Janggut Laksa at Roxy Square - Laksa since the 1950s

Who doesn’t love heritage and age old food that has withstood the test of time? Even with the recent trend of “traditional food with a modern twist”, I find myself going back to authentic, original food such as Janggut Laska, tucked in a corner of Roxy Square. The sign board says it all – The Original Katong Laksa, more than 50 years experience in serving the best Nyonya Laksa.

While it was a little difficult to locate this hidden gem, it was not hard to miss Janggut Laksa’s signature pot of laksa sauce simmering at the counter. It was a pale orange colour, giving us a prelude to the lemak that was going to hit us within the next few minutes.

We got a small bowl at $5.50 and were given just a spoon, the right way to enjoy the Katong laksa. The thick bee hoon noodles were cut up just enough to ensure that you are able to get sufficient noodles with every spoonful. I found that very helpful given that they do not provide chopsticks and that was something that they definitely did better than 328 Katong Laksa in my opinion.

The standard ingredients were all present in the laksa, prawn, cockles and bean sprouts, topped with a spoonful of sambal chilli and curry leaves. The star of the show was really the gravy, which was creamy and filled with the fragrance of coconut milk. Because they were so generous with their coconut milk, it was mild and sweet, very easy on the throat, almost like drinking a bowl of brewed soup. For those who come for the spicy kick, be sure to ask for more chilli, as the gravy itself is not going to be spicy.

With Janggut Laksa and 328 Katong Laksa just a stone throw away from each other, the million dollar question remains – who did it better? It was a tie within the group – some people found Janggut’s Laksa to be too sweet, and their coconut milk too overpowering, while others like myself found that delightful. I guess the real question – is how much do you enjoy lemak? If the answer is hell yes, then Janggut Laksa might just be the one for you.