By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Jan 7: For over six decades, Goh’s legendary, scrumptious prawn fritters have been a staple delight for locals and visitors when it first started operating at a humble stall at the old Rex Cinema along Lebuh Wayang.
Today, at 65, Goh Thing Chai is steering that legacy into a new chapter, complete with a refreshed look and new premises along Jalan Rubber.
Goh’s famous prawn fritters business began with Goh’s father, who first sold the fritters from a stall at the old Rex Cinema in 1967. Over the decades, the business found a long-term home at Lorong Satok 3 near the old Satok market, operating as Goh Cafe for 45 years. But with the lease nearing its end, Goh decided it was time to move.
Jalan Rubber, known for its vibrant food scene and delectable local cuisine was chosen as the ideal location where Goh believed he could to maintain his family business’ signature flavours while embracing a fresh approach after four decades of culinary expertise.
“This time, we adopted the concept of a fast-food restaurant for efficiency and a standardised workflow. This provided us with greater accuracy in orders, consistency, and helped us streamline our operations. Overall, it gives better customer service to patrons,” he told DayakDaily.
With premises of their own, Goh said the new operation has given him greater freedom to oversee the cafe from the kitchen, where he continues to lead his staff hands-on, ensuring that quality and efficiency remain uncompromised and that front-of-house service runs smoothly according to orders.
“Having our own premises is much easier, and we are in control of our services and quality. This is much more ideal than the previous cafe. There’s still a lot of work to be done since we moved before Christmas last year, but so far, our regulars and new customers have been patronising us.”
Looking ahead, Goh is hopeful the new space brings good fortune.
“Fingers crossed, it’s good Feng Shui for our business and for welcoming the Year of the Horse in 2026. We hope to emulate the horse’s character, working hard and overcoming obstacles to win people’s hearts and have them enjoy our prawn fritters,” he chuckled.
Goh said he and his family are getting used to the new premises, but look forward to the future.
“My children assist me, and basically, they played an important role in setting up this new cafe and its operation. There, too, is the backbone of Goh’s family business,” he enthused.
To complement the famous prawn fritters, the menu has expanded. Customers can now enjoy noodle dishes such as Chicken Kolo Mee, alongside new locally inspired creations like Assam Chicken Kolo Mee, which adds a tangy twist to a familiar favourite.
He added that the prices for his dishes, including his signature prawn fritters, are affordable to ensure customers enjoy their meals in the comfortable ambience of the new cafe.
“We hope that in the new year and future endeavour, we will continue to receive the same support from our regular patrons who have known us for so long and to provide them with the same service and our scrumptious prawn fritters,” he said with a smile.
Goh Cafe is located at 538 Rubber Road and is open daily from 6am to 10pm For inquiries, call 019-7786868. – DayakDaily
