Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Labrador Villa Food Centre: Food Centres should have World Heritage Status!

With smart and liverpool

Lontong $2.50

At the rate the NEA are going with the upgrading of food centres, we will soon have nothing good left to eat! Just take the venerable Tiong Bahru Market for example. Tiong Bahru used to stand tall and proud as the place to eat. Now it seems like it needs a double dose of Viagara to restore its vitality. Somehow, the upgrading of the premises usually means the tastiness of the food somehow goes downhill.

It seems that over the last few years, the NEA has been busy upgrading food centres. Of course, progress is good and new facilities mean better hygiene and working environment for Singaporeans. However, it also means that some hawkers take it as a signal to retire and returning to the new premises means higher rents and for many it may mean they have to cut corners in order to remain viable. So as a food lover, I lament whenever I hear that another hawker centre is slated to be upgraded. It's almost like it has been passed the death sentence.

I just wish that some of the good old hawker centres can be put on the heritage list so that they can be preserved for our future generations. Just take tiny row of hawker stalls along Labrador Villa Road. It kind of reminds me of the good old hawker centre outside of the botanic gardens years ago. Serving mainly Malay and Indian Muslim food, it is probably the last of its kind in Singapore. When I look at it, I think "Wha, sure got good food", but I am sure when the NEA officers look at it, they are thinking "Hmmm, put on upgrade list!" Perhaps the only way to preserve these places is to have them in opposition constituencies!









Anyway, ranting about it isn't going to change its inevitable fate, so let's talk about the food.

Damien has been telling us about this wonderful Lontong that is being made by this Mak Cik who looks like she fits right in with the antique environment. So we had to make a trip down to see just how good it really is. The stall is actually No. 5 but when we got there it had already sold out. So instead, we bought tried the lontong from the stall next door (No. 6). One thing about the food here is that it is still very cheap. We got a whole bowl of lontong with the works for $2.50. And it was actually quite good. The soup was lemak without being over jialat. 4/5. Perhaps if you manage to get down there, compare No. 5 with No. 6 and let us know.



Damien also recommended the Nasi Briyani being sold at the far end of the row of shops. We found the Chicken curry was very good, but the rice was found lacking. Maybe because of the increase in the price of rice, they reverted to poorer quality rice. Still not a bad briyani if you are having the briyani craving 3.75/5

Conclusion

This place really has a nice Kampung atmosphere to it. Come in the afternoon and you will see lots of people drinking Teh Tarik and eating Epok Epok. One of the last places of its kind in Singapore! If you are a part of the Y Gen, you have to visit this place at least once to experience what Singapore was really like in the good old days before it gets handed the NEA Death Warrant!

Labrador Villa Road Food Centre
Jn of Alexandra and Pasir Panjang Road

Stall No 5 and 6 for Lontong

Opens 6.30am to 10pm daily

15 comments:

SCS butter said...

The prata is pretty good too. My fav plc for a noon cuppa

Anonymous said...

Dr Tay, If u happened to be in AMK, try the Lontong and Mee Rebus at the coffee shop (below multi storey carpark) at Blk 316B AMK Ave 1(entrance of via St 31).
While there u may also like to check out the Pancakes (Belinda's Pancake) at the market opp this coffe shop. it has very good Crispy Peanut Pancake with Cheese for $1 per pc.
During the evening, from 6.45 pm onwards, there is a stall in the market that serves pretty good Teochew Porridge. They serve good steamed Promfet, teochew style. (B prepared to Q for yr food)

Rgds
Steven

ieat said...

Thanks for the headsup Steven!

In order to comment under your name, you can tick the name option and type steven or an even better way is to register an Open ID at www.myopenid.com. With that ID you can use it on multiple platforms like typepad, wordpress etc

CK Lam said...

Hi,
Came across yr blog and find it very interesting...with lots of nice food. Tks for sharing.
Would be a good reference for me when I'm down in S'pore.

what2see

itOe : kaleidoscope of illusiOns said...

yes yes! this place serves one of the best mee rebus i have tried so far. only $2 6 yrs ago! :)

Damien said...

This place reminds me of the good ol' days...

Good food and nice chill-out environment without any pretensions :)

If the lontong is sold out, the nasi campur at stall no. 5 is also very good too.

If you're feeling stressed out from the onerous workload from your job and working nearby, an epok epok (make that two) with a glass of teh tarik during tea time will definitely chase the blues away :)

Sorry to hear about the standard of the nasi.

SCS butter said...

Damien, agree with you man! Can park free some more but must jagar the carpark attendant la...

Fattybom said...

I've got some photos of MeiLing Street hawker centre before it closed at end of April.
http://fattybom.blogspot.com/2008/05/mei-ling-hawker-renovation.html

It was a place for cheap and good food- $2 lor mee, laksa, cai tow kuay. Prices will inadvertently rise after rennovation.
Love the classic tiles, tables and spacious layout.
So sad about Tiong Bahru market. Really lost its soul after rennovation; still remember the zinc roof, cement floor and the old signboards. Now all hawker stalls look the same...

Fattybom said...

I tried Stall 5 today. And my verdict is- not great. How do you differentiate good and bad lontong anyway? the lontong's i've tried in my life usually have tasty soup.
Stall 5's version was bland but tasted ok after stirring in the chilli. Tofu was soft but other that that, other ingredients were ho-hum; just like the lontong I can get at my neighbourhood coffeeshop (Clementi Ave 5, blk 380)

Babylicious said...

I've tried the mee rebus from stall #6 and it is one of the best mee rebus that i've tasted! do give it a try! :)

taukwa said...

Indeed, NEA has really handed out the death warrant. I went there today and a notice was pasted there stating that the Food Centre will close for good on 01 Sep 2008.

For those who really like the food, or the 'old school' ambience, visit asap.

t i m o said...

there's a really nice bryani store besides peichun public, it's a small row of makan places, which from left to right sells chicken rice, curry puff, indian food and roast pork.

the guy that sells the bryani looks like sean connery.

the bryani is solid! served with chicken or mutton.

Damien said...

Must try Mohamed's briyani at the coffeeshop beside Golden Mile FC.

Wanted to get the tulang (bone marrow) but was sold out, so settled for the usual mutton pieces.

Whilst in the queue, I saw a mountain of pre-packed briyani lining up with name of the people who ordered them.

Alas, forgot to take a namecard.

liverpool1965 said...

another briyani place to visit, thanks Damien! better than the railway station's and Hamid's? :)

Sivasothi said...

Aiyah, place flattened already...one had hoped. Glad there was a food review here. I ate anything indiscriminately and happily because of the ambience.

"The Labrador kopi shops are no more."

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