Saturday 23 April 2022

Berkepoh-Kepoh @ The Starling

It feels like a long time since I did my walkabouts at Damansara Uptown

So last Saturday, after lunch, I decided to go back to my old kepoh-kepoh ways (albeit taking precaution on SOPs etc) and do an update on what's going down at Uptown.

By the way, there is some confusion among some people. Is Damasara Uptown the same as Damansara Utama? Yes and no. Generally this area SS 21 is and always has been Damansara Utama. Then when new development took place with the construction of the Uptown towers and residences, the area around that development became known as Damansara Uptown. 

The Uptown towers (eg UOB Bank is at Uptown 1 and Nasi Lemak Tanglin is at Uptown 3) are at the center of the square, surrounded by the Damansara Utama shophouses. So the people at the shophouse also started to borrow the "Uptown" name because Damansara Uptown sounds more high class than Damansara Utama.

I know my Uptown from my Utama having hung out in this area for 30 years. So you not sure, you ask me, ah?


Village Park is still going strong judging from the number of Grabfood bikes parked outside and the long queue. When you are "ong", you are "ong" , pandemic notwithstanding.


The Whale Tea has called it a day and I noted a new 7-Eleven Cafe next to it.

Then I went into The Starling. First stop was to inspect the foodcourt


Sambal Inc. is still doing all right in spite of what I think of their nasi kerabu.


Li Wei is still there.


So is Hotpot1. I must come and eat lunch here again.


I am surprised that Penang Flavours Express is still around.


I like COOOK and I am happy there are still in operation.

Then I went downstairs.


Ah. A chiropractor has opened shop here. 


There is a dental clinic too.


Tang Room is doing quite well. 


The last time I visited was back in 2017 and I have never returned.


My favorite frozen yogurt is still popular and I must visit again soon.


Kakatoo is still around, good for them but I have not been back.


Dave's Deli is one of those that confound me. I did not expect them to last.


The Hari Raya bazaar is on at the ground floor. 


Shilin Taiwan Street Snacks started operations at the basement not too long ago and I have yet to visit.


Sad to say Mr Fish shut down but not to worry as they have outlets elsewhere.


Surprise surprise a new shop opened (opposite where Mr Fish used to be), Mahnaz Food. Yay! Now I have a place to go to get middle eastern spices.


Yum! They sell baklava!


And Turkish Delight! I love these and I will be back to sample some.


Another casualty is Go Noodle House.  Mynews closed shop and so has Empire Sushi. Oh dear, Nam Heong is gone too.


Things are looking pretty grim at the mall.

17 comments:

  1. Mr Fish relocated to Atria mall.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kali lepak of Damansara, I see. Haha. Good to take a walk in your familiar surrounding.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's good exercise actually hah..hah..hah...

      Delete
  3. I know Village Park, that nasi lemak place but I've never been there, never tried. Guess what! I've a visitor in town, one of Malaysia's top food blogger from Penang and he brought me a whole lot of tambun biscuits! Gee! If I eat one a day, that will last a very long time! LOL!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what Penang is famous for but somehow I don't appreciate those biscuits.

      Delete
    2. Ya, me neither! But never mind, it's the thought that counts!

      Delete
  4. Thank you for the update. Now I want to go to Starling Mall but I think next year only I go. Nam Heong has opened a branch in Sri Petaling. Sad to know Mr Fish has closed. Hope to go to their other branches. To me Damansara Utama and Uptown covers that whole patch. Hahahaha 🤣😂

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are not many shops anymore :( I am hoping that a good Japanese ramen shop will open there. Menya Musashi, please come Starling! LOL!

      Delete
  5. Go Noodles House, Empire Sushi and Nam Heong....wah...all the big players gone! hopefully they will make a comeback after this recovery period....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope they do better at their other locations. So sad lah.

      Delete
  6. I see you've already started to kepoh-kepoh at your favourite mall...good, good. I've yet to do so at my favourite...and when I do, it'll probably be like Starling Mall, I'm sure there'll be many new players in Pavilion too (even big names can't survive sometimes). :( Turkish delights are like Indian delights to me...I don't go there coz they're extremely sweet. I've seen shows on how baklava is made...or how they'd sapu each (or two) layer(s) of filo pastry with some kind of sugar syrup...and a baklava needs many layers of pastry...yikes! :O P/S: It's sad to see reputable brands close up shop...I wonder if it's because cheaper to mid-range priced establishments don't do so well in upscale Damansara areas but better in my area...hah..hah.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The vacant lots at The Starling have yet to be taken up and I am hoping that some of my favorites like Menya Musashi (which used to be at Isetan 1U) will open here heh..heh.. Oh ya, those Turkish pastries are on the sweet side. I had those when someone gifted a box to me some years ago. But it was not that sweet to me. LOL!

      Delete
  7. The old have gone but we see many new ones appearing and it is the same here in Ipoh. It is good to go out and look around to get update. Hope the existing ones will be able to maintain during the recovery phase and come out strong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope that my favorites which are surviving will continue to do so.

      Delete
  8. I'm so shocked that Name Heong also zap lap!

    ReplyDelete