Ah Yong Laksa (Pasar Kia Laksa)

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)

Address: Taman Daya, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bfFBFUgFLpcbRjfSA
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

🍜 Pasar Kia Laksa (Bee Hoon + Mee, Small) = RM8.00

No Service Charges

Please Note: Although Google Maps call this Kopitiam "Ming Seng", it is not Correct. The Actual Name is now changed to "Restoran 89 Kopitiam Selera" instead. 🤔 Also, take note of the Operating Hours for this Specific Food Stall. I noticed some Google Reviewers having issues with this. 🤔 According to the Friendly Owner, he is Open Everyday (Except Monday) from 10.30am to 10.00pm.

This is a Famous Laksa in JB that is recommended by Amelia. According to her, she refers to this as "Pasar Kia Laksa 巴杀仔辣沙" which used to be at Restoran NB3. 🤔 Being a Singaporean, of course I am not knowledgeable about the Significance of this "Pasar Kia" Location which she mentioned several times in her Recommendations. 🤔 I can only assume that it is a Very Old and Classic Market that JB-Langs have very fond memories of since Childhood? 🤔

The Actual Eatery itself is just one of Many Food Stalls located in this Kopitiam and its owned by a Friendly Middle-Aged 大哥 that runs this Place Solo with No Other Assistants. 👍 There are 2 Sizes of this Laksa, Small (RM8.00) and Large (RM9.00)

Through our Conversations, this Stall has been around for Over 40 Years although interestingly he himself has only worked 20+ years at it. 🤔 He didn't elaborate more, so I'm guessing he's probably a 2nd Generation Owner? Despite how Famous this Food Stall was supposed to be, I was the Only Person eating from this with Zero Queues soon after it opened on a Weekday Morning. 🤔 It took about 4 Mins for the Dish to be served up.

🍜 Pasar Kia Laksa (Bee Hoon + Mee, Small) = RM8.00

Just like any Laksas, you have a Choice of Noodle Carb and I chose the Standard Bee Hoon + Mee for this. 🍜 The Dish itself was a Relatively Large Bowl that consists of:
🦪 12 Pieces of Sihum (Blood Cockles)
🍡 2 Fishballs
🟧 1 Taupok Square (Cut in Half)
🟧 Several Pieces of Beancurd Skin

This Sambal has an Intense Saltiness and Elevated Level of Spiciness. 🌶️ 

It has an Interesting Base of what tastes like Tau Cheo with a Mushy Beany Texture. 🫘🌶️ This was an Interesting Sambal for Laksa.

🍲 Quality of the Laksa Broth

There is an Immediate Aroma Fragrance of Lemongrass and Turmeric? wafting from this. 😋 Compared to Restoran Ang's Laksa which I reviewed previously, the Broth here is Noticeably Not Very Lemak, not Much Coconut Milk Presence, 🥥🤔 and actually reminds me more like Penang-Styled Curry Mee for some reason. 

Interestingly, it even has a Familiar Taste of Maggie Mee Curry Powder sort of Aftertaste. 😅 This does not taste anything like a Lemak Lemak type of Laksa that you may usually associate Laksa to taste like. 🥥🤔 I neither like nor dislike this tbh. Its just a Very Different Variation of Laksa.

Nothing really special about the Noodle Carbs and they're most likely from a Package. 🍜🤔 They're boiled Soft and Tender to the Bite, not the QQ type. Amount of Blood Cockles Sihum given felt Decent and they injected the Dish with an Ocassional Seafoody Shot. 🦪👍 The Fishballs given here looks Slightly Larger compared to Restoran Ang but they also tasted like its from some Package, not 手工 Handmade. 🍡🤔 Nothing Particularly Special about them.

Amount of Beancurd Skins were Alot. They are ok but I'm slightly caught off guard by their More Oily Oily Texture and 油味 that it had. 🟧🤔 The Whole Dish looks like a Laksa, Smells like a Laksa, but doesn't really taste like a Conventional Lemak Lemak type of Laksa that you might be Familiar with. 🍜🤔 I neither like nor dislike this taste. Adding the Sambal to the Dish did not significantly change its Taste Profile except maybe made it Slightly Spicier. 🌶️


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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At the Price of RM8.00 (S$2.50) is an Affordable Price for this Rather Large Bowl of Laksa even for their Small. Compared to Restoran Ang's Laksa, the Portions of Ingredients felt Noticeably more Generous and Larger here. 👍

As for the Taste, when comparing Restoran Ang and this Place, I wouldn't say one is better than the other. 🍜🤔 These 2 Laksas are Completely Different in Styles. Restoran Ang has a More Conventional and Familiar Lemak Lemak type of Laksa Taste Profile, 🥥 while this one has a Noticeably More Lemongrassy? 🌿 Little to No Lemak-ness for their Laksa. Its really what you really prefer for a Laksa tbh.

Despite this being a Very Famous "Pasar Kia Laksa", I'm personally very Neutral in my Opinion about the Taste. 🍜🤔 I don't feel this is some Super Mind-Blowing Die Die Must Eat type of Laksa. I don't feel its something that is really worth taking the time to come to JB to specifically eat tbh.

Actually, I think the Real Reason why this is Famous is perhaps because of its Price. 💵🤔 A Sub-RM10.00 and Filling Meal is actually kinda hard to find in JB in Today's Economy so there's that. But that is just my Personal Opinion about it.

Don't let my Average Score deter you from this place though. While I find this Average Tasting, you might have a Different Opinion. 🍜🤔 I'd say give both Restoran Ang and this Place a try and decide for yourself which one you prefer. 🤔