Locals call it Alisan though the actual kopitiam where the original stall derived its name has since closed. Its owners hail from Sungai Petani and this is evident from the Hokkien lingo exchanged between the crew and northern-born customers. Queues are long and hot but patience will be rewarded with awesome food!
This is a nondescript stall along a row of similar looking stalls. Other owners try to entice you to their establishments but this lone stall at the end of the row requires no hawking whatsoever. The crowd speaks for itself. It’s the only stall where patrons patiently wait in line to order, pay and collect their food without a word of complaint. Everything is self-service and waiting time depends on how many hungry souls are ahead of you. If you wish to be served then feel free to patronize the other stalls. But if you’re looking for one of the most authentic Kedahan/Pg fare in PJ town, trust me it’s worth the wait!
This is how it works. Go to the back of the queue and wait for your turn. Once it is your turn, the proprietor will take your order. Move over to the other side to pay and collect your order. Help yourself to the side condiments like prawn paste, cili padi, chilli sauce and lime slices to spice up your dish. Take your tray and walk to any available tables in front of the stall. Take note to only sit at the designated tables as the other hawkers tend to be territorial with the seating arrangement. A word of caution though – while waiting in line, be prepared for a visual array of yummy dishes being paraded in front of you. Only the strong-willed would not be tempted to top up their intended order, for fear of enduring that hellish queue all over again.
Due to its proximity to Penang, Sungai Petani food is rather similar to its more famous counterpart though there are subtle differences. The laksa here is served in a shallow bowl with fork and spoon. Soup is not as loaded with fish meat (as the Penang style would be) and comes with the usual lettuce, onions and cucumber. Help yourself to the cili padi and sliced lime condiments for that extra zing. Yup, definitely a nice fusion of Chinese and Malay influences here. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally got my bounty and sat at the nearest table.
"Abso-fishing-lutely delicious!"
One slurp is all it took to justify that 20 minute wait. It was abso-fishing-lutely delicious! Being a picky Penang born eater who snubs most Klang Valley-based laksa for the slightest flaw, I was really impressed. I could find no fault with this version. The soup was not fishy, yet flavourful though on the sweetish side. The noodles had just the right consistency without the usual horrid ‘lai fun’ rubber-band texture. Best of all, prawn paste was free flow so I could load mine up. The cili padi slices added that extra spiciness which I absolutely loved. I inhaled it to the last drop – another good indication that it met my strictest standards.
The mee jawa did not disappoint either. Take note that the crunchy keropok will turn soggy once it comes into contact with the gravy. Some people like it soaked with the gravy so it’s up to you. I like mine crunchy so the crackers were quickly decimated before I turned to the noodles. No regrets, this dish is as close to Penang as you’ll ever get in PJ. The thick gravy marries everything together wonderfully which ended on a spicy note, thanks to the addictive sambal. What more could a lost-in-PJ Penangite ask for?
The teochew mee tiao looked like the plainest of the lot, but were we in for a surprise! The X factor was definitely the generous dollop of garlic green chilli sauce (packed in a white barrel next to the kuih muih). As I am an avid garlic fan, I have to say the garlicky sauce really kicks a punch. You can ask for extra to deter vampires away! The noodles were just a wee thinner than spaghetti, surprisingly light and not greasy. I also loved the texture, mixed with carrots and chives. Great for vegetarians and the health conscious!
There are also other snacks and tongsui to check out. The chai kuih looked tempting and rightly so. The translucent skin is oh-so-soft with the savoury turnip shreds and chives going so well with the sweet chilli sauce. There was also a teochew yam snack (guan chang kuih) which was going fast. Steaming hot tong sui like red/green bean soup looked soothing for the soul but I was absolutely stuffed. I guess I will just have to endure that queue again for another taste of home…
Opens after 7.30pm, erratic working days
More Photos To Drool On
The noodles had the right kind of consistency
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Foodster's Verdict
Alisan Laksa
Taste
Address:
Jalan SS 2/4A,
Petaling Jaya Tel:
Open:
7.30pm til late
Pros:
Authentic northern fare. And it’s really cheap too!
Cons:
The queuing alone may just drive you to eat the person ahead of you!
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