If there’s one dish that defines Darwin, it’s a steaming bowl of laksa. Now this might seem odd given the Top End’s year-round temperatures sit in the mid-30s, but you’ll find Territorians slurping it up for breakfast, lunch and dinner, any day of the week. In fact, the locals love it so much that they’ve dedicated an entire month to celebrating the spicy noodle soup.
No one’s quite sure how or when Darwin’s laksa obsession began, but it likely traces back to its rich multicultural roots. Half of the city’s population of almost 150,000 were born overseas or have a parent who was, making it Australia’s most culturally-diverse city. It’s also far closer to Asia than any other Aussie capital, having long been a hotspot for Southeast Asian communities – from the Chinese gold miners in the 1800s to now.
So, where exactly can you find the Territory’s best laksa? This hotly-debated question was settled at Darwin’s sixth annual International Laksa Festival last month. The record-breaking event featured more than 180 steaming bowls of laksas or dishes inspired by the Peranakan (Chinese-Malay) noodle soup that hails from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
During the month-long festival – which is the largest (and only known) dedicated laksa festival on the planet – laksa lovers slurped their way around the city, sampling everything from classic bowls of varying spice levels to laksa-chocolate tacos, laksa crocodile empanadas and laksa-infused cocktails. The fiery festivities culminated at the Festival Finale, where awards for The Golden Bowl and Regional Best Laksa were handed out, alongside the People’s Choice awards, voted on by the locals themselves.
In 2024, for the first time ever, two champions were awarded the prestigious Golden Bowl, selected by an expert panel of chefs. Last year’s winner, Chow!, claimed its third win in the festival’s six-year history, sharing the honours this year with first-time winner, Bamboo Lounge.
Fan favourite Kopi Stop reclaimed the People’s Choice Best Laksa title in Darwin, while Makan Stop’s inventive laksa muffin scooped up the People’s Choice Best Inspired-By award. This year, Darwin’s International Laksa Festival also spread its spicy search beyond the capital, honouring three regional standouts. Katherine’s Jatti Pool Bar and Bistro claimed the Golden Bowl for its smoked crocodile laksa, The Meeting Place won the regional People’s Choice Best Laksa, and Yaye’s Café in Alice Springs was recognised in the People’s Choice Best Inspired-By category for its laksa empanadas.
You don’t need to wait until next October to dive into a bowl of Darwin’s tastiest laksa. You can hit up any of these winning venues year-round, or hunt down our favourite stall, Mary’s Laksa, at the Saturday Parap Village Markets. Just be prepared to join the queues – this market stall has earned legendary status among locals and laksa lovers around the world.