Restaurant
Attica
Ben Shewry's Ripponlea restaurant, open since 2003, serving a multi-course modern Australian menu built around native ingredients, and a long-time World's 50 Best entry.
Laksa King
Malaysian-Chinese restaurant in Flemington, founded by Esmond Wong in 1998, known for its many laksa variations, curry puffs and roti.
At a glance
- Type
- Malaysian-Chinese
- Area
- Flemington, Melbourne, Australia
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Official site
- laksaking.com.au
Why we recommend it
Laksa King is a Malaysian-Chinese restaurant in the Melbourne suburb of Flemington that has been serving laksa for more than a quarter of a century. Esmond Wong founded it in 1998 in a small arcade off Racecourse Road and moved it to larger premises at 6-12 Pin Oak Crescent in 2010. The business has since added branches in Glen Waverley and at Southland in Cheltenham, but Flemington is the original.
Laksa is the reason to come, and the menu offers it in many forms: curry laksa and assam laksa, and versions with fish head curry, fish fillet, duck, chicken, beef or a combination of toppings. Beyond the bowls, dishes recommended in diners' reviews quoted by the restaurant include the fish head pot, curry puffs and roti, XO fried rice, five-spice chicken ribs and chicken satay with peanut sauce.
The Flemington restaurant is closed on Mondays and serves lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday. Lunch runs from 11:30am to 2:45pm, and dinner from 5pm to 9:30pm from Tuesday to Thursday, to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays and to 9pm on Sundays. Note the break between lunch and dinner, so do not plan a mid-afternoon visit. The website does not set out a booking policy, but diners report that tables fill at peak times, so call ahead on 03 9372 6383 for weekend dinners or larger groups.
The website does not publish prices. Diners' reviews are mixed on value, with many calling it reasonably priced and some finding it pricier than expected, and one reviewer noted that a single fish head curry fed four people, so sharing dishes is a sensible way to keep the bill down for families and groups.
If you are staying in the east or south-east of the city, the Glen Waverley branch at Shop 3, 39-51 Kingsway, and the Southland branch in the cinema precinct at 1239 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham, serve the same style of food with their own opening hours. Unlike Flemington, Glen Waverley serves straight through from 11am on Saturdays and Sundays, and Southland is open continuously from 11:30am every day, including Mondays, which makes those branches the better choice for a mid-afternoon laksa.
Laksa King FAQs
Where is Laksa King?
The original restaurant is at 6-12 Pin Oak Crescent, Flemington. There are also branches in Glen Waverley and at Southland, Cheltenham.
When is the Flemington restaurant open?
Tuesday to Sunday for lunch (11:30am to 2:45pm) and dinner (from 5pm to 9pm on Sunday, 9:30pm Tuesday to Thursday and 10pm on Friday and Saturday). It is closed on Mondays.
What should I order at Laksa King?
Laksa, which comes in many versions including curry, assam, fish head curry, duck and combination, plus curry puffs or roti.
Do I need to book?
The website does not state a booking policy; calling ahead is sensible for busy evenings and groups.
Who founded Laksa King?
Esmond Wong, in 1998.
Is Laksa King good value?
Many diners describe it as reasonably priced, and large dishes such as the fish head curry can be shared.
Is it open in the afternoon?
No. The Flemington restaurant closes between lunch and dinner.
How do I contact the Flemington restaurant?
Call 03 9372 6383.