Tan Kee Cathay Curry Laksa in Johor Bahru 陈记國泰叻沙

Tan Kee 陈记國泰叻沙 is one of the oldest and well loved curry laksa stalls in Johor Bahru.



The friendly Tan couple have been running this little curry laksa stall for 43 years (as at 2017). Most of their customers are regulars.



Tan Kee serves a style of curry laksa known to JB folks as Cathay Laksa. A few different stalls in JB share this same curry laksa recipe - they are Sam Kong (Ungku Mohsin), Lee Kee (Sri Tebrau, Kee Kim Huat kopitiam), Tan Kee and Cathay Laksa (Taman Century - behind Chartered Bank).




The curry is quite heavy with coconut milk (but not as thick as Singapore's Nyonya laksa). It tastes savoury and mildly spicy with a bit of sweetness from the coconut milk. There a bit of savouriness from the underlying anchovy stock.



Tan Kee like all Cathay laksa have these savoury fried fish balls which the stall holders make themselves.



There are a couple of soft pieces of fried fresh tofu which sponges up loads of curry and its flavours.



A couple of pieces of crispy fried tofu skin are dropped into the curry laksa.



Then, of course, there are fresh blood cockles that complete the dish.

They don't put daun kasum (laksa leaves) in the curry laksa here.



👉 Tan Kee is one of the stalwarts of old school JB Cathay curry laksa. Tan Kee still enjoys the support of loyal regulars.

Johor Kaki list of the Best Laksa in Johor 👈 click



Restaurant name: Tan Kee Cathay 国泰 Laksa 
Address: 149, Jalan Lumba Kuda, 80300 Johor Bahru (inside Restoran Shang Ji)
GPS: 1°27'40.2"N 103°46'02.6"E | 1.461162, 103.767403
Hours: 8:00am to 3:00pm (Closed on Mondays) 

No pork, no lard, no Halal cert

Written by Tony Boey on 5 Feb 2017 | Reviewed on 29 Apr 2023