Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)
Address: 15, Jalan Indah 22/2, Taman Bukit Indah 2, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/smkgKExW62yZ2wzS8
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
🍜 201 砂拉越叻沙 Sarawak Laksa Normal (Mee Hun) = RM15.90
Service Charge 6% = RM0.95
Click here for the Full Menu and Receipt (Opens in a New Tab, Price is accurate as of Posting Date)
This is another one of those Modern Kopitiams in the Area. The Place doesn't look new and feels like it has been around for quite a few years already. 🤔 There weren't much Customers within on a Friday Late-Afternoon at around 3.00pm when I was there. The Interior is Air-Conditioned and it is Cooling. ❄️
There is only 1-2 Foreign Serving Staffs. They're Friendly but keep to themselves and are managed by a Relatively Young Looking Chinese Lady Boss. 💁 Although their Usual Ordering Process is thru a QR Code Online Menu, I could still order directly from the Lady Boss since it was only just 1 item. 👍
The Lady Boss is from Sarawak herself. 🇲🇾 She hides inside a Cubicle and while she is Friendly, my First Impression of her is that she has an Very Tired and Very Stressed Out Overall Appearance. 🤔 She looks like she has not been Sleeping Adequately tbh. 感觉整个人很憔悴. 🤔 I will elaborate more on this later in the Review.
🍜 201 砂拉越叻沙 Sarawak Laksa Normal (Mee Hun) = RM15.90
This Sarawak Laksa was the Main Reason why I'm here because I thought it looked very Unique being served in an Egg Omelette Bowl 🍳 when I saw other people's Google Map Reviews of it. In the Menu, they state that it will take up to 15 Mins, but I got mine in 4 Mins, 👍 perhaps because there weren't much Customers around. 🤔
The Chilli they served with this is No Joke. 🌶️🔥 It's Very Intensely Salty with an Initial Fiery Heat although it doesn't linger long.
Adding Lime intensifies and gives it a Very Strong Sourish Kick. 🍋🟩This is a Very Robust and Intense Chilli they have here. 🌶️👍 Excellent.
Presentation-Wise, you can see for yourself how Impressive this looked. Its served in an Egg Omelette Bowl which I reckon is made up of at least 2 Eggs. 🥚 Being that Egg Slices are a Traditional Ingredient used in Sarawak Laksa, they absolutely fulfilled this requirement. 😅 To be fair, it is just an Egg Omelette, nothing particularly special about it, but I just love how Adorable it looked being used as a "Bowl" like this! 😄
As for the Main Dish itself, the Distinct Aroma of Sarawak Laksa is there. 🍜😋 It is Fragrant, but also slightly Less Intense compared to others that I've tried. I personally like this more Subdued Smell actually. 👍 Broth is Creamy, Smooth and Savoury. Its also Salty, but not Overly So. 🍲 There is a Inner Spice Heat to it and I feel this may be even be a Tad Spicier than the Famous Poh Lam Laksa in Kuching Sarawak which I reviewed previously. 🌶️
Quality of the Ingredient Toppings in the Sarawak Laksa
Amount of Chicken Slices felt Generous and they taste Meaty and Tender and Not Dry at all. 🐔👍 I liked that they also don't have Too Strong Chickeny Taste. The Type of Mee Hoon they use is also Accurate for a Sarawak Laksa. 🍜 Not Too Thick, Not Too Thin. Its not QQ but also Not Too Soft and felt just right. Amount is Acceptable for the Price. Slurping this with the Broth, 🍲 Chicken, 🐔 and Taugeh 🥬 is Very Enjoyable.
There are 2 Fat Mid-Sized Prawns and while they don't have a Super Bouncy Juicy Bite Texture, they are also Not Nua Nua. 🦐 I liked that they took the time and effort to keep the Prawn Head and Trim off the Sharp Bits and Feelers. ✂️🦐
This is because the "Cream" in the Head gives Flavour and at the same time, trimming off prevents the Spikes from hurting Customers. 🦐👍 I personally like to see the Whole Head with Spikes, Eyes and Feelers for a More Natural Look, but I totally respect this Trimmed Off Version too. 👍 Finally, mixing in that Chilli 🌶️ with Everything further deepens and adds an Additional Sourish Dimension elevating the Whole Dish to another Level. 😋
Too Much of a Good Thing
As Adorable and Generous as the Amount of Egg Omelette was, I personally felt that it actually worked against it. 🍳🤔 Don't get me wrong, it was Absolutely Delightful to have so much Egg Omelette to Munch on, but as the Meal went on, it did start to feel Jelak, too much "Eggy Overload". 🥚😅
Perhaps this is why Traditionally, Lesser Egg Slices are used, because Egg is a Very Quick Filling Ingredient. 🥚🤔 I won't fault them for their Egg Omelette Bowl Idea though. I NEVER fault attempts at Creativity for a Dish. 👍 If I have a Suggestion, perhaps only make a 1 Egg Omelette instead of the 2 Egg Omelette they have here? 🥚🤔 And if the Amount is not enough to form a "Omelette Bowl", perhaps just modify it to shape it like a "Fan Shape" Garnish instead? 🪭 Just my personal input on the matter.
Genuine Concern for the Lady Boss's Mental Well-Being
Earlier in the Review, I touched upon this. 🤔 I wasn't Exaggerating when I said I felt she needed more Rest. 🛌 She gave me the Impression that she is Very Stressed Out even though she was Friendly in her Mannerisms and Tone. 🤔
I can only assume she is probably very stressed over her Business. 🤔 As I mentioned, there weren't much Customers when I was there on a Friday. As a Business Owner, I'd imagine seeing not much Customers in your Eatery can be Extremely Stressful. 😞 I Especially sensed her Stress when I Complimented her Sarawak Laksa and her reply to me was:
"Thank you, but sadly many people don't feel the same way as you do". 🥺💔
It was Heartbreaking to hear her say that. 🥺💔 And to reveal this to a 1st Time Customer tells me that she must have cooped up this feeling and wasn't able to confide in anyone else. 🥺 I can't imagine the Amount of Stress she must have Suffered in Silence from her Critics and especially compounded by a Challenging F&B Business Climate. 😞
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At a Total Combined Price of RM15.90 (S$4.60) this felt slightly more expensive compared to the Sarawak Laksa I had at 猫城茶餐厅 Kuching Style (Nusa Bestari Branch) which was RM12.90 (S$3.70). 🍜🤔 But I felt the Overall Amount of Ingredients here felt alot more. 👍 Heck they used a 2 Egg Omelette to make an Entire Bowl out of it. 🍳
Personally, I feel this is a Very Well Made Bowl of Sarawak Laksa that tastes Legit. 🇲🇾👍 It has a Higher than Usual Level of Spiciness that can even challenge the Famous Kuching 寶蘭叻沙 Poh Lam Laksa. 🌶️😋 And in a way, this place is even better because Poh Lam don't even put Egg Slices if you remember my past review for it. 😅
The Egg Omelette Bowl is a Solid Idea and Well Thought Out but I felt it did worked against it as I ended up feeling Jelak towards the End of the Meal. 🥚🤔 Despite that, I still respect the Creativity in this. 👍The Lady Boss will probably not see this Post, but I do hope that she takes a Well Deserved Rest 🛌 and Come Back Fighting Fresh. 💪 Through her Sarawak Laksa, I can tell that she is a Creative Person and has a Good Culinary Sense. 👩🍳👍 It would be very sad to see her Burnout and her Passion for Cooking completely crushed. 🥲 Life is Not Easy. It may be Raining Now, ⛈️ but someday the Sun will shine again. 🌞 加油 Ganbatte! 💪
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