Porridge Master has pig’s organ porridge in Jurong West
You may have heard of Qi Lin Xuan Chicken Rice, which sells $0.40 chicken rice balls in Jurong West. Another gem in the area is Porridge Master, a stall that’s been around for more than 10 years!
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The stall is manned by a single chef, and only operates for 4.5 hours each day, from 9:30am to 2pm, or when the porridge is sold out. It’s a neighbourhood favourite that draws long lines, especially in the morning.
Food at Porridge Master
You’ll find pretty standard items on the porridge menu here, including Pork Porridge, Century Egg Porridge, Shredded Chicken Porridge and more.
We started with Pig’s Organ Porridge ($4.70), which is something different from the pig’s organ soup many of us may be more familiar with. It may look plain, but it was anything but bland. Despite its unassuming appearance, this porridge came brimming with the same elements you’d find in the soup version: pig’s liver, stomach, and intestines.
All the bowls of porridge which we tried were brimming with ingredients━you’re sure to find liao in every scoop. I loved the finish of this porridge, with its creamy consistency that was neither too watery, nor thick and mushy. I also appreciated that the grains had not been completely broken down, so you’d still get bits of rice.
For me, the small intestines took centrestage in this dish. They were well cleansed of any gaminess, and had a tender, springy mouthfeel.
Each bowl comes topped with you tiao that’s the highlight of the porridge served at Porridge Master. At first blush, you might think it’s a rusk, since it’s quite different from the usual airy you tiao.
Here, the you tiao is double-deep-fried, giving an exceptional crispiness that maintains its rusk-like crunch throughout the meal, even after being soaked in the porridge. If you can’t get enough of the you tiao, you can order more at an additional $0.70, or even bring some home to snack on!
Next, we tried their Century Egg Lean Meat Porridge ($3.70), a classic porridge combination that is my go-to option whenever I have porridge.
The century egg pieces were sizeable, and had added a creamy, custard-like consistency to each spoonful. I like that it was not too jelak because the savoury and subtly pungent taste of the century egg blended well with the milder flavour of the minced meat.
Although the chunks of minced meat were nothing too special, they were well-marinated and tender.
Lastly, for those who are not a fan of pork, you might opt for their Shredded Chicken Porridge ($3.20) instead. To this, we recommend topping up $0.50 for an egg, which enhances the creaminess of the porridge. This addition is great for those who like a silky and thick consistency━similar to that of Cantonese-style jook.
Rather than cracking a raw egg in directly, they break the yolk and beat it slightly before adding it to the porridge. I much prefer it this way, because it makes the yolk less runny, and creates an egg drop finish such that you get random bits of egg as you eat.
The shredded chicken wasn’t dry, mushy nor chunky, which I appreciated.
It’s good to note that the chef is pretty heavy-handed with the finishing touches of sesame oil and white pepper, so let him know if you’d prefer a lighter touch!
Ambience at Porridge Master
Porridge Master is located in a coffee shop tucked within a HDB estate in Jurong West. It’s a rather ulu place, requiring at least a 17-minute walk or a nine-minute bus ride from Lakeside MRT Station. Ambience-wise, it was very clean and cooling with ample tables around.
Visit early to have a better chance of getting your bowl of porridge. During our visit, we arrived near closing time and had to wait a while for the chef to return from a break. Also, since there’s only one chef tending the stall, be prepared for a short wait as each bowl is freshly made to order. While it’s said that the chef is an irritable fellow, there’s no need to worry. He just doesn’t like his photo taken, and is wary of online coverage. Otherwise, we actually found him quite amiable.
Another thing to note is that this stall only accepts cash payments, so be sure to have some on hand.
The verdict
To sum it up, my biggest gripe is that Porridge Master is just too out of the way. I would recommend visiting at least once to try out their unique rusk-like you tiao, and if you’re a fan of innards, their pig’s organ porridge. Otherwise, their other selections on the menu are pretty mainstream. Definitely go if you find yourself in Jurong West and craving some porridge.
If you’re looking for more rainy-day eats, visit Hong Kong Yummy Soup for their traditional herbal soup in Redhill. Otherwise, if you’re in the area, check out our Jurong Point food guide.
Address: 442 Jurong West Avenue 1, Singapore 640442
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9:30am to 2pm, Sun 9:30am to 1:45pm
Porridge Master is not a halal-certified eatery.
Jurong Point Food Guide: 22 Restaurants And Cafes To Eat At In This Boon Lay Mall
Photos taken by Ke-ian J Leong.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg
The post Porridge Master Review: Pig’s Organ Porridge From $3.20 In Jurong West appeared first on EatBook.sg – Local Singapore Food Guide And Review Site.
