Bebek Goreng Pak Ndut – Forget Ayam Penyet, go for Halal Crispy Duck at Lucky Plaza

There are a few ayam penyet restaurants in Lucky Plaza but Bebek Goreng Pak Ndut is a little different. We dropped by for lunch just to eat their crispy duck, after hearing Andrew rave about them.

The highlight of the meal is definitely the Original Crispy Duck with Rice ($9.90). Marinated in a blend of spices, and deep fried till golden brown, the tender duck rocks a bronzed skin that is moderately crispy. To be honest, it tasted like duck confit, but more Asian. We gobbled it up quickly, eagerly tearing the meat off the bones. The duck was not gamey, but some parts were a little drier than others.

The more health conscious should go for the Sangan Crispy Fried Duck ($10.50) which is pan fried without oil. I thought it would be dry but no, the meat was still tender and had a pleasant smokiness. In fact, I love this the most. Each plate of meat is accompanied by plain rice, kangkong, cucumber, tofu, tempeh and a generous serving of fresh chilli which is pounded in-house. Don’t forget to order a side of Crispy Duck Skin ($4.90) too. The fried duck skin is crispy, yet not oily. It’s super addictive!

Then again, if duck is not your thing (or if you prefer to stick to your chicken), there’s Crispy Fried Chicken ($7.90) and grilled chicken dressed in kecap manis too. The chicken could have been moister though. 

The Gado Gado ($6.50) is a mix of cabbage, bean sprouts, long beans, cucumber, egg and tofu, drenched in a runny kecap-manis sweetened peanut sauce. The mix is then covered in a blanket of keropok. I thought the peanut sauce was a little too runny and I would have preferred it to be more crunchy. 

I love oxtail because the meat is so succulent and rich. When cooked well, the meat falls off the bone easily. That’s exactly what went on in this bowl of Oxtail Soup ($8.90). The soup has a beautifully rich flavour that is enriched by the meat and spices. Even though it is a bowl of flavourful soup, I still prefer the one at Impian Wahyu because the vegetables make the soup lighter and sweeter.

Indonesian dining is never complete without chilli. There are 5 different kinds of chilli sauce available and my favourite is the one with fresh red chilli. It doesn’t look like it will kill but oh my, one little mouthful is enough to make my scalp itch. Every dish is accompanied by a different chilli. Don’t worry if you cannot handle the heat – just ask the staff for a less spicy version. If you are still perspiring buckets from the heat, order a glass of Ice Campur ($3.90). Just like our ice kachang, the ice ball comes with grass jelly and atap seeds, drizzled with rose syrup and carnation milk.

I wish I discovered this place much earlier. This is a good alternative to ayam penyet if I am dining in Orchard. They also have an outlet in Tampines. I’ll definitely be making many return visits!

Thank you Andrew for the treat. MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit at the stall featured here.