Kampung Baru Pandan Laksa @ Sam Shing Miao Temple in Johor Bahru

Six years ago, sharing a table with a stranger, enjoying wanton mee at the no name stall at Kampung Baru Pandan in JB, my table mate suggested that I should also taste their curry laksa. (Friendly table sharing is the norm in Malaysia.) I promised him that I would. Six years later, I am here to fulfil that promise.



Six years on, this stretch of Kampung Baru Pandan at Jalan Loo Hong Joon hasn't changed much, if at all. The same row of three stalls in the skinny strip between the road and the back of Sam Shing Miao temple 三神庙.



In the long narrow shed shielded on one side by bamboo slats from the morning sun were three stalls - this no name wanton mee & laksa stall, a roti canai stall and another wanton mee stall (Poh Kee). It feels pretty hot inside but I like the kampung atmosphere here.



Mdm 王 runs the stall with her husband and son. This stall was founded by Mdm 王's mother over thirty years ago, just outside the temple. So, this no name stall actually has a name - locals refer to it as the "wanton mee in front of Sam Shing Miao" temple 三神庙前云吞面.



Sam Shing Miao temple is here for over 50 years and moved into this building in 2017.



Six years on, they still have so much green chilis to cut 😱 The cut chili will be pickled in vinegar and eaten with wanton mee.



Mdm 王 said the laksa recipe came from her mother. The laksa was topped with lots of fried tofu skin, a bit of tau pok and fish cake slices. There were no blood cockles.



The curry had light to moderate body. The flavours were mildly sweet savoury with underlying spiciness which was quite assertive and lingers in the aftertaste.

If you like a bit more savouriness, scoop in a teaspoonful of sambal belacan which has robust crustacean savouriness with a bit of chili heat.



The fried tofu skin wet from soaking in pork bone stock took on some of the curry laksa flavours but didn't lose all its crispy crunch. So, it had a nice soft crunch to the bite.



I added these three fried yong tau foo stuffed with minced pork which were served in a separate bowl of curry. The laksa and these YTF together came to RM8.60.



Simple and nice because these were all fresh - made at dawn and ready to serve customers just after 6am.



👉 This is not a curry laksa that will blow anyone's socks off with bursts of sharp or robust flavours. It has its own gentle character, dressed with fried tofu skin and yong tau foo. The sweet savoury flavour is relatively mild though it is moderately spicy. It is a style of laksa that has a strong following from regulars and Kampung Baru Pandan folk. This is a family run stall with earnest, warm hospitality which is part of its charm.

My post on Wanton Mee @ Sam Shing Miao temple in 2012 👈 click

My posts on Kampung Baru Pandan food 👈 click



Restaurant name: No official name but locals call its Wanton Mee @ Sam Shing Miao 三神庙云吞面
Address: Jalan Loo Hong Joon, Kampung Baru Pandan, Johor Bahru. Once you enter the side street from Tebrau Highway, the stall is about 500 metres inside. As you enter, you will see old shop houses/ coffee shops on your right. Pass the MCA branch on the right and the small row of food stalls is on your left. 
GPS: 1.525996,103.767483 
Hours: 6:00am to 1:00pm (closed on Wednesday)  




Date visited: 26 Jul 2012, 4 Oct 2018



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