Penang is known for it’s assam laksa, the most popular one being the one in Air Itam. But sometimes, we’re just too lazy to go that far for food so we scoured our backyard and found these two yummy places.
The first one is the Big Tree Laksa in Sungai Ara. The quaint store under a big tree is located in front of a row of houses facing the main road, Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim and has been around for more than a decade.
Assam laksa broth has an amazingly complex flavour of sweet, sour, spicy and umami. It’s distinct umami aroma comes from fish based stock, tamarind, torch ginger (bunga kantan), shrimp paste, lemon grass and is usually served with rice noodles. We like ours topped with chillies, mint, sliced onions and some fresh lettuce for the crunch.
At Big Tree Laksa, you can also try their Belacan Chicken and also Spring Rolls which we usually dip in the laksa broth.
Big Tree Laksa
Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim, Desa Ria, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
12pm to 6pm. Closed on Monday.
Pork-free.
Of course having one laksa haunt is never enough for us tamchiak queens, we have another joint we love to haunt which is the Relau 88 Laksa hidden in a cozy spot right after at the traffic lights turning into Sri Aman from the main road.
The place is covered in plants that help keep the place cool during the hot afternoon while we slurp away our delicious bowl of noodles.
They do have crispy spring rolls to go with their assam laksa however they were finished when we there. Total bummer. Besides assam laksa, they also serve cendol and ice kacang in three flavours: Original, Honey Dew and Mango. We ordered the mango flavoured ice kacang but sadly it was disappointing as it was only mango syrup on shaved ice with the usual condiments of sweet corn, evaporated milk and attap chee (palm seeds or attap seeds). We were hoping for actual mango fruit, not just syrup.
Relau 88 Laksa
Persiaran Paya Terubong 2, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
12pm to 5.30pm. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Pork-free.
