Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Duck Rice

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Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Duck Rice

Duck Rice
Duck Rice



Nothing was sponsored, we visited as regular paying customers. Photos in this post were taken between 2000 and 2022 (across 22 years!), as such, the quality of photos varies drastically due to advances in camera technology. Mobile smartphones were in their infancy and had yet to become widespread.


Also Known As:
Duck Rice, Khao Na Pet


Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $4 - $9








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Description:
The Duck Rice is a Singaporean Chinese dish that consists of either braised or roasted duck, served over steamed yam / taro infused rice, or served with plain white rice drizzled with braising gravy. Also known as Khao Na Pet, the Duck Rice dish is usually priced around SGD $4 to $9 per serving. While rather uncommon, it has its fans, and is usually eaten during lunch, dinner, or tea.

There are 3 versions of Duck Rice. The most common is the Chinese Teochew version, where the whole duck is braised for hours with a medley of herbs and spices, including cinnamon, star anise, galangal, garlic, white sugar or rock sugar, and dark soy sauce. The braising liquid is absorbed by the duck, resulting in a moist tender succulent texture with a light chew, and a robust meaty savoury salty herbal flavour. The braised duck is usually served thinly sliced, with plain white rice drizzled with braising gravy which has a grainy sweet salty flavour. Accompanied by side dishes such as braised peanuts, pickled salted mustard greens, braised tofu bean curd, or braised egg.

The Chinese Hokkien version of Duck Rice also has the whole duck braised for hours with a medley of herbs and spices. Besides all of those used in the other version, the additional herbs and spices for this includes cloves, salt, 5-spice powder, and red chili. While the duck still absorbs all the braising liquid, and has that moist tender succulent texture with a light chew, the different proportion of herbs and spices means this has a more pronounced meaty sweet savoury herbal flavour. The braised duck is usually served thinly sliced and coated with braising gravy. Accompanied by a yam / taro infused rice, steamed with yam / taro, dried shrimp, and sometimes shiitake mushrooms, resulting in an earthy grainy savoury sweet flavour. The same side dishes also feature.

The Chinese Cantonese version of Duck Rice is the roasted version. A whole duck is marinated with salt, white sugar, hoisin sauce, star anise, scallions, 5-spice powder, maltose syrup or honey, white vinegar, Shaoxing rice wine, dark soy sauce, and ginger, then roasted. The roast duck will have a moist tender succulent texture with a light chew, and an enticing smoky meaty savoury salty fatty flavour. The roasted duck is usually served thickly sliced, with plain white rice and sliced cucumbers. Most Duck Rice stalls also serve a soup made from the braising gravy to accompany each order.


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1. Ah Seng Braised Duck Rice
@ Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre, 49A Serangoon Garden Way #01-44
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9:30am – 5pm, Sat 9:30am – 3pm, Closed Sun

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $3.50) @ Ah Seng Braised Duck Rice.

This fan-favourite stall has been serving Chinese Teochew style braised duck rice since 1994, with the long constant daily queues a testament to their popularity.

The tasty braising gravy lends a sweet salty herbal flavour to each tender chewy slice of braised duck, complementing the meaty savoury flavour it holds. Portion is generous, good value.

The fluffy white rice is drizzled with more of the gravy, lending a depth of taste to the grainy sweet notes it carries.

Completed with a tasty soup with meaty sweet savoury notes, and a spicy savoury garlic chili with a good kick.





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2. Alex's Eating House
@ Chye Sing Building, 87 Beach Road #01-01
Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 6pm

Taken in 2010


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $6) @ Alex's Eating House.

Renowned for their excellent roast meats, this stall, in operation since December 1991, is perennially popular with blue and white collar workers in the area.

Their succulent Chinese Cantonese style roast duck is meaty and juicy and tender with a light chew, carrying bold smoky meaty savoury salty sweet flavour.

Plated over fluffy white rice, drizzled with soy braising gravy and a little duck fat oil. This layers an earthy savoury fatty flavour over the grainy sweet notes of the rice, yum.





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3. Cheok Kee Boneless Braised Duck
@ Geylang Bahru Market And Food Centre, 69 Geylang Bahru #01-35
Opening Hours: Fri - Wed 12pm – 6pm, Closed Thu

Taken in 2014


Taken in 2014


Taken in 2014


Taken in 2014


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $3.50) @ Cheok Kee Boneless Braised Duck.

Owner-Chef Mr Ong has been tweaking the recipe for his secret braising gravy since he started in 1974.

The rice is infused with the gravy, giving it a pronounced sweet salty flavour, though without yam / taro. It also has a noticeable firmer texture than elsewhere, which might not appeal to all.

The braised duck is boneless and lean with a slight tender chew, carrying the notes from the soy and spices in the braising gravy, meaty sweet salty savoury herbal in flavour.

Slices of crunchy juicy cucumber and crisp spring onions, with vegetal sweet notes, lend a nice contrast to round out the meal.





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4. Double Spring Teochew Lor Duck Kway Chap
@ Pek Kio Market & Food Centre, 41A Cambridge Road #01-38
Opening Hours: Thu - Sun 8am – 3pm, Closed Mon, Tue 8am – 3pm, Closed Wed

Taken in 2002


Taken in 2002


Duck Rice (SGD $3) @ Double Spring Teochew Lor Duck Kway Chap.

What stood out for me at this hidden gem of a hawker stall was the soup. Made from the braising gravy, it held deep herbal sweet savoury earthy flavours, addictive and unstoppable.

The duck is sliced thick and chunky, its lean texture having a firm chew. The braise seems light on the duck, having a mild meaty savoury sweet herbal note.

The rice is fluffy, infused with grainy herbal sweet earthy notes from the braising gravy, but has no yam / taro chunks.

The chili contains white vinegar, punchy with tangy sour zesty spice notes, probably a little overpowering. The braised egg is alright.





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5. Heng Gi Goose And Duck Rice
@ Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road #01-335
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 8am – 3pm, Closed Sun

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $4) @ Heng Gi Goose And Duck Rice.

With over 70 years of history, this legendary stall has cultivated a loyal following for their Chinese Teochew style braised duck (no, they no longer sell goose ever since it was banned in Singapore).

The secret is in the sauce - a dark, unctuous blend of soy and herbs, potent and robust with salty savoury herbal earthy flavour. Best paired with fluffy white rice.

Their duck is sliced thick, firm yet tender with a deep taste of the gravy, yet you still distinctly taste the natural meaty savoury flavour of the duck. Good fatty to lean ratio. Served with crunchy sliced cucumbers whose vegetal sweet notes contrast nicely.

Completed with a robust warm broth made with the same delicious braising gravy as the base.





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6. Hwa Heng Kei
@ 120 Neil Road #01-05
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9:30am – 10:30pm, Sat - Sun 9:30am – 8pm

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $4) @ Hwa Heng Kei.

Chef Lin Kian Hin, after whom this stall is named, roasts his meats over charcoal in an Apollo rotisserie oven, and makes his sauces from scratch.

His fresh herbal roast duck is infused with dang gui / angelica root, giving the tender juicy succulent duck meat a light herbal sweet note to its meaty savoury flavour.

The white rice serves as a base to soak up the drippings of gravy, duck jus, and oils, though it's pretty standard on its own.





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7. Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck & Kway Chap 金记潮州卤鸭
@ Chinatown Complex Food Centre, 335 Smith Street #02-156
Opening Hours: Tue - Thu 10am – 6pm, Closed Fri, Sat - Sun 10am – 6pm, Closed Mon

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $5) @ Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck & Kway Chap 金记潮州卤鸭.

Established since 1980 and now run by 2nd generation owner Melvin Chew (who also co-founded the 'Hawkers United Dabao' group to support fellow hawkers during the pandemic), they offer both traditional and modern takes on the dish.

The traditional version has soft steamed tender yam / taro chunks and soy braising gravy infused with the fluffy rice, resulting in a earthy sweet savoury flavour.

The braised duck is tender with a light chew, with the skin and fat having a light bounce, and pleasant meaty savoury salty earthy flavour.

They're also known for wobbly soft lava eggs, though mine was less runny than expected, but still had nice eggy sweet flavour.





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8. Kim Heng (HK) Roasted Delights
@ 214 Serangoon Avenue 4 #01-88
Opening Hours: Thu - Tue 9am – 7pm, Closed Wed

Taken in 2009


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $4.30) @ Kim Heng (HK) Roasted Delights.

Owner Lim Chee Meng has been charcoal roasting meats for over 3 decades.

Their roast duck has a slight crisp texture to the skin, and the thick cut slices are tender but border on dry, with smoky meaty savoury flavour.

The thick gravy over fluffy white rice results in a lovely earthy salty grainy sweet savoury flavour. Finished with fresh cucumber slices with vegetal sweet flavour.





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9. Kun Ji Duck Rice
@ 84 Marine Parade Central Market And Food Centre, 84 Marine Parade Central #01-25
Opening Hours: Wed - Sun 9:30am – 7pm, Mon - Tue 10:30am – 4pm

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $4.60) @ Kun Ji Duck Rice.

Among the most popular stalls attracting the longest queues, this brand specialises in duck - both braised and roasted.

Their braised duck has a mix of thin and thick slices, each with a silver of succulent fat, tender and moist with deep herbal earthy meaty salty savoury flavour.

Served over sticky yam rice with chunks of soft yam / taro, and lovely grainy earthy sweet salty flavours from the rice infused with braising gravy.

Their roast duck is sliced thick and chunky, yet has a pleasant tender juicy chew with a slight crispy skin, and deep smoky meaty savoury sweet flavour.

Served over fluffy white rice drenched in a thick gravy, lending bold herbal savoury sweet salty notes.

Sliced cucumbers with vegetal sweet flavour, and a light broth with sweet savoury herbal earthy notes accompany. Also added egg and tofu bean curd puffs, shiok.





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10. Kwee Heng Duck Rice 貴興
@ Newton Food Centre, 500 Clemenceau Avenue North #01-13
Opening Hours: Thu - Tue 9am – 11pm, Closed Wed

Taken in 2010


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $4) @ Kwee Heng Duck Rice 貴興.

This heritage stall is well regarded for consistency, serving well over 40 years.

Their soup stands out here, warm and comforting with deep earthy herbal savoury sweet flavour.

Their braised duck is tender with a light chew, the skin layered with succulent duck fat, sliced thick and boneless. Has lovely meaty salty savoury flavour.

The bed of fluffy white rice has absorbed the braising gravy in parts, with grainy sweet salty savoury flavour. Crunchy cucumber slices and soft braised egg complete.





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11. Long House Soon Kee (Boneless) Duck Rice
@ Balestier Market, 411 Balestier Road #01-14
Opening Hours: Thu - Tue 10am – 7pm, Closed Wed

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $4.50) @ Long House Soon Kee (Boneless) Duck Rice.

The heritage braised duck recipe by father Ong Soon Hwa at this stall dates back to 1984, and has since been passed down to son Ong Jun Ru, who was classically trained as a chef.

Their house braising gravy is made with 18 ingredients, including soy sauce, cinnamon, tangerine zest, and other herbs; the duck is then braised for about 4 - 5 hours till it turns tender and succulent, infused with meaty herbal sweet savoury salty earthy flavour.

Their yam rice is delicious, with chunks of soft yam / taro buried within the well seasoned rice, enticing with earthy grainy savoury sweet flavour.

Soft peanuts and bouncy egg, braised in that same excellent gravy, accompany.

Fresh slices of crunchy cucumber and crisp spring onion lend vegetal sweet notes and a contrast to texture. Their dipping sauce of white vinegar and chili has a good tangy sour spicy kick.





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12. Meng Meng Roasted Duck
@ 721 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 #01-2823
Opening Hours: Thu - Tue 11:30am – 8pm, Closed Wed

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $4.50) @ Meng Meng Roasted Duck.

Chef-Owner Chew Kwee Meng started with a humble stall in 2003 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, but his signature roasts meats became popular enough to enable 4 more stalls, and an expansion to Singapore in October 2021.

While sauces and marinades are shipped from a central production facility, all meats are charcoal roasted on-site daily.

They're renowned for their signature herbal marinated charcoal roasted duck, the tender juicy duck meat infused with the flavours of dang gui / angelica root, earthy herbal meaty sweet savoury in taste. So addictive.

Served over a bed of warm fluffy white rice, which has a little of the delicious gravy drizzled over, infusing it with the same addictive taste.





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13. Wang Fu Roasted Delight
@ 18 Bedok South Road #01-45
Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 8pm

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $4.50) @ Wang Fu Roasted Delight.

Chef Wong Hsieh Fook, formerly of Kam's Roast, together with Owner Victor Ng opened this stall in April 2020... 1 week before the introduction of pandemic circuit-breaker measures. Fortunately, they pulled through.

Their ducks are prepared and roasted on-site in gas-powered ovens. Scalded with boiling water then marinated with their house rub, which includes 5-spice powder and honey, the ducks are left to infuse overnight.

The duck is lean with a light chew, dry but not overly so, the crisp skin and tender duck meat carrying oily salty savoury earthy sweet meaty flavour.

Served over a bed of fluffy white rice with grainy sweet flavour, accompanied by a warm soup with herbal sweet savoury notes.





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14. Yu Kee Duck Rice
@ 11 Canberra Road #01-05
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10pm

@ 511 Bishan Street 13 #01-522
Opening Hours: Daily 8:30am – 8pm

Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore

Taken in 2009


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Duck Rice (SGD $4) @ Yu Kee Duck Rice.

This heritage brand, founded by Seah Boon Lock in 1961, is possibly the most accessible chain eatery brand in Singapore for braised duck and kway chap.

Their toothsome duck meat is infused with the braising gravy, tender and moist with robust meaty salty savoury herbal flavour.

Likewise their rice, similarly infused with braising gravy for a bold taste, but lacks any yam / taro chunks within. Paired with crunchy fresh cucumber with vegetal sweet flavour.

Expect strong, punchy flavours here which cling to the palate.





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- Chang Soon (Charcoal) Hong Kong Roasted – Permanently Closed
@ 120 Neil Road

Taken in 2012


Taken in 2012






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