By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, July 15: Some patrons arriving at Geylang Kopitiam on Sekama Road can’t help but sigh when they discover that Morgan Pork Soup has already sold out for the day.
“Too bad, I’m late today,” they often remark with a smile before promising to return the next morning for another bowl.
That kind of loyalty is something Morgan Tan, 48, deeply treasures after spending more than a decade perfecting his signature pork soup.
The Teochew-born Kuchingite launched Morgan Pork Soup in 2012 at Ang Cheng Eatery before relocating to Geylang Kopitiam in 2016, where the stall continues to draw a steady stream of regular customers every morning.
By naming the dish after himself, Morgan made a personal commitment to serve the same rich, flavourful broth day after day.
Before venturing into the food business, he spent a decade working in the animation industry, frequently travelling between Kuching and Kuala Lumpur. During that time, he developed a fondness for a comforting bowl of pork soup that became a staple of his visits to the capital city.
Missing that familiar taste back home, Morgan sought out the recipe from his sifu (master) in Kuala Lumpur and learned the craft before bringing it to Kuching.
“I wanted people in Kuching to enjoy the same flavour that I missed,” he told DayakDaily, recalling how his culinary journey began.
For Morgan and his wife, Madam Ng, 45, the day starts long before most people are awake. Their mornings begin as early as 6am, with hours spent carefully simmering pork bones and ingredients to create a broth with the desired depth, texture and consistency.
“There is no compromise. The soup must taste the same every day,” Morgan said.
While Madam Ng had little cooking experience when they first started the business, she has since become the stall’s main cook. Morgan continues to oversee every batch, ensuring the broth remains true to their family recipe and quality standards.
The soup is available with a choice of seven types of noodles, allowing customers to customise their meals and enjoy the savoury broth in their preferred style.
Although pork soup is traditionally popular among Teochew families, Morgan said the dish has found fans across all communities in Kuching, including members of the Dayak community.
The family’s passion for the business extends to the next generation. Both of their sons enjoy the soup, while their eldest son, Gregory, often lends a hand at the stall during his college breaks.
By midday, the soup is frequently sold out, leaving some customers disappointed. Yet Morgan said they rarely express frustration.
“They just smile and come back the next day. We’ve built a close rapport over the years,” he said.
Rather than expanding the business with additional outlets, Morgan prefers to focus on a single stall, allowing him to personally oversee quality and maintain the consistency that has earned Morgan Pork Soup its loyal following.
Morgan Pork Soup operates daily from 8am to 12.30pm, except on Tuesdays when it closes at noon. The stall is closed on Sundays.
For enquiries, contact 016-860 8961. — DayakDaily
