JMI - Food outlets

Since eating is one of my favorite pastimes, I want to show you some of the food outlets in Little India.

Just across from Semua House and Citi One Plaza, there are these restaurants. Selara MY belongs to the same owner as the one in Medan Tuanku. Vasantha Bhavan boasts of Chettynad cooking. Previously there also was a restaurant here, run by members of the Hari Krishna movement, serving what they called 'karma-free' food.

Yaseen's is a popular 'Mamak' restaurant along Jalan Bunus.

There are a few food courts around the area mainly catering to Malay, Indonesian and Thai cooking. As the stalls operate at differing times, food is available almost 24 hours.

This is supposed to be a popular restaurant in Chennai, South India.

This stall in Selangor Mansion, facing the Klang River, is one of my favorites. They serve a wide range of curries. Duck and venison curry is said to be available here on Fridays for lunch.

Another popular restaurant in Selangor Mansion.

There are a number of restaurants on the 1st and 2nd floors of both Selangor and Malayan Mansions. Most do not have a signage like this one on Malayan Mansion. The menu is limited and they cater almost exclusively to their regular clients.

Another popular stall, this one at Malayan Mansion.

A restaurant along Jalan Melayu. The other restaurant along this road is Jai Hind.

Another restaurant from Chennai which has opened in the area.




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Pasar Malam at JMI

Saturday is Pasar Malam (Night Market) day at JMI. Actually the market starts at 2.00 p.m. and is located along Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Previously the stretch of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman starting from Sogo till it's junction with Jalan Melayu used to be closed to traffic to house this Pasar Malam. It has however been moved to this back lane, but that does not mean that traffic condition has improved any. If you are planning to visit, I would advise taking the LRT or KTM trains. If taking the Ampang, Seri Petaling or Kelana Jaya lines, stop at Masjid Jamek station. If KTM Komuter, stop at the Bank Negara halt and if the KL Monorail, stop at the Medan Tuanku station.

It's just after 2.00 and the people are already coming in.

The stalls are also only just getting set up.

All kinds of things can be found at the Pasar Malam. Clothes, accessories, shoes, anything and everything.... but most importantly for me... FOOD.

Even the Elections Commission sets up a voter registration/verification booth here.

Freshly fried fish and prawn crackers (keropok).

A Nasi Campur (or mixed rice) stall with a large selection of dishes.

And drinks to wash down your food or just to cool down.


Fried stuff. Healthy? Maybe not... but tasty.

Some stalls even provide seating for their customers.

Crisps and tidbits.

Jackfruit... delicious. Too much is said to cause 'wind' resulting in joint aches. As an antidote, it is recommended to eat jackfruit with slices of ginger.

Soursop. I used to enjoy the fruit when there used to be a tree behind my house. I have not been so lucky with store bought ones.

Sata - a fish based delicacy from the East Coast.

Rojak buah, a sort of fruit salad.

Being a KL boy, I asked a friend to get me rojak when I was in Penang and this is what I got. What we call rojak here is called pasembor in Penang.

Kebab - barbequed meat cuts in a bun.

Nasi kerabu, a sort of rice salad from the Eastern state of Kelantan.

The blue colour of the rice is obtained by boiling a local flower with the water before cooking the rice. Nowdays, many vendors resort to adding food colouring.

Preserved/pickled fruits or jerok buah.




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JMI Shopping 2

When talking about shopping, I should also point out some of the larger establishments in the area.

If you do need assistance, there is a Royal Malaysian Police beat-base right in the centre of the area.

There's always this group of blind (or should I use the politically correct term - visually handicapped) buskers to entertain you with their crooning.

Mydin's has a large presence in the area.

Jakel's has opened an outlet here.

Jakel's is quite established in the 'textile capital' of Segamat, a small town in the southern state of Johor. It seems to be following in the footsteps of Globe Silk Store which also started in Segamat. Only time will tell if they will be just as successful as Globe was.

This poor guy must be tired being on his feet all day handing out leaflets promoting his store.

Haniffa's - a must shopping stop for those travelling or returning to the Indian sub-continent.

The original outlet next door which is being given a facelift.

Semua House - one of the earlier shopping complexes in the area.

As I mentioned earlier about festive shopping, this is a must visit for those preparing for weddings.

The kopitiam (coffee shop) fad is all over KL, even in JMI.

They now seem to be more popular than the 'imported' chains such as Starbuck's.

Citi One Plaza, a popular haunt of Mak Andams (may be loosely translated as 'wedding planners' for want of a better word).

One of the popular outlets for wedding decorations.





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JMI - Shop till U drop

As I said, festive shopping is incomplete if you have not visited JMI as the Jalan Masjid India area is referred to. Below are just a very, very small collection of shots from the area, but it should give you a fairly good idea of the vibrancy of the area. Textiles and clothing are the main attraction of the area, but there are plenty of other shops including gold and jewelly, house hold items, bags, perfumes, in fact almost everything is available here. Please excuse me as crowds and shopping are not my thing.





















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