Locals In This Australian City Are Obsessed With Laksa & Queue For It Every Day
Some vendors also came up with unusual twists on traditional laksa, such as laksa ice cream, laksa smoothies, and many more.
By Aqasha Nur’aiman — 27 May 2024, 01:09 PM
In the vibrant city of Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory, laksa isn't just a meal; it's a way of life
According to the BBC, this multicultural hub has adopted the delectable and tangy noodle dish that we all know and love as their breakfast, lunch, and dinner staple, queuing to eat it on both weekdays and weekends.
As you walk around the city, you'll notice vendors selling laksa everywhere, from bustling food courts and cosy cafes to upscale restaurants.
The introduction of this dish to the city's locals has sparked a renewed appreciation for our beloved Malaysian cuisine.
But the true extent of Darwin's laksa obsession is most visible in its local markets
Despite the city's tropical climate and humid air, crowds gather every Saturday at the Parap Markets, forming long lines between stalls to sample this dish. Some also keep containers to bring the broth back home to their loved ones.
According to local Elly, everyone in Darwin has a favourite laksa stall, which leads to friendly but heated debates.
"It's very controversial which laksa stall you go to. It's a proper debate in our household. There are two people that love Yati's, two people that love Purple Lady, and one undecided," she said.
Every October, Darwin's laksa obsession grows to new heights with a month-long laksa festival
During this exciting celebration, the city is festooned with banners, a massive shrine to laksa is built in the mall, and the most creative and delicious dishes become the talk of the town.
The festival is where you can find different variations of this dish, with some vendors also offering unique twists to the laksa we're familiar with, including laksa ice cream, laksa pies, laksa smoothies, vegan 'laksa-gna', and even laksa crocodile dumplings.
One of last year's most contentious creations was a Basque burnt cheesecake at Kopi Stop, which featured a layer of laksa paste instead of a biscuit base.
According to its creator, Jules Mou, the inspiration for her creation came from nowhere.
"I was considering making laksa coffee and thought to myself, 'Mmm, I really want to try it, but I don't'. But one day, it just occurred to me, 'Oh, maybe we can try a cheesecake,'" explained Mou.
These adventurous and bold creations are made by vendors to compete for the title of "best laksa-inspired dish".
Darwin's laksa craze has become more than just a culinary trend — it's a lifeline for local business owners, significantly boosting their sales
One of those business owners is Jason Chin, who took over his family-owned food court joint, Chok's Place, 30 years ago and transformed it from a quiet corner of the local market to the heart of Darwin's laksa scene.
"Everyone's just contracted this laksa fever," said the chef who cooked at the festival two years ago.
Chin also managed to win the coveted Golden Bowl at the city's first-ever laksa festival in 2019.
This victory revitalised his business, increasing sales from six bowls of laksa per day to nearly 100. He now limits sales to 50 bowls to ensure quality, making each one a valuable commodity.
Whether traditional or unconventional, laksa in Darwin is more than just food — it's a cultural phenomenon that brings together the city's diverse community in a shared passion
Meanwhile, a 38-year-old Malaysian cook has achieved remarkable success since opening a nasi lemak restaurant in Shanghai, China:
