Taiping Laksa Review

Laksa is the queen of street food in Malaysia. Found and prepared differently in every single state! There are at least 5 major variations of laksa in Malaysia; Laksa Assam, Laksa Lemak, Laksa Perlis, Laksa Johor and Laksam. Every state in Peninsular Malaysia has a variation of their own. Laksa prepared by Malays and Chinese differs in taste, texture of the rice noodles and thickness of the soup. Some are spicy, creamy, sourish, sweet or a combination of either one or all. One more thing about laksa is if the soup spills on your clothes, you will stink. It is because fish meat was used to prepare the soup thus making the soup pungent in fish scent and for some it stinks. Laksa drives Malaysians mad! We would queue up to buy a bowl of laksa under the hot sun for our darlings or dine in the most unpleasant environment just to enjoy a bowl of stinking laksa.

After my sister signed her death warrant with her soul mate, we headed to central Taiping to build up our appetite for a good seafood lunch at Kuala Sepetang. Our host introduced us to a small coffee shop (Kedai Makan Rex – behind Taiping Jaya) that only have only 3 hawkers selling; Lok-Lok, Laksa, Curry Mee and Popiah. The coffee shop is famous for its Ice Kacang and ice blended red bean drink (specialty). Laksa would be an ideal appetiser for a wonderful seafood lunch and it did certainly did the job for me. Although, you might pack on a few pounds after that, but what the hell, it's a mother of all events for me.

Let’s get to the good part. When the laksa arrived, the aroma was very refreshing. Laksa is also served with fresh mint leaves and the pungent fish aroma plus the shrimp paste added in the laksa makes a good concoction of aroma before you eat it. The laksa have a runny soup with bits of fish meat in it. I love the colour contrast of that laksa, a light brown and maroon in for the soup, the green mint leaves and the whiteness of the rice noodle.

It makes my mouth water. The laksa tasted like what I had expected. It was a little spicy, pretty sourish and full of fish flavour and a hint of shrimp. The mint is an added freshness coupled with the pungent aroma. The laksa had a good harmony of flavours, sight, smell and price. Smell and taste is closely related and if one of them doesn't meet your expectations, the meal might not be delicious. Smell your food before you eat it and you'll experience a new revelation.

I accidentally spilled my laksa on my pants and shoes when I was having a deep conversation with my sister's best friend while I was enjoying my laksa. I would not recommend having a deep conversation with someone else when you are trying to enjoy your food. I had to excuse myself to the little boys room and wash up. 3 or 4 hot chicas offering me tissue to clean up. I feel like a 12 year old. The best part about this little accident is that, I was stinking with laksa when I took a ride to lunch at Kuala Sepetang. I hope the passengers of that vehicle didn't notice where that stank came from. 2 days later after I went home and wanted to wash my clothes, my slacks was still stinking with laksa. Now that's what I call a good laksa!

We ordered everything they could get from the coffee shop and I only managed to taste the laksa and popiah. Those food I had in the coffee shop was brilliant as the ambience was so lively. There were around 12 of us sitting in 3 medium round sized tables joined together. It was chaotic. I guess having a good meal sometimes need good company to spice up our boring life. Laksa is truly Malaysian! The laksa only cost RM 2.80 a bowl. Only in Taiping.