Yogi’s Way Stuart Park serving laksa momos at Darwin International Laksa Festival

The fifth annual Darwin International Laksa Festival has officially kicked off but this year there’s more at stake. Read about the inaugural Laksa League competition.

The smell of laksa is in the air.

Darwin’s famed International Laksa Festival has kicked off and restaurants and cafes are serving up the delicacy in more creative ways.

In its fifth iteration, this year’s festival has introduced the Laksa League, an online game which encourages participants to record every venue they go to and leave reviews to earn points.

Prizes will be awarded for players of Laksa League throughout the festival.

Yogi’s Way owner Bhairab Yogi said he would never miss a chance to participate in the popular event, which has been brought forward a month.

“We love the opportunity for all the businesses to show their creativity with the laksa and the flavour and different ingredients,” he said.

“And you get to know all the locals who come in and the international chefs.”

Hima Rai and Bhairab Yogi with the laksa momos at Yogi's Way. Picture: Bethany Griffiths

This year the Stuart Park eatery are serving up their famous chicken laksa momos, complete with a tomato laksa chutney.

“Since we had that on the menu we’ve sold about 100 servings,” he said.

Mr Yogi was excited for this year’s addition of the Laksa League, saying it would help encourage people to take part and see how the calibre of food has improved over the years.

“I think its’ a really unique way of attracting people to the venues because it keeps customers going to try lots of venues,” he said.

“They’ve (Darwin restaurants) put the bar up in terms of quality and what they’re serving because they like getting noticed.”

The Darwin International Laksa Festival will culminate on Sunday October 29 with the Festival Finale.