Featuring noodles in a rich, curry, coconut broth, this Peranakan (ethnic Chinese settlers in the British Straits Settlement) invention is ridiculously, famously good. We’re sure you agree, so check out our favourite places to indulge in this quintessential Singaporean dish.
Before We Begin
Did you know the term laksa refers to the thick rice vermicelli that’s used in the dish? Not to worry, we didn’t either! There are essentially two types of laksa – our curry based one that’s also known as nyonya laksa or laksa lemak, and the sour, tamarind-based assam laksa that’s more commonly found in Malaysia.
War of the Katong Laksas
Widely known as the Peranakan enclave, Katong used to be the laksa mecca of Singapore in the olden days. Most old-school laksa stalls have relocated, though they’re still in the East. Marine Parade Laksa (#01-02 Blk 128 Bedok North St 2, closed evenings) started pre-cutting the thick rice vermicelli, which means only a spoon is required to slurp everything up. Its close competitor in the 1960s, Roxy Laksa (#01-48 East Coast Lagoon Food Village, 1220 East Coast Parkway, closed Mondays), followed suit – which was really how we got the unique variant of Katong Laksa.
However, the most famous stall nowadays is definitely 328 Katong Laksa (51 East Coast Road and 216 East Coast Road). After all, who can forget the Hawker Heroes cook-off between this stall and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay in 2013? The best part, 328 Katong Laksa won the most number of votes from us Singaporeans in comparison to the other two local-dish contenders (chicken rice and chili crab).
Out of the East
As much as we love the East, travelling there solely for laksa can be more than a little time-consuming for those who live elsewhere. Other laksa spots in central Singapore that we love include Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa (#01-75 Alexandra Village,120 Bukit Merah Lane 1) and Sungei Road Laksa
(#01-100 Jin Shui Kopitiam, 27 Jalan Berseh, closed evenings and every other Wednesday) in Jalan Besar.
If you’re headed up North, check out another old-timer that’s been around for almost two decades, 928 Yishun Laksa (928 Yishun Central 1, closed evenings).
Want to make your own awesome laksa? Check out our laksa recipe and cement your status as an all-round domestic goddess!