For over four decades, this unassuming yet iconic roasted duck stall has been a staple for locals in the area. Nestled amongst many other food stalls alike in Pasar Pudu Baharu KL, this gem beckons you in the wee hours of the morning.
With succulent offerings and unparalleled flavours, it is a beloved fixture in KL’s food scene that usually sells out long before the sun starts to rise.
Roast duck at 4am?
This place is perfect for early risers and night owls, as it opens before the crack of dawn at 4am in the morning. Now, you may be wondering, do people even eat roasted duck at 4am? Well, according to this stall’s sales, apparently they do.
In the dead of night, operating under the light of two fluorescent lamps, is this husband and wife duo. This elderly Chinese couple have made an honest living out of their humble roast duck stall for over 40 years now.
The husband does the roasting of the duck and wakes up before 2am to start preparations. The wife then handles the sales side of things, at the morning market in Pudu.
She is over 70-years-old yet still cleaves the portions of roast duck with the strength of one in her thirties. She sets up shop at 4am, five days a week, and calls it a day once they’ve sold out.
While eating roast duck at 4am in the morning is not unheard of, especially for lorry drivers and those just getting off work, I’m going to assume that most customers are buying this hearty dish before it sells out, so that they can have it later in the day.
As we all know, at popular morning markets, the early bird gets the worm. Some regulars at this roasted duck stall even reserve a whole duck a day or days before, so that they are not met with sheer disappointment.
In a video on social media, you can hear the Aunty proudly claiming with a cheeky smile, “My roasted duck is delicious! A few decades already.”
Pricing and flavour
For RM62 you can get a whole roasted duck and an array of traditional sauces like plum sauce, brown sauce, and chilli sauce. You can opt to have the roast duck chopped-up into smaller pieces or wrapped up whole.
At this stall, the Aunty and Uncle also sell roasted chicken, at only RM35 for a whole chicken—but it is usually the duck that people come for.
Upon first glance, hanging in rows on metal skewers, you will find that the roasted ducks at this stall are quite big in size. Their golden brown skins glistening under the fluorescent lights.
The ducks exude a savoury aroma that fills the paths between the different stalls. The skin is crisp and caramelised, with a rich mahogany hue.
As the Aunty chops the duck into smaller pieces, you can see juices seeping out of the meat and slipping down the sides of each slice. Having had decades to perfect the roasting technique, their roasted duck speaks volumes, visually and taste wise.
While the idea of waking up at an ungodly hour to snag a portion of roasted duck sounds like a hassle, you will be very glad you did it when you’re hungrily scarfing down pieces of tender and juicy roasted duck later on in the day.
Looking for some good ol’ roasted duck that tastes homemade, with tender and flavourful meat? Drop by this stall in Pudu, KL.
Roasted Duck
Address: Pasar Pudu Baharu, 70A, Jalan Pasar Baharu, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hours: 4am till sold out, Closed Mondays and Wednesdays
You should also check out: Why are people waking up so early to eat this Aunty’s 4am curry noodle in Paramount Kopitiam?
