Rojak & Cendol

When we talk about Malaysian food, we never resort to restaurants. The gem is usually found in street food, places the rakyat visits frequently, what they consume regularly.

One of such street food is Rojak and Cendol. Allow me to provide some sort of insight on these two cuisines. Rojak contains fried dough fritters, bean curds, boiled potatoes, prawn fritters, hard boiled eggs, bean sprouts, cuttlefish and cucumber mixed with a sweet thick, spicy peanut sauce. Traditionally, Tamil Muslim (Mamak) rojak vendors used modified sidecar motorcycles as preparation counters and to peddle their rojak. These mobile vendors now use modified mini trucks.

Cendol on the other hand is a traditional dessert originating from Southeast Asia. The dessert’s basic ingredients are coconut milk, jelly noodles made from rice flour with green food coloring (usually derived from pandan leaf), shaved ice and palm sugar. Other ingredients such as red beans, glutinous rice, grass jelly, creamed corn, might also be included.

These two cuisines go hand-in-hand. In Malaysia, these two cuisines are sold in mobile trucks (as mentioned), and one of the best Rojak and Cendol in town may be found in Section 17, Rojak Mustaffa (Jalan 17/41A, off Jalan 17/21, Petaling Jaya). Here is the place where you’ll find the most positive reviews on food in the country. The Rojak is just spot on! The kuah was amazing! And that is perhaps the secret to a perfect Rojak. Kuah is the main ingredient here

Rojak Telur Sotong that tasted like heaven!

Cendol that was just perfect on a hot afternoon

Sebagai pinang dibelah dua

The price of the selections

Price of the cendol. Customers having their meal on the ‘mock’ table of the truck

One thing about this place: The people never stopped! The line was never-ending, and people who can’t get seats are contented standing around having their meal!

The Cendol maker busy at work!

These two proud Malaysians were one of the many customers at the truck stalls. They were aware of the MFD agents taking pictures for the website, and gave their honest opinion that this Rojak and Cendol should be promoted, and encouraged the work of MFD!

While having the gorgeous meal, our MFD agent noticed that not only the business was going very fast, (Rojak maker never stopped at all), the line never seemed to end, the customers that came to eat were from different cross-sections of the country. All races, whether it was the Malays, the Chinese, the Indians or the Lain-lains just comfortably, unconsciously, and as if it was just the right thing to do, converge at this very stall, right under the shady tree. It truly seemed like everyone belonged here. What was even more touching to the MFD agent is that the cars that parked along the road (belonging to the customers) were cars of all types. Expensive cars along with simple old cars were parked at the same (illegal) area, and all who got down from their cars came to this very place and ordered their (extra besar Rojak Sotong) and left contented. Our agent concludes, and is agreed upon among the members of MFD, that food truly brings us together, that our different background has no significance here, that it is our identity as Malaysians, (who have an eternal love for good food) that truly matters.