Burgers, Fried Chicken, Steaks and Chicken Chops

Whatever fast foods that our youngsters take for granted nowadays, those were very unheard of during my childhood. Growing up in Taiping, most of the time I had my mother’s home-cooked meals and the monthly dinner of satay with fried koay-teow at the Casual Market (Dad’s treat after pay-day). In that bygone era, Taiping would be a quiet town after 10.00 PM, even 24 Hours mamak restaurants were not in existence yet. Except for one establishment, the Lake View Night Club. I am sure many of the older generation remember this night club well. It was one of the typical old night clubs with a band and a songstress, accompanied by a “troop” of dancing girls. Patrons would have to purchase tickets to dance with them.

Alright, back to the story of the main topic – fast food, steaks and chicken chops.

The first ever burger stall in Taiping came in existence sometime mid 1970’s. It was located beside the Chinese coffee-shop opposite the Kwantung Association Building (near Taiping Land Office). In that coffee-shop also, there was an Indian Muslim who sold very delicious murtabak. Those were the times before “Burger Ramly” and the burger patties were bought from the supermarket in Taiping.  Once, I bought a packet of the burger patties to cook my own burger at home. Somehow, my own cooked burger did not taste as good as the ones made at that stall. It was only in the 1980s, that more burger stalls began to sprout around Taiping and Kamunting. By then, the supplies could be obtained from “Burger Ramly” outlet.

As for steaks and chicken chops, the Yut Sun Restaurant was famed for its Hainanese style steaks and chicken chops. The restaurant still exist today and the beef and chicken chops are still tasty. The Western style of these food items was introduced in Taiping when the first ever coffee-house was opened in 1970s- the Comfy Corner Coffee House. Amazingly, that coffee house also has one of the tasty “nasi lemak and chicken rendang” that I had ever eaten. Of course, the price can be termed “expensive” for the people of Taiping in those days.

Back then, Comfy Corner Coffee House was considered a “First Class” establishment. Even the late Sultan Perak, Sultan Idris Shah, would patronize this coffee house whenever he was in town. Comfy Corner was known for its delicious steaks and chicken chops. I remember it was tagged with “The Best Steaks In Town” on its advert. Entertainment was provided by a one-man singer with the Yamaha organ. That time, no karaoke yet. This coffee house is now called the Nagaria Steak House.

                                        
The first ever fried chicken restaurant opened in 1978. It was the McDota Fried Chicken, a Malaysian franchise chain. It was located opposite the Lido cinema. MacDota introduced the crisp fried chicken to the Taiping folk. The restaurant was always quite full when it was newly opened. Two of my classmates worked there while waiting for their MCE results in 1979. That establishment lasted for several years until KFC came to Taiping in the 1980s. Of course, where there is KFC, there would be its partner, Pizza Hut and its rival, MacDonalds.

Nowadays, not only there are KFC and MacD restaurants. There is a MacDonalds Drive-Thru near the Taiping Lake Gardens (opposite the Library) and KFC opened its Drive-thru outlet near Simpang.

Despite the “invasion” of these fast-food chains, the local food scene like the Casual Market and "Bomba Padang" in Taiping remains resilient and survives. Even the sprouting of “kopi-tiam”s just add more choice to the growing populace and the younger generation who return to their beloved hometown. These places would become the meeting point for a good makan, coffee or tea and to chit-chat until past midnight.

And yes, Taiping now has several 24-hours mamak restaurants.