Why Roti John is called John but not James.

One of the popular bread snacks favored by the Singaporeans, Malaysians and especially Bruneians, it is "Roti John."

"Roti John" nowadays has different names associated to it according to their size and ingredients.

Let's take the example of a bed.

The smallest version, for example ; the cradle is called Baby John. Obviously because of the smaller shape (although the ingredients remains the same according to the preferences of the customer).


Single bed for the single at heart (or otherwise) is the standard and typical size for the regular Roti John, simply refer to as Roti John. Amusingly enough Roti Johns are sold at a price affordable enough for bachelors who has a tight issue on their savings. Which means having dinner with Nasi Katok as the main course and consuming the Roti as the appetizer isn't a new thing.

A queen-size bed version of the delicacy is called Mama John. The biggest version is, as you guessed it,
Papa John. 

There are a number of varied stories as to why Roti John, a Malay snack, has an English name attached to it. Although, if one is to be precise about Grammar here, the food should be called "John's Roti" or any other corny sounding name.

The story goes like this.

Back in the early days, there was this foreigner (and no, his name is not Sir John Jeremy Jabbolah) went to a stall. He requested the cook to make him a simple snack ; bread with omelet in between. Seemed like the customer favored the chef's first try of the request and has then been seen frequented the stall each tea time. Since the cook didn't really file a patent for the snack, people just call it plainly Roti. But there's many Roti in the menu so they add "John" because of the foreigner/customer who always bought it. The locals didn't really know his name so they use the name "John" for it was one of the typical English names back then.