The NT is famous for serving up the best laksa you’ll find outside Southeast Asia, with steaming bowls of the tasty noodle soup a must-try experience for visitors.
Laksa in the Territory
If you love laksa, the Northern Territory is the place to be. The fragrant soup, made with coconut milk, spices and fresh herbs, has become a local icon. In Darwin, the dish is a star attraction, with locals and visitors lining up at Parap, Rapid Creek, Mindil and Nightcliff markets for their weekend fix at some of the best places for a Darwin laksa.
Katherine adds its own twist, with cafés serving bowls that feature Territory flavours like barramundi and crocodile. Even in Alice Springs, you’ll find steaming laksa in the heart of the desert.
From tropical markets to outback cafés, the NT has turned this Southeast Asian favourite into a Territory icon, and tasting it here is a must for any visitor.
Darwin International Laksa Festival
Darwin’s love affair with laksa has grown into the annual Darwin International Laksa Festival – a month-long celebration that draws thousands of visitors and cements the city’s reputation as Australia’s laksa capital. The festival brings together market favourites, creative new takes, and even laksa-inspired desserts, all showcasing the dish’s bold flavours and cultural roots.
Just like the Territory itself, laksa is vibrant, diverse and full of character – the perfect symbol for a place where the desert meets the tropics and cultures come together. With its thriving food scene and festival flair, the NT truly earns its title as Australia’s Laksa Territory.
Laksa Festival events
Laksa beyond the soup
In the NT, laksa has become more than a steaming bowl of soup; it’s a canvas for food creativity. At Darwin cafés and food trucks, you can find laksa burgers stacked high with chicken, noodles, and a drizzle of spicy coconut sauce, or laksa pies blending Territory comfort food with Southeast Asian flavour.
Sweet-tooths haven’t been left out, with experimental chefs crafting laksa-flavoured ice cream, balancing creaminess with a subtle hint of spice. And in true Top End style, pizza makers have joined the fun, layering noodles, prawns, and laksa sauce onto crisp bases to create a dish that’s equal parts familiar and daring.
For more laksa-inspired dishes visit the Laksa Festival website.
