Depot Road Zheng Zhong Zhen Shan Mei Famous Claypot Laksa

Once a hot topic of discussion on the Makansutra forum, the debate on which is the original Depot Road claypot laksa was almost forgotten until recently when a stall named Depot Road Zheng Zhong Zhen Shan Mei Famous Claypot Laksa appeared at Bukit Merah Central. To add flavour to the story, the original auntie and uncle from the old Depot Road stall are present at this new stall, with their photos prominently displayed on the colorful signboard.


Served bubbling hot in a claypot, a $4 bowl of laksa comes with thick mouthwatering gravy that complements the noodles very well, as well as generous servings of fresh cockles and prawns. Rich with the concentrated aroma of coconut milk, the gravy is savory but not overly spicy.

In comparison with the other claypot laksa, Depot Road Zheng Zhong claypot laksa comes with larger servings of noodle and dishes for its price. For laksa fans who can't tolerate the super spicy gravy of the claypot laksa in Alexandra Village, do come down to Bukit Merah and try Depot Road Zheng Zhong claypot laksa today.

7.5/10

Depot Road Zheng Zhong Zhen Shan Mei Famous Claypot Laksa
161 Bukit Merah Central


Update 26/3/2009 - This stall has closed down.

Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa

This stall at Hong Lim Food Centre named Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa sells both laksa and mee siam with prawns. Although I was fascinated with the idea of mee siam with prawns, I decided to try the laksa which it is famous for.


Somewhat similar to the famous Katong laksa, the flavorful gravy, though more diluted in consistency, is filled with the delightful fragrance of coconut milk and sweetness of dried shrimps. Definitely worthwhile for its price, a bowl of laksa which costs only $3, is topped with generous servings of sliced prawns and fresh cockles.

If you are a fan of Katong laksa, do not miss Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa that is not only more delicious but also more value for money.

7/10

Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa
Hong Lim Food Centre
Blk 531A Upper Cross Street #02-67
Closed on Sundays

Famous Depot 108 Claypot Laksa

Bearing a striking resemblance to Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa
at Alexandra Village, this stall located in the food court of Depot Heights Shopping Centre has been featured on Singapore's Best Food Online Directory, although there was no mention if they were related.


A bowl of $4 Depot 108 claypot laksa comes in an enormous portion, more generous than Zhen Shan Mei's. Delightfully thick and savory, the coconut-filled gravy coats the delicate noodles, making every mouthful seem irresistable. The delicious laksa is well-complemented with a variety of ingredients including cockles, prawns and shredded chicken.

Depot 108 Claypot Laksa certainly has the makings of a great laksa but I still prefer Zhen Shan Mei's because its mouthwatering gravy is more spicy and authentic. Nevertheless if you have the craving for claypot laksa yet discouraged by the perpetual long queue at Zhen Shan Mei, do come down to try Famous Depot 108 Claypot Laksa today.

7.5/10

Famous Depot 108 Claypot Laksa
Depot Heights Shopping Centre
Blk 108 Depot Road #02-16
Singapore 100108

Wei Yi Laksa

Featured on Makansutra, this stall in the newly-renovated Tanglin Halt Market has delicious laksa and prawn noodles.


A bowl of $4 laksa comes with generous servings of fresh cockles and prawns. Delightfully flavorful with coconut milk sweetness and prawn essence, the savory gravy coats the noodles thoroughly, making every mouthful seem irresistable.

In terms of quantity of dishes eg prawns and cockles, Wei Yi Laksa is indeed impressive. But I felt that its gravy would have been better if it was thicker. Nevertheless it is still worthwhile to try it if you are at the Commonwealth area.

7/10

Wei Yi Laksa
Tanglin Halt Market
Blk 46 Commonwealth Drive
Closed on Sundays

328 Katong Laksa

Mention the word Katong to any food lover in Singapore and he or she will immediately think of the famous Katong laksa. But there are so many laksa stalls in Katong: Which is the original? Which is the most popular? And which is the best?

I believe the original Katong laksa is in the coffee shop on the ground level of the old Roxy Square. However when I tried it with my colleagues recently, we all felt that its standards have dropped tremendously.

Today I decided to try the more popular 328 Katong Laksa located opposite Roxy Square. Hopefully its standards have withstood the test of time.


I ordered a $4 bowl of laksa which comes in a reasonably satisfactory portion. Delightfully scented with coconut milk, the mouthwatering gravy is sufficiently spicy and flavorful with the distinctive essence of dried shrimps but lacking in the irresistable thickness that used to distinguish it from other laksa. The delicious noodles are complemented with generous servings of fresh cockles and prawns.

328 Katong Laksa may be one of the best laksa in Singapore but I feel that it pales in comparison with Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa. While Zhen Shan Mei's gravy is thick and robust, 328's gravy seems rather watery and disappointing. Maybe it's the rising cost of ingredients or the increasing health awareness of Singaporeans but 328 is no longer the fantastic Katong laksa from the good old days.

7/10

328 Katong Laksa
No 51 East Coast Road
S(428770)

Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa

There is plenty of controversy surrounding Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa. It started many years ago when a famous stall selling delicious claypot laksa at Depot Road closed down. It subsequently re-opened in Alexandra Village Food Centre but people were skeptical if this was the original stall. After all there were other stalls with similar names, selling claypot laksa at Telok Blangah, Killiney Road and Vivocity.

When I went to Alexandra Village Food Centre for lunch yesterday, there was a long queue in front of this stall. I ordered the $4 claypot laksa which came with a reasonable serving of noodles with prawns, cockles and shredded chicken . The mouthwatering gravy is delightfully sweet and spicy, brimming with the concentrated flavors of coconut and dried shrimps. Every strand of the delicious noodles is thoroughly coated with a thick layer of savory gravy, every mouthful is simply irresistable.


It is indeed a very sumptuous claypot laksa. My only dissatisfaction is that the gravy is slightly too thick. As compared with Katong Laksa which I can finish two bowls at one go, Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa is so filling, I could hardly finish the gravy. Nevertheless it is still the best laksa I have tasted in Singapore and I definitely look forward to having Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa again.

8/10

Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa
Alexandra Village Food Centre
Block 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-75
8.30am to 3pm
Closed on Mondays