Taman Serasi Food Centre was opened in 1975 and demolished in 2001. It was relatively small with just 18 food stalls but it was well loved and fondly remembered by many people.
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| Map of Taman Serasi (marked green) courtesy of National Archives of Singapore |
Conveniently located across the road from Singapore Botanical Gardens, it
was a popular eating spot for visitors to the Gardens, especially on
weekends. It was also across the road from the Ministry of Defence, hence it was a
regular lunch and supper haunt of servicemen. Visitors to Gleneagles Hospital just around the corner also stopped at Taman Serasi Food Centre. As it was not far from
Orchard Road, some weekend shoppers dropped by on the way to and fro the shopping
belt. The little food centre also served residents of nearby condominiums.
Sadly, Taman Serasi Food Centre was demolished in 2001.
Fourteen of the 18 food stalls from Taman Serasi Food Centre relocated to Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre which re-opened in Nov 2002 after upgrading.
Memories of Taman Serasi Food Centre
Most people remember Taman Serasi Food Centre as Roti John central because of the Roti John stalls there. There were up to four Roti John stalls here.
Old school Roti John is an omelette of chopped onion, sambal and spiced minced mutton sandwiched between two halves of a chewy French loaf. (Today's Roti John is a much different dish.)
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| Image courtesy of BeritaHarianSg |
After Taman Serasi Food Centre was demolished, Shukor Stall moved to Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre. The third generation operated the stall and was last heard from around 2011. Does anyone have more information about them now?
We are fortunate to have this video of the third generation of Shukor Stall Makanan Istimewa at Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre, so we know what the iconic Taman Selasi Roti John was really like.
Food Delights - Putu Mayam & Appam (untraced)
Renor Food - Malay food (untraced)
Mong Mui - Drinks (untraced)
Fu Xin - Chinese cooked food (untraced)
Lao Song Huat - Fishball kway teow & laksa
Satay Solo No. 8 - Malay food (untraced)
Shukor Stall No. 9 - Makanan Istimewa (Roti John)
Pak Jaapar Satay Stall No. 11 (untraced)
What do you remember of these stalls? Please share with us by leaving a comment. Thank you.
Most people remember Shukor Stall No. 9 Makanan Istimewa's Roti John.
Many people remember the soursop drink which paired well with the greasy, hearty Roti John. This was Lim Hin Cut Fruits & Fruit Juice now at stall #01-36 in Old Airport Road Food Centre.
Many remember the mee soto, soto ayam, mee goreng, teh halia.
A few remember Indian mee siam which differs from the Chinese (Nyonya) and Malay versions by being less sourish (less tamarind) and sweeter due to use of coconut milk or evaporated milk.
Some remember the fishball noodle stall. This was Lao Song Huat fishball noodle which moved to Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre stall #01-14.
There's satay, chicken rice (Halal), mutton soup, yang mei drink (Chinese bayberry), etc.
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| Gleneagles Hospital in 1996 courtesy of National Archives of Singapore |
Malcom Choi remembers chilling out with satay, mee soto and Roti John at Taman Serasi as an expectant father, twice 👶👶
Photos are courtesy of National Archives of Singapore.
Written by Tony Boey on 10 Sep 2021
San Choo said on Johor Kaki Facebook:
ReplyDeleteMy mother had an apartment at 2 Taman Serasi overlooking the hawker centre. Whenever I returned to Singapore from the UK on a visit, I would wake up to the aroma of satay being grilled! I used to walk past the hawkers on the way to Napier Road and they were usually well patronised. I understand that taxi drivers were among the regulars there.
It was always a cause for regret when the hawker centre closed due to the widening of Cluny Road that I did not patronise the stalls there as much as I would have liked, given its close proximity to my mother’s place!
Teochiew fish ball noodle and laksa was famous then
ReplyDelete