Laksa Bar

108 Little Lonsdale St 

Melbourne, VIC 3000

Laksa Bar has been around for a while, and had even stirred up a bit of a hype in the first months of opening. However, I’ve never been crazy for laksa like I’ve been for other noodle soups (such as ramen and pho), which is fair enough, because unlike pizza, bad laksa is just bad. I’ve had one too many greasy, bland noodle soups to try my hand at another potentially mediocre laksa, but sometimes the stars line up with the tastebuds, and I find myself willing to give this relationship another go. 

Though mostly self-serve, what service there was at Laksa Bar was friendly, and I liked the minimalist concrete fit-out – casual but fashionable. 

Skinny Kampong Laksa with Soft Shell Crab ($14.9, regular)

I’m normally a stickler for tradition, but I broke my own rules and ordered the Skinny Kampong Laksa with Soft Shell Crab ($14.9, regular), and promptly understood why this was the dish almost everyone else was digging into. It was topped with not one, not two, but three whole soft shell crabs, slowly soaking up the soup with its crisp batter. 

Skinny Kampong Laksa with Soft Shell Crab ($14.9, regular)

Hidden under the crab was a myriad of yummy things such as fish balls and tofu puffs, but also some unusual suspects like tomato, beans, and half a fried egg. Though a bit thick, the soup was exactly how I like it – robust with spices, but harbouring a lower level of sweetness and creaminess. I’m sure for those who prefer a stronger coconut flavour, the full-cream house laksa will deliver. 

Grill'd Chicken Vermicelli Salad ($10.9)

Grill'd Chicken Vermicelli Salad ($10.9)

In the spirit of getting a lighter dish to counterbalance the laksa, I decided to have a Grill’d Chicken Vermicelli Salad ($10.9), one of the few Vietnamese dishes that poked its head out of the predominantly Malaysian menu. I enjoyed the cool and tangy flavours, interspersed with crunchy shards of wonton skin, and warm grilled chicken marinated in lemongrass and curry.

Though I’ll never be a hardcore laksa lover, this is definitely good enough to have me coming back when I’m craving something rich and robust for the cold weather. Despite not being on-the-dot traditional, the price is certainly right, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like a huge serve of soft shell crab with my noodles.

Rating: 13.5/20 – soft shell crab laksa.

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.