9 Awesome Laksa Experiences You Need To Try At Least Once In Your Life
When was the last time you had laksa in someone's 200-year-old home?
Published for MAGGI, 30 Nov 2015, 06:01 PM
1. Slurping up some Nyonya Laksa in Melaka, paired with coffee from 13 Malaysian states
Location:
Calanthe Art Cafe, 11, Jalan Hang Kasturi, 75200 Melaka
Pork-free
This Peranakan speciality is loved for its spicy coconut milk-based gravy infused with turmeric and lemongrass, and the cafe's version is loaded with deep-fried fu chuk, tofu puffs, and fish balls.
A bonus for caffeine-craving diners: the cafe specialises in different types of coffee roasted in 13 Malaysian states so be sure to grab a cuppa to go with your laksa!
2. Enjoying a bowl of Penang Laksa on a scenic round-island trip
Location:
Laksa Janggus, Jalan Bahru, Kg. Perlis, 11000 Balik Pulau, Penang
Halal
When in Penang, take some time for a relaxing drive around the island and use Laksa Janggus' famous Penang Laksa as the perfect excuse for a pit-stop!
This crowd favourite is a popular snack among locals and tourists, and is adored for its thick fish-stocked gravy. Go all out with the special if you could use some extra gravy and a hard-boiled egg.
3. Getting to know the most hipster laksa of all: Laksa Pahang
Location:
Gerai Sajian Pekan, Food Court UTC Kuantan, Jalan Stadium, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang
Halal
Laksa Pahang isn't the most well-known laksa in Malaysia, but its unique noodles and flavourful gravy are more than enough to earn a spot on anyone's die-die-must-try list. A typical bowl of Laksa Pahang at Gerai Sajian Pekan includes a generous heap of fresh, assorted ulam, a dollop of fiery sambal, and curiously, a few blocks of belacan.
Fun fact: One serving of the distinctive hand-made noodles is referred to as chap.
4. Enjoying some Sarawak Laksa containing 20 years' worth of history
Location:
Garden Café Laksa, Golden Arch (off 3rd Mile Roundabout), 93200 Kuching
Halal
What gives Sarawak Laksa its distinctive taste is its base of sambal belacan infused with black pepper, tamarind, garlic, galangal, lemongrass, and coconut milk. The gravy goes perfectly with bihun, and is topped with prawns, chicken, and omelette strips. A spritz of lime is just the kick it needs!
The recipe used today at Garden Cafe is still the same one used by the owner's mother, famed for her laksa stall along Jalan Keretapi 20 years back.
5. Downing a bowl of curry laksa before hitting the clubs in KL
Location: Limapulo: Baba Can Cook, 50, Jalan Doraisamy, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
Pork-free
Who would've thought to find one of KL's most raved-about Curry Laksa on Jalan Doraisamy, of all places? The award-winning dish by Limapulo uses only fresh ingredients, and its laborious process means they only serve a maximum of 70 bowls a day (and yes, they run out pretty fast!).
Have your laksa in style, with Limapulo's vintage feel and Instagram-friendly props. Every corner of this cosy eatery is just an #OOTD waiting to happen.
6. Switching post-work drinks for some famous Laksam
Location:
Restoran By-T Laksam Special, Lot 1335 Kampung Panji, Jalan Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kota Bahru, Kelantan
Halal
This Kelantanese delicacy gives laksa a completely unique spin, with its rolls of freshly-steamed rice noodles and its thick, creamy and slightly sweet gravy made from fish and coconut milk. The special version at Restoran By-T includes the addition of quail eggs and serunding (beef floss).
As they open tea-time onwards, the stall gets crowded after office hours, where the locals will drop by to have their fill of good ol' Laksam.
7. Locking down some elusive Laksa Johor in a nostalgia-fuelled eatery
Location:
Warung Saga, No 5, Jalan Mahmoodiah, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Halal
For a dish that calls Johor home, it isn't actually easy to find this laksa in restaurants around Johor, as it's mainly a home-cooked delicacy. If slaving over a stove is not on your to-do list, get in on the local's secret and head to Warung Saga.
Tuck into a hearty serving of this flavourful gravy-topped spaghetti while enjoying the eatery's massive display of black-and-white photos and rare vintage records.
8. Having Laksa Terengganu in a 200-year-old house compound
Location: Madam Bee's Kitchen, 177 Jalan Kampung Cina, 20100 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
Pork-free
In Terengganu, the laksa comes in two variants, either with a creamy white gravy or a spicy red version. Madam Bee's Kitchen is famed for its kuah merah take on the laksa, and the noodles are garnished with an assortment of vegetables including cucumber, bunga kantan, and bean sprouts.
The restaurant is housed in a part of the 200-year-old ancestral home of the owner's family, on a picturesque street of old shophouses in Kampung Cina.
9. Kicking back with Asam Laksa while the world goes by
Location:
d-Lite Asam Laksa Teh Tarik, Ampang Park, Jalan Ampang, 55000 Kuala Lumpur
Halal
Wafts of this fragrant laksa is the first thing that'll catch your attention when you walk into the Ampang Park building, a mere 10-minute walk away from KLCC. Head to the cosy little eatery and order up a bowl of the crowd-favourite laksa. The gravy is known to be the perfect balance of sour, spicy and sweet and diners here appreciate the generous pieces of fish heaped in the bowl.
While the busy city folks rush from one urgent appointment to another, take a step back and spend some quality time savouring every spoonful of this fragrant Asam Laksa.
As a true laksa fan no matter where you are in Malaysia, there's always that option of tucking into a bowl or two of super yummy laksa from the comforts of your home
For a chill-at-home laksa option that's perfect for late-night cravings, grab a packet of MAGGI® Royale™ Laksa. Choose between the MAGGI® Royale™ Johor Seafood Laksa, packed with toasted belacan and sun-dried chillies swirled into a creamy broth with fish-infused flavours, or the MAGGI® Royale™ Sarawak Sambal Laksa with its intricate blend of 8 herbs and spices, creating a beautifully complex base for the savoury prawn broth tinged with just a hint of lime.