Katong Laksa
Katong Laksa G/F 8 Mercer Street Sheung Wan Tel. 2543 4008
Grub: Mostly Singaporean/Malaysian curry noodles or prawn mee, although there are a few other items on the menu.
Vibe: This is a simple noodle shop. The staff are friendly and the service is efficient. The walls are decorated with framed photos of dishes from the menu.
Who to bring: Anybody who likes spicy, soupy noodles.
What's hot: Laksa is a spicy noodle soup popular in Singapore and Malaysia and is made using ideas from both Chinese and Malay cuisine. There are two types of laksa. Asam laksa is made with a sour, fish-based soup, but that version is not on the menu.
The other, more familiar type is curry laksa. This is made with a coconut-based curry soup and can have an entire range of ingredients mixed in with it. Top of the range on this menu is the Laksa Supreme. This includes everything - prawn, cockles, fish cake, tofu, sliced chicken and egg. However, I went for a laksa with just the shrimp, fish cake and tofu. Since I was in time to enjoy the afternoon tea set offers, I also treated myself to four satay sticks, two beef and two chicken.
There are probably as many different types of laksa as there are mums in kitchens across the Malay peninsula, but different regions often have different characteristics. Katong is an area of Singapore, but since I haven't eaten there I can only trust that my laksa was authentic. I had no complaints about the quality, the portions were generous and worked perfectly with the iced barley water I ordered.
On the other side of the menu is a noodle dish called prawn mee which also has many variations. The biggest difference seems to be that the Malaysian styles are soup noodles while the Singaporean are dry, fried noodles.
I couldn't resist trying the kaya. This is simply coconut jam on toast. A delicious sweet treat with melted butter oozing out between the slices.
What's not: Katong Laksa is on one of those little side streets in Sheung Wan between Des Voeux Road and Queens Road. I usually have to walk down two or three before finding the place.