Luke L.
Yelp
*** Closes on Monday and Tuesday ***
Duck Zhen (鴨肉珍) was one of the few places I was genuinely excited to visit in Kaohsiung City (高雄市) as it had been on my Yelp bookmarks before I even arrived in Taiwan. It was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2022 ( https://guide.michelin.com/tw/en/kaohsiung-region/kaohsiung/restaurant/duck-zhen ) and even featured in a Michelin YouTube video about Kaohsiung ( https://youtu.be/TvSrqLOWFyU?si=mldD4LYIxpPNM9ea&t=452 ). However, it was removed from the Bib Gourmand list in 2023. This eatery has been around for over 65 years, but a feud between the third and fourth brothers led to a legal battle that made it to the news in 2019. Ultimately, the third brother took over full control on Duck Zhen while the fourth brother opened his separate eatery called Ben's Duck (鴨肉本 - 二老闆の店).
[How to get here]: Approximately 5-minute walk from the Kaohsiung MRT Yanchengpu (鹽埕埔) Station.
[Ordering & amenities]: Our party arrived at 10:30 AM on weekdays and the restaurant surprisingly had plenty of empty tables. To place an order, customers tell the cashier their table numbers first and payment is made after the food is delivered. Customers need to grab their own utensils and sauces from the self-serve station which includes their house-made garlic sauce. A restroom is available for customers.
[Menu]: The food menu is not English-friendly, but oddly enough the drink menu does have English translations. The signature dish is Duck Rice (鴨肉飯) available in small (60 NTD) or large (70 NTD). Other noteworthy dishes include Duck Platter (鴨肉切盤) for 70 NTD and Mixed Offal Soup (綜合下水湯) for 60 NTD. Beverage options include soft drinks, asparagus juice, Taiwan Beer, and cold brew tea.
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Duck Rice (鴨肉飯 60 NTD for small): A perfect blend of minced pork rice and marinated duck. The pork was fatty and tender. Meanwhile the duck was flavorful and on point.
Mixed Offal Soup (綜合下水湯 60 NTD): This soup is not for everyone as it includes duck heart, intestines, liver, and gizzards. The broth was solid, but some organs had a chewy texture that might not appeal to all.
Duck Platter (鴨肉切盤 70 NTD): Not too bad.
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A 4.5-star on food with an extra bump for the amenities. The signature duck rice alone makes this place worth visiting as Duck rice is an absolute must-order and a must-try signature dish in Kaohsiung.