Aunt Christina’s Sarawak Laksa, Bangsar

December 1, 2008 at 12:26 pm · Filed under Eating Out, Food, halal

Any Sarawakian will tell you that Sarawak Laksa is not like any other laksa, even if it’s commonly mistaken as curry laksa. Apart from the mee kolok, Sarawak laksa is the next state favourite. Decent Sarawak laksa is not easy to find outside the state and it’s thanks to this elusive laksa paste which makeths the dish. I truly believe that the paste, a mixture of shallots, lemon grass, galangal, garlic, coriander seeds, dried chilli and about 20 other herbs and spices is the secret to this dish. Most Sarawakians swear by the Swallow brand. Heh.

Anyway, word has it that the best Sarawak laksa in town is in Bangsar. And no, I am not talking about Alexis. Instead, it’s at a corner lot chinese coffeeshop in Lucky Garden and prepared by a lady who goes by the name of “Aunt Christina”. Featured in many newspapers and food blogs, it has even on appeared on TV. I remember eating it when I first came to KL and was so homesick that any Sarawak Laksa would have sufficed. But it has been years since I went back and after having cravings for it, decided to head over there with a fellow Sarawakian.

We started off with the Hakka Abacus Beads (算盘子), which are button-shaped yam balls resembling a Chinese abacus’s beads. The dough is mixed with mashed yam (though I suspect the purple here is created by food colouring) before being boiled and stir-fried with minced meat, dried shrimps etc. I guess one can call it Chinese gnocchi. Hehe. Their version is slightly chewy and a tad on the salty and peppery side. But it does make for a good snack though.

The Sarawak laksa. Coarse vermicelli topped with bean sprouts, shredded egg omelette, chicken strips and prawns. Squeeze some lime juice into the side serving of red chilli paste and stir everything in and you’re ready to tuck in. The broth is really as close as it gets to those you can get in Sarawak (or my hometown at least) and for the moment, I am satiated and satisfied.

On weekend mornings, a pushcart selling popiah is also seen next to the coffeeshop. As they were doing brisk business, decided to get a portion too to try. Thin skin but didn’t like how loosely wrapped the ingredients were. But tasted quite decent.

As Aunt Christina also serves some of my other favourites, such as the kacangma (益母草), and the peppery pork stomach soup etc, I am definitely going to be coming back whenever I’m in the vicinity. 🙂

Aunt Christina’s Sarawak Laksa
Kedai Makanan Nam Chuan
2-4 Lorong Ara Kiri
Lucky Garden
Bangsar.
Closed Wednesdays.

other reviews;
– eatingasia
– you get what you give
– headsteadi.com
– timeout kl writeup

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