Funnily enough, we didn’t plan to eat at Taurus…
A month or so ago, Jac went to Hungry Jack’s to grab takeaway for Saturday brunch. She came home with burgers, fries, onion rings and some intriguing information. She had a chat with the HJ’s manager while waiting for our order and mentioned that her other half is Asian and loves hot savoury breakfasts (hence burgers for brunch). The manager, who is also Asian, told her about a little place in Willetton that serves curry and roti canai from 7:30am on weekends. She told Jac she regularly gets takeaway curry, rice and roti from that place. Unfortunately, Jac came home without the name or address of the curry place – all she had was the vague instruction that it’s “near the primary school in Willetton”. But that was enough to get us excited and eager to find this place! I was especially excited – regular readers will know how much I love curry for breakfast!
My sister Juji and her boyfriend Jay came over in the afternoon and we told them about this mysterious roti and curry place. They were also intrigued! Close to dinner time, we all decided to go for a drive in search of it.
Jac was pretty confident she knew the general area around Willetton primary school where the roti place might be. But all we found after 25 minutes of driving was a restaurant called Malaysia Garden that definitely did not have roti canai and curry on its menu!
Taurus saves the day!
We were hungry when we set off and by now, we were starving! We decided to admit defeat for now and head over to Collins Road for dinner, where there are a number of Asian restaurants to choose from. We wanted to try Bamboo, a Singaporean restaurant none of us have been to that serves all the old favourites like fried kway teow, laksa and chicken rice. But it was too busy – not a free table in sight, and we weren’t willing to wait. So off to our old faithful Taurus Hawker Foods it was! Taurus was also busy, but we managed to grab a recently vacated table.
Jac, Juji and Jay all ordered cendol (pronounced chen-dole). The drinks came in plastic cups that screamed “Party!” :D
Cendol is a very popular sweet drink (sometimes consumed as dessert) in Southeast Asia that is often sold by roadside hawkers and at food courts. It is usually made with coconut milk, shaved ice, palm sugar (gula melaka) and green jelly that looks like worms. For me, the “worms” are the most appealing component of cendol!
Jay had curry laksa which looked wonderfully fiery. In the curry soup with the egg noodles and rice noodles were chicken, fishballs, tofu and prawns. At Taurus, most of the dishes are available in small or large sizes – be warned, the large sizes are huge! I have a big appetite but even I find that the large size is much too big. Jay found his small laksa to be a generous serving indeed and struggled to get through it all.
Juji and Jac both ordered nasi lemak. The coconut rice came with fried anchovies and peanuts, a piece of fried fish, vegetable pickle (acar, pronounced ah-char), half a hard-boiled egg and a bowl of prawn sambal.
In the sambal bowl were two plump prawns. Jac gave me one of her prawns and I was surprised and pleased to find it was bursty. Juji and Jac both enjoyed the sambal very much but found it pretty spicy. Jac did what she always does and dumped a whole pile of sambal on top of her rice before tasting it – yes, I may have been Ms Naggy Know-it-all and said: “Don’t I always say you should taste the chilli before putting it all over the rice?” ;) Jac was soon feeling the heat and gulping down great mouthfuls of cendol to soothe her burning mouth!
I ordered chicken noodle soup. In my big bowl of tasty broth (I ordered the small size, of course!) were two kinds of noodles (thick egg noodles, thin rice noodles), choy sum, shredded cooked chicken, fragrant deep-fried shallots and bean sprouts. It was fantastic and exactly what I felt like.
We ordered loh bak (five spice meat roll) to share. Loh bak usually consists of pork mince flavoured with Chinese five spice and sometimes, crunchy water chestnuts. The meat is wrapped in bean curd skin, then fried to crispy and served with sliced fresh cucumber and chilli sauce. We were all a little disappointed with Taurus’ version – the pork filling was too mushy and kind of bland. I still think my late grandma’s version of loh bak is the best I’ve eaten.
Taurus is a great place to go if you have a craving for any of the hawker favourites. The bench-style seating is great for groups. I think I’ve enjoyed just about everything I’ve eaten there, apart from the loh bak. Taurus’ chicken rice is delicious and I love that when you order it, they ask you if you want the leg or breast. Of course, I always choose leg!
Next post: Yes! Jac and I find the elusive curry and roti place!
My previous Taurus Hawker Foods posts
- Lunch with my friend Charlene at Taurus – the first and only time we ever ordered large!
- Dinner at Taurus with friends
- Another dinner at Taurus, this time with our friend M
Taurus Hawker Foods
Shop 10/113 Collins Rd
Willetton WA 6155
Telephone: (08) 9259 1788
Open Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 9pm
I'm TFP, a food blogger from Perth, Western Australia.
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
YUM YUM YUM – those photos make me hungry and I just finished breakfast :p
I absolutely lovvvvve Es Cendol. My ex owns and Indonesian restaurant and they make the best Cendol in perth!
I also love savoury for breakfast and that food looks awesome. I only wish it wasn’t so far away from me :( Might have to make the trip down that way just to kill my urge :p
Another fantastic post!!!
I love Indonesian food. Where about is your ex’s Indonesian restaurant? What does it called? I would like to try the foods and the best Cendol.
Hawk – it is called Indonesia Indah on Barrack Street in Perth City. His dad has been cooking at the restaurant in years and before that in Indonesia. I miss the food :( Enjoy a Cendol for me :p
I’m not sure how up to date this menu is but it gives you an idea http://indonesiaindahrestaurant.com/user/image/menurestaurant-1.pdf
angelbaby,
I’ve walked past Indonesia Indah many times but never gone in. But now you’ve told us about it I may just give it a go!
“cendol…The drinks came in plastic cups that screamed “Party!”
Definitely an eye-catcher! I’d like to try that, and most of the dishes pictured (especially nasi lemak). As for crunchy water chestnuts (in loh bak), I’ve never had loh bak but do like crunchy water chestnuts. ;-) Taurus Hawker; that’s quite a name. I wouldn’t know what sort of food to expect – lol! Everything looks delicious.
Cindy,
I love water chestnuts! I can’t get enough of them. I get really excited when I realise they’re in a dish.
I’ve heard Bamboo and Taurus Hawker are actually owned by the same people and have the same food (only they do table service at Bamboo and so Westerners prefer it). My partner works nearby and eats there at least once a week!
Where is Bamboo?
angelbaby,
Bamboo is one of a number of Asian restaurants located at 113 Collins Rd in Willetton. Bamboo is at Shop 5, Taurus is at Shop 10.
Schtef,
yep, I’d heard that too (see Hawk’s comment below confirming the family connection). I wish I lived or worked within walking distance of good hawker food. If I worked near Taurus I would be eating there a lot more than once a week. :)
wah! another msian hawkers place. will go soon! thanks :) everything looks so yummy!!
Christine,
Hope you enjoy it, let me know what you think once you’ve tried it!
It’s a pity that you didn’t get to find the place (at least on that occasion), but the food at Taurus looks amazing.
Now it’s your turn to make us jealous again! :-)
You’ve got 9 months to suitably do the trick. Oh wait… too late!
Craig,
Heh. Well I may be able to make you jealous for now, but I think you will be making me infinitely more jealous once you’ve moved to Sydney.
I got here about once a fortnight just to get their soups… usually pork wonton noodle soup yummmmmmmmmmmmmm :)
Miss_em,
Mmmm, I prefer wantan noodles dry style and Taurus’ version is awesome too.
Omg! That nasi lemak looks soooooooooooo good!
There’s a place in Malaga called Sense La. I think it might actually be better than Taurus (helluva call, i know, but it just might be). Have just discovered it and have had 3 meals there and all were outstanding.
Charlene,
Darn, Malaga, we never go to Malaga! Take a picture for me next time you go! :D
Staffs at Bamboo and Taurus used to be a big family business but after a family dispute, some move out to setup Bamboo. You can noticed the 4 sisters in Bamboo used to be in Taurus. One of them told my sister that the cooks also moved out with them. When Bamboo first opened, I tried the foods there but I felt that it was not the same as before in Taurus as they claimed. I still dine at Taurus now. I noticed the new owner is a Chinese but the cooks are the same Malaysian. Just to add a little more. The shop at the right of Taurus belongs to the 4 sisters’ parents from Bamboo. That why sometime we can see those sisters bringing Ice Kachang or Cendol order over to the shop.
Hawk,
Very interesting!
Hawk,
Just to add on to it, the chefs did not move, they’re all at Taurus still except for the four sisters. Taurus is now under four “bosses” with the main one doing all the soup dishes and the wanton mees and stuff. That kinda explains the diff in tastes at bamboo.
Hey TFP
I can help you! I believe it is a place near the small IGA express in Willetton (corner Rostrata and Glenmoy ave). They make the best dahl I have ever had and I recall signs up and seeing people in there early weekend mornings. It is a tiny and usassuming place but the food is great. I do miss it since moving closer to freo :-) I also miss Hawker and the japanese restuarant next door!
Enjoy!
Ems
oops, just seen your comment at the end of the post :-) I was also just thinking, how nice to share your only two prawns! What a nice partner you must have! :-)
emma,
Heheheh, yep we were not going to admit defeat! Hope we can return for another weekend breaky soon.
We’ve eaten once at the Japanese restaurant at Collins Rd – it was great!
Yes, I thought it was very sweet and generous of her to share her prawns with me.
I think home made loh bak is always the best. Everyone seems to think their grandma or mum’s version is the best, me included! I love the fact that when my aunties or mum make it, it’s chock full of crunchy water chestnuts. And I love the home made chilli dipping sauce that goes along. I look forward to fresh loh bak every Chinese New Year. So yum!
I’ve never understood the term “hawker”, but the curry looks great!
Wei Wei
All these foods seem so delicious! Yet, I’ve never had any of them. Someday, I will come to Aus. and eat all these amazing foods! Happy week TFP!
Just a quick note- Have you guys been to Viet Hoa in northbridge and had their soups? amazing!! the best bbq pork wontan noodle soup I’ve ever had!! mmm
I’ve responded to some comments directly above (using threaded comments)
Dea,
Mmm, chock full of water chestnuts sounds wonderful. I can never get enough water chestnuts!
Wei Wei,
See Wikipedia entry on “hawker” with special attention on the section about Southeast Asia.
Miss_em,
I haven’t been to Viet Hoa in YEARS! Thanks for reminding me! I’m sure I can convince Jac to go with me for a nice big bowl of noodles.
kathy,
You would have a wonderful eating time if you ever visited!
Thanks – my work weeks have been exhausting, I wouldn’t exactly call them “happy”! Oh well.
Mmm Taurus Hawker, been keeping my family satisfied since it opened at Spencer village food hall. Do try Bamboo though, it’s owned by some co-owners of Taurus that sold up a few years ago. You’ll recognise the staff:) great everything, but the salt&pepper squid is some of the tastiest I’ve had!
Perthie,
We hope to check out Bamboo sometime. It’s just that every time we go to Collins Rd, Bamboo is busy and full and we’re too hungry to wait around!
Yes I agree with Emma, my first thoughts were of Rostrata for your 7.30am roti on the corner of Glenmoy Ave and Rostrata Ave though I’ve never been. Also I would like to know what everyone thinks of Joy’s Garden also in the Collins Road Hawker Centre (far left)???
I understand that the husband & wife team have a small kitchen and a small dining area to match. But I really enjoy the lemongrass beef bun (vermicelli salad), tamarind beef salad and the $3 sticky date pudding is mouthwatering and a great way to finish off a meal. I wonder if anyone else enjoy’s the Vietmanese additional to the other Malaysian/Singaporean and Japanese restaurants at the same address??
Their food compare to asia itself is crap and not even close to the real deal. Chicken rice taste more like plain rice. Its great to see a food blog on perth food but it seem like all your reviews have nothing but praises for all the restaurants you have visit.
Everything seem to be perfect or delightful when half the time they are in fact crap or just plain normal.
Chris,
My write-ups are based on my personal experiences and opinions. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me all the time (everyone is entitled to their opinion and not everyone will have the same experience at any place. People have different tastes in food too.) I do not claim to be any kind of authority.
I do not write only positive things about my restaurant experiences; I write about the negatives too. I write honestly and always aim to be reasonable in whatever I write about a restaurant.