Ho Liao

Food

• Chicken Laksa lunch set
  • Teh Tarik
  • Chicken Wing
  • Pickled Vegetables

The Good

Nothing.

The Mediocre

The Chicken Laksa lunch set began with a lovely balance of creamy coconut curry and moderate spice, offering a rich, flavoursome broth and a generous serving. Unfortunately, the chicken seemed borrowed from a Hainan chicken rice rather than prepared for the laksa, creating a rather awkward mismatch. Worse still, the broth was not served nearly hot enough.

We also sampled the Teh Tarik, which had the silky, frothy consistency expected of a well-pulled tea. Its sweetness, however, was excessive, and the drink arrived at a disappointingly lukewarm temperature.

The Bad

The Pickled Vegetables offered remarkably little of the tangy punch we look for in a refreshing side. They were simply unremarkable and added little to the meal.

The Chicken Wing was an even greater disappointment, arriving severely overcooked and unpleasantly dry. A dish best avoided.

The Verdict

Ho Liao has a pleasant atmosphere and evidently knows how to develop a tasty laksa broth, but the cooking fell short on some basic details. Both the soup and pulled tea needed to arrive hotter, while the side dishes added little value. The chicken in particular felt ill suited to the laksa. We would need to see greater consistency before considering another visit.

Would Penguin Eat Again?

Maybe

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