Ol’ Skool Makan #15: Vicchuda Tomyam & Seafood -- Still Packing 'Em In

Once upon a time, in the early to mid-90s, Damansara Utama -- or simply DU to us regulars -- was the place to lepak. Especially when my old school mates came back from studying overseas (and I was at nearby IIUM), we’d be there almost every night, catching up like we never left school.

Our nights usually started (and sometimes ended) at the old food stalls. Apart from makan, we’d pop by the video game shop to play 1942 or Raiden, or browse through cassettes at the music shop nearby. Simple pleasures, but they filled our nights with laughter and noise.

At the old DU stalls, circa 1995


Among the many stalls, there was one mamak whose owner we called John. He was a legend in his own right -- the kind who’d know your regular drink order by heart (teh ais, for me.) Sometimes, the drinks would land on our table before we even sat down. That’s service you can’t teach.

But the true king of the DU stalls was Vicchuda Tomyam & Seafood. While other stalls had their slow nights, Vicchuda was packed every single evening, no fail. The food was good, authentic, and affordable -- the perfect combo for broke young guys with big appetites.

My personal favourites? The tomyam (fiery and flavourful), telur bungkus, and daging merah. They nailed those dishes every time.

When the old stalls were eventually demolished later in the 90s, and a new food court came up nearby, Vicchuda moved too -- this time into a proper shoplot in what was then known as Damansara Uptown.



And here’s the amazing thing -- decades later, Vicchuda is still there. Still busy, still consistent, still full of life. I still drop by now and then with friends or family, and it’s always packed. Maybe people come for the food. Maybe for nostalgia.

With my Larian 40 Taman running gang, 2014


Or maybe, like me, they come for a small taste of those ol’ skool DU nights -- when life was simpler, spicier, and free of social media.


About Ol' Skool Makan

Ol' Skool Makan is my little tribute to Malaysia’s timeless eateries -- the ones that fed us before hashtags, food apps, and fancy plating. It’s about real food, real people, and memories that still smell like sambal and kopi-O.


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Dapatkan buku 'Kisah Hidup & Budaya Pop Anak Gen-X' di SINI

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