Roast Duck Inn

29-31 Carrington Road
Box Hill, VIC 3128

As I get closer and closer to my long-anticipated holiday (though by the time this is published, I’ll be in Korea!), I can’t help but get excited over all the amazing and cheap food I’m going to get to eat. Not only will I be able to stuff my face full of ddukbokki and soondubu jjigae in Korea, I’m also going to be inhaling all the delicious roast meats and street snacks Hong Kong has to offer. And because it never hurts to get some practice before the real deal, I decided to have my Sunday roast at Roast Duck Inn.

Now don’t confuse Roast Duck Inn with Roast Duck Kitchen, which is just a couple of doors down the road. But if you happen to have any doubt about which is which, go for the one that has diners spilling out onto the sidewalk, waiting for their tables and take-away. But despite the crowd and the relatively small restaurant, we only had to wait about 10 minutes. Still, with the amazing smells and braces of glossy roast ducks wafting out of the kitchen every few minutes, each minute was a minute too long.

We started the meal with a bowl of warm (and complimentary) house soup. This bowl of pork broth was light and comforting, infused with the nourishing properties of mushrooms and herbs. Imagine how good this would be for when you’re sick!

I usually have my roast duck on rice, so it was nice to go all out on the Half Roast Duck ($20.8) instead. The bird came out chopped into bite-sized pieces, the brittle, glossy skin giving way to hot, succulent meat and the most sinful layer of fat. It came with a lemon dipping sauce on the side, but I thought the lightly sweetened soy glaze was more than enough. And yes, it did taste as good as it looked.

To balance out the duck, we also ordered the Vegetarian Combination Claypot with Glass Vermicelli ($20.8). Served in a simple savoury sauce were the freshest veggies of the season, which along with the vermicelli at the bottom, meant that we got away with only ordering one bowl of Rice ($3).

I’ve always been a fan of Cantonese food’s straight-forward and well-executed flavours, and Roast Duck Inn is no exception. It’s a couple of dollars more expensive than you’d expect to see from the other Cantonese restaurants in the area, but it’s also matched by the improved food quality, premises, and service.  All in all, a very solid contender for the best Cantonese in the area.

Rating: 13.5/20 – roast duck inn my belly. alternatively: duck in for some roast.
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.