Asam Laksa

Curry laksa is also known as curry mee in Penang due to the presence of asam laksa. It refers to a form of laksa that uses tamarind or gelugur as a souring agent (asam) instead of coconut milk.

As opposed to curry laksa, which is rich and creamy, asam laksa is sour, sharp, and spicy. Apart from the souring agent, asam laksa is typically made with shredded mackerel and finely sliced vegetables such as cucumber, onions, red chili, pineapple, mint leaves, laksa leaves, and torch ginger. It's typically served with thick or thin rice noodles and topped with otak udang, a sweet shrimp paste.

Asam laksa has a few regional varieties, with the Penang version being one of the most well-known. It is, in fact, the only Malaysian dish to make CNN Travel's list of the World's 50 Best Foods. When visiting Penang, you should absolutely try the asam laksa. Check out Penang food guide to find out where you can try it.