Once a “must go” for Malaysians, Ramadan bazaars are now being challenged by a host of Instagram entrepreneurs who are cashing in on the rumblings of Malaysian stomachs by offering home-cooked meals delivered to their customers’ doorsteps.
FMT spoke to several Malaysians on whether they preferred breaking fast by visiting the “old-fashioned” bazaars or opted for the convenience of having a meal delivered to them.
Mohammad Shurabil Suib said he still preferred heading to the bazaars due to the sights and aromas, especially when it came to stalls which were particularly popular for their signature meals.
“There’s no guarantee the food we order on Instagram will be tasty. When we go to a bazaar, we also get to soak in the Ramadan ambience.”
He said he does not buy everything at the bazaars due to concerns over food safety.
“I don’t buy drinks when I go to the bazaars as I am unsure where the water used by the stall operators comes from.”
When it came to food stalls, he would see whether the workers were wearing hair nets, gloves and aprons before considering whether to buy food from them.
For Nurul Zulkefli, the ambience of the Ramadan bazaar, which appear only once a year, makes it the preferred choice.
The mother-of-two said while there were concerns over the cleanliness of the bazaars, it would depend on one’s luck as there was no guarantee that food in a stall which appeared clean was not contaminated.
Photographer Balqies Arafia Zaed said she preferred ordering food via Instagram, citing the better quality of food, cleanliness and convenience.
“At the bazaars, you have to queue up to buy the food and sometimes the place where they prepare or keep the food is not clean.”
She said from her personal experience, trips to the bazaars every year would result in her and her loved ones getting food poisoning.
For designer and entrepreneur Ezarina Aziz, the sheer convenience of a delivered, home-cooked meal made it a better option than heading to a bazaar. Therefore, she too turns to Instagram.
“If you had asked me five years ago, I would immediately have opted for the bazaars due to all the variety.
“Most of the time, I’d end up buying too much and a lot will go to waste, which defeats the purpose of Ramadan.”
Ezarina says a home-cooked meal is not only more convenient, but also seems cleaner, less exposed, less wasteful and feels more authentic than the food at the bazaars.