Every Monday evening, the area outside KSL City comes alive as the popular KSL pasar malam kicks off from 5pm. After indulging in a relaxing massage at nearby Thong Thai, we strolled over to join the crowds and see what the buzz was all about. The night market was a feast for the senses – aromas of sizzling street food filled the air, vendors called out cheerfully from their stalls, and the colourful displays stretched the entire length of Jalan Seladang, from outside The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at KSL City all the way to the Grand Paragon Hotel.

Getting to KSL Pasar Malam

The location couldn’t be more convenient. From JB City Square, just grab a Grab – it’s under 10 minutes and costs about RM7-8. The pasar malam covers impressive ground, and whilst it may not seem like a long distance, trust me on this: with the crowds, waiting times, and the sheer amount of food to eat and buy along the way, you’ll spend a considerable amount of time here.

Navigating the KSL Pasar Malam

Here’s what you need to know before you go. Only one lane of the road closes off for the pasar malam, so you’ve still got to be careful of incoming traffic from the other lane. There’s a section where you have to walk through between two rows of stalls – it’s narrow and quite squeezy to navigate through, especially with the crowd.

My top tip? Buy immediately if something catches your eye. Don’t bother looking around first or comparing prices because it’s honestly not worth the trouble to walk back later. Many stalls are repeats anyway. I spotted at least 3-4 stalls selling mochi, 2 stalls selling cucur udang, 3 stalls selling chee cheong fun and yong tau foo, and 3 stalls selling stinky tofu. Prices are more or less similar across the board.

You’ll also find quite a few stalls selling Thai street snacks like moo ping and sausages scattered throughout the market.

The Food Hunt Begins

The first stall we encountered was the Black Tea Stinky Tofu, and the last stall at the end of the pasar malam was another popular stinky tofu operation running from the back of a van.

This van stall had the longest queue.

Black Tea Stinky Tofu

We went for this because, well, black tea! I hadn’t tried stinky tofu with tea flavour before, so curiosity got the better of me. The verdict? It doesn’t taste as stinky as it smells, but it doesn’t really have much of a tea flavour either.

What makes this dish shine is when you dip it into that black sauce – it’s very good actually. They fry it fresh in batches, so each portion comes out hot and crispy. It comes with pickled radish and kimchi that give a nice crunch.

Cucur Udang

These prawn fritters are an absolute must-try! They offer two versions – one with vegetables (RM3) and one without (RM2). Both are good, but I prefer the pure prawns version.

The prawny flavour is incredible – like having a really good prawn cracker. You don’t need chilli sauce because the fritters are so flavoursome on their own. No rancid oil smell, and they don’t ooze oil when you bite into them. The best part? They stayed crispy even though we took them back to our hotel to eat.

Boneless Chicken Feet

I hadn’t had boneless chicken feet for ages, so when I spotted them, I grabbed a box immediately. The boneless ones are easy to eat – no hassle spitting bones out. They have that crunchy texture I love, and the chilli sauce is nicely balanced and very refreshing.

Below the chicken feet, there were green mango, shallots, and tomato creating an appetising salad combination that adds freshness to each bite.

Moo Ping

These Thai pork skewers showcase meat that’s been nicely marinated. The fatty parts were crunchy whilst the meat stayed tender. Simply shiok!

Lemongrass Fatty Pork

This isn’t pork belly as you might expect – it’s more like pork neck meat, with a texture somewhat similar to the tontoro pork from Tori-Q. The fatty part is crunchy, not greasy at all. The black sauce is perfect for dipping, and I love that aromatic lemongrass flavour that comes through.

Lemongrass Sausage

This is the fermented, sour sausage kind that I don’t really know how to appreciate, but my husband loves it. The English label states this as “herbal sausage,” but in Chinese, it says “lemongrass sausage”.

I can’t really taste where the lemongrass is because the sour taste dominates the flavour profile. This sausage has vermicelli mixed in, making it quite unique in texture.

Garlic Sausage

Both the lemongrass and garlic sausages are very meaty, but I prefer this one because it’s not sour. It’s made with pure meat – not the finely processed kind loaded with starch instead of actual meat. The skin has that satisfying crunchy snap when you bite into it.

A Speedy Stroll Through the Pasar Malam

Beyond Food at KSL Pasar Malam

Whilst the majority of stalls sell food, there are non-food vendors too. You’ll find stalls selling socks, wallets, and various knick-knacks. There are also stalls selling fresh produce like vegetables, fruits, and durians. I even spotted coffee beans for those wanting to bring home some local blends.

Final Verdict

All in all, we had great fun at the KSL pasar malam. The variety of food and bustling atmosphere make this night market worth visiting. Part of me wished for a bigger stomach – I just wanted to try everything in sight.

Do check it out if you haven’t been here yet. It’s a breeze to get to, and the prices won’t break the bank. For foodies seeking an authentic night market experience, this place serves up both incredible variety and an unbeatable atmosphere.

Whether you’re after familiar favourites or ready to try something adventurous, the KSL pasar malam offers an honest-to-goodness Malaysian night market experience that shouldn’t be missed on your JB food trail. 😉

Tags: jb foodjb food reviewnight market