Ordering in: A beloved PJ porridge stall has reinvented itself as a home business

Lester ran a popular porridge stall in Petaling Jaya for nearly three decades, but gave it up when the rental became too expensive. — Photos: MARCUS KOH

For nearly 30 years, Lester Koh Thin Hoong ran a popular porridge stall called Hoong Kee Seafood Porridge in a restaurant in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. The stall was a firm fixture in the area, and a neighbourhood favourite among denizens of PJ.

“Originally, I was in the mechanical engineering line but I have always loved to cook. Cooking and eating are my passions. So in 1987, when the recession hit, I quit my job and started selling porridge,” says Lester.