folded, so the final product has a layered texture, a soft interior, and a crispy outer layer.  IT IS DELICIOUS! It is also seems a national pastime to find the best in town. Everyone seems to have their favourite place. I have heard that many places have their dough delivered so quite often it can all taste very similar. When you find the real deal, it’s a game changer!

Ok, so I digress. Roti Canai is served with a curry sauce on the side. Curry for breakfast…..hell yes! But the one I saw on the video was a magnificent roti served with sambal (sauce made from chiles, spices, herbs, and aromatics), curry sauce and soft boiled eggs. I have been keeping my eyes peeled but had no success in finding it in KLCC. So Nick, Q and I went exploring yesterday to Kampung Baru which is a small enclave in the middle of town. Amazing area which is like stepping back in time. It’s been there since 1889 (well before KL as we know it). It has so far held out against development and I sincerely hope it stays that way. We wandered the streets in the rain…….and I found it! We sat down at a local stall and I looked to my left and the lovely lady next to me was eating my dream dish! In true “When Harry Met Sally” style I did my best “I’ll have what she’s having”. The beautiful people next to us helped us with our order and also explained the dish is known as Roti Banjir. So, with one Roti Banjir, 3 Roti Canai, 2 iced coffees and a lime juice (for the grand sum of $5AUD) under our belt, you could not find 3 happier adventurers! Watching these guys weave their magic was amazing. They told me they serve around 40kg of roti each day. Now considering this is a breakfast dish, that’s a hell of a busy morning! 

There she is in all her glory.  3.5 MYR ($1.20AUD)

Truefitt and Hill. Not Just a Haircut!

How amazing is this place! Quiddy needed a haircut and considering Nick usually cuts his own, I was on the hunt for a barber not a butcher. Absolutely love this place that was recommend to us in Suria Shopping Mall, not far from us. Considering the degree of fancy he got a haircut for $40AUD which I was more than happy with. Could not fault them and will definitely return. Who doesn’t love your own personal shaving brush! 

Lot 135A, 1st Floor
Suria KLCC
Jalan Tun Razak
50088 Kuala Lumpur

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

Scarlett and I hit Central Market and Chinatown today. We are still stumbling our way around but have found that to actually be a bonus. With no clear direction we just wander where our eyes, noses and stomachs send us. And boy did we find a gem today!

BookXcess at RexKL is on the upper floor of the old Rex Cinema, which used to house the first-class seats and the projector room. We had just finished having a wander through the main part of Chinatown after getting soaked in a massive afternoon downpour.

Jagged left then right after exiting the main market and fell upon this incredible space! Both being avid book lovers it was like falling into a big slice of heaven.













The building itself is marketed as a lifestyle hub offering numerous boutique-concept shops on the mezzanine and first floor, this mindblowing book shop on the second floor and a series of modern-concept hawkers and cafes on the lower floor as well as a table tennis table! I have been reliably informed the food is great so definitely coming back for dinner with the family. They even had a bar which was an added bonus!

RexKL Address
80, Jalan Sultan,
City Centre,
50000 Kuala Lumpur

Closed Mondays

Operation Alby complete!!

 ……and the eagle has landed! Check out Alberto sussing out his new digs! Making himself quite at home!