Laksa Johor - Uniquely Johor Tradition and Heritage Food

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Laksa Johor is a truly unique and delicious style of laksa created in Johor. Legend has it that Sultan Sir Abu Bakar of Johor (1833 - 1895) was visiting Europe, and when in Italy, he fell in love with spaghetti. 

 

When Sultan Sir Abu Bakar returned to Johor, he directed the palace chef to create a dish combining the traditional laksa gravy with spaghetti. Laksa Johor was thus invented - this must be one of the earliest examples of East-West fusion food.

While Laksa Johor is uniquely Johor, it is surprisingly difficult to find at eateries, even here in Johor. The reason is because the preparation of Laksa Johor is extremely tedious and takes long hours.

I've been told many times that the best Laksa Johor can only be found at home - lovingly made for special celebrations.

Going to the market, assembling the numerous ingredients needed for the gravy, like herbs and spices, and fresh Ikan Tenggiri or Ikan Parang is already one big job. And, this is just the beginning.

Then, preparing these ingredients is very labour intensive because to get the authentic taste and flavour, it has to be done by hand, the old way. So, usually most of the family, extended family and even neighbours are involved. Sitting down together, preparing food together is a great bonding ritual.

Finally, when all the ingredients are ready, we need a talented chef who has mastered the skill to put it all together to create this magically delicious dish. No wonder, Laksa Johor is so difficult to find at the shops - it is very hard to make it commercially worthwhile.

Fortunately, there are a few eateries recommended by members of Johor Sedap Halal Food Group that serve good Laksa Johor at reasonable prices

Click on the following pictures of Laksa Johor to read the full story about these recommended Laksa Johor shops.

Restaurant name: Al Ansar Café
Address: Jalan Permas 5/16 (right next to Al Ansar Mosque)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lxJYV

GPS: 1.503983,103.821817
Hours: 6:00am to 3:00pm (closed on Sunday and Public Holidays)

 

Restaurant name: Restoran Bumbu Asli

Address: 36-L, Jalan Kolam Ayer, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/3mvtF
GPS: 1.472003,103.736649
Hours: 7:00am to 4:00pm (closed on alternate Sundays)

 

Restaurant name: Dann's Café
Address: 42, Jalan Sagu, Taman Daya, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lvvYg
GPS: 1.547242,103.764613
Hours: 10:30am to 9:30pm

 

Credit

Laksa Johor is a truly unique and delicious style of laksa created in Johor. Legend has it that Sultan Sir Abu Bakar of Johor (1833 - 1895) was visiting Europe, and when in Italy, he fell in love with spaghetti. 

 

When Sultan Sir Abu Bakar returned to Johor, he directed the palace chef to create a dish combining the traditional laksa gravy with spaghetti. Laksa Johor was thus invented - this must be one of the earliest examples of East-West fusion food.

While Laksa Johor is uniquely Johor, it is surprisingly difficult to find at eateries, even here in Johor. The reason is because the preparation of Laksa Johor is extremely tedious and takes long hours.

I've been told many times that the best Laksa Johor can only be found at home - lovingly made for special celebrations.

Going to the market, assembling the numerous ingredients needed for the gravy, like herbs and spices, and fresh Ikan Tenggiri or Ikan Parang is already one big job. And, this is just the beginning.

Then, preparing these ingredients is very labour intensive because to get the authentic taste and flavour, it has to be done by hand, the old way. So, usually most of the family, extended family and even neighbours are involved. Sitting down together, preparing food together is a great bonding ritual.

Finally, when all the ingredients are ready, we need a talented chef who has mastered the skill to put it all together to create this magically delicious dish. No wonder, Laksa Johor is so difficult to find at the shops - it is very hard to make it commercially worthwhile.

Fortunately, there are a few eateries recommended by members of Johor Sedap Halal Food Group that serve good Laksa Johor at reasonable prices

Click on the following pictures of Laksa Johor to read the full story about these recommended Laksa Johor shops.

Restaurant name: Al Ansar Café
Address: Jalan Permas 5/16 (right next to Al Ansar Mosque)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lxJYV

GPS: 1.503983,103.821817
Hours: 6:00am to 3:00pm (closed on Sunday and Public Holidays)

 

Restaurant name: Restoran Bumbu Asli

Address: 36-L, Jalan Kolam Ayer, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/3mvtF
GPS: 1.472003,103.736649
Hours: 7:00am to 4:00pm (closed on alternate Sundays)

 

Restaurant name: Dann's Café
Address: 42, Jalan Sagu, Taman Daya, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lvvYg
GPS: 1.547242,103.764613
Hours: 10:30am to 9:30pm

 

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Laksa Johor at Al Ansar Café in Taman Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Laksa Johor is one of Johor's signature dishes but it is not easily found in stalls or restaurants as it is mostly served at home, and even then only during special occasions like festivals and celebrations. Good Laksa Johor is even harder to find outside the home and only a handful of stalls sell good ones.

Fortunately, I have good friends who helped me out in my quest for Laksa Johor. My friend Francis Kee brought me to his favourite breakfast place, Al Ansar Café in Permas Jaya to try out their famous Laksa Johor.

 

The gravy of Laksa Johor was a thick grainy paste blanketing the mound of boiled spaghetti. What's inside the umami gravy was, of course, a trade secret. My taste buds told me that there were ground ikan kembung, salted fish, dried shrimps, belacan, various herbs, spices, coconut and other ingredients that I couldn't make out. Assembling such a complicated combination of ingredients alone was no easy task, let alone preparing and cooking them well. No wonder good Laksa Johor is so hard to find, in stalls or at home. 

 

 

Uniquely, Laksa Johor uses spaghetti instead of the usual, familiar yellow or white noodles. According to legend, retold by the famous Chef Wan, Sultan Abu Bakar travelled to Italy in the 1800s, and took a liking to Spaghetti Bolognaise. Returning to Johor, Sultan Abu Bakar directed his chef to modify the recipe with fish based gravy and Laksa Johor was thus created.

The Laska Johor gravy was flavourful and had interesting textures but was not overly spicy hot. I love to add this tangy, extra spicy hot sambal chili which boosted the taste of the spaghetti.

While enjoying my Laksa Johor and chatting with Francis, I heard the rhythmic musical pounding of pestle and mortar. I have not heard this music for a long time :)

 

I couldn't help but stopped and traced where the beautiful sound was coming from. It led me to Al Ansar Café's busy kitchen. This lady was pounding the mix of chili and spices with mortar and pestle in the old way.

This old tedious way creates a sambal chili that an electric blender simply cannot match.

I am so glad to enjoy this delicious authentic Laksa Johor today, with thanks to Francis :)

Here's a nice video recipe, click here, if you want to try making this at home :)

 

Restaurant name: Al Ansar Café
Address: Jalan Permas 5/16 (right next to Al Ansar Mosque)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lxJYV
GPS: 1.503983,103.821817
Hours: 6:00am to 3:00pm (closed on Sunday and Public Holidays)
Halal

Date visited: 9 Oct 2012

Laksa Johor is one of Johor's signature dishes but it is not easily found in stalls or restaurants as it is mostly served at home, and even then only during special occasions like festivals and celebrations. Good Laksa Johor is even harder to find outside the home and only a handful of stalls sell good ones.

Fortunately, I have good friends who helped me out in my quest for Laksa Johor. My friend Francis Kee brought me to his favourite breakfast place, Al Ansar Café in Permas Jaya to try out their famous Laksa Johor.

 

The gravy of Laksa Johor was a thick grainy paste blanketing the mound of boiled spaghetti. What's inside the umami gravy was, of course, a trade secret. My taste buds told me that there were ground ikan kembung, salted fish, dried shrimps, belacan, various herbs, spices, coconut and other ingredients that I couldn't make out. Assembling such a complicated combination of ingredients alone was no easy task, let alone preparing and cooking them well. No wonder good Laksa Johor is so hard to find, in stalls or at home. 

 

 

Uniquely, Laksa Johor uses spaghetti instead of the usual, familiar yellow or white noodles. According to legend, retold by the famous Chef Wan, Sultan Abu Bakar travelled to Italy in the 1800s, and took a liking to Spaghetti Bolognaise. Returning to Johor, Sultan Abu Bakar directed his chef to modify the recipe with fish based gravy and Laksa Johor was thus created.

The Laska Johor gravy was flavourful and had interesting textures but was not overly spicy hot. I love to add this tangy, extra spicy hot sambal chili which boosted the taste of the spaghetti.

While enjoying my Laksa Johor and chatting with Francis, I heard the rhythmic musical pounding of pestle and mortar. I have not heard this music for a long time :)

 

I couldn't help but stopped and traced where the beautiful sound was coming from. It led me to Al Ansar Café's busy kitchen. This lady was pounding the mix of chili and spices with mortar and pestle in the old way.

This old tedious way creates a sambal chili that an electric blender simply cannot match.

I am so glad to enjoy this delicious authentic Laksa Johor today, with thanks to Francis :)

Here's a nice video recipe, click here, if you want to try making this at home :)

 

Restaurant name: Al Ansar Café
Address: Jalan Permas 5/16 (right next to Al Ansar Mosque)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lxJYV
GPS: 1.503983,103.821817
Hours: 6:00am to 3:00pm (closed on Sunday and Public Holidays)
Halal

Date visited: 9 Oct 2012

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