This year’s Laksa League has come to a triumphant close, and Northern Territory’s laksa lovers have slurped, checked-in, and reviewed their way into the record books! With more dishes, prizes, and points on offer than ever before, the competition was as fierce as the October heat, with Laksa Leaguers bringing their A-game in the quest for the top spot.
In only the second year of the League, an incredible 2,700 players registered, checking in a whopping 2,800 times and submitting 3,700 reviews across 200 unique dishes served by 120 venues. These record-breaking numbers underscore what we have always known—Darwin is truly the Laksa Capital of Australia.
With the leaderboard going dark in the last week, a suspense-filled showdown ensued, leaving players on edge until the champions were revealed at the Festival Finale at the NT Parliament House lawns on Sunday.
Champions of the Laksa League
James S emerged as the unstoppable Laksa League legend, making history by being the first to crack six digits with an astonishing 102,309 points. James walked away with the grand prize — a trip to Perth valued at $5,000, courtesy of Airnorth. His hard-earned victory came after a thrilling three-way battle with Leanne (95,380 points) and Jleight (90,029 points), who claimed second and third places, respectively. Well done to all!
Katherine’s Champion: In Katherine, Ktown_laksa claimed the top prize with 52,530 points, winning a full day canoeing experience and sunset tour from Nitmiluk Tours. Annika and Staceyling-ling rounded out the top three with scores of 39,035 and 25,253 points.
Alice Springs Queen: Down in Alice, the self-proclaimed Golden Laksa Queen truly lived up to her title, holding onto the top spot and earning a prize bag of goodies, thanks to sponsors Alice Springs Town Council, Swank Shoes, and The Desert Park. In a nail-biting finish, PrincessBob was just one check-in short of victory, trailing by only 172 points, with Keharaabbott taking third with 10,530 points.
The Spirit of Laksa Lives On
This year’s Laksa League captured the Territory’s passion for laksa like never before, and we’re already counting down the days until next year’s competition. Your feedback is invaluable—please take a moment to fill out our survey and let us know what you thought of this year’s event!
Congratulations and a big thank-you to everyone who took part in the Laksa League and helped make it an unforgettable, record-breaking year. Here’s to next year’s laksa adventures and even more epic battles!
For the Data Enthusiasts
Here’s a taste of the Laksa League’s hottest dishes and most popular venues this year:
Most Reviewed Dishes:
- Kopi Stop Laksa - Kopi Stop / Makan Stop
- Laksa Muffin - Kopi Stop / Makan Stop
- Chow Laksa - Chow! A Taste of Southeast Asia
- Purple Lady’s Laksa - The Purple Lady (Parap & Rapid Creek markets)
- Chok's Place - Chicken & Prawn Laksa - Chok’s Place
- Hot Honey Laksa Fried Chicken Burger "LFC II" - The Patty Shack Burger Bar
- Laksa - Rendezvous Cafe
- Mary's Laksa - Mary's Laksa
- Chicken Laksa Pie - Outback Bakery
- Chicken Laksa Pie - Ben’s Bakehouse
Top-Rated Dishes (Minimum 30 Reviews):
- Spice and Slurp Laksa Bowl, 4.8 - Rainmaker Cafe
- The Outback Laksa, 4.79 - The Meeting Place Cafe
- Chicken Laksa Sausages, 4.78 - Palmerston Quality Meats
- Laksa Lamb Roti, 4.77 - Saltwater @Bundilla
- Laksa Chocolate Tacos, 4.76 - Ton's Bistro at Dinah
- Chok's Place - Chicken & Prawn Laksa, 4.75 - Chok’s Place
- Laksa, 4.73 - Angkor Takeaway
- Kopi Stop Laksa, 4.73 - Kopi Stop & Makan Stop
- The Big Lick Laksa, 4.72 - The Big Lick
- MacCheese Laksa, 4.67 - Chok’s Place
Most checked-in venues:
- Kopi Stop
- Alberto's
- Chow! A Taste of Southeast Asia
- Chok's Place
- Karma Café
- Ben's Bakehouse
- Frullati Juice and Salad Bar
- Bar Kokomo
- The Darwin Sailing Club
- Patty Shack Burger Bar