Laksam, the beloved Kelantanese meal of rolled rice noodles in a thick, fish-based coconut milk gravy, is truly an underrated dish in Singapore.
While it might have gotten some attention in recent weeks thanks to the opening of a highly popular hawker stall in Toa Payoh, it is still not as widespread as other Malaysian food. Not yet, at least.
Whether you’re looking to find alternatives or game enough to join snaking long queues, here is where to hit up the next time the craving hits hard.
1. Kelaté
Kelate is a hawker stall run by Malaysian actress Sasqia Dahuri, who hails from Pasir Mas in Kelantan. Its specialty? Authentic Kelantanese dishes. Despite only having 3 dishes on their menu currently, the stall attracts long queues every day.
Its bestseller is undoubtedly the laksam. Made from a recipe taught by Sasqia’s mother herself, Kelate’s laksam has single-handedly thrusted the classic Kelantanese dish into the spotlight. Prior to the stall opening, we are only familiar with other dishes from the coastal Malaysian state such as Nasi Kerabu and Ayam Percik.
At S$4.90, a small bowl of laksam here is affordable, although we would highly suggest to get the large bowl (S$7.90) especially if you’re lucky enough to have made it to the front of the long line.
Where: 93 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, #01-47, Singapore 310093
2. Noosh
This halal restaurant in Esplanade has a variety of noodle-based dishes in their menu, but we did not expect to discover laksam being one of them! It seems like its been on the menu for a while, if this post in 2019 is anything to go by.
The laksam is made from home-made rice rolls and served with Noosh‘s own version of a mackerel-based coconut gravy. It is also accompanied with quail eggs, serunding daging (beef floss), bunga kantan, spicy sambal and fresh herbs.
At S$16.90, the laksam is the most expensive in this list, but Noosh is a dine-in restaurant anyway, so we’re not too surprised by this.
Where: 8 Raffles Avenue, Esplanade Mall #01-13B Singapore, Singapore 039802
3. Laksam.Singapore
Laksam Singapore (@laksam.singapore or @inapassionforfood) is a home-based business offering the unique dish. They’ve been selling laksam for less than a year now, and it seems to be their main offering, so we wager it must be good.
Their rolled up flat rice noodles are made from scratch daily and the gravy is made primarily from fresh mackerel meat. From photos posted on their social media, the laksam does look very homely and unpretentious; the kind you’d probably find at street vendors in Malaysia.
The laksam is sold at S$5 per box. However, orders may be limited as they are home-based business after all.
Where: DM or Whatsapp them at +6587482162
Did we miss out anything? Let us know where else to get laksam in the comments below or email us at [email protected].
Featured image by Asian Inspirations.
