Sarawak Laksa @ Prince Gourmet 112 Bishan • Return of Red Hornbill 太子之味

太子之味 Prince Gourmet | 112 Bishan Street 12, Singapore 570112 (stall inside TK Coffee House) 🚆 10 minutes walk from Bishan station 🕙 9am - 7pm (Tues off)

I came slightly late to blogging and social media, and so missed out on some of the past legends - such as Red Hornbill stall in Bedok. Red Hornbill had many fans who think they serve the best Sarawak dishes in Singapore (before they closed). So, I have some regrets about not eating at Red Hornbill before 🥺

So when buddy shared that Red Hornbill has just returned as Prince Gourmet at 112 Bishan, I was eager to go try it.

Prince Gourmet is a 2-in-1 stall. They have Sarawak dishes (kolo mee, laksa) and roasts such as char siew, sio bak, duck and chicken.

I only had Prince Gourmet's Sarawak laksa and it was so good! 👍

Of course, there are many types of laksa but only Sarawak laksa get called "Breakfast of the Gods" by Anthony Bourdain, no less.

Prince Gourmet's is the essential Sarawak laksa because all the essentials were there - the carb (rice vermicelli), curry, prawn, chicken, egg omelette and parsley. Nothing more, nor less.

The curry was rich almost creamy with coconut milk, robustly spiced but tasted well balanced umami, savoury, sweet, spicy and hot.

The rice vermicelli (thin bee hoon) was just lightly blanched so despite its slenderness, the strands were loaded with flavour from the curry and still had a slight, subtle tender crunchiness.

Three meaty prawns, shelled and they were not the QF or quick freeze type.

Quite generous with the tender pulled chicken too.

Sarawak laksa will have thin strips of egg omelette. Not that I like omelette a lot but Sarawak laksa got to have this ingredient 👍

Sarawak laksa is dressed with aromatic parsley instead of laksa leaves (daun kasum).

Sarawak belacan - not as salty as the Peninsula variety and has more nuances in its layers of umami savouriness.

There are many types of curry laksa and my favourite is the Sarawak style one because the flavours are most complex.

I've tried some of the most popular local favourites in Kuching and Miri, and I can say that Prince Gourmet, compares favourably even with them.

Prince Gourmet also serves roasts including chicken (instead of the more common fried but also called roast 🤷🤔 ). Shall be back at Prince Gourmet for kolo mee, roasts and more laksa.