It's the Last day of winter here in Sydney and a cold, windy one at that. The only thing to do is test out the much talked and blogged about Laksa joint in Sydney.
Malay- Chinese is a Sydney icon in Hunter street that specialises in hawker style Laksas of every kind imaginable. Prawn, Chicken, vegetable, combination etc etc. It also has a bain maree for those that are more into their curries. Chinese favourites are also on the menu board.
But I am here for the Laksa. Apparently it's one of the best in Sydney....or so everyone says.
Malay- Chinese is a Sydney icon in Hunter street that specialises in hawker style Laksas of every kind imaginable. Prawn, Chicken, vegetable, combination etc etc. It also has a bain maree for those that are more into their curries. Chinese favourites are also on the menu board.
But I am here for the Laksa. Apparently it's one of the best in Sydney....or so everyone says.
I am happy to find the place empty at 10.45 am. I deliberately come early to avoid the mad rush hour of suits and high heels of the corporate rat race. Phew!
Straight to the counter and order a vegetable Laksa for $8.70 from the lovely man wearing a baseball cap and that keeps smiling at me . A fair price.
Straight to the counter and order a vegetable Laksa for $8.70 from the lovely man wearing a baseball cap and that keeps smiling at me . A fair price.
It arrives in minutes and is a generous serve so I feel that I am getting value for money. Another tick.
The bowl is filled with the usual deep fried tofu to suck up the juicy soup, crunchy bean sprouts, broccoli,cauliflower, noodles, carrots, English spinach (I think) all in a slighty watery, coconut, oily and bland broth.
I dig in waiting for the flavour explosion that I am promised by others but nothing.... I try again and still all I taste is bland watery and over oily soup. In shock and disappointed I race to the counter and drop the most enormous dollop of chilli sambal into my bowel (with man at counter telling me that I have added too much!) to see if a miracle was going to happen. But sadly no. Even the obligatory runny nose from the chilli heat was not helping my endorphin hit change my opinion.
Spoon by spoon I eat my Laksa in slight disappointed. No richness from the paste either.
I have had hundreds of better ones that this. Not sure why it has been given the title of "Best in Sydney". Perhaps I should have gone for the chicken or Prawn instead. Also , way too much MSG. I found myself thirsty for hours afterwards. I am not a water drinker at the best of times!
The bowl is filled with the usual deep fried tofu to suck up the juicy soup, crunchy bean sprouts, broccoli,cauliflower, noodles, carrots, English spinach (I think) all in a slighty watery, coconut, oily and bland broth.
I dig in waiting for the flavour explosion that I am promised by others but nothing.... I try again and still all I taste is bland watery and over oily soup. In shock and disappointed I race to the counter and drop the most enormous dollop of chilli sambal into my bowel (with man at counter telling me that I have added too much!) to see if a miracle was going to happen. But sadly no. Even the obligatory runny nose from the chilli heat was not helping my endorphin hit change my opinion.
Spoon by spoon I eat my Laksa in slight disappointed. No richness from the paste either.
I have had hundreds of better ones that this. Not sure why it has been given the title of "Best in Sydney". Perhaps I should have gone for the chicken or Prawn instead. Also , way too much MSG. I found myself thirsty for hours afterwards. I am not a water drinker at the best of times!
Here is a picture of the canteen style decor. It's usually packed but at 10.30 am I was lucky.
A very oily broth but not much flavour.
Give the place a go anyway. You may get a better batch. Or just don't go for the vegetable one!
Give the place a go anyway. You may get a better batch. Or just don't go for the vegetable one!
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