Popiah at Jonker Street
Popiah or Spring Rolls are quite popular throughout Malaysia, and this posting I am featuring is located on Jonker Street in Melaka. Operated by a lone old Chinese man with an almost run-down mobile stall, he is usually found around Jonker Street in UNESCO City Melaka during weekends.
Popiah at Jonker Street
Popiah originates from the Fujian province in China and was brought to this region by the migrating Chinese in the past. This popular thin paper-like crepe stuffed with an assortment of cooked meat, vegetables, eggs, and other ingredients is found almost everywhere in Malaysia and Singapore.
Sold by stalls in coffee shops or hawkers by the roadside, Popiah is available raw or deep-fried and costs anywhere from RM1.30 to RM3.00 per roll, which is US$0.37 – US$0.85. Some people have even brought this delicious dish to the city shopping malls. Sisters Popiah and Just Popiah are some of the names I know of who sell Popiah in the shopping malls.
Popiah at Jonker Street – Crowd waiting for their orderI arrived at Jonker Street on a Friday on my way back from Singapore, and while walking around and exploring this beautiful street, I chanced upon a fairly large crowd gathering around this mobile hawker stall. Without any questions, I was there before you could say ‘Jack Sparrow’. Curiosity kills the cat, they say, so I guess it runs in my blood.
Jonker Street Popiah – Serving fresh and deep-fried popiahs
The crowd must have been holidaymakers, as everyone seemed so impressed that this old man was making popiah in a run-down mobile hawker stall. The trouble with Malaysians is when they see something old and creaky, it must be good! Seriously, this habit has been passed down from generation to generation.
Anyway, the women were busy taking pictures of Uncle Popiah while other nosy tourists quickly nudged their way in to get what everyone wanted. Some even ordered more than they could finish. It’s a culture, I tell you, a Malaysian or Singaporean culture. If something is good, they will try to buy the entire stall out, taking it home for relatives and even for the neighbours two roads away.
Jonker Street Popiah – Uncle making one after anotherI must conclude I had my fair share of getting what everyone wanted. However, it took me a long walk to turn back when the crown was low. I ordered just one single fresh roll to try it and the conclusion…… it was normal. Malaysians would say, ‘ok, only lah‘.
There are many well-known popiah stalls or hawkers throughout Malaysia, and I hope to share more of my popiah escapades in future postings. If you have never tried a popiah, I suggest you do so. If you cannot eat spicy foods, you can ask them not to have the chilli spread. It is well worth the experience while in Southeast Asia.
If you are familiar with it, Jonker Street is now called Jalan Hang Jebat, and it is in the heart of Melaka’s tourist spot. Rows of heritage buildings line the roads here, along with many restaurants and antique shops. This place is a popular day trip for many tourists, mainly from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.
The best time to get here is around 10 in the morning. You can explore the many tourist sites and then head over to Jonker Street to finish your day there. An evening at the night markets would be a great ending for your Melaka outing.
Conclusion
Popiah at Jonker Street in UNESCO site Melaka is a must-try food when you visit. For a full introduction to the unique spring roll, visit the link in Wikipedia on Popiah, as it can give you a better understanding of this unique dish found all over Malaysia and here in Melaka.
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