One of the last places we visited in Kelantan was Pasar Siti Khadijah. We always say that the food on offer at a market always reflects the culture and way of life of a destination. Indeed, after visiting Pasar Siti Khadijah, I can attest that the food and cuisine offered at this place clearly tell us that Kelantan’s culture and traditions are very colourful and fascinating.
Pasar Siti Khadijah is one of the most popular places in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, representing this culture through its services. Named after the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H.) wife, Khadijah, the place is mostly run and managed by women. It is named after her because Khadijah was a true businesswoman of her time.
Pasar Siti Khadijah is so beautiful that it is regarded as one of the most photogenic destinations in Malaysia. The businesses and stalls run by women make this place very unique. Beyond this fact, the three-storey building houses a colourful vegetable market and hundreds of stalls, giving locals and tourists alike even more reasons to visit. Essentially, Pasar Khadijah is known for its supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, but this does not mean only such goods are sold here.
Besides fruits and vegetables, Pasar Khadijah also sells fresh ingredients such as fish, meat, spices, sweets, silver and bronze items, and various kinds of household goods. Some ready-made foods are also available, which are much admired by shoppers for their uniqueness in flavour and presentation.
Of these ready-made dishes, soup noodles are very popular for their varied flavours and tastes. Pasar Khadijah’s desserts cannot be overlooked. Kuih Muih (traditional cakes), tempe (fermented soybean cake), and hot milk tea are very popular desserts and widely enjoyed in Kelantan. It would be a shame to come all the way to Kota Bharu and not visit Pasar Siti Khadijah.
The varieties of fish found at Pasar Khadijah include round herring, long-tail shad, tuna, pomfret, Indian mackerel, and many more. Likewise there are freshwater fish such as catfish and eel. Besides fish, fresh beef, meat, and eggs are also available. Fresh vegetables such as cabbage, chillies, cauliflower, and others are commonplace. There are local and foreign fruits such as bananas, grapes, oranges, mangoes, watermelons, and many more.
This market not only offers local goods, but also items from Thailand such as food, snacks, cakes, and tea. Among the most interesting foods found here are macadamia nuts in the shell.
Traders on the ground floor and the first floor mainly sell foods that are locally produced and imported from Thailand. Some foods recommended for purchase include dodol (a sticky sweet confection), keropok ikan (fish crackers), serunding (spicy dry-cooked minced meat), budu (fermented fish sauce), Tom Yum paste, and pickles.
On the second floor, one can find clothing. Batik in particular is sold here… although the building next to this market may be another good place to get batik, as the entire building is dedicated to selling clothing.
If you visit Kota Bharu but don’t want to eat out, this market is a suitable place to get fresh ingredients for cooking at a homestay or at our Salaam Suites.
In the ready-made desserts, the sweetness is usually high (in line with the demand of locals), so any traveller wishing for low sugar should let the seller know in advance. Another reason for Pasar Khadijah’s popularity is its central location, as tourists can easily visit other attractions.
This beautiful market in Kelantan usually starts business in the early morning and closes in the early evening. Typically, the market hours are recorded as 8am-6pm, and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are the busiest days. However, due to the construction of large supermarkets, Pasar Khadijah has lost some of its foot traffic.
Even so, this place is still one of the iconic spots for tourists and locals in Kelantan to find all sorts of things, including local delicacies, fresh fruits, snacks, vegetables, clothing, and even gold.
We encourage you to visit Pasar Siti Khadijah at around 8 or 9am. The reason is that if you go later than that, the traffic will become more congested.
