My Own Cafe — Restaurant in George Town

They are very specialized. They only have assam laksa on most days. Nyonya laksa is only available on Friday. That's it. There are are no other choices. The good thing is, it does make decision making so much simpler. You don't have to agonize over what ifs.

For their side dish, you have one and only one choice. Fried spring roll. PSA : the spring rolls are advised to be dipped into the laksa sauce. Hence they don't actually provide any other sauce for their spring rolls. There in comes the hiccup, they didn't tell us about it and the spring rolls came early. But the time the laksa arrived, we already finished half of it. The good news is that we can therefore compare the taste of the spring roll in it's original form and the dipped version. Oh well, a little heads up would've been nice though.

Coming to the laksa, the first thing that struck me was the lightness in its flavour and aroma. Most Assam laksa in penang is heavy in flavour but here, it has a well balanced not over the top flavours. This is not to say that it's tasteless, far from it, it's actually delicate for laksa but flavour punch is still there. Loved the small pieces of fish meat, cucumber, pineapple, mint and ginger flower. They don't include chillies unless you ask for it, so the spiciness is partially controlled by you. Meanwhile, I found the laksa noodle itself incredible. Smooth, shiny and soft. Perfectly made.

The only mistake was forgetting to ask for the fermented shrimp paste. This particular paste is important for a taste kick. It slipped my mind but I was a bit sad that they didn't offer it. Offering it or putting a small sample on the table should've been second nature for those that accidentally forget. I still feel exasperated at this blunder.

Anyhow, it was generally a clean tasty filling meal and a good choice for laksa. But beware that they don't have any...

Update 2: My family's favourite place for Asam Laksa remains the same. With the fresh, crispy spring rolls there's no match. Everytime we go back the welcome is warm and the food as good as it was the last time. A humble bowl that can give so much joy needs to be lauded. This is my little note of appreciation 😍🍜😋.

Update 1: Our absolute favourite Asam Laksa. People may have opinions...this is ours 😍👌. Simple, no nonsense place run by a warm welcoming family. We came years ago on a holiday and kept coming back. Now as Penang residents we don't need to change a thing. Whenever the laksa pang bites we just land up. The old time-tested method of dunking the crispy spring rolls into the tangy broth is a delight with the most satisfying of outcomes🍜😋🤗. The Michelin recognition sits lightly on this humble family and establishment, but is thoroughly deserved. Keep it simple, keep it good guys 👏👍🍜.

Older review: now this is a place that will be close to my family's heart and stomach. We first came about 9 years ago during our first visit to Penang as tourists. We had quite accidently stepped in while doing the tourist rounds in the area and needing a bite. We then had our first bowl of laksa. Fast forward to 2023, we are Penang residents now. And after hits, and mostly misses, we came back to this lovely little place. We even met a new, albeit sleepy, family member that we hadn't met last time. There are even fewer entries on the menu than on our first visit. Asam laksa and spring rolls were on the list today. Oh boy was it worth the return! Good portion sizes, the right amount of tanginess (could have been a bit spicier) and the spring rolls ready for a decent dunking. The apple and orange juices were fresh and the cold white coffee was brilliant. Note to self - when in the mood for laksa just find your way here. The family will welcome you and...

The drinks might cost more than half the meal, but the laksa is worth every ringgit. This tiny, no-frills spot — just a handful of tables, a short menu, and some street art-style decor — offers a perfect introduction to Penang laksa. And not just any laksa — Assam Laksa, a bold blend of sour, spicy, and sweet, with fresh herbs and a broth that lingers until dinner. Some call it the best in Penang. Others say it taste more like tom yum than yum.

The Lemak Laksa (available only on Fridays) is something else entirely — richer, creamier, with coconut milk softening the tang. Both varieties demand to be eaten with the crispy spring rolls, which are less a side dish than a necessity — dunked into the broth until they’re just shy of falling apart.

The chef, with a Bib Gourmand proudly on display, is sometimes spotted near the washbasin — a quiet reminder that hard work tastes good. It’s a family affair, too. Mum and Dad lend a hand, occasionally pausing to chat with guests, keeping things warm without getting in the way.

Durian white coffee is for the brave; fresh lime lemonade is for those hoping to avoid a dash to the toilet. Prices lean towards the steep side, but nobody leaves complaining — especially in the heat.

Tourists wander in, locals return often, and the cat always lounges as if it owns the place. No...