Chow Kit Market is one of the biggest and most popular street markets in Kuala Lumpur. The market is located in a sub-district called Chow Kit in the midst of Kuala Lumpur. The Chow Kit district was named after a tin miner and municipal councilor called Loke Chow Kit. The Chow Kit Market, also known as Bazaar Baru Chow Kit, is arguably the largest wet market and a famous tourist attraction not only in Chow Kit district but in the entire Kuala Lumpur.

Chow Kit Market is literally a wet market that is strung out along narrow lanes and alleys just to the east of the popular Jalan TAR. It is divided into various sections and is especially known for its fresh produce, which includes everything from exotic fruits and vegetables to live seafood, dried anchovies and meat. Chow Kit Market is also one of the best places to buy secondhand clothes. Numerous other stalls selling household goods, shoes, watches and a wide variety of everyday items fill the market.

The Vegetables at Chow Kit Market

Aside from the popular exotic food that is available here, other interesting sights at the Chow Kit Market are the shouting of stall owners which is meant to vie for potential customers’ attention and the transportation of carts laden with goods between stalls by porters. Although the smells of dried fish and anchovies can be overpowering and the narrow wooden walkways can be wet and slippery, the market offers an interesting glimpse of everyday life in Kuala Lumpur. In short, it’s one heck of a busy market.

Moreover, the Chow Kit Market is arguably a melting pot and gathering place of people of various ethic backgrounds. You can see not only the Malay, Chinese and Indian traders and customers at the Chow Kit Market, there is also the Indonesian, Bangladesh and the latest being the African community setting up their stalls here.

The Produce at Chow Kit Market

Even after the wet market closes at around 6pm, the Chow Kit Market is not yet over. In fact, this is just the beginning of more happening events in the Chow Kit Market. At around 7pm, the place will be taken over by night market. You can see a profusion of hawker stalls setting up shops, offering a variety of Malay snacks, as well as inexpensive but substantial meals, cooked in the traditional way. This is the place where you can taste the authentic Chinese and Indian food. The market is always bustling and often last into the early hours. As with other crowded areas, visitors should be vigilant of pickpockets, especially after dark.

All in all, the Chow Kit Market is definitely the place to visit if you would like to see the day to day life of the ordinary people in Kuala Lumpur. The common sights here are that most of the stalls are a bit run down and the entire market might look a bit like a slum. Occasionally, some beggars might even come up to you to beg for money. These are the usual scenes at the Chow Kit Market. This is how the lower rank of the people live their lives in Kuala Lumpur.

Location, Map and Driving Direction to Chow Kit Market:

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