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Alexandra Village Food Centre: Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei – Claypot of Laksa Goodness

Rating:

By Veron Ang

Recently, I had the best laksa of my life at Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei, situated at Alexandra Village Food Centre. I swear this is not one of those one-liners written simply to grab everyone’s attention; I honestly think it’s that good!

Most of the time the laksa you buy at hawker centres comes in a plastic bowl. But the one here is served in a claypot that not only keeps the laksa piping hot, but at the same time also seals in the moisture and fragrance of the gravy.

Some people are skeptical as to whether this really is the original claypot laksa from Depot Road. Word has it that the original owners sold their namesake and recipe to its present owners (a young Chinese couple). So basically the laksa here should taste as good as the original. I certainly am hooked!

Claypot Laksa

Claypot Laksa
S$3.50/4.50/5.50
Rating:

The claypots come in three sizes — small, medium, large. Because the laksa gravy is so thick and filling, the small portion is already more than enough for me. And mind you, “small” is actually quite big.

When ordering, you would be asked whether you want hum (cockles) as well. Personally I don’t like the stench of it but I know many people love it.

The gravy here is surely one of the thickest and richest laksa gravies you would find. It is robust with savoury flavours, thanks to the coconut milk, chicken shreds and prawns. On its own, the gravy is already pretty spicy, so exercise caution when adding in more chilli sauce.

Claypot Laksa

Even the otherwise ordinary noodle tastes extra delicious when layered with the gravy!

Being more health-conscious lately, I had told myself that I would finish just half the pot for this review. I ended up slurping down every last mouthful of the gravy. Though calorific, the gravy sure is hard to resist!

Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa

On weekdays, most of the the people patronising the food centre are workers from the nearby office buildings. To my surprise, there’s a pretty long queue of eager customers even on a Sunday afternoon! That speaks volumes about its popularity, don’t you think? I queued 15 minutes before I got my reward of laksa goodness.

And trust me, it was well worth the wait.

Update: With the revamp of Alexandra Village Food Centre, the stall has relocated to the neighbouring Block 119.

Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa
Alexandra Village
119 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-75
Singapore 150119
Tel: +65 9088 9203

Bus services: 14, 33, 51, 93, 100, 195, 197
Nearest MRT: Queenstown

Opening hours: 8:30am – 3:30pm (Closed on Mondays)

Tags: Alexandra, Alexandra Village Food Centre, breakfast, hawker centre, laksa, lunch, Singaporean

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About the Editor

Veron Ang is the Founder and Chief Editor of Sparklette, a Singapore restaurants guide, lifestyle and travel blog. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and runs a web design firm at Sparklette Studio. To get in touch, head on over to the contact page or follow @Sparklette and @VeronSG on Twitter.

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Responses Leave a comment

r.p
15 comments

woah! looks really nice. The gravy looks thicker than ordinary laksa.
And it is spicy ? Make me drool more. Chilli is like my main course. haha
Reply
Posted September 4, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Veron
3439 comments

I love spicy food too! Trust me, this claypot laksa is really, really good. If it’s not spicy enough, just dump in more chilli gravy!
Reply
Posted September 8, 2008 at 8:34 pm
ladyironchef
10 comments

ah i know this one, i had it before too : )
Reply
Posted September 10, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Philia Ng
1 comment

hi veron
thanx for your recommendation =p
I tried it last week and the laksa is goood, shall go back again =p
Reply
Posted September 16, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Veron
3439 comments

Yeah, it’s got that addictive hold on you once you’ve tried it once ;)
Reply
Posted September 16, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Eugene
1 comment

Wow, it looks really tantalizing. But what is the difference between laksa in claypot vs. non claypot? Isn’t all in the ingredients that is contained in the laksa itself?
Reply
Posted October 8, 2008 at 3:16 am
Veron
3439 comments

I’m no cook myself, but I think that when the laksa is cooked in a claypot, it can be left to simmer over a longer period of time without the gravy drying. This way, the flavours of the different ingredients will be brought out and infuse with the gravy. The result — a delicious claypot of laksa!
Reply
Posted October 8, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Dan
3 comments

hey the laksa moved a long time ago. the original auntie is now at bukit merah central blk 161. if u think the one at alexandra village is good. wait till u try the original!
Reply
Posted October 12, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Veron
3439 comments

I would LOVE to try the original! But it’s really quite confusing as to where they are now. You mentioned Bukit Merah Central. But some other people also said that it’s Telok Blangah Crescent. I’m going to make a special trip to have the original! Are you absolutely sure that they’re at Bukit Merah?
Reply
Posted October 12, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Dan
3 comments

yeap. i couldn’t be more sure. her being my mother and all. just take your time to come down. i assure you its the original. and if it aint better than what u had, u can have it on me. business hours 0930-1530(12-2 is the lunch crowd so u might wana avoid that)
cheers
Reply
Posted October 12, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Veron
3439 comments

Whoa! I didn’t see that coming!
Thanks Dan! I’ll hold you to your offer, although I’m pretty sure the original has to be the best, right? Anyways, I would love to blog about it and put an end to the mystery over the claypot laksa‘s origins once and for all.
Reply
Posted October 12, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Dan
3 comments

not to sound boastful, but as far as i’m concerned, we do serve the best laksa!
thank you for your kind words and promt replies. i look forward to seeing you there.
Reply
Posted October 12, 2008 at 10:07 pm
- zo
  1 comment
  
  hi dan, you mentioned the old auntie who started this laksa is your mother?
  please tell us where is she now, desperately need her to cook for us sizzling piping hot best laksa!
  Reply
  Posted December 23, 2011 at 2:04 am
xueren
1 comment

GOOD NEWS TO ALL LAKSA LOVERS!!!
The original one and only Zhen Shan Mei (Depot Road) Claypot Laksa has recently re-opened @ Bukit Merah Central Blk 161, behind BM library. Had been eager to give it a try and was delighted the standard is just as good, if not even better! And the stall has widened its selections to claypot rice as well.
Had tried the one u recommend @ alexandra village but well… Still think it lacks the gist of the original
Reply
Posted October 20, 2008 at 8:59 am
Veron
3439 comments

Does this stall at Bukit Merah Central open everyday? My parents and I are eager to go check it out. But weekdays are a big no-no for us.
Reply
Posted October 20, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Eric
1 comment

The store at Blk 161 Bt Merah has closed. Anyone knows where this original claypot laksa has moved to?
Reply
Posted February 21, 2009 at 5:53 pm
peter
1 comment

they are here
http://www.sbestfood.com/depotrd107laksa.htm
Reply
Posted February 26, 2009 at 1:13 pm
- Tann
  1 comment
  
  I have visited Blk 8 Telok Blangah Cres for the ZSM Claypot Laksa….but think the stall is no long there. I have been walking to each & every coffee shops, still couldn’t find the stall……Can anyone tell me where is the Claypot Laksa move to since is no longer @ Depot Road & Blk 161 Bukit Merah?
  Reply
  Posted March 23, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Marc
1 comment

Thanks Peter… has been looking high and low for ZSM!
Reply
Posted March 2, 2009 at 12:10 am
Fiona
1 comment

Veron do you have a chance to try the antie’s laksa? since they are closed so I think the one at Alexandra Village is the best claypot laksa now.
Reply
Posted March 5, 2009 at 3:19 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  Oh no I didn’t get the chance. For now I reserve my judgment as to the best claypot laksa until I pay a visit to Telok Blangah!
  Reply
  Posted March 5, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Name (required)
1 comment

gone there last wk with frnds , no que , dissappointed after reading so much prasies , ntg fantastic except being serve in claypot and the prawn so pathetic , juz 1 pc and so unimpresive .
u hvnt eated the best laksa yet !
Reply
Posted August 11, 2010 at 7:51 pm
glutton
1 comment

it is gd laska. one of the best. unique.
this laska originated from depot rd underneath one of the HDB near CMPB many years back. super long queues,belongs to this old couple.
sad to say, this Alexandra food village version did not live up to its name.
the original ones were very much hotter, sizzling hot and more fragrant. the prawns are nicer too.
they opened at bk Merah near National library and also Golden shoe area. sadly both closed down due to unknown reason.
I wish the old couple stage a come back to restart their original sizzling piping hot laksa!
Reply
Posted December 23, 2011 at 2:00 am