Roasted Duck by Pa Ord
Thai restaurant · East Hollywood ·
Thai eatery specializing in flavorful roast duck dishes
Thai eatery specializing in flavorful roast duck dishes
"Thanksgiving week can often be a parade of less-than-juicy turkey and sides that could use a touch more seasoning. Instead of bringing a big bird to friendsgiving this year, pop by Thai Town favorite Roasted Duck by Pa Ord for crispy-skinned duck that will be the star of any spread. If sharing, go for the half duck set, which comes with jade noodles and rice for $35. Round out meals with fried pork belly, spicy roasted duck salad, and Thai iced tea to wash it all down. Roasted Duck hasn’t announced its Thanksgiving weekend hours yet, so be sure to double-check before heading over." - Eater Staff
"Opened in 2024 in the former Pa Ord space in Thai Town, this strip mall spot proves Auntie Ord (Lawan Bhanduram) isn’t a one‑trick pony after establishing herself in the 1990s with famed boat noodles. The focus is roasted duck, and each bird is painstakingly prepped—massaged with a honey marinade, the skin dried overnight, then roasted—so you’ll spot golden ducks hanging by their necks while Auntie Ord putters around the kitchen. The roasted duck special is mandatory: get a quarter for $25 or a half for $35, and choose between jade noodles or steamed white rice (if dining for two, get both). For something off the beaten path, the spicy roasted duck salad pops with strawberries and crunchy apples in a chile‑lime dressing, while heat seekers should go for the wok‑fired spicy basil duck over rice, loaded with fresh Thai basil and streaks of Thai chiles. Don’t love duck? The fried pork belly with jaew dipping sauce is a welcome, ultra‑savory appetizer. I recommend the sweetened chrysanthemum tea—it’s floral, caffeine‑free, and a soothing salve with spicy dishes. Portions range from single servings to family meals that feed up to four, and the menu stays on theme with stewed duck noodle soup, holy basil stir‑fried duck, spicy duck salad, and duck green curry. Insider tip: this small operation sells out of duck by day’s end, so arrive hours before the 9 p.m. close or come for lunch." - Kat Thompson
"Duck, when done well, is one of my absolute favorite proteins, and the folks here know how to cook it. You’ll find duck dishes of all kinds at this Thai strip mall joint, including duck curry, duck noodle soup, and spicy basil wok-fired duck. My advice for first-time visitors is to get the roast duck platter that serves one or two; it comes with the option of rice or jade noodles (try to get both if you can), as well as a sweet soy sauce and an umami and slightly fruity duck sauce. The steamed Chinese broccoli that accompanies the dish lightens the whole thing, but the star is truly the duck, which arrives glistening with fat — the skin tastes luxurious, while the meat is rich and partners well with plain steamed white rice. Although duck is in the restaurant name, I like to order the fried pork belly, too, which comes with a spicy jaew dipping sauce." - Eater Staff
"Roasted Duck by Pa Ord, which sits in the same space as the original Pa Ord opened by Lawan Bhanduram more than two decades ago, is a study of a restaurant with a singular, near-obsessive focus. The namesake dish permeates all sections of the menu: served with golden grains of fried rice, submerged in soup or herbaceous green curry, studded with bright chiles and basil leaves, and nestled alongside jade noodles and sauces. Perhaps for security, diners can also order dishes with chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp, but the headliner is clearly duck that arrives with its glistening, crackling skin smothered in a gravy-like sauce, falling apart at the touch. Chef Bob Vongsanikul, tapped by Bhanduram to open the restaurant, prepares each dish to order in the narrow, buttery space, and seats most of its visitors at the counter (a row of crispy ducks waiting to be cut hangs on a rack in the foreground). The duck special for one — sliced roasted duck, vegetables, a vinegary soy sauce with chiles, and a side dish like jade noodles or rice — is enough to serve two, giving the place a high affordability factor, too. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager Know before you go: The seating at Roasted Duck by Pa Ord is very limited, so be prepared to take the duck home, or head down the street to Barndsall Park for a picnic." - Mona Holmes
"Pa Ord, or Auntie Ord, is a household name in LA for her impeccable boat noodles. And now she has a duck specialty shop to add to her impressive mini-chain of Pa Ord Noodle restaurants. As the name suggests, the menu is entirely focused on roasted duck, which comes with either steamed rice or noodles. Portion sizes are available for single diners, as well as “family meals” that feed up to four. Also on the menu are stewed duck noodle soup, holy basil stir-fried with duck, spicy duck salad, and duck green curry." - Kat Thompson
