Sinma Laksa House

6 Average

Food  7      Ambience  4      Service  6      Value  7     

Food and Value fantastic. One of the best Chilli crab I've had. The curry puff here is also good that is if you can get in early before they run out. I had a go at the waitress asking her how they could let one of their more popular entrées run out, she had a blank stare, so I focused on the food that was available. Needless to say management and ambience is poor but hey if you want good south east Asian food plus value you, unfortunately, have to put up with it.

7/10 for authenticity.

Apr 30, 2012 

6.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  7     

Update: Went again last night for dinner as my friend wanted to try the Wat Tan Hor. I was worried due to our last visit a few days ago but after much hesitation, I gave the chicken laksa a go. Laksa is my favourite hawker dish and sometimes I'm so desperate for it that I'll even try it in a Chinese or Thai restaurant (knowing that it won't be quite right) but it'll give me my fix! When I had the laksa a couple of years back for lunch though, it wasn't good at all and I'd vowed to stay away from it.

The laksa this time was a lot better, I ordered the chicken and prawn so there were large thin chicken breast slices (just a little dry) and large prawns fortunately not done to the annoying Chinese super crunchy style. I don't mind the crunchy prawns in a Chinese restaurant but they have no place with other cuisines.

So the ingredients were good but the gravy was a bit lacking, tasted overly salty after several gulps as though it had too much salt or fish sauce in it but I still enjoyed it and would still rate it as an above average laksa. You do need to ask for sambal which they give you on the side, and though it is mild, it adds flavour to the soup.

My friend did like the Wat Tan Hor and said that the dinner was a thumbs up compared to the lunch we had a few days ago. That time he had nasi lemak and I had the fried turnip cake and otak-otak. Due to the laksa being better, I've bumped up the food rating though it's at 6 because of the hit and miss nature of the dishes. My previous thoughts on the fried turnip cake:

My fried turnip cake came on a huge platter, it was somewhat over fried and a bit too salty. The turnip cake seemed chewy at the top and bottom of some pieces as though the cake had been left to dry out. I did eat most of it and I did like that there was fried pork fat in it... yum.

The otak-otak (fish cake grilled in banana leaves) was good but not great, the first one went down well (had it hot) but I had left the second one for a few minutes and after it cooled down, it tasted a bit dry and didn't particularly like the consistency anymore. My friend had the nasi lemak and gave it the thumbs down.

Jan 13, 2012 

6.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  8     

Our family often visits this restaurant for an evening meal when we are looking for an economical and tasty BYO in the Kingsford area. The decor is basic (plastic tablecloths, etc) and looks like it hasn't changed for years, but the service is fine and turnaround time has always been OK. The menu is extensive and a bit hit and miss, but for the price it's fine for us. The kids love the chicken satay, tofu vegie hotpot and singapore noodles. Other dinners rave about the Chilli Crab which the restaurant seems to be famous for. At night, the wide windows give a pleasant view overlooking the Anzac Parade intersection.

Nov 24, 2011 

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  8     

They have the best veg. Laksa and mee goreng! And really cheap, plus UNSW students and stuff get further discounts!

Jul 26, 2011 

5.8 Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  6     

Went for chicken laksa. Good taste/spice. Large bowl with sufficient veg/chicken/noodles. Atmosphere is basic - nothing special. Service was acceptable. Will go back for laksa.

Jul 14, 2011 

6 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  7     

The decor is non existent, expect typical plastic covered tables, and drab lighting and service that is perfunctory at best, but this place always seems to be buzzing with malaysians inside.

The food here can be a bit of a hit and miss. The fried kway teow noodle dish was slightly bland, the roti dry but relieved by the beef rendang thats a bit sweeter than what im used to but still good, their hainanese chicken though at $10 was great, especially with the ginger sauce and lemon chilli sauce.

I'd suggest giving this place a try, only because there are so many choices on the menu that your bound to find something good.

Jun 19, 2011 

3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  4     

Being a food lovers and malaysian origin that willing to travel overseas for getting the authentic food, I am a bit disappointed with this restaurant. By not simply believing what friends said about the its "Well known" bad service. I went to this restaurant yesterday and the result is:

50 minutes wait for a bowl of Laksa (Laksa is flat and tasteless, I don't know why they pridefully use 'Laksa House' as their name). Another 10 minutes after that laksa, came the awful taste Penang Kwe Tiaw, very far from the word 'authentic' and have to wait for another 15 minutes for a plate of Mee Goreng, this one not too bad actually, I can enjoy it even after appetite is no longer there for total waiting time of 1 hr 15 minutes just for food.

In short, Bad kitchen management, food can be improved, do not order Laksa (unless u never know what laksa is and want to get trapped, please order!), bad service.

Mar 20, 2011 

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

I went to this restaurant with 3 of my friends after trying this out 12 months ago, this restaurant has changed for the Worse. We ordered the Penang Kweay Teow (wok fried flat rice noodles) which was charred and lacked the important elements to make this dish palatable. I ordered the Kweay Teow and my other friend ordered the sweet and sour chicken, both were insipid, tasteless and not worth the money that were charged ($23.90 for the large chicken dish!). Lastly the laksa was watery thin, the flavours were frustratingly weak.

I'm a discerning cook and I eat out a lot, this restaurant belongs to my black list and will not go back again. The amount of money you'll spend here is better used in nearby restaurants which represent good value and provides homely flavours.

Jan 04, 2011 

7.5 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

Delicious. We tried the char kway teow, turnip cake, hor fun, chicken rice, etc. They are yummy. Will go there again.

Dec 12, 2010 

6.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  7     

I have always come to this place with a group of people or a large group of people- and so my review is not based on the individual dishes they serve (eg. char kway teow) but on the banquet dishes like salted egg crabs or belacan kangkung.
For this, I think it's excellent value for money and that's why we keep coming back.
This is one of the few places that serves Sarawak laksa, so ask for it if you're calling to book.

Nov 08, 2010