Food Tasting: On the Hunt for a Bowl of Laksa

What do you look for in a bowl of good laksa? The lemak gravy? The sambal belacan chilli? Well, OpenRice and Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC) went on a laksa food trail last week, in search of a good bowl of laksa to satisfy our cravings for this spicy Peranakan delight.

Together with 15 residents of Central Singapore, we made our first stop at Sungei Road Laksa, an old-school stall that sells laksa for just $2 per bowl. Sungei Road Laksa is also one of the last remaining stalls in Singapore still using an open charcoal fire stove to cook the laksa broth. The participants were very happy with the fresh and juicy cockles which complemented the flavour of the laksa.

Next, our group of laksa-lovers proceeded to Laksania at Bugis+ for a more modern take on this Peranakan dish. Mdm Sim Sin Sin started Laksania in 2008 as a social enterprise to provide meaningful employment for individuals with physical or mental disabilities, and it has since grown to a total of 4 outlets today and with more than 20 marginalised employees.

Laksania serves a variety of laksa based on Mdm Sim's family recipes. The first laksa we tried was the Kelantan Laksa – a very mild, non-spicy laksa made from mackerel fish and yellow ginger, thus colouring it a distinct yellow. Next up was the Sarawak Laksa, which was a more peppery and herbal type of laksa made from chicken and prawn broth that had been brewed for over 6 hours. Lastly, we also tried the Singapore Laksa, which used hei bi hiam (spicy dried shrimp paste) in the broth and was served with taupok, prawns, fishcake, cockles, egg and laksa leaves. For those seeking a spicier kick to their laska, Laksania provides Sambal Belacan on the side, made from Mdm Sim’s very own secret recipe. While the chilli is sweeter than usual, it still delivered that spicy kick and brought out a smoky, robust flavour in the laksa when added into the soup, making it a favourite amongst the participants.

For the young and adventurous crowd, Laksania also offers modern versions of laksa including the Laksa Lasagna and Laksa Goreng. The Laksa Lasagna is made with layers of taupok, pasta sheets and shredded chicken and cheese, making it a must-try for cheese lovers.

Want to know what our OpenRicers thought about the Laksa Food Trail? Read their reviews here: 1. Sungei Road Laksa 2. Laksania at Bugis+ Central Singapore CDC assists, bonds and connects the 975,000 residents of the Central Singapore District through community initiatives. Serving as the first stop for active citizenry at the neighbourhood level, the CDC helps residents in financial need, support grassroots organisations and connect community players to citizens. For more info, visit Central Singapore CDC's Facebook Page. See Also: Check out here for more local food Explore the famous Laksa all around Singapore