Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
More than 80 years ago, a wave of immigrants arrived in Bangkok from Guangzhou, China, escaping a city bombarded by the Japanese. They'd cluster together in a small neighborhood in Sathorn District, which would quickly earn the nickname "Egg Noodle Alley". For a time, their specialty could be found on bicycle carts all across Bangkok, but by now, Egg Noodle Alley, and the ancient techniques the families used to make the dish, are all but forgotten.
But one street cart still survives. And the reason it's still standing is one of the wildest stories we've ever covered.
It's a story of old recipes, a changing metropolis, and one man's obsessive quest to become a champion in a sport called bodybuilding- a quest that would, by accident, save the family business.
-
Thank you so much for your support! It's a massive help to keep us going.
Patreon: patreon.com/OTRontheroad
Website: OTRontheroad.com !
Social media:
Instagram: instagram.com/otr.offtherails/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
FB: facebook.com/OTR-106170292218693
-
Hat tip for the lead on this story to a photographer who publishes at the website bkkarchive.com ...please visit and support his work.
And also a big thank-you to Steph (as referenced) from Chinese Cooking Demystified for her help with some back story on the history of Cantonese Wonton Noodles.
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0:00 - Introduction
0:58 - A Perfect Meal
3:04 - 2000 Years of Wonton Noodles
5:12 - Egg Noodle Alley
8:08 - A Changing Bangkok
9:42 - The Son
11:42 - Bodybuilding
13:51 - Lifter of Weights, Maker of Noodles
15:44 - The End of the Era
17:36 - Rays of Hope
18:33 - Memories
19:47 - The Strongest Man in Thailand
21:22 - Last Bowl of the Day
-
Video Credits:
China-Japan War - Japanese Troops In Action (1930-1939)
youtu.be/htsFNsYXWqE
Japan at War in China During World War 2 Combat Video Footage CBI Theater w/ Sound
youtu.be/6nzYDnihT1U
Shanghai falls to Japanese attack during Second Sino-Japanese War (1937)
youtu.be/s4S-7g4Lb_g
Old Chinese cities in 1935 中國城市
youtu.be/SuetuYD-3Vg
Chinese Refugees In Java (1937)
youtu.be/OUOjtSG7hmI
Hand Made Noodles in Hong Kong
youtu.be/2a47oIUtVV4
Thai Street Vendor Pok Pok Noodles
youtu.be/MBlZkGhg6nM
Hong Kong’s Bouncing Bamboo Noodles - Eat China (S2E9)
youtu.be/VuwdbUg3KY0
กรุงเทพเมืองหลวงของเรา 2500 Bangkok, Our Capital [1957]
youtu.be/CucQjpMBM-c
กรุงเทพฯ ในอดีต (พ.ศ.2508-2509) Bangkok,Thailand in 1964-1965
youtu.be/-vmvk_u1_U4
Bangkok Street Scenes 1965
youtu.be/W9D3y5uMka4
กรุงเทพฯ ในอดีต (พ.ศ.2508-2509) Bangkok,Thailand in 1964-1965
youtu.be/-vmvk_u1_U4
1960s, 1970s Bangkok Thailand, in HD from 35mm
youtu.be/JlcWZXDwUDc
Thai Street Food 60's Bangkok
youtu.be/235cul020_Y
SIAM (Thailand) 1940
youtu.be/J9uMCN1INkY
Country boy of Thailand in 1966
youtu.be/N6tUkzBGqx4
แหวนวิเศษ (๒๔๗๒)
youtu.be/hR7-HbftPVA
Bread (1945)
youtu.be/I1nctHfXVNo
Thailand Agriculture And Economy, 1950s - Film 9333
youtu.be/dwg3K69_2yM
From Austria to Bangkok, Thailand in 1976
youtu.be/TDNWvcN_8pg
More than 80 years ago, a wave of immigrants arrived in Bangkok from Guangzhou, China, escaping a city bombarded by the Japanese. They'd cluster together in a small neighborhood in Sathorn District, which would quickly earn the nickname "Egg Noodle Alley". For a time, their specialty could be found on bicycle carts all across Bangkok, but by now, Egg Noodle Alley, and the ancient techniques the families used to make the dish, are all but forgotten.
But one street cart still survives. And the reason it's still standing is one of the wildest stories we've ever covered.
It's a story of old recipes, a changing metropolis, and one man's obsessive quest to become a champion in a sport called bodybuilding- a quest that would, by accident, save the family business.
-
Thank you so much for your support! It's a massive help to keep us going.
Patreon: patreon.com/OTRontheroad
Website: OTRontheroad.com !
Social media:
Instagram: instagram.com/otr.offtherails/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
FB: facebook.com/OTR-106170292218693
-
Hat tip for the lead on this story to a photographer who publishes at the website bkkarchive.com ...please visit and support his work.
And also a big thank-you to Steph (as referenced) from Chinese Cooking Demystified for her help with some back story on the history of Cantonese Wonton Noodles.
-
0:00 - Introduction
0:58 - A Perfect Meal
3:04 - 2000 Years of Wonton Noodles
5:12 - Egg Noodle Alley
8:08 - A Changing Bangkok
9:42 - The Son
11:42 - Bodybuilding
13:51 - Lifter of Weights, Maker of Noodles
15:44 - The End of the Era
17:36 - Rays of Hope
18:33 - Memories
19:47 - The Strongest Man in Thailand
21:22 - Last Bowl of the Day
-
Video Credits:
China-Japan War - Japanese Troops In Action (1930-1939)
youtu.be/htsFNsYXWqE
Japan at War in China During World War 2 Combat Video Footage CBI Theater w/ Sound
youtu.be/6nzYDnihT1U
Shanghai falls to Japanese attack during Second Sino-Japanese War (1937)
youtu.be/s4S-7g4Lb_g
Old Chinese cities in 1935 中國城市
youtu.be/SuetuYD-3Vg
Chinese Refugees In Java (1937)
youtu.be/OUOjtSG7hmI
Hand Made Noodles in Hong Kong
youtu.be/2a47oIUtVV4
Thai Street Vendor Pok Pok Noodles
youtu.be/MBlZkGhg6nM
Hong Kong’s Bouncing Bamboo Noodles - Eat China (S2E9)
youtu.be/VuwdbUg3KY0
กรุงเทพเมืองหลวงของเรา 2500 Bangkok, Our Capital [1957]
youtu.be/CucQjpMBM-c
กรุงเทพฯ ในอดีต (พ.ศ.2508-2509) Bangkok,Thailand in 1964-1965
youtu.be/-vmvk_u1_U4
Bangkok Street Scenes 1965
youtu.be/W9D3y5uMka4
กรุงเทพฯ ในอดีต (พ.ศ.2508-2509) Bangkok,Thailand in 1964-1965
youtu.be/-vmvk_u1_U4
1960s, 1970s Bangkok Thailand, in HD from 35mm
youtu.be/JlcWZXDwUDc
Thai Street Food 60's Bangkok
youtu.be/235cul020_Y
SIAM (Thailand) 1940
youtu.be/J9uMCN1INkY
Country boy of Thailand in 1966
youtu.be/N6tUkzBGqx4
แหวนวิเศษ (๒๔๗๒)
youtu.be/hR7-HbftPVA
Bread (1945)
youtu.be/I1nctHfXVNo
Thailand Agriculture And Economy, 1950s - Film 9333
youtu.be/dwg3K69_2yM
From Austria to Bangkok, Thailand in 1976
youtu.be/TDNWvcN_8pg
