More often than not, on days I’m not craving for anything in particular, I would settle for a hearty plate of braised duck rice. I consider it a comfort food because it’s something I’m simply never bored of. This is why whenever a braised duck rice stall catches my attention, I already know what I’ll be having as a meal for the day. For your convenience, I’ve rounded up a list of hawker stalls where you can get your fill of value-for-money braised duck rice!
This tastefully designed platter from Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck and Kway Chap may look atas, but it is indeed duck rice! Created by second-generation hawker Melvin Chew, the Bento Combo Jumbo Set ($10.20) features all the ingredients commonly found in your average braised duck rice set, but with a Japanese-inspired twist.
Presented on a tray, yam rice is moulded into small balls and separated by sweet slices of daikon. Even the braised egg is prepared in a Japanese style, with a more runny yolk than usual. In addition, their house-made tangy sambal chilli, comprising strong traces of dried shrimp and vinegar is truly one-of-a-kind; so much so that the stall is now selling it at $15.80 per bottle.
Check out our interview with the boss of Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck and Kway Chap!
Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-156, Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, Singapore 050335
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs, Sat-Sun 10am to 6pm
Tel: 9018 9052
Website
Wei Ji Braised Duck is run by young hawkerpreneur Kennie Rosemary Ng. The eldest of four children, Kennie took over the family business when she was only 20, after losing her father to brain cancer. Their Duck Rice ($3.30) is a simple yet tasty affair, where the plate of boneless duck rice is generously slathered with gravy.
For a greater variety of ingredients, you may prefer their Duck Rice Set ($4.30), which includes braised tofu and preserved vegetables. The soup, which accompanies each dish, is something else entirely. Duck bones are stewed with Chinese Angelica and licorice roots, giving the broth a rich herbal flavour.
Read more about Kennie in our story of Wei Ji Braised Duck.
Address: 280 Woodlands Industrial Park, E5 Singapore Harvest, Singapore 757322
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 3pm
Website
I recently visited Say Seng Tau Kwa Pau and found it one of the more memorable duck rice stalls I have ever come across. We ordered the Mixed Platter ($10 for two people), which came with braised duck, fried yam, braised egg, pork belly and pig’s intestines. It wasn’t so much the braised duck that stood out to me, but the crispy fried yam and fatty, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly.
An interesting side dish to spice up your meal with is their Tau Kwa Pau ($1.50). A dying dish in Singapore, the large beancurd bun is stuffed to the brim with tiny, chopped-up pieces of the same ingredients found in the Mixed Platter.
Check out our Say Seng Tau Kwa Pau review!
Address: 271 Onan Road, #01-05, Dunman Food Centre, Singapore 424768
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7am to 4:30pm
Tel: 9488 7736
Website
Image credit: @kairosinfinity
He Ji Braised Duck Rice Porridge Noodle has received rave reviews, particularly for its stellar Braised Duck Rice ($3.50).
The duck meat is extremely soft and tender, while the thick, aromatic gravy that’s doused over the duck brings out the flavour of the meat. You may want to add extra ingredients such as Beancurd ($0.60) and Braised Egg ($0.50), or try their Duck Porridge ($3) as well, which comes with braising sauce mixed in.
Address: 726 Clementi West Street 2, #01-162, Singapore 120726
Opening hours: Thur-Tue 8am to 5pm
Tel: 9477 8998
Image credit: @skye.jyd
If you are at Sean Kee Duck Rice, there is only one thing you need to go for: their Duck Rice Platter ($9). Despite the limited food choices at this hawker stall, the business remains well for the three brothers who manage the stall. This is attributed to their father’s secret braised duck recipe.
The succulent duck meat is delivered and prepared fresh every day, but ultimately, it is the viscous braised gravy that steals the show with its addictive salty-sweet flavour.
Address: 665-669 Geylang Road, Lorong 35, Singapore 389589
Opening hours: Sun-Fri 11:30am to 6pm
Tel: 9690 6606
Website
Image credit: @incurab1e
Formerly known as Lian Kee Braised Duck, Hollywood Duck Rice • Duck Porridge was renamed after relocating to Sims Vista Market and Food Centre from the now-closed Hin Hollywood Canteen.
Apart from Duck Rice ($3.50), the stall also sells duck porridge, kway chap and noodles. Here’s something unique about this duck rice stall: the flavours of every dish rely heavily on the braising sauce, where even the aromatic rice is cooked with the same sauce! Fortunately, the thick gravy is rich in herbs and spices, so you don’t have to worry about the food tasting boring or bland. As a matter of fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Address: 49 Sims Place, #01-73, Sims Vista Market and Food Centre, Singapore 380049
Operating hours: Daily 9:30am to 3:30pm
Tel: 9084 3407
Image credit: @jt6263
Also located at Sims Vista Market and Food Centre is Tai Dong Teochew Duck Rice. A regular plate of Duck Rice costs $4.50, although you can pay more to add on braised pork belly, egg, stewed cabbage with pig’s skin, gizzard or peanuts.
The gravy here has a stronger flavour than the one at Hollywood Duck Rice • Duck Porridge, but the meat is slightly tougher. So if you visit this food centre often, you might want to alternate between Hollywood Duck Rice • Duck Porridge and Tai Dong Teochew Duck Rice to determine your victor.
Address: 49 Sims Place, #01-04, Sims Vista Market and Food Centre, Singapore 380049
Opening hours: Fri-Wed 9am to 5pm
Website
Image credit: Long House Soon Kee Boneless Lor Duck Rice’s Facebook page
You’ll be delighted to find that the duck meat served at Long House Soon Kee (Boneless) Braised Duck is completely deboned. The meat is incredibly tender and juicy, as the braising sauce infuses into the duck. A plate of Braised Duck Rice ($4) comes with grainy yam rice, and you can add braised peanuts and half a sliced egg to give the dish more variety.
Address: 411 Balestier Road, #01-14, Balestier Market, Singapore 329930
Opening hours: Thur-Tue 10am to 7pm
Tel: 8337 9862
Website
Image credit: @iamweiping
What I love about Ah Xiao Teochew Braised Duck’s Duck Rice ($3.50) is the affordability and simplicity of it all. Here, watery brown gravy is drizzled over thinly sliced duck meat, which is layered atop a generous portion of steamed white rice.
What impresses me about their duck is how finely sliced each piece of meat is. This alone tells me the amount of skill and experience the chef has. Another thing that strikes me is the braising sauce. Unlike other duck rice stalls’ braising sauce, the one at Ah Xiao Teochew Braised Duck is saltier and less starchy.
Address: 505 Beach Road, #B1-43, Golden Mile Food Centre, Singapore 199583
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 7:30pm
Tel: 9109 8026
Website
Image credit: @voilabluesky
At New Market Teochew Braised Duck, each plate of duck rice costs $4. Once more, the duck meat is sliced very thinly, although I would’ve preferred a little more gravy to moisten the meat. One interesting detail I noted was that the egg wasn’t too hard and overcooked, unlike the ones at many other braised duck stalls. I also recommend ordering the pig intestines, which are nicely braised and do not have a stench.
Address: 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-84, Alexandra Village Food Centre, Singapore 150120
Opening hours: Sun-Wed 11:30am to 4pm
Tel: 9384 0959
Image credit: @yuka__mae
Michelin-nodded Heng Gi Goose And Duck Rice is a stall that draws long queues daily. They have been around for 60 years, and are renowned for their herbal duck meat, as well as broth. Their Duck Rice costs $3.50, and comes with a bowl of their herbal soup, egg, and tofu. For more ingredients, top up and get a $5 portion.
Though there is the word “goose” in its name, unfortunately, the stall no longer sells braised geese due to AVA regulations.
Address: 665 Buffalo Road, #01-335, Tekka Centre, Singapore 210665
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 8am to 3pm
Tel: 6396 0969
Image credit: @nomnombunny.eats
Zuo Ji Duck Rice at East Coast Lagoon Food Village is an icon, with many Easties flocking to the stall for their fix. Prepared Hokkien-style, the duck here is deboned and drenched in their signature gravy before plated on yam rice. A serving costs a wallet-friendly $3.50 as well!
Address: 1220 East Coast Park, #01-29, Singapore 468960
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 7:30pm, Sat-Sun 9:30am to 7:30pm
Image credit: @foodie.gowhere
Another Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee is Chuan Kee Boneless Braised Duck Rice, where $3 gets you a heaping plate of Hokkien-style duck rice and all the works. Thanks to the affordable price tag, the stall does draw long queues, but it does move quick. The rich gravy is highly raved about, so be sure to ask for extra zhi when you’re there.
Address: 20 Ghim Moh Road, #01-04, Ghim Moh Market, Singapore 270020
Opening hours: Fri-Wed 10am to 8pm
What I love about this dish is its unchangeable nature. You could slice the meat thick or thin, present it in a bento set or messily, and have it with yam or plain white rice, but at the end of the day, braised duck rice will always evoke memories of childhood for me.
For more hawker classics, check out our best chicken rice and best prawn noodle guides.
This article was originally published on 12 February 2018.
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