Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)
Address: 17, Jalan Dato Muthuthambi, Taman Tampoi, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1gXtBSnsVJ9XZcbeA
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
🍜 淡杯叻沙 Laksa Mee = RM8.00🥗 羅惹 Rojak (Small) = RM7.00
🦪 鲜蛤 Kerang (Blood Cockles) = RM15.00
No Service Charges
Prices are not listed at this Eatery/Restaurant.
This is probably One of the Most Famous Eatery in Tampoi that is always being featured and Very Highly Regarded in Multiple Food Blogs. 😄 The Actual Eatery itself isn't some Restoran but is actually Someone's Private Residential Old Landed House with a Courtyard that only opens in the Evenings. 🏡 Really Rustic Setting, the Food are actually cooked in a Very Old School Food Pushcart.
I've read in Several Blogs that THIS is the One and Only Tampoi Laksa and there are No Other Branches. 🤔 So if people talk about Tampoi Laksa, this is the Only Place where you can eat the Original Legit Version. 👍
When I was there at around 5.30pm on a Saturday, I was surprised to see that despite being so Highly Regarded in Food Blogs, there are No Singapore Cars parked anywhere and all of the Customers are actually Local Malaysians. 🤔 The Owner and Main Cook is an Elderly Lady with a Very Sweet Smile as you can see, 😄 and she is helped by a Malay Lady Assistant.
Came at an Awkward Wrong Time
Unfortunately I think I came at a Wrong Time because I arrived witnessing a Heated Argument between the 2 of them. 🤔 Both of them were Bickering and Shouting while the Rest of the Customers looked on Awkwardly. 😅 Because there are only the 2 of them needing to handle so many orders, it is understandable that Tensions and Stress Levels will be high. 🤔 Really Awkward Tension in the Air. This Quarrelling carried on for quite awhile but eventually, it managed to die down and the Ordering of Food could continue. 🤔
I'm specifically writing this because I've read of some Google Reviewers who got frustrated and confused with the Ordering Process. 🤔
1) Find and secure a Seat first.
2) Go queue up at the Food Cart and make your order with the Malay Lady.
3) Because they're so busy, expect to stand and wait until your food is ready for you to self-service carry it back.
4) If you order any drinks, you will also need to Self-Service grab a cup yourself, Self-Service fill up with Ice and take the Drink from a Plastic Container yourself.
5) Protip: Before you eat your meal, Remember to take a Photo of all the Dishes you ordered first 📷 just in case to avoid any Payment Disputes as I've seen some Google Reviewers encountered. 🤔 This is not because they're out to Scam or Cheat, but perhaps because they're simply too busy and may have forgotten what you originally ordered in the 1st Place. 🤔 If you do encounter such an event, simply show them the Photos you've taken to prove what you have ordered.
One Important Thing I feel many Food Blogs don't mention about this place is that: You MUST be able to speak at least Basic Malay. This is because that Malay Lady Helper does not speak any English at all, 🤔 and that Elderly Chinese Lady is simply too busy to take orders as she is busy cooking the Dishes herself. 🤔 This is also how I knew all the Customers were Local because Everyone of them spoke Fluent Malay to her when Ordering. 🤔
And because this Malay Lady just came off from a Heated Quarrel with the Owner, naturally she is shall we say "心里不平衡" and has a Constant Angry Scowl on her Face. 😅 Not a Patient Person, as I was trying my best to use my Broken Malay with her, I could feel she was getting Impatient with me. 🤔 Luckily she never lashed out at me, but it was still one of the Most Awkward Experience I've ever had when ordering food. 😅 Just my luck to have to visit this place at such an Inopportune Moment. 😅
That Photo I had of the Elderly Chinese Lady with her Sweet Smile was taken AFTER my Meal when Everyone's Tempers has Cooled Down Considerably, although you can still see the Angry Scowl the Malay Lady still had. 🤔 Phew ... Super Intense Ordering Experience. 😅
🍜 淡杯叻沙 Laksa Mee = RM8.00
Finally, after all that Drama, its time to actually review the Actual Dishes themselves. 👍 The Laksa seems to only have 1 Standard Size. Its quite a Big Bowl and Ingredients given feels Reasonable. Its called a "Laksa", and not "Curry Mee" like how Malaysia usually calls this Dish. 🤔
The Laksa Broth is Watery and as I tasted it, I thought it was particularly Light Tasting with Little to No Coconut Milk used. 🤔 Not at all 重口味 Gao Gao Very Coconut Milky Creamy type of Laksa Broth. There is a Slight Spicy Heat that will linger awhile on your Throat. 🌶️
The Sambal given with this is Very Good. 👍 It has a Strong Presence of Haebee and Anchovies with a Gritty Texture. 😋 Tasted Solid Robust Sweetish with a Slight Spicy Kick that doesn't bite. 🌶️ This is a Very Well Made Solid Sambal.
The Noodles and Meehoon were most certainly from a Package. They're not QQ but Soft Enough to not be Mushy. The 3 Small Fishballs likewise were probably also from a Package but they do have a Bouncy Texture and have a Noticeable Fishiness to them. 🤔
There are also about 6 Pieces of Blood Cockles which injected a Solid Seafoodiness to the Dish. 😋 The Other Ingredients are a Taupok cut into 3 Pieces to soak up Gravy like a Sponge and 1 Whole Hard-Boiled Egg.
Eating Everything together gave me a Very Homecooked Soul to it. ❤️ This tasted like I visited a Friend's House and tasted their Grandma's Cooking. 👵 The Main Driving Soul of the Dish is undoubtedly the Light Tasting Laksa Broth.
Whether you like this Laksa or not is highly dependent on whether you like this Broth or not. 🤔 If you prefer a Thick Creamy 重口味 type of Laksa Broth, this one may not appeal to you. I personally find it neither Too Creamy nor Too Heavy, Light but not Bland, and although one of the Lighter Laksa Broth I've tasted, I still enjoyed the taste. 👍
🥗 羅惹 Rojak (Small) = RM7.00
This Rojak is another Highly Raved Item in some Food Blogs for this place so I gave it a try. 🤔 Its the Chinese-Styled of Black Sauce Rojak. For one thing, there are alot of Chapalang Items within. 👍 Everything you'd expect from a Standard Rojak are here like Youtiao, Cucumber, Pineapple, Radish, etc.
Sweetness is Elevated but I feel may be Slightly Less Sweet compared to other Rojaks I've eaten in the Past. 👍 Decent Tasting, although tbh I don't find this Rojak to be too Different from any other Similar type of Rojaks out there. If you were to blindfold me, I'll probably not be able to tell the Difference also. 😅
🦪 鲜蛤 Kerang (Blood Cockles) = RM15.00
Now THIS is something I'm very glad to find. 😄 This is of course Blood Cockles and is a Dish that I feel is becoming Rarer and Rarer to find especially in Singapore. 😅 I remembered it used to be Very Popular back in the 1980s and 1990s sold together with Satays, but nowadays is very much harder to find. 🤔
If this is your 1st time eating Blood Cockles, note that there are 2 Metal Bowls, 1 is Empty for you to Throw the Shell, and the other is filled with Plain Water for you to wash your fingers. 💦 It doesn't come with any Lime Pieces though which is usually the case for finger washing. 🍋🟩🤔
There are a Total of 44 pieces given for the Price. 😋 The Chili that comes with this has a Surprisingly Familiar Sourish Tinge of the Type of Chili used in Chicken Rice. 🌶️🤔 The Spiciness doesn't immediately hit you initially but does slowly grow overtime. 🌶️ That said, its also not the Super Fierce Bite your Tongue type although it does Linger quite awhile on your Tongue. 🌶️
The Blood Cockles themselves are Big, Fat and Juicy. 🦪😋 Biting into them releases a Nice Raw Seafoody Oystery Juicy Shot. They taste Clean and Fresh. 😋 If you've eaten these before, you'll know how they taste like. If this is your first time, you might find these to be abit Too Bloody for you. 😅 Not a Dish for people who is repulsed by Foods with a Bloody Appearance. 🩸
What I love to do is to open a few of them, and stringing them together on a Skewer to eat like a "Kerang Satay". 🍡 OMG so good! 😋 Adding the Chili of course adds a Spicy Heat if you want, but I personally enjoy the Raw Seafoodiness 原味 of the Cockles themselves. 😋 They taste Fresh and Deliciously Juicy. Really acquired taste, you must be someone who enjoys eating Oysters to be able to enjoy this I reckon. 🦪
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
I feel the Real Soul of this Dish is how Light Tasting the Laksa Broth is compared to others. 👍 If you prefer your Broth to be more 重口味 Creamy Gao Gao type, you will probably not be impressed with this version. I am personally Ok with this, but I also feel there is really no need to specifically make a trip down and really queue hours for it despite how famous it is. 🤔
At the Price of RM7.00 (S$2.20) for this Plate of Chinese-Styled Rojak is certainly More Affordable than the Ones we have in Singapore. 👍 Amount of Ingredients given also feel very Reasonable compared to our Singapore Version.
But that said, I feel the taste is also nothing really special. 🤔 It tastes pretty much like a Standard Chinese-Styled Rojak and again not something that is worth to specifically come here to eat. 🤔 If you enjoy Rojak, sure why not.
At the Price of RM15.00 (S$4.60) for this Place of Blood Cockles is definitely an Affordable Price. 👍 Especially because this Dish getting Rarer and Rarer to find in Singapore, it is certainly More Affordable to eat in JB at this price. 😅 I highly doubt you're going to find a Similar 40 Pieces Version at Sub-S$5.00 in Singapore. 😅
Having said that, this is also Not a Dish that would appeal to some people who may feel it Too Raw. 😅 It is also a Dish that many would not dare to touch due to Hygiene Fears such as Complications from Hepatitis etc. 🤔 If you are someone who is Very Concerned about Hygiene, this is not something you should be even touching. If however, you do enjoy Blood Cockles, I feel you will enjoy the version here. 👍 I personally find them Fresh and Juicy. 😋 Delicious.
Ultimately, as Famous as this Eatery is, I feel you should also Temper your Expectations. 🤔 The Foods here are Affordable and Tasty, and I can understand why they're famous, but don't expect to be Completely Mind-Blown by the Foods here. It was a Pity that I came at an Inopportune Time during the Heated Quarrel between the Elder Lady and her Assistant which made my Experience a tad Awkward. 😅 Luckily the issue managed to pass by and I didn't get any direct hostility and it didn't dampen my mood too much. 👍
Despite the Awkward Situation, I personally really like this Elder Lady. ❤️ She really has the Sweetest Smile and Personality and is a Very Friendly Adorable Person. 😄 She really reminds me Fondly of my Own Grandmother. ❤️ I would recommend to come visit this as soon as you can because I can tell this Elder Lady is rather Advanced in Age. 🤔 Personally I feel it might not be long before Age catches up and forces her to Retire. And from what I've read from Various Sources, she does not have anyone to takeover her Business once she eventually retires. 😞This place is worth to visit if only to support this Sweet Elder Lady. 👍 She's really is Very Adorable. If you're nearby the Area, why not swing by this place if you can and order this for Supper just before you head back to Singapore. 👍
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