Pasar Malam Taman Century: The Monday Night Market on Jalan Seladang, JB

Every Monday evening, Jalan Seladang in Taman Century, 80250 Johor Bahru closes to vehicles and transforms into a 628-metre pasar malam stretching from the main entrance of KSL City Mall all the way to Grand Paragon Hotel — roughly 100 stalls of street food, fresh produce, clothing and household goods, with the first stall less than 200 metres from the KSL D’Esplanade lobby.

You can smell it before you see it. Walk out of KSL on a Monday evening and the air shifts — charcoal smoke, garlic oil, caramelised sugar drifting from an apam balik griddle somewhere down the row. By 6pm the road is packed, lights are strung across makeshift frames, and you’re weaving past plastic stools and polystyrene trays with no particular plan except to eat. That’s the Pasar Malam Taman Century (also called Pasar Malam Taman Abad), and it’s one of JB’s most-visited neighbourhood night markets. For guests staying at Southern Homestay at KSL D’Esplanade, it is, honestly, just downstairs.

Where exactly is the Pasar Malam Taman Century?

The market runs along Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad (also known as Taman Century), 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor — the same road fronting KSL City Mall. Starting from the main entrance of KSL City Mall, the stall row stretches approximately 628 metres toward Grand Paragon Hotel at the far end. The road is closed to vehicles from around 4pm as vendors begin setup.

• Address: Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad (Taman Century), 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
• Day: Every Monday only
• Hours: 5:00pm – 10:00pm (setup from ~4pm; most stalls begin closing ~8:30pm)
• Peak crowd: 6:30pm – 7:30pm
• Halal status: NOT halal-certified as a whole — see section below before visiting
• Distance from KSL D’Esplanade: Under 200 m (1–3 minutes on foot)
• Google Maps: Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad 📍

Is the Pasar Malam Taman Century halal?

This is the most important thing to flag before you go: the Pasar Malam Taman Century is predominantly Chinese-operated and is not considered a halal-friendly market as a whole. Pork items are present throughout — pork bao, dim sum parcels with pork filling, pork-based soups. Travel sources including Airial.travel note that most stalls are not halal-certified. Muslim visitors should be aware of this before heading down.

That said, some halal-friendly stalls do exist within the market — vendors selling ayam percik (charcoal-grilled coconut chicken), grilled seafood skewers, Malay-style kuih and fresh fruit. If halal compliance matters to you, verify with each individual stall owner rather than assume. The market does not carry a blanket halal status.

What stalls and food can you find there?

Roughly 100 stalls line Jalan Seladang, and the variety is genuinely wide. JB food writers Johor Kaki and iPackTravel both describe it as “all kinds of food stuffs, fruits, vegetables, bags, clothes, etc.” Here is a breakdown of what you will typically find:

• Chinese street food: stinky tofu, Hong Kong-style carrot cake (white and black versions), dim sum skewers, steamed buns including pork bao, chwee kueh, kolo mee, chee cheong fun, oyster omelette, muah chee
• Grilled and fried: Taiwanese-style fried chicken, charcoal-grilled seafood and sotong, roasted duck
• Malay-friendly options: ayam percik, grilled seafood, Malay kuih — stall locations rotate each week
• Fresh produce: fruits, vegetables, eggs, fresh fish — local families shop here for the week, so the produce section is genuinely good
• Non-food: clothing, bags, accessories, household goods and the usual pasar malam sundries

What the market is not known for: Indian food stalls are rarely spotted. If you are after roti canai or banana leaf rice, see our guide to Indian food near KSL instead.

How far is it from KSL D’Esplanade?

Under 200 metres — roughly one to three minutes on foot. The night market begins directly at the main entrance of KSL City Mall, and KSL D’Esplanade sits within the KSL City complex. Walk out of the lobby, cross onto Jalan Seladang, and you are already among the first stalls. The full market then stretches 628 metres away from KSL toward Grand Paragon Hotel, so the round trip is just over 1.2 km. Flat sandals are fine but comfortable shoes are better — the road surface is uneven when stalls occupy both shoulders.

When should you arrive?

Arrive by 6pm lah. That is the sweet spot: stalls are fully open, popular items have not sold out, and the peak crush has not hit. Peak hour is 6:30pm to 7:30pm when things get genuinely sardine-packed (part of the fun, but also when the grilled sotong queue doubles in length). By 8:30pm most vendors start packing down, so arriving at 9pm expecting a full market will disappoint. Go early, not late.

Insider tip: stall vendors rotate periodically, so repeat Monday visits genuinely surface new finds. If something you tried on your last trip is not there this week, that is normal pasar malam character — keep walking.

Practical tips before you go

• Cash is king. Most stalls are cash-only. Bring small ringgit notes — RM1, RM5 and RM10 — so you are not hunting for change on every snack.
• No car access from ~4pm. Jalan Seladang closes to vehicles early. Use the KSL basement carpark (fills fast on Monday evenings) or book a Grab. Guests at KSL D’Esplanade need no transport at all.
• Walk the full stretch first. Do not buy from the very first stall. Walk 100–200 metres in, compare options, then backtrack to your favourites — the better stalls tend to be where the local crowd clusters.
• Buy fresh produce last. Pick up fruit and vegetables at the end of your walk so they are not crushed at the bottom of your bag for an hour.
• Busy on public holiday Mondays. School holidays and public holiday Mondays draw noticeably larger crowds. Budget an extra fifteen minutes.

What should you eat first, and what should you save for later?

Start with hot, made-to-order items while the grills are at full blast, such as grilled seafood or fried snacks, then save fruit and takeaway packs for the end of your walk. Sweet items like kuih and pancakes make a fine finish. If you are sharing, split each portion so you can try more stalls before you fill up.

How do you handle the crowd with kids or a stroller?

Go early, when there is still room to move, and choose the edges of the road rather than the centre. A baby carrier is much easier than a stroller once the lane gets tight. Keep little ones close, since the road is narrow and busy at peak time. If it starts to rain, the KSL City Mall entrance is right there, so it is easy to duck inside and wait.

What are the pros and cons?

Pros: a genuinely local scene, cheap eats, a huge variety, and it is essentially downstairs from your unit. Cons: it is crowded at peak time, mostly cash, uneven road surface, and not a halal-certified market as a whole (see the halal section above). It is a Monday-only event, so plan your stay around it if it matters to you.

Want another supper plan for the other evenings? Our Century Street Food Court guide covers a large open-air food court nearby, and our KSL pasar malam guide gives more background on the market.

Planning a trip to Johor Bahru? Book your stay at Southern Homestay — our studio and 2-bedroom units at KSL D’Esplanade are under 200 m from the Pasar Malam Taman Century on Jalan Seladang. WhatsApp us at +60 12-708 8789 to check availability.