Cover image via 
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.
If you've ever felt that our pasar malam has been 'gentrified' with vendors selling pricey, trendy food, you're not alone.
A Nigerian's TikTok post on this has gone viral, with hundreds of comments from people venting a shared frustration.
In a TikTok post this week, 31-year-old business writer Owen Claire lamented how the night market experience has evolved over the years.
"Malaysia is losing its culture, pasar malam doesn't feel like pasar malam anymore.
"Things are outrageously priced the same as in Jaya Grocer, chocolate and cheesecake are slowly replacing karipap, [and] shawarma is slowly replacing roti," reads the text on her post.
At the time of writing, the post has garnered over 245,000 views
"Went to the pasar malam to buy an ice blended [drink], but everyone's selling matcha and coffee. Bring back my ice blended [drink]!" read a top comment, resonating with Claire's view.
Another TikTok user wrote, "Why is it so hard to find original pisang goreng these days? Don't want cheese, don't want chocolate, don't want any toppings. Bring back the pisang goreng that was RM3 for a whole bunch, not three tiny pieces for RM1."
One netizen lamented how pasar malam has lost its local flavour. They recalled when stalls were filled with putu bamboo, keropok lekor, satay, nasi lemak bungkus, kuih muih, popiah basah, and fresh sugarcane juice, saying even just strolling through used to be enjoyable.
These days, however, many stalls are dominated by Korean, Japanese, and Western food.
Meanwhile, another netizen said pasar malam in Kedah, Perlis, Terengganu, and Kelantan still hold on to the culture we are familiar with, adding, "Respect to them because they are not following the weird trend."
Speaking to SAYS, Claire said her first visit to a pasar malam was in 2013
The Cyberjaya resident, who frequently travels between countries, shared that her favourite part of the old pasar malam was always the food.
Local delicacies were not only unique but also affordable, ranging from traditional kuih, freshly grilled satay, and nasi lemak to apam balik and other speciality snacks rarely found in restaurants.
Each stall, she said, had its own charm, with food that felt "homemade and authentic".
The excitement of waiting for pasar malam day each week was something she looked forward to. The atmosphere, she recalled, was "lively, warm, and affordable".
"Most importantly, it was the way you could mingle with locals, strike up a conversation, and feel like you were part of a shared experience rather than just shopping," she said.
