A Local’s Guide to TTDI Pasar Malam
Sunday evenings in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
If you’ve ever wondered where KL folks go on a Sunday night for one last dose of street-food indulgence before Monday rolls around, point your compass to Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI). Each week, three leafy residential streets transform into one of the city’s most beloved pasar malams—equal parts farmers’ market, hawker centre and social gathering. Below is everything you need to know before you grab that first cup of iced sugar-cane juice and dive in.
Quick-Glance Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 2-4, TTDI, 60000 KL |
| Day & Time | Every Sunday, ~3:30 pm – 10 pm (best arrive before 6 pm) |
| Size | About 350–400 m of stalls (120–150 vendors) |
| Price Point | RM 3 – 15 for most eats |
| Peak Hour | 6 pm – 7:30 pm |
| Access | 8-min walk from TTDI MRT; roadside parking is scarce—use e-hailing if you can |
The Vibe
By late afternoon the scent of charcoal, sizzling oil and pandan hangs over Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad. Families with strollers weave past office-workers still in ID lanyards, all angling for that first snack. Compared with larger night markets such as SS2 or Setapak, TTDI feels just right: big enough to keep you browsing for an hour yet compact enough to cover without blistered feet.
Stalls follow a loose logic. One stretch is heavy on grills and wok-fries, another on kuih and fresh produce. Uniform coloured canopies keep things tidy, and many vendors now accept QR payments—handy when you’ve blown through your small notes on apam balik.
Six Must-Try Stalls & Dishes
| Stall | Why it’s famous |
|---|---|
| Goldenstick Cakoi | Twenty rotating flavours of Chinese dough crullers—from matcha crumble to black-pepper beef. Crispy outside, airy inside. They sell by the stick, so mix-and-match. |
| Cempedak Madu Goreng | Honey-battered jackfruit fritters. The caramelised edge gives each bite a brûléed crunch you won’t forget. |
| Miang Pla Phao | Thai salt-baked tilapia stuffed with lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, served with a tangy nam jim dipping sauce. Expect a queue. |
| Uncle’s Thick Apam Balik | Extra-fluffy peanut-sweet-corn pancakes folded to order. Reviewers rave that it’s “crispiest in KL.” |
| Nasi Lemak Kukus Mak Cik | Coconut rice steamed in banana leaf, paired with a sambal that starts mellow and ends with a sly chilli kick. |
| Satay Row | A smoky corridor of grills turning chicken and beef skewers over glowing charcoal. Follow the aroma. |
Tip: Arrive before 6:30 pm if these are on your hit-list; popular items sell out quickly.
What Else to Eat & Buy
Hot mains: Kelantanese laksam, Indonesian ayam penyet, charcoal-fried kway teow.
Desserts & kuih: Ondeh-ondeh, kuih koci, coconut shake stalls blending fresh flesh with gula Melaka.
Fresh produce: Bundles of ulam, forest ferns and kampung eggs at prices lower than most supermarkets.
Lifestyle finds: Phone cables, bamboo steamers, cheap plants—Sunday essentials in KL style.
Pros & Cons at a Glance
👍 Pros
Variety in a small footprint – cooked food, snacks and fresh veg all in one loop.
Clean & cashless-friendly – uniform stalls, QR pay widely accepted.
Value for money – most dishes RM 3 – 15; produce often under supermarket prices.
👎 Cons
Parking drama – double-parking is the norm; consider MRT or Grab.
Early sell-outs – headline snacks disappear fast.
Inconsistent quality – a handful of long-time patrons note some dishes “not as punchy” as a decade ago.
Getting There
Public transport: Take the MRT Kajang Line to TTDI Station. From Exit A, it’s an easy 8-minute walk—just follow the growing crowd toward Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad.
Driving: Limited legal bays line adjacent roads. If you must drive, aim for arrival before 4 pm or park at Plaza TTDI and walk.
Ride-hailing: Easiest option. Set your pick-up/drop-off to “TTDI Pasar Malam Sunday Market” in most apps.
Final Verdict
For travellers and KL locals alike, TTDI Pasar Malam remains one of Kuala Lumpur’s top night-market experiences. It strikes a sweet balance: manageable size, broad food spectrum and generally wallet-friendly prices. Yes, parking is painful and queues snake quickly, but the reward is a Sunday evening spent grazing on crisp jackfruit fritters, herb-stuffed fish and the city’s fluffiest apam balik.
Is it worth the trip for street-food lovers? Absolutely—8 / 10 on our confidence scale. Come hungry, come early, and let the aroma of charcoal lead the way.
Have you visited TTDI’s Sunday market recently? Share your latest stall discoveries in the comments—because the best part of any pasar malam is swapping food tips over sticky fingers and satisfied grins.
