Ah, Ramadan is upon us once again, and you know what that means, right?

RAMADAN BAZAARS.

Yes, that’s right, festive bazaars filled with the sights, sounds and smells of glorious foods and drinks. For one month, everyone flocks to Ramadan bazaars to get a hold of dishes you can only get during this time of year. We’re even willing to finish up work early and brave traffic jams for them.

^ Me and my colleagues leaving work to go to the nearest bazaar.

Here are our top long-missed favorites and where we like to get our fix:

The murtabak is a quintessential dish during Ramadan. The meat-filled pancake comes in all sorts of forms these days, including ingredients such as cheese and springy Maggi noodles. But nothing beats the traditional version of minced beef or chicken mixed with egg and spread on top of roti before it’s pan-fried to perfection.

We like Raja Murtabak’s take on this classic, as they’re generous with the minced meat, which is seasoned juuuuust right. If you like cheese with your murtabak, order the Murtabak Special.

Where To Find It

Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (TTDI) Ramadan Bazaar @ Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 2

Another crowd favorite is Roti John – a long, soft bread loaf coated with egg and meat on the inside, which is then drizzled with mayonnaise and chili sauce. It can be tough to find your favorite, as it depends on how you like it – drowning in sauce? Little to no vegetables?

Because we like ours with a balanced ratio of meat, egg, veggie and sauce, we vote for the Black Roti John by Kotakotak. It’s easy to spot: just look for the stall selling Roti Johns that are jet-black in color, thanks to the charcoal buns. Available in beef, chicken or lamb.

Where To Find It

Bangsar Ramadan Bazaar @ Jalan Telawi 1 (beside Saidina Abu Bakar As Siddiq Mosque)

Malaysia’s very own version of peri-peri chicken is the well-loved Ayam Percik. The chicken is marinated in a special blend of spices then grilled on a bamboo skewer until it’s got a smoky flavor and charred just the right amount. It’s then drenched in a creamy, sweet and spicy sauce made with coconut milk.

It’s not hard to find a stall selling Ayam Percik – just look for the tall column of smoke as it’s being grilled. There are usually several stalls selling it, so we don’t have a particular go-to stall, but feel free to recommend your favorite one!

Where To Find It

Stadium Melawati Shah Alam Ramadan Bazaar @ Seksyen 13 (in the parking lot opposite the stadium)

Bubur Lambuk is comfort food at its best. The rice porridge is slowly cooked for hours, allowing the various spices like aniseed, cardamom, clove, star anise and black pepper to fully permeate. Other essentials, such as chunks of beef and fried onion, add to its thick, creamy flavor.

It’s traditionally given away for free as a form of charity from local mosques, so look out for people giving away bags full of the porridge. Otherwise, you can explore the stretch of stalls by the roadside on Jalan Raja Muda Musa near the Kampung Baru LRT station. The main bazaar, however, is located a short walk away at Jalan Raja Alang.

Where To Find It

Kampung Baru Ramadan Bazaar @ Jalan Raja Alang/Jalan Raja Muda Musa

This one’s for those of you with a sweet tooth. The Tepung Pelita is made of a salty, creamy top layer made with coconut milk and a sweet pandan-flavored jelly at the bottom. It’s usually served in a little "box" made out of banana leaves. It’s not easy to get right: sometimes you’re left with a watery, blobby mess and end up drinking it out of its packaging.

Tepung Pelita is often confused with Kuih Tako, which is similar, only the latter is more firm, served in pandan leaves and the jelly layer has water chestnuts. Try Tepung Pelita Istimewa Paya Jaras, which is said to be so good, you’ll miss it for the rest of the year once Ramadan has passed. So be sure to taste it while you can!

Where To Find It

Seksyen 14 Bazaar Ramadan, Petaling Jaya @ Jalan 14/28 (behind Digital Mall)