lemiA “salad bowl” rather than a melting pot of cultures, Singapore is a diverse city-state known as one of the world’s top destinations
I Like-a Lotsa Laksa
Singapore
Laksa is a spicy noodle dish that usually consists of seafood served in a broth of coconut milk or assam (tamarind). You’ll encounter different types of the delicacy across Southeast Asia, but variations of Curry Laksa—also known as Nyonya Laksa or Laksa Lemak—are the most popular in Singapore. Peranakan in origin, the local version features thick bee hoon (rice vermicelli) in a piquant coconut milk base flavored with dried shrimp, topped with tau pok (bean curd puffs), prawns, cockles, fish cakes, and chicken. Finally, a spoonful of sambal (Malaysian chili paste) and finely chopped daun kesum (laksa leaves) are added to finish the bowl. Are you craving yet? Check out our list of the city’s best Laksa to get your fix of this Singaporean staple!
328 Katong Laksa is famous for beating world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay in a 2013 cooking showdown. The eatery dishes out Singapore’s best Katong Laksa. Their recipe features noodles cut up into small pieces that can be eaten with just a spoon. Pair the delicious broth with otah (fish cake grilled in a banana leaf) for the perfect balance of flavors. Be wary of the chili, though. Let the vendor know that you want your order without the spice; otherwise, they’ll put sambal directly on your spoon—you’ll have no other choice but to mix it in your Laksa!
- +65 9732 8163
51 East Coast Road, Singapore
- http://328katonglaksa.com
Savor the thickest, creamiest Curry Laksa in town at Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa! Order a small bowl to avoid being overwhelmed by the soup’s richness. The laksa is packed with all the staple garnishes to fill you up, served in a clay pot to keep it warm. Be prepared to queue in the stuffy hawker centre, since lines get pretty long even before the stall opens at 9:00AM.
- +65 9088 9203
120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-75 Alexandra Village Food Centre, Singapore
- https://www.facebook.com/DepotRoadZhenShanMeiClaypotLaksa
Once you spot locals slurping from red bowls, you’ll know that you’re in the best Curry Laksa shop in northern Singapore—928 Yishun Laksa! Choose to have thin or thick bee hoon, or even egg noodles for your bowl, and opt to change the usual cockles for crab sticks. The store provides an unlimited supply of daun kesum and sambal for you to adjust the sauce according to your taste. Although for us, it’s great just the way it is.
- +65 9731 9586
928 Yishun Central 1, #01-155, Singapore
Janggut Laksa, the original makers of Katong Laksa, serves a mildly spiced base that’s light, flavorful, and tangy. The store’s Crayfish Laksa is just like the original recipe, but made even more special with soft and sweet crayfish. Portions come small here, so order the kiosk’s equally famous Chicken Curry for a full meal!
- +65 6203 9526
1 Queensway, #1-59 Queensway Shopping Centre, Singapore
- https://www.facebook.com/janggutlaksa
Tucked inside a coffee shop, Sungei Road Laksa first gained popularity because of its gravy. Cooked over a charcoal burner for that charred, smoky flavor, it sets their laksa apart from others. The bang-for-your-buck bowl (only SGD3!) comes with an ample amount of toppings, including extra plump fresh cockles. Watch the ladies in the store work as they expertly fulfill each order like a well-oiled machine.
Block 27 Jalan Berseh, #01-100 Jin Shui Kopitiam, Singapore
- http://sungeiroadlaksa.com.sg
The owner of Bib Gourmand awardee Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa uses less coconut milk in their laksa broth, as well as premium ingredients such as oysters, prawns, and dried scallops for a more intense flavor. Remember to make room for a plate of the Hong Lim Market hawker’s beloved Mee Siam, which is stir-fried rice vermicelli laced with a blend of fruit juices.
- +65 9750 8326
Block 531A Upper Cross Street, #02-66 Hong Lim Market and Food Centre, Singapore
Wei Yi Laksa & Prawn Noodle allows you to customize each bowl of Curry Laksa with your choice of add-ons. The creamy base has a strong flavor, so pick your toppings accordingly. Start your day with a kick and have Laksa for breakfast, as Wei Yi opens as early as 5:30AM.
- +65 9782 1012
48A Tanglin Halt Road, #01-20 Tanglin Halt Market, Singapore
Enjoy as many prawns, cockles, and fish cakes as you want on your Curry Laksa at 363 Katong Laksa. Order through mobile tablets, and see how much you can squeeze into a bowl of the shop’s thick, full-bodied gravy. The restaurant also does a mean Nasi Lemak (coconut milk rice with various side dishes) to go with your Laksa on the table.
- +65 6464 9303
29B Lorong Liput, #01-02 Holland Village, Singapore
- https://www.facebook.com/363katonglaksa
Quietly nestled in Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre, Terry Katong Laksa scoops out generous helpings of Curry Laksa every day. Their soup is known for being MSG-free, light on the coconut milk with a faint taste of shrimp paste for a different take on the Singaporean favorite.
- +65 9812 0630
51 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #02-194 Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre, Singapore
Beast & Butterflies’ Laksa substitutes the standard bee hoon with silver needle noodles and features cherrystone clams for an upscale version of the local dish. The restaurant also replaces the typically soggy tau pok with crispy, brittle fried bean curds for a complementing texture in each bite.
- +65 6657 0018
90 Robertson Quay, M Social Singapore, Singapore
- https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/singapore/m-social-singapore/beast-and-butterflies
Marrying the best of Laksa and hot pot, San Laksa Steamboat makes your dreams of dipping everything into yummy Laksa soup come true! Cook everything—vegetables, seafood, meat, and more—into the fragrant, savory broth. The coconut milk burns easily when left heated, so keep in mind to stir the base from time to time. The steamboat is a complete meal, as it comes with free-flowing drinks and ice cream for dessert!
- +65 6275 7069
404 Telok Blangah Road, Singapore
- https://www.facebook.com/SanLaksa
About Singapore
