2024 Laksa Fest heats up in the Red Centre with offerings of beers, burgers, hotdogs and more

From spicy beers to hot dogs with a twist, we sampled some of this year’s Laksa festival highlights in the Red Centre capital. Find out how it went.

Spicy beers, hot dogs and waffles with a twist, and burgers infused with flavours of this year’s namesake festival dish are some offerings from the 2024 Laksa Festival in the Red Centre – and this masthead tried some.

In Alice Springs, 12 venues are taking part in this years Laksa Festival – with highlights ranging from laksa beer, laksa hotdogs, or a laksa inspired pulled-pork burger.

The Krazy Train Diner co-owner Gwen Beale said it was the venue’s first time in the Laksa fest, and they’ve gone all out: offering a laksa big breakfast, laksa waffles, a laksa pizza, and more.

The Krazy Diner's laksa pizza and laksa waffles as part of 2024 Laksa Festival. Pictures: Supplied

One Krazy Train offering is the laksa hotdog, and the diner’s used “our standard hot dog double smoked sausage”, Mrs Beale said, offered with their “house-made laksa sauce”.

“We put the laksa sauce and then a little bit of fresh herbs on the top – that’s it,” she said.

Served in a plastic tray, the laksa hot dog tasted much like a normal hot dog except for the Asian inspired twist.

At $9 the laksa hot dog could fill the laksa-sized hole any enthusiast may have – only without the soup – and goes down easy when hungry.

Alice Springs' Krazy Train Diner laksa hotdog Picture: Gera Kazakov

Over at the Alice Springs Brewing Company director Kyle Pearson said they had brewed their own “soup of the day” – one keg of laksa beer.

“She’s a Gose; quite salty, quite tart with aromas of lemongrass, Kaffir lime leaf, lime, and ginger” Mr Pearson said.

“It’s refreshing and quite dry.

“Adding prawns and noodles is optional.”

Served (unsurprisingly) cold, the laksa beer has a surprising twist: a subtle spice.

The Alice Springs Brewing Co Laksa Beer. Picture: Gera Kazakov

A limited run priced at $12 for a schooner, the spice simultaneously builds while also being strangely refreshing, given the flavour combinations.

Epilogue Lounge is slinging laksa pulled pork burgers, while other participating venues in Alice Springs include Yaye’s Cafe, Simply Korean, Watertank Cafe, Crimson Chat, Thai De Cuisine, Page 27 Cafe, Coolamon Cafe, Red Centre Chinese, and Base Cafe.

Originally published as 2024 Laksa Fest heats up in the Red Centre with offerings of beers, burgers, hotdogs and more