Tuesday 9 May 2017

Sungei Road laksa

Sungei Road laksa at Yuhua market.


GRACIOUS, Sungei Road laksa has travelled far and wide in Singapore. My last Google search yielded five such stalls -- two in the vicinity of Serangoon area where Sungei Road is -- one in Chinatown, one in Jurong East and another as far as Bedok!

The signature taste of the Sungei Road laksa which started out in a pot on a trishaw at Sungei Road, was its soup -- brewed over a charcoal fire. I am not sure whether this is still being done at all the five stalls.

I always thought that the one at Jalan Berseh is the real thing -- but somehow I always missed it and ended up eating some other stuff. I tried the one at Hong Lim in Chinatown, but it was only so so. It tasted ordinary to me, sad to say. Not so different from Katong's laksa.

Recently, I stumbled upon the one at Jurong East, at the Yuhua Market and Hawker Centre. There wasn't a queue at all. The soup was a little bland and thin. I guess I should stir it more because some tasty bits were at the bottom. I always liked those tasty bits which I think could be pounded hae bee (dried shrimps) and spices like ganlanga and lemon grass.

Well, maybe this is the old school taste after all. We could be too used to modern day laksa -- much richer and thicker soup -- compared to the prudent old days.

15 comments:

streetsing said...

Indeed the one at Jalan Berseh is the real deal. The stall run by the daughters now :) The laksa soup here is less " Lemak " compared to other stalls. Your post triggered my craving again ;)

Lo Tien Yin said...

Ok, I must really really try the Japan Berseh one then! Hum or no hum? 😄

streetsing said...

I recommend with "hum" since their turnover is high, freshness should not be an issue :)

Lo Tien Yin said...

Ya, Laksa must have hums😃

Unknown said...

Wow, what a great way to express your thoughts to others in a best possible way and also making sure that the readers will enjoy reading your blog everytime they visit.
Street Style

streetsing said...

By the way, I found out the Jalan Bersih Laksa do not francise their brand, all the others are perhaps just riding on their popularity. Have a Blessed CNY to you and family :)

Lo Tien Yin said...

Coincidentally I wanted to let you know that just last week, I managed to find the Jalan Berseh Sungei Road laksa! It was the best laksa I have eaten for years! For just $3, it has heaps of hums! I also tried the ko-ko mee there and it really has the old school taste. The fish balls tasted of fish and not just rice flour. The soup was really good too, genuine stock. Happy CNY to you too! I miss your regular posting on CNY in Chinatown!

streetsing said...

I agree it's the best, have not tried the Ko-Ko mee though as my primary objective is the mouth watering laksa :) Now u know why my feet automatically gyrate to this place :)
Unable to re-use the old StreetScenesofSingapore title, Google just do not permit. Tried many variations, almost gave up. Only able to use a new title with a rather silly name that came to my mind on the spur of the moment. It's called "Lets go Walk Walk"...promise u won't laugh or giggle? Have not post any photos yet though :)

Lo Tien Yin said...

I think Let's go Walk Walk is a great title. Do let me have the url once it is ready :)

streetsing said...

I was at Sungei road two weeks ago to satisfy my craving for the delightful Laksa. As usual ordered one small and one large but was surprised they only offered one size now at three dollars each. No more $2.50, oh well, had to temporary forget about my cholesterol and ordered two bowls :) By the way, I just put up my new blog at http://lgwalkwalk.blogspot.sg :)

Lo Tien Yin said...

Yes, it's $3 a bowl, but they give a lot of hums :) I didn't know they had $2.50 because when I found them (finally), it was already $3 a bowl. You didn't try Ah Tee Ko-Kok mee? :) Also, didn't know the salted chicken is there too. I tried the salted chicken at People's Park where they had a stall and it was quite good.

streetsing said...

I used to order one big one small bowl whenever I am here. If I don’t remember wrongly , it was $2 for the small and $3 for the big. Sorry, not $2.50 :) I did noticed the ko ko me stall but did not try it. Did not know there is a salted chicken stall here :) If you go further up the road there is another two coffee shops. The one opposite has a stall selling beef noodle, also quite popular. By the way, the Hans at Far East plaza I think is not there anymore. Tried to find it but couldn’t. I did managed to eat there once before though :)

Lo Tien Yin said...

Oh yes, I tried the beef ball noodles once because the Laksa was closed. I think it was a Wednesday. My friend said the soup was very tasty, but when I went that day, the soup was rather bland. Think they haven't boiled long enough for the beef flavour to come through as I was there early.

Lo Tien Yin said...

Oh dear, another familiar Hans outlet closed!There is one at the Chinatown Point. But it is not the same somehow😊

streetsing said...

Indeed the laksa stall is closed on Wednesday. The beef noodle, I think is cook in Hakka style where the soup is clear, unlike the Hainanese style :) I now mostly patronise the Hans at JEM. It’s quite crowded in the evening, their beef noodle is more like the one I am used to :)