Quick answer
Laksa is Singapore's soul food — a rich, spicy coconut curry noodle soup that perfectly captures the city's Peranakan heritage. Every Singaporean has their favorite stall, and debates over "the best laksa" can get heated.
- Best overall
- Sungei Road Laksa
- Top pick
- Sungei Road Laksa
Top verdicts
- Sungei Road Laksa: Purists seeking authentic, old-school laksa with smoky depth
- Janggut Laksa: History buffs wanting the original Katong laksa experience
- 928 Yishun Laksa: Locals seeking incredible value and quality in the heartlands
The dish features thick rice vermicelli in a creamy broth made from coconut milk, dried shrimp, and a complex spice paste (rempah) of chillies, galangal, lemongrass, and belacan. Toppings typically include cockles, prawns, fish cake, tau pok, and bean sprouts.
Katong laksa — named after the East Coast neighborhood — is Singapore's most famous style, distinguished by noodles cut short enough to eat with just a spoon. But the island offers incredible diversity: charcoal-cooked broths, sizzling claypots, tangy Penang-style assam laksa, and ultra-budget hawker gems.
Area map
All 12 spots at a glance
| # | Name | Style | Price | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sungei Road Laksa | charcoal | budget | Jalan Besar |
| 2 | Janggut Laksa | katong | budget | Katong (Roxy Square) |
| 3 | 928 Yishun Laksa | hawker | budget | Yishun |
| 4 | 328 Katong Laksa | katong | mid | Katong (East Coast Rd) |
| 5 | George's Katong Laksa | katong | budget | Eunos (Changi Rd) |
| 6 | Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa | claypot | budget | Alexandra Village |
| 7 | Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa | heritage | budget | Chinatown (Hong Lim) |
| 8 | Terry Katong Laksa | katong | budget | Tanjong Pagar (Amoy St) |
| 9 | 63 Laksa | budget | budget | Ghim Moh |
| 10 | Jason Penang Cuisine | assam | budget | ABC Brickworks |
| 11 | Amy's Laksa | hawker | budget | Tiong Bahru |
| 12 | Original Katong Laksa (Queensway) | katong | budget | Queenstown |
1Sungei Road Laksa
Charcoal-CookedQuick comparison
- Best for
- Purists seeking authentic, old-school laksa with smoky depth
- Strengths
- Known for Charcoal-Cooked · Jalan Besar
- Limitations
- Closes early · Sells out quickly · No AC (coffeeshop seating)
- Price / value
- $4
- Why it made the list
- One of the last stalls using traditional charcoal cooking. Repeatedly cited on r/singapore as the most authentic laksa experience.
- What to order
- Standard laksa (S$4) — the only size. Add extra hum (cockles) if available.
🕐 Opening hours
2Janggut Laksa
Katong-StyleQuick comparison
- Best for
- History buffs wanting the original Katong laksa experience
- Strengths
- Known for Katong-Style · Katong (Roxy Square)
- Limitations
- Less rich than some prefer · Roxy Square location less convenient
- Price / value
- $5.50–$7.50
- Why it made the list
- The progenitor of Katong laksa style. Multiple food blogs cite this as "the original" that spawned all others.
- What to order
- Medium size (S$6.50) for the ideal portion.
3928 Yishun Laksa
Hawker GemQuick comparison
- Best for
- Locals seeking incredible value and quality in the heartlands
- Strengths
- Known for Hawker Gem · Yishun
- Limitations
- Far from city center (Yishun) · Long queues
- Price / value
- $4–$5
- Why it made the list
- Highest-rated laksa on this list. Consistently praised on r/singapore as "worth the journey to Yishun."
- What to order
- Standard laksa (S$4) — add extra ingredients for S$1 more.
🕐 Opening hours
4328 Katong Laksa
Bib GourmandQuick comparison
- Best for
- First-timers wanting the "famous" Katong laksa experience
- Strengths
- Known for Bib Gourmand · Katong (East Coast Rd)
- Limitations
- Pricier than competitors · Some locals find it too commercialized
- Price / value
- $7.30–$9.30
- Why it made the list
- Most reviewed laksa stall in Singapore. The Gordon Ramsay story alone makes it a must-visit for tourists.
- What to order
- Laksa with extra hum (cockles) and tau pok (S$9.30).
5George's Katong Laksa
Katong-StyleQuick comparison
- Best for
- Serious laksa lovers willing to wake up early for the best
- Strengths
- Known for Katong-Style · Eunos (Changi Rd)
- Limitations
- Sells out before noon · Closed Tuesdays · Coffeeshop setting
- Price / value
- $6–$8
- Why it made the list
- Highest Google rating among all laksa stalls. Food bloggers consistently rank it top 3.
- What to order
- Standard bowl (S$6) — the gravy is the star here.
🕐 Opening hours
6Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa
Bib GourmandQuick comparison
- Best for
- Those seeking a unique laksa experience with theatrical presentation
- Strengths
- Known for Bib Gourmand · Alexandra Village
- Limitations
- Closes early · Closed Wed & Sun · Shorter hours than most
- Price / value
- $4.50–$6.50
- Why it made the list
- Only claypot laksa with Michelin recognition. The presentation alone makes it memorable.
- What to order
- Medium claypot laksa (S$5.50) — perfect portion, stays hot throughout.
🕐 Opening hours
7Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa
Bib GourmandQuick comparison
- Best for
- CBD workers wanting quality laksa near the office
- Strengths
- Known for Bib Gourmand · Chinatown (Hong Lim)
- Limitations
- Closed Sundays · Limited hours · Different from typical laksa
- Price / value
- $3.50–$5
- Why it made the list
- Multi-year Bib Gourmand. Also famous for fruit juice mee siam — unique to this stall.
- What to order
- Trishaw laksa (S$4) or try their famous fruit juice mee siam.
🕐 Opening hours
8Terry Katong Laksa
Katong-StyleQuick comparison
- Best for
- Health-conscious diners wanting MSG-free laksa in the CBD
- Strengths
- Known for Katong-Style · Tanjong Pagar (Amoy St)
- Limitations
- Some find it less rich than traditional laksa · Closed Sundays
- Price / value
- $5–$6.50
- Why it made the list
- Only MSG-free option on this list. Great for those who react to MSG or prefer cleaner flavors.
- What to order
- Standard laksa (S$5) — the focus here is on clean, pure flavors.
🕐 Opening hours
963 Laksa
Budget KingQuick comparison
- Best for
- Budget travelers and value seekers
- Strengths
- Known for Budget King · Ghim Moh
- Limitations
- West side location · Closed Mondays · Small portions for price
- Price / value
- $2.80–$4.80
- Why it made the list
- Cheapest laksa that doesn't compromise on quality. SetHLui called it "nostalgic Sungei Road-styled laksa."
- What to order
- Large laksa (S$4.80) — still cheaper than most smalls elsewhere.
🕐 Opening hours
10Jason Penang Cuisine
Assam LaksaQuick comparison
- Best for
- Those seeking tangy Penang-style assam laksa (no coconut)
- Strengths
- Known for Assam Laksa · ABC Brickworks
- Limitations
- Very different from SG curry laksa · Sour/tangy profile not for everyone
- Price / value
- $4–$6
- Why it made the list
- Only assam laksa on this list. Michelin Guide calls the fresh mint "distinctive."
- What to order
- Penang Assam Laksa (S$4) — the signature dish.
11Amy's Laksa
Hidden GemQuick comparison
- Best for
- Tiong Bahru explorers seeking local favorites
- Strengths
- Known for Hidden Gem · Tiong Bahru
- Limitations
- Long queues · Limited hours · Small stall
- Price / value
- $3.50
- Why it made the list
- Word-of-mouth favorite. The queue speaks for itself — locals line up daily.
- What to order
- Standard laksa (S$3.50) — only one size available.
🕐 Opening hours
12Original Katong Laksa (Queensway)
Katong-StyleQuick comparison
- Best for
- West-siders wanting Katong laksa without the trek east
- Strengths
- Known for Katong-Style · Queenstown
- Limitations
- Queensway Shopping Centre is dated · Not as famous as east branches
- Price / value
- $5–$7
- Why it made the list
- Convenient Janggut family option on the west side. Same heritage recipe, different location.
- What to order
- Standard laksa (S$5) — same recipe as Roxy Square.
Frequently asked questions
What is Singapore laksa?
Singapore laksa (also called curry laksa or Katong laksa) is a spicy coconut milk-based noodle soup. It features thick rice vermicelli (bee hoon) in a rich, creamy gravy made from coconut milk, dried shrimp, and a spice paste of chillies, galangal, lemongrass, and belacan (shrimp paste). It's typically topped with cockles, prawns, fish cake, tau pok (fried tofu puffs), and bean sprouts.
What's the difference between Katong laksa and regular laksa?
Katong laksa is a style that originated in the Katong/Joo Chiat area of Singapore. The key difference is that the noodles are cut into short pieces so the entire dish can be eaten with just a spoon — no chopsticks needed. The gravy tends to be richer and more coconut-forward than other regional variations.
Which laksa stall is the original in Katong?
Janggut Laksa at Roxy Square claims to be the original, started by Ng Juat Swee (nicknamed 'Janggut' meaning 'bearded one') in the 1950s. However, 328 Katong Laksa gained fame after beating Gordon Ramsay in a 2013 cooking challenge. George's Katong Laksa was started by someone who learned from the Janggut family. All three have legitimate claims to the Katong laksa heritage.
What is assam laksa and where can I find it in Singapore?
Assam laksa is a Penang-style laksa with a sour, tangy fish-based broth (no coconut milk) made with tamarind, mackerel, and torch ginger flower. It's quite different from Singapore's coconut-based curry laksa. For the best assam laksa in Singapore, try Jason Penang Cuisine at ABC Brickworks Market (Michelin Bib Gourmand) or Penang Kitchen.
How much does laksa cost in Singapore?
Hawker laksa in Singapore ranges from S$2.80 to S$8 per bowl. Budget options like 63 Laksa start at S$2.80. Most stalls charge S$4-6 for a standard bowl. Premium or larger portions at places like 328 Katong Laksa can reach S$9.30.
Why does Sungei Road Laksa taste different?
Sungei Road Laksa is one of the last stalls in Singapore that still cooks their laksa gravy over charcoal fire rather than gas. This traditional method gives the broth a subtle smoky depth that's impossible to replicate. The stall has maintained this method since the 1970s.
What is claypot laksa?
Claypot laksa is served in a sizzling hot claypot that keeps the gravy piping hot throughout your meal. Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei at Alexandra Village Food Centre is famous for this style and has won the Michelin Bib Gourmand multiple times. The claypot adds a theatrical element and keeps every spoonful hot.
When is the best time to visit laksa stalls?
Most hawker laksa stalls open early (7:30-10:30am) and close by mid-afternoon (2-4pm) or when sold out. Popular stalls like Sungei Road Laksa and 928 Yishun Laksa often sell out before their official closing time. Go before 11am for the best experience and to avoid disappointment.