Soup for the Soul: Where to Find the Best Laksa in Sydney
From creamy, coconutty creations to punchy sweet-and-sour variations, here's where to go for the best laksa in Sydney
Whatever the weather or time of day, we are on the Laksa train. Simple, satisfying and soul-warming, it's got everything you need to get you through the day. Aside from pho and pizza, it may well be Sydney's ultimate comfort food.
An almost intimidating array of establishments serve the coveted liquid gold, so we’ve decided to sip and slurp our way to deliver you the ultimate hit list. If you’re craving something warm and cosy, here's where you'll find the best laksa in Sydney.
Malay Chinese
This no-frills takeaway turned BYO often sees queues winding out the door and along the street, with dozens vying for a table come lunchtime. Serving up what is widely regarded as the best laksa in Sydney, Malay Chinese allows ravenous customers to choose their preferred protein and cut of meat.
There are 11 different laksas on the menu ranging from your classics like chicken (drumstick, thigh or skinless), beef and prawns laksa to heartier surf and turf combos – whatever you order, this is one good bowl of laksa.
Shop CQT06, 33 Pitt Street, Sydney
Ho Jiak
This popular haunt pays homage to Malaysian hawker stalls and street food-inspired dishes. Naturally, laksa is a part of that. One of Head Chef Junda Khoo's specialities is cooking a bowl of spicy laksa with perfectly cooked egg noodle soup.
Many claim Ho Jiak's laksa is one of the best in Sydney and after a taste and trial, we can't fault it!
Haymarket, Chatswood and Strathfield
Penang Cuisine
Epping’s beloved hawker-style restaurant, Penang Cuisine, offers hundreds of steaming bowls of curry laksa to their devoted customers night after night.
Using a blend of Chinese and Malaysian cooking styles, Penang’s chicken laksa teams’ fishcake, bean sprouts, bean curd, yellow noodles and vermicelli noodles with their ‘piquant’ coconut milk curry soup for an addictive dish.
32/74 Rawson Street, Epping
Malacca Straits
A favourite for Malaysian cuisine connoisseurs, Malacca Straits is a must-visit for some soul-warming laksa. Their traditional laksa, or ‘rapture in a bowl’ is available with chicken, prawns or a seafood mix. Their Assam laksa is a spicy and sour Penang laksa using fish-based soup and is adored by laksa enthusiasts.
5/66 Mountain Street, Ultimo
Alex Lee Kitchen
Taking up position amongst the hawker-style dining options along Chippendale’s Spice Alley, Alex Lee’s Kitchen slings out mouth-watering laksa by the bucket load.
Head chef Alex Lee (of Temasek and Ginger & Spice fame) brings Singaporean cuisine to spice-loving locals with their Katong laksa with rice vermicelli and your choice of chicken, prawns, pork balls, fish balls or vegetables.
Spice Alley, Chippendale
Albee’s Kitchen
A long-running favourite for Malaysian fare, Albee’s Kitchen offers encyclopaedic menus. On the laksa front, all the classics are on show but if you’re after something a little left of field, the Penang Asam laksa with thick rice noodles served in a tangy fish soup might just hit the spot.
Kingsford & Campsie
