Food Outlets Past And Present

[jw5]

I remember very vaguely in the late 70s or early 80s, there was an open air hawker centre in the car park next to where Specialists Centre used to be.

But when I asked several people, some of whom are older than me, none of them could remember this.

Can anyone remember? What were some of the famous stalls there?

On present food outlets, I happened to notice that there is a restuarant outside Plaza Singapura next to Dhoby Gaut MRT station, which purports to sell roti prata from Jalan Kayu.
Has anyone noticed this restaurant or patronized it?
How's the quality and can you confirm it's from Jalan Kayu?

It's a worry that as all these coffee shops or hawker stalls move into such upmarket establishments, prices will only go up and up at a fast rate. Do you have similar concerns?

 

[ps07857]

I remember that the beef soup noodle at the specialist centre was good. There was also this chef who will make noodle strands by hand and he will slam it against a wooden board on his table outside the stall. Sometimes, a crowd will gather just to watch him perform his skills.

 

[Papsmearer]

I remember very vaguely in the late 70s or early 80s, there was an open air hawker centre in the car park next to where Specialists Centre used to be.

But when I asked several people, some of whom are older than me, none of them could remember this.

Can anyone remember? What were some of the famous stalls there?

On present food outlets, I happened to notice that there is a restuarant outside Plaza Singapura next to Dhoby Gaut MRT station, which purports to sell roti prata from Jalan Kayu.
Has anyone noticed this restaurant or patronized it?
How's the quality and can you confirm it's from Jalan Kayu?

It's a worry that as all these coffee shops or hawker stalls move into such upmarket establishments, prices will only go up and up at a fast rate. Do you have similar concerns?

The one next to specialists entre I think u are referring to the one next tothe theatre, Capitol, i think on Coleman road. The beef noodle stall there is the best. If u are talking about about old stalls in Jalan kayu, there used to be one Indian mee siam stall near the old St Vincent De Paul church that was the best.

 

[halsey02]

I remember very vaguely in the late 70s or early 80s, there was an open air hawker centre in the car park next to where Specialists Centre used to be.

But when I asked several people, some of whom are older than me, none of them could remember this.

Can anyone remember? What were some of the famous stalls there?

On present food outlets, I happened to notice that there is a restuarant outside Plaza Singapura next to Dhoby Gaut MRT station, which purports to sell roti prata from Jalan Kayu.
Has anyone noticed this restaurant or patronized it?
How's the quality and can you confirm it's from Jalan Kayu?

It's a worry that as all these coffee shops or hawker stalls move into such upmarket establishments, prices will only go up and up at a fast rate. Do you have similar concerns?

This was Orchard Rd Carpark hawker stalls, it starts after 6pm, when the car park becomes a hawker centre. There was = a Satay Bee Hoon stall there, used to be very good, other than that, I do not remember much for the food.

The place was also the haunt of those who know the "Orchard Rd Cowboy". He would dress in western gear, with plastic hoster, gun & bullets ( toy), first he would hang around the bus stop in front of Paviilion store ( Orchard Emerald now that row), and then slowly saunter over to the Car Park/Hawker Stalls. Anyone knows if he is still alive? he was around 30 or 40 + in those days..

The Orchard road car park hawker stalls, was the favourite of those who want a quick bite, before heading to the various Discotecques on Orchard in those days...ahh! Pinkk Flamingo, Chatter Box I & II, The Libraby...ahh Chinoserie...Atlantis, ..something like that...my that was eons ago..

 

[Leongsam]

I remember very vaguely in the late 70s or early 80s, there was an open air hawker centre in the car park next to where Specialists Centre used to be.

Orchard Car park ( Next to Specialist Centre) Hawker Centre. Most of the stalls were good and the parking attendant was a cowboy.

Our Saturday night ritual involved a movie at Jurong Drive-in followed by supper at the Orchard carpark. We then proceeded to burn rubber up and down Orchard Road in our race tuned Mini Cooper Ss and BMW 2002tiis. The night ended with coffee at the Chatterbox at about 5 am.

 

[halsey02]

The one next to specialists entre I think u are referring to the one next tothe theatre, Capitol, i think on Coleman road. The beef noodle stall there is the best. If u are talking about about old stalls in Jalan kayu, there used to be one Indian mee siam stall near the old St Vincent De Paul church that was the best.

Capitol Theatre Car park stalls you are referring to the old days? where the National TV advertisement Tower was? with the Kangaroo Club for the Australian NZ BR forces at one corner or the one with the multi storey car park? with the stalls at the back?

The Beef noodle stall, the indian Kambing soup that will give you smoke from the rear ( ha ha)...and the drinks stalls...

The mee siam stall at bencoolen Street? those sold by the poeple from Gujeratis' right?, the Rams, Tiwarys...that stall wasn't the best, the one at the 3rd storey of Golden Shoe Car park, and one at Prince Edward Rd Carpark hawker Stalls...and in the day the hawker stalls at Finger Pier not far from there..the best Char Kawy Teow With hum...yummy!

 

[johnny333]

The carrot cake was good. So too was the chinese rojak, where you pick sausage, prawn,...which they'll fry then cut up for you . Also remember a stall selling hamburger for only $1.10

 

[johnny333]

We then proceeded to burn rubber up and down Orchard Road in our race tuned Mini .....

In those days Orchard Rd was a 2 way street. With shops on both sides.Paradise & memories lost :(

 

[halsey02]

The carrot cake was good. So too was the chinese rojak, where you pick sausage, prawn,...which they'll fry then cut up for you . Also remember a stall selling hamburger for only $1.10

Thanks Bro!..'in the foggy morning, I come following you"..

The 'Or Hiang Stall"...yeah...carrot cake...if I am not mistaken the satay stall too ( Chinese)...I don't remember the hamburger stall?..drinks yes..! for it was the oasis for cheap ( not that cheap at that time, for Orchard Rd it was) roadside drinks...

 

[johnny333]

I don't remember the hamburger stall?..

Hamburger is a youngsters food & back then I was very young. Imagine $1.10 for a hamburger & fries Still remember the location, the end closer to Ruby Photo halfway in. This was a time when MacD wasn't in Spore yet.

Other than the burgers at Jackie's Bowl I don't think there was any other burger joint back then. The stall was probably the pioneer of todays Western food stalls you now commonly find.

 

[Papsmearer]

The mee siam stall at bencoolen Street? those sold by the poeple from Gujeratis' right?, the Rams, Tiwarys...that stall wasn't the best, the one at the 3rd storey of Golden Shoe Car park, and one at Prince Edward Rd Carpark hawker Stalls...and in the day the hawker stalls at Finger Pier not far from there..the best Char Kawy Teow With hum...yummy!

Yeah, actually, where can u get those indian/gujerati mee siam? I can't find it anymore. the waythey flavour the bee hoon, fantastic and sweet. U got any lobang or not? I think these indians just died out and no one carried on the tradition.

 

[halsey02]

Yeah, actually, where can u get those indian/gujerati mee siam? I can't find it anymore. the waythey flavour the bee hoon, fantastic and sweet. U got any lobang or not? I think these indians just died out and no one carried on the tradition.

The last "ram' I know , went back to India together with his Indian Mee Siam..btw, the same type of Indian's were the ones that come on biccycle with the wooden box & opens up where they sell the kaya bread, with magarine..dunno why...we use the same bread, kaya & magarine at home...it just don't taste the same, they come with the sugee cake..which I love too...

So sad, that these people did not leave their Mee Siam legacy begind & so sdid their roti...:p

 

[halsey02]

Hamburger is a youngsters food & back then I was very young. Imagine $1.10 for a hamburger & fries Still remember the location, the end closer to Ruby Photo halfway in. This was a time when MacD wasn't in Spore yet.

Other than the burgers at Jackie's Bowl I don't think there was any other burger joint back then. The stall was probably the pioneer of todays Western food stalls you now commonly find.

I think I have a vague memory of this burger stall...that was before Mr.Kwang started his Mac Donald's outlet at Liat Tower, where Burger King is now.. ( is it still there?)...

used to buy myself a MacShake, Apple Pie, Fries...and oggle at the girls walking by....along Orchard Rd , that is..

and whatever happened to all the Centre Point McDonald's kids?...all grown up adults today? I believe..and having chindren of their own...

 

[halsey02]

Hamburger is a youngsters food & back then I was very young. Imagine $1.10 for a hamburger & fries Still remember the location, the end closer to Ruby Photo halfway in. This was a time when MacD wasn't in Spore yet.

Other than the burgers at Jackie's Bowl I don't think there was any other burger joint back then. The stall was probably the pioneer of todays Western food stalls you now commonly find.

i thought ruby photo is at peninsular shopping centre...i used to develop my b & w filmn there...

 

[johnny333]

.btw, the same type of Indian's were the ones that come on biccycle with the wooden box & opens up where they sell the kaya bread, with magarine..dunno why...

In the place where I stayed, Bukit Timah, the man on the bicycle was a chinese. The bread was the usual kind found in those olden days. Would impatiently watch the guy cut off the harder crust & spread the kaya. The final outcome was a yummy kaya sandwich

I've seen still bakeries in Teacher's Estate & Yio Chu Kang(near Motorola).

 

[johnny333]

i thought ruby photo is at peninsular shopping centre...i used to develop my b & w filmn there...

In the old days there was no Peninsula Shopping Centre

If I remember they were the 1st shop from the parking lot, opposite Cold Storage. Thats where I usually saw the Cisco kid showing off his fast draw

As a kid I had the same plastic pistol

 

[johnny333]

I think I have a vague memory of this burger stall...that was before Mr.Kwang started his Mac Donald's outlet at Liat Tower, where Burger King is now.. ( is it still there?)...

used to buy myself a MacShake, Apple Pie, Fries...and oggle at the girls walking by....along Orchard Rd , that is..

and whatever happened to all the Centre Point McDonald's kids?...all grown up adults today? I believe..and having chindren of their own...

Burger King is still there. MacD moved further down to The Forum, Shaw Centre, Far East Centre,...

I was too busy with the burger to oggle the girls. In Spore MacD burgers have gone downhill. If you are in BKK you can still get decent MacD burgers.

The Centre point genaeration have moved on to better things in Aust, Canada, US,....., leaving old uncles to remember the past :(

 

[jw5]

I remember that the beef soup noodle at the specialist centre was good. There was also this chef who will make noodle strands by hand and he will slam it against a wooden board on his table outside the stall. Sometimes, a crowd will gather just to watch him perform his skills.

Does this mean that you remember that there was a hawker centre there?
I vaguely remember, but when those guys told me they don't, I'm beginning to have my doubts.

 

[jw5]

The one next to specialists entre I think u are referring to the one next tothe theatre, Capitol, i think on Coleman road. The beef noodle stall there is the best. If u are talking about about old stalls in Jalan kayu, there used to be one Indian mee siam stall near the old St Vincent De Paul church that was the best.

No, you misunderstand me.
The hawker centre I was referring to was next to the former specialists centre and now near the somerset mrt station. It was a car park in the day and at night, it was transformed into a hawker centre.
Nowhere near capitol cinema.

My other question was that there is a restaurant now near dhoby gaut mrt station that purports to sell prata from the jalan kayu stalls and whether you have tried it.

 

[jw5]

This was Orchard Rd Carpark hawker stalls, it starts after 6pm, when the car park becomes a hawker centre. There was = a Satay Bee Hoon stall there, used to be very good, other than that, I do not remember much for the food.

The place was also the haunt of those who know the "Orchard Rd Cowboy". He would dress in western gear, with plastic hoster, gun & bullets ( toy), first he would hang around the bus stop in front of Paviilion store ( Orchard Emerald now that row), and then slowly saunter over to the Car Park/Hawker Stalls. Anyone knows if he is still alive? he was around 30 or 40 + in those days..

The Orchard road car park hawker stalls, was the favourite of those who want a quick bite, before heading to the various Discotecques on Orchard in those days...ahh! Pinkk Flamingo, Chatter Box I & II, The Libraby...ahh Chinoserie...Atlantis, ..something like that...my that was eons ago..

Yes, bro, thanks for confirming and for the extra information.
You have helped me to confirm that I didn't dream it up.