Popularity of mamak stalls

A local university's research on the popularity of mamak stalls over other types of Muslim restaurants have shown that mamak restaurants or stalls are the local equivalent of fast food restaurants[citation needed]. The results have shown that despite having different owners, these restaurants offer similar choices of food as well as waiter service. They also operate at convenient hours at strategic locations, and tend to be cheap.

Newer mamak stalls have more of a cafe aspect, being well lit and furnished with stainless steel tables. Some are outfitted with large flat screen televisions, or even projectors, so that patrons can catch the latest programs or live football (soccer) matches as they dine.Some mamak stalls also provides free wi-fi service. Interestingly, most modern mamak stalls attempt to retain the charm of open air dining of its predecessors by setting up tables on a patio, the shoplot's walkway or even on the street. Nevertheless, all mamak stalls provide a casual ambiance and affordable food to locals who need a place to unwind or socialise.

Criticisms against mamak eateries

One of these criticisms are long working hours and poor working conditions of mamak stalls' employees. Many mamak restaurants are open 24 hours 7 days a week. They only close for Friday noon time congregational prayers and during the two Eid celebrations. Due to this, hygiene in mamak stalls is usually bad as the 24 hour operating times make cleaning a difficult task. Remunerations at these mamak restaurants are low. Most of the workers are foreign Indian nationals, since local workers would not be attracted to the pay and working conditions at these restaurants.

These mamak restaurants serve food and drinks which are high in fat and sugar. For example, teh tarik is strong tea with large doses of sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk. There are also several ways to prepare or embellish the basic roti canai, some of which involve large amounts of margarine.

The mamak stall roadside dining original concept is still maintained despite the restaurants themselves becoming bigger and more spacious. Dining areas commonly extend onto five foot pathways and busy intersections. This practice is illegal and hazardous to customers as well as road users. There have been cases of patrons being involved in road traffic accidents while dining at the road sides and getting killed in the process[citation needed]. Despite on and off raids by local authorities to get rid of illegal roadside dining, the trend still persists as mamak restaurant operators continue to blatantly flout the law by having their dining areas overflow on to walkways, roads and carparks.

Mamak fare

A standard mamak stall's menu would contain teh tarik and Milo and different varieties of roti canai. Most mamak stalls also serve several varieties of rice, such as nasi lemak and nasi goreng, as well as noodle dishes such as mee goreng (fried noodles). Extended menus would also include satay and at certain restaurants, Western food.

A typical Mamak stall will offer the following choices of food, though this may differ for different stalls:

-Roti Canai (Chennai bread)
-Roti Telur
-Teh Tarik
-Half-Boiled Eggs
-Goat Milk
-Murtabak
-Thosai
-Chapati
-Nasi Kandar
-Nasi Briyani
-Nasi Lemak
-Maggi Goreng
-Mee Goreng (Fried noodles)
-IndoMie Mi Goreng
-Pasembur
-Mamak Rojak
-Sup Kambing
-Sup Ayam
-Roti Tissue
-Roti Bakar
-Roti Bom
-Murtabak
-Roti Naan & Tandoori Chicken
-Poori