Master Duck @ Pandan Indah

We noticed a new place specialising in ducks opened up recently in our neighbourhood, Master Duck @ Pandan Indah when we were waiting for our seats in Win Win Western Food for dinner one evening and decided to check it out for an early lunch the following week.

Apparently they have another branch in Kepong but the shop here occupies a pretty small space with probably about 10+ tables inside...and that's because a major portion of its frontage space is taken up by a display cabinet (where the ducks are hung to dry) and their action counter (where the meats are chopped and prepped).

As the name implies, they're obviously a specialist in ducks...and that's the first thing that greets you when you walk into the restaurant.  On the left, you'll find ducks being hung to air dry (probably to crisp up the skin and for flavours to develop) before being roasted.

Right at the entrance, on the right, you'll see the already prepped and roasted ducks hanging deliciously to entice your palate.  Judging by the plentiful ducks on display, they must be doing good business.

Although I saw pics of wantan mee and curry mee (when I googled the restaurant), I didn't find any noodles on their menu.  Perhaps when they started a few months ago, they had that on the menu but they aren't offered now.  So our only option is to have the roasted meats with rice...and when it comes to duck, we (as a family) hardly ever never order a whole duck (coz only both of us eat duck) nor half or a quarter duck (as both of us only want duck breast)! ;D

My husband went for the Roasted Duck Rice @ RM10 with a request for duck breast and an add-on braised egg @ RM1 (he said the egg is rather cheap and I certainly agree).  I've to say the duck meat is rather meaty but tender while the skin is just lightly crispy.

As for the braised egg, the looks of it tells the story...I wouldn't call that a braised egg as the braising liquid hasn't even clung onto the egg. >_<

Taste wise, the duck was certainly decent.  Just to forewarn you, the meat marinade has a herbal flavour coz I know some people do not like roast duck with a herbal flavour (like my husband).  I too prefer a non-herbal duck but, luckily, the herbal flavour was not strong at all (in fact it's not so evident in the meat) but you can certainly taste the dong guai in the sauce underneath.  My only wish was for the duck meat to be a little juicier and perhaps a tad more flavour.

My son had the Char Siu Rice @ RM10 with a request for a half lean half fat cut of char siu.  The char siu was very tender with the meat falling apart like pulled pork.

The key to a good char siu is in the marinade and how well it's roasted.  This one met half its brief, commendable for being well roasted but the marinade could be better.

As for me, what's the best way of sampling more of their roasted meats...well, order a trio (of course) of Roasted Duck Mix Three @ RM17 of duck, char siu and siu yuk.

I asked for duck breast too...and you already know what I think of the roast duck and char siu.  As for the siu yuk, it had a fairly crispy skin and I wouldn't say it was superbly fragrant or savoury either.  I found both the skin and meat lacking in flavour.  So, it was the least successful of the 3 roasted meats I tried.

Duck (though I asked for breast, got some bones this time >.<) and char siu is what I like to get when I'm here since these two meats are preferred to the siu yuk.  It's what I usually have on my subsequent visits + I can share some of my char siu with my husband. 

At RM10 for a plate of roasted duck (breast) rice, I think it's great value with a sizeable portion.  The portion is (surprisingly) even heftier when I tapau (pack) coz they gave the bony parts as well under the breast...just look at that amount (I wasn't able to finish)! :O

Glad to come across a fresh chilli dip that's thick and spicy as many of the ones out there can be rather diluted (our second visit the chilli dip wasn't as thick but still decently thick).  It was good but could do with just a little bit more lime juice in the mix.  

I included a side dish of Choy Sum with Minced Pork @ RM8 which was just a small bowl of stir-fried finely chopped choy sum with a tiny amount of minced porked.  It was nicely executed and a good accompaniment for our otherwise meaty affair.  When I find this dish at the chap fan place in my neighbourhood, I will not hesistate to get it.  I don't particularly like choy sum but enjoy it when it's cooked this way (all chopped up).

On my second visit, I managed to try this recommended dish of Winged Beans with Dried Shrimp @ RM8 (it was not available on my previous visit) for the vegetable component of our meal.  The four angled beans was nice and crunchy although I would have preferred it to be cut a little thicker for an even crunchier bite.  Just note that the portion of vegetables is really small for RM8.  You can do an add on vegetable (for RM2) to your single meal of roasted meat rice...my husband joked "would that me one spoon of vegetables?"...lol!

For drinks, I was intrigued by the Salted Coffee and Barley Coffee on the menu, not something often offered in other restaurants.  Not knowing what it was and how it would taste, I ordered the Salted Coffee @ RM4.90 (still a safer bet than Barley Coffee I reckon).  Well, it turned out super enjoyable.  Lightly salty to counter the sweetness of the coffee (note that I didn't ask for less sweet coz I wasn't sure if the saltiness would be too much).

On my second visit, I gave Barley Coffee a thought, just for a split second (but the taste of barley in coffee doesn't quite sound as attractive or intriguing enough), before ordering the Salted Coffee again coz it was just too good to not have again.

When leaving the restaurant, lo and behold, I found the coffees being sold at the entrance.  Oh, apparently it's instant coffee from a sachet (so I can't ask for less sweet even if I wanted to)...and the brand is Uncle Wong from Taiping (since 1874!).  Well, I was tempted to cart a box home...but NO, especially not after I've read the content of sugar and salt (let's leave this for once a while indulgence when I'm here for the duck rice).

My Personal Opinion

Overall, it was a pleasant enough dining experience with the roasted meats...probably one of the better roasted duck (if not the best) we have in our taman for now though it's not among the better ones out there. Of the 3 roasted meats I tried, two were like supporting cast members to the main star as the roasted duck still came out tops (it goes without saying that they're still a master of ducks)!

It's a nice addition to the neighourhood of a standalone duck rice place (with roasted meats) where one can dine in a more comfortable environment (that's not a stall in a coffee shop)...and I'm happy that I can have my duck fix without venturing too far.  Above all else, it's really great value for duck coz at only RM10 a plate, the portion is pretty good (even bigger if you tapau). ^_~

Master Duck Roasted House

47G Jalan Pandan Indah 4/6B

Pandan Indah

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 011-5174 9741