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| W W Water Works Laksa House 水塘路辣沙 | 36A & 36A1, Jalan Kolam Air, Taman Water Works, Johor Bahru, 80100, Johor Bahru | GPS: 1.471314, 103.736613 ⏰ 8:30am to 3pm (closed on alternate Weds) ☏ +60 12-703 2263 |
Most people who grew up in Johor Bahru know about Water Works Laksa 水塘路辣沙. The famous shop which started as a push cart stall has been titillating taste buds since 1978.
This was the large serving for RM7 (in 2015).
The soul in a bowl of curry laksa is in its aromatic spicy broth.
WW Laksa's aromatic broth looked fiery but it was actually well balanced with savoury, sweet, and mildly spicy flavours. It had good round body but did not have cloying amounts of coconut milk in the broth. It was also not overly greasy. The broth felt slightly grainy from the ground spices and hae bee or dried shrimps.
This was the large serving for RM7 (in 2015).
The soul in a bowl of curry laksa is in its aromatic spicy broth.
WW Laksa's aromatic broth looked fiery but it was actually well balanced with savoury, sweet, and mildly spicy flavours. It had good round body but did not have cloying amounts of coconut milk in the broth. It was also not overly greasy. The broth felt slightly grainy from the ground spices and hae bee or dried shrimps.
It was highly drinkable and I happily drank it all up to the last drop of curry.
The curry laksa came with house made fish balls ("normal" and fried), fresh cockles, fish cake slices, tau pok (fried bean curd) and crispy fried wantan skin with fish paste. There was a mandatory teaspoonful of finely chopped laksa leaves (daun kesum) scooped into the bowl of curry at the side. (Daun kesum is not a defining ingredient in curry laksa in Johor, unlike in Singapore.)
I always enjoyed the plump otak otak sold separately as a side at WW Laksa.
It's a nice balance of savoury sweet spicy flavours in a voluptuous soft "tongue" of fish and spices.
The otak otak was wrapped in a sleeve of attap (nipah) palm leaf. It was grilled till slightly charred outside, imparting the morsel with an addictive smoky char flavour. I literally couldn't stop eating the otak otak piece after piece.
The curry laksa came with house made fish balls ("normal" and fried), fresh cockles, fish cake slices, tau pok (fried bean curd) and crispy fried wantan skin with fish paste. There was a mandatory teaspoonful of finely chopped laksa leaves (daun kesum) scooped into the bowl of curry at the side. (Daun kesum is not a defining ingredient in curry laksa in Johor, unlike in Singapore.)
I always enjoyed the plump otak otak sold separately as a side at WW Laksa.
It's a nice balance of savoury sweet spicy flavours in a voluptuous soft "tongue" of fish and spices.
The otak otak was wrapped in a sleeve of attap (nipah) palm leaf. It was grilled till slightly charred outside, imparting the morsel with an addictive smoky char flavour. I literally couldn't stop eating the otak otak piece after piece.
Laksa paired with otak otak - a perfect match 绝配. You must try it.
The cheerful lady boss Mdm Choo Ah Moi who ran W W Laksa with her husband Ang Keng Kue for 36 years (as at 2015) is a local legend :-D
The youthful looking Mdm Choo was later joined at the shop by her two equally famous daughters and now her grandson.
(Note: Mdm Choo passed on in 2017. The shop is now run by the second and third generations.)
The W W Laksa recipe is Mdm Choo's own creation inspired by her neighbours in Singapore's Old Airport Road.
Inside W. W. Laksa, it was clean and comfortable, though basic and simply furnished. Besides their signature laksa, W W Laksa House also serve Teochew kway teow soup.
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| Menu 2024 |
Restaurant name: W W Water Works Laksa House 水塘路辣沙
Address: 36A & 36A1, Jalan Kolam Air, Taman Water Works, Johor Bahru, 80100, Johor Bahru, Johor, 80200 Malaysia
GPS: 1.471314, 103.736613
Hours:7:00am to 4:00pm 8:30am - 3pm (closed on alternate Weds)
Tel:+60 12-727 3755 ☏ +6012 703 2263
Address: 36A & 36A1, Jalan Kolam Air, Taman Water Works, Johor Bahru, 80100, Johor Bahru, Johor, 80200 Malaysia
GPS: 1.471314, 103.736613
Hours:
Tel:
Non Halal
Dates visited: 4 Jan 2012, 4 Jun 2015
Updated by Tony Boey on 26 Jul 2025
Who is Tony Johor Kaki?
At the time of your visit. Did you spot any malay eat the?
ReplyDeleteI didn't notice when I was there.
DeleteGranddaughter...
ReplyDeleteCheck in nice food
ReplyDeleteHeard the iconic Mrs Ang the linchpin of Water Works Laksa just passed away. A passing of an era.
ReplyDeleteDo confirm whether this is true or not !
Yes, the Iron Lady Mrs Ang just passed away last month. :(
ReplyDeleteExpensive, over rated!
ReplyDeleteInfamous for Laksa with an attitude.😅
ReplyDeleteWanna get famous, show an attitude...LoL
ReplyDeleteUsed to be best. Noticed how small the fish ball is. I agree on the otak otak. otherwise, its a skip. I have eaten there since first gen. Some how the laksa has a unique flavour that has long gone.
ReplyDeleteI miss this.....
ReplyDeleteAlways my favourite. When my kids are back this is their go-to
ReplyDeleteBefore they were known as waterworks laksa.
ReplyDeleteThey were known as “big tits laksa” in Hokkien “dua nee laksa”
Bryan Anthony yes the men used to go there to eat and to ogle. 🤣
DeleteI remembered going over to their house to roll fish balls back in 1982/83 when their eldest son (my buddy) still alive then. That time they were selling RM1.30 per bowl of laksa.
ReplyDeleteObviously the seventies tastes better now down the line it seems they take for granted got customers base over the years so taste a bit different never mind and some how it’s more expensive
ReplyDelete