"If the name (or the sassy grandmotherly duck on the front sign) doesn’t make it clear enough, this tiny Thai Town restaurant by the Pa Ord people specializes in roasted duck. The whole place is roughly the size of a micro-studio, with a small counter dividing the kitchen from a handful of tables. The counter slightly shakes when the staff pound chilis in a giant mortar and pestle or hack Daffy’s carcass with a meat cleaver. If you brought more than three friends here, you’d take up half the restaurant. Because of the limited legroom, this strip mall spot isn’t the best option for big groups, but the spectacular roasted duck makes it a perfect choice for something else: an indulgent, one-of-a-kind meal at a reasonable price. photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp The menu’s roasted duck specials are available all day, but they tend to sell out on busy nights, so plan an early-ish dinner if a whole duck is a must (we certainly believe it is). The sets range in size, feeding from one to four, and the larger sets tend to be a better value. Each of them includes sliced breast and leg bathed in a sweet brown stock that gives the bird its signature flavor, plus stir-fried greens and a choice of white rice or garlic oil noodles (get the noodles so you can swirl them in the duck’s drippings). The duck meat is visibly juicy and tastes even better when dipped into the soy-chili sauce and reduced duck stock with sweet soy that comes on the side. If you’re looking for sharper, zippier, more pungent ways to consume duck here, there are plenty of other options: spicy duck noodle soup, som tum-style duck salad with green apple and (oddly) raw spinach, and a spicy basil duck stir-fry that will make you shed a tear or two (either from its scorching heat level, or how delicious it is). We should also mention that pork, beef, and chicken dishes are available if you care to dabble, but that isn’t why you’re here. Hopefully, the cartoon duck has made that clear. Food Rundown photo credit: Jessie Clapp Spicy Basil Duck Order this stir-fry “spicy,” and you’ll think the chef threw an indiscriminate amount of chile peppers into the wok just to test you. Whether or not you can stand the heat, though, you’ll be able to smell fragrant Thai basil as this dish comes together in the kitchen. We also appreciate that the duck pieces stay juicy and plump after their quick sauté. photo credit: Jessie Clapp Crispy Pork Belly Despite the name, this restaurant isn’t a one-trick pony. Non-duck dishes like this crispy pork belly appetizer are just as great. These slices of pork belly are incinerated on the grill until their fat is crunchy, followed by a dunk in a peanut-y spicy sauce. photo credit: Jessie Clapp Roasted Duck Special We all remember when our second-grade teacher told us we were special. But these roasted duck sets are objectively special. Squeeze a slice with your chopsticks, and it releases its sweet, fatty juice. The skin is soft and glossy. The dips on the side are just the right amount of punchy to complement the plump bird, stir-fried greens, and garlicky noodles. Sizes range from single to couple to family (which feeds three to four). We say bring a crew and go big." - Sylvio Martins
