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By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Sept 20: Goh Thing Chai is modest about many of his customers considering his family as legends in the cucur udang (prawn fritters) business in Kuching, even though his tagline is “Eat ‘cucur udang’, must come to Goh Cafe”.
The 62-year-old Goh Cafe proprietor who has been making and selling the tasty fritters for 42 years, revealed his involvement in the business started with his late father, Goh Tiong Boon, in 1981. Their stall was once by the old Rex Cinema in the city.
After the cinema and the stall closed, Goh said he was optimistic about continuing the business and moved to his current site at his cafe in Satok where he has stayed until today.
According to him, his father got into the cucur udang business in 1967 after he closed their grocery store and rented a food stall at Rex Cinema.
He said the location of Rex Cinema was strategic, and the delectable food sold there was a crowd-puller as many considered it the best street food in Kuching in those days.
“Thank you to those regular customers who patronised our food stall before continuing to support us at the present cafe.
“Initially, I was also worried (about the location), but we knew Satok is a thriving commercial district in Kuching.
“There were more people in those days in the 90’s than today because there was Satok Market and the weekend farmers’ market. The place was booming,” Goh shared.
Goh said despite the relocation of Satok Market and the weekend farmer’s market, their fritters business was not severely affected.
“It’s probably because we have our regulars and more innovative ways of selling our fritters. We get orders from e-hailing services and supply other food stalls in the city.”
Goh shared that their cucur udang could be stored in the freezer for up to two months.
“This is a new way for Goh Cafe to sell our prawn fritters to a bigger market,” he added.
Goh revealed their recipe for the prawn fritters has not changed, except for the dipping sauce to cater for changing consumer tastes.
“I hope to continue to serve my customers with the same prawn fritters and to let the legacy my late father started continue. I am grateful my children now are helping me and to make it sustainable business,” said Goh.
Goh Cafe is at Lorong Satok 3, 93400 Kuching. It is open daily from 6am to 6pm, and the cucur udang is served from 7am to 5.30pm. — DayakDaily
