This classic street food item consists of a French loaf that is sliced lengthwise and generously doused with a mixture of lightly beaten eggs, minced meat, onions, and various combination of spices and vegetables. The bread is then fried top-down, until the topping sets and becomes crispy.
The history of roti John is shrouded in mystery, but most agree that it was created by a hawker named Shukor in Singapore, sometime in the 1970s. From there it spread to other parts of Malaysian peninsula and has become a classic hawker dish that is always freshly prepared and served warm, typically sliced into smaller pieces.