During Ramadan, Muslims in Brunei fast through the day and prepare for sungkai, the meal after sunset. By late afternoon, people gather at Ramadan bazaars around Bandar Seri Begawan to choose food to take home. In 2015, the government newspaper Pelita Brunei published a photograph of customers queueing at food stalls in the Gadong market.
A 2023 report focused on a giant roti john sold at the Ramadan bazaar by Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium. The egg-coated bread, filled with minced meat, vegetables and sauces, became widely discussed. Pelita Brunei explicitly reported that some customers were willing to stand in a long line to buy it. The vendor designed each box to feed a group, while advance promotion on social media helped turn the dish into a sought-after purchase.
Waiting here is also a way of imagining the table after the fast. A bazaar offers many choices, but those who settle on one celebrated dish join the same line and wait for their turn. The country and recipe may be different, yet the anticipation before carrying food home to family or friends takes a familiar shape at the stall.