By Wilfred Pilo
As dawn breaks and early morning customers begin to throng Song Corner, Jackson Goh is already busy serving steaming bowls of rice porridge to hungry patrons.
For the past 17 years, the jovial 75-year-old has served his signature hearty porridge, giving locals a simple yet nourishing start to their day.
Goh took up porridge-making after leaving the construction business.
Before turning 58, he decided to change careers and pursue his interest in cooking.
Since then, his porridge has become a staple breakfast choice for office workers, young people, and anyone looking for a light, comforting meal.
“It is part of our local culture to have rice as part of our morning diet. Porridge is soft, easy to eat and gives us energy to start the day,” he told DayakDaily.
Goh, who also enjoys a simple and hearty breakfast, believes porridge is one of the best ways to start the day. He learned to make porridge through personal experience, traditional cooking knowledge passed down through generations, and tips shared by friends.
He admitted that getting the recipe right was challenging when he first started. Through trial and error, he gradually refined the recipe to suit his customers’ tastes.
Established in 2009, the stall initially operated at a food court along Jalan Tun Jugah before relocating to Song Corner in Tabuan Heights about 10 years ago.
Today, Goh serves pork and chicken porridge infused with authentic flavours at his stall, Uncle Goh Porridge. Among his most popular offerings is the signature shredded chicken porridge, priced at RM5 a bowl.
“I offer various options, but the shredded chicken porridge is the favourite,” he said with a smile.
His stall opens early each morning, with steam rising from freshly prepared bowls serving as a familiar sign that Uncle Goh Porridge is ready for business.
Customers are drawn to its familiar local flavours, while others come for a warm, satisfying meal to fuel their workday.
“People still like local taste for breakfast. A simple bowl of porridge can fill you up,” he chuckled.
For Goh, making porridge not only keeps him active but also gives him something meaningful to do as his children pursue their own careers.
He sees his work as a way to preserve local food traditions and encourage people to enjoy local dishes as part of their daily lives.
He also hopes younger generations will come to appreciate the traditional dishes enjoyed by their elders.
“Start your day with a light bowl of porridge and feel the difference,” he said.
Goh’s humble stall reminds us that sometimes, it takes nothing more than a simple bowl of rice porridge to keep a community’s culinary heritage alive.
Uncle Goh Porridge at the Song Corner food court in Tabuan Heights operates daily except Thursdays, from 6am to noon.
For inquiries, call 013-820 6311. — DayakDaily
