Awesome sambal belacan gives the dish its appeal.
CONTINUING my trip down memory lane at Jalan Raja Bot in Kuala Lumpur, I would like to give mention to the legendary Indian Girl kari laksa, which has been in the neighbourhood for more than four decades.
Today, this legacy continues with the Tan brothers, Wah Chai and Ah Norr, who manage Kedai Kopi No 9 at the Raja Bot hawker centre.
This is a new place built by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall for foodstall operators in the area who have been in business since the early 1970s.
The kari laksa stall at Kedai Kopi No 9 opens daily for breakfast and lunch.
There are a few noteworthy makan stalls here such as Uncle Soo’s char kway teow, a wantan mee stall and a chee cheong fun seller, but none can come close to the Indian Girl’s kari laksa.
If you expect a bowl of laksa lemak, then you might be disappointed.
The laksa gravy is a bit light, but what makes the trip to this forgotten neighbourhood in the heart of Kuala Lumpur worthwhile is the awesome sambal belacan that goes with it.
As a matter of fact, I have been eating at the Raja Bot market for more than three decades before moving out of the area to Subang Jaya.
What’s interesting is the fact that after all these years, and with inflation as a factor, the stall owner had managed to keep his prices very decent.
A small bowl of kari laksa costs RM4.50.
But if you expect chicken slices and garnishing such as steamed brinjal and long beans, be warned that the Indian Girl laksa is a no-frills dish that is to a bare minimal.
The standard garnishings are taugeh, taufoo-pok and slices of chee phei (pig’s skin).
If you love sang-humm (half-cooked blood cockles), then you are in for a treat.
These can be added to the kari laksa.
On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this stall an 8.
The kari laksa stall at Kedai Kopi No 9 (GPS N 03 09.900, E 101 41.963) opens daily for breakfast and lunch. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
