Best-in-Vancouver Laksa at Bo Laksa King
Posted on 03/12/2011
Address: 2546 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC
I first heard of Bo Laksa King over a year ago when it was just an over-the-counter stall inside a grocery market on Joyce & Wellington - but for some reason never made it over there. Now that Bo has set up shop in a bubble tea cafe ,which just happens to be in my neighborhood, I decided to try his famous Laksa once and for all. All I can say now is "what took me so long?"
Bo's restaurant operates as partner to his Burmese friend who runs the Bubbles and Bits operation. The cafe can be found on the south side of East Hastings between Kamloops & Penticton streets.
This cafe is probably perfect for an operation like Laksa King. After speaking with Bo about Asian food it is apparent that he is passionate about street food and street food culture. Which explains the screen door entrance to this place that pumps out the aroma of gorgeously-delectable laksa spice and the rest of his arsenal of Burmese and S.E. Asian condiments.
As well as featuring first-class items like genuine, authentic, delicious, masterfully crafted Laksa - Bo's prices are across-the-board 20-30% less than you'd find at Freshbowl in Yaletown and Gastown and any other restaurant west of Main St. for that matter.
Laksa $7.95. Choice of vermicelli or yellow noodle served with tiger prawns, fish ball, tofu puff, hard boiled egg, chicken and home made authentic flavor coconut curry broth.
How would I describe my reaction to first tasting Bo's Laksa? Happiness. To know that now in Vancouver can be had laksa as good or better than in S.E. Asia? Double happiness. On top of that, I live a mere 10 minute's walk away. 
There is a point I have to make though about the noodles. From what I have seen from my travels in SE Asia, most laksa-type soup dishes are served with the round, white rice noodles. I have never seen laksa served with wheat noodle. I have yet to find out if this is a Myanmar convention or if he does this to satisfy the local palette.
Mohingar $7.95. (The national dish of Myanmar/Burma). Fish broth, onions, garlic, ginger, lemon grass and tender core of banana stem, served with thin rice noodle, hard boiled eggs, and split pea fritters.
A rich, slightly gelatinous brothy soup with the noodle that should be in the laksa!. This soup dish is truly exotic, and I would not recommend to any of my friends but the most seasoned food-adventurers. As for me, I settle in very nicely in tune with the fundamentals of this dish, and can almost hear/taste/smell my days in Yangon or Mandalay...(though I did not have the pleasure of this dish while I was there - irony that it should show up in my 'back-yard'.)
Lovers of simple, relaxed atmosphere and delicious street-hawker inspired dishes will be in love with Bo Laksa King's new joint. Next week, the Royal Vancouver Curry Club will come calling and I will be first in the door!
The beef and lamb satay were the right cut of meat, good seasoning and grilling and nice presentation. Something new is the mound of coconut-rice instead of rice cubes as per Malaysia/Singapore. Good stuff. The sauce is peanut-based as per usual and of standard SE Asian seasoning. It should be noted that some may find Bo's satay dipping sauce much too watery. He does use crunchy peanut butter, but then goes on to water it down to perhaps an unacceptable degree.
Without a doubt best-in-Vancouver laksa and roti canai as well. I did try the roti but forgot to get some photos. I'll have them in my second posting. My Singaporean eating-partner tells me this is the best roti plata he's had in Vancouver. He has lived here since the early 70's!
Long live Bo Laksa King!!!