Hiang Ji Roasted Meat Noodle House: Generous Portions of Duck Rice & Duck Noodles At This Popular Eatery In Toa Payoh

Whether you’re schooling or working, I am sure we can all relate to the struggles of finding an affordable but tasty food option during our lunch break.

Hiang Ji Roasted Meat Noodle House at Food Alley in Toa Payoh is often packed with hungry office workers during lunchtime, which is telling of its popularity. My colleagues and I were lucky enough to snag a table during our trip down.

We ordered some of the staple dishes, which were the Chashao Roasted Pork Rice 叉烧烧肉饭  (S$5.50), Roasted Duck Rice 烧鸭饭 (S$5) and Roasted Duck Noodles 烧鸭面 (S$5.30).

I thought the prices were a tad more expensive compared to your typical S$3.50 to S$4 range, though it makes sense considering the convenience of the staff taking your orders for you.

And despite the crowd, our food was served pretty efficiently.

When my Roasted Duck Rice came, I noticed the massive helping of sauce, which for me signalled a good start to my meal.

There was a generous portion of rice and duck meat, which makes up for the price. A plate comes with a small side of achar (spicy pickled vegetables), but I wished they would have added a few more sides. I also added on an egg for S$0.70. 

I liked how the duck came in a variety of thick and thin slices, with a nice ratio of skin to meat.

I found the meat to be on the tougher side, though still fairly manageable on the teeth. I am personally not too fussy over the meat texture, but I would have liked it just a little bit softer.

The sauce was smooth and thick, with a slight herbal taste to it. There was also a hint of sweetness, like the kind that you get from braised mushrooms. When coated with the sauce, the rice and duck just became so much more flavourful.

Despite the tougher meat texture and S$5 price-point, it was a decent and generous plate of duck rice that I wouldn’t mind ordering again for an easy lunch option.

Next up, I got to taste the best of both worlds with the Chashao Roasted Pork Rice. There was a decent portion of roasted pork, but I could have used a little more char siew.

I found the texture of the char siew to be quite tough, which I realise is a very common occurrence when it comes to that type of meat. Unfortunately, I would’ve preferred it to be more tender.

The roasted pork had a good amount of fat and meat, and I was also glad to find out that the ends were crispy, which is one thing I look out for in a good piece of sio bak.

Overall, while the char siew wouldn’t be my first choice, I would not mind going for their roasted pork rice, which they also offer at S$4.50.

If you’re more of a noodle person, you can go for their Roasted Duck Noodles. The amount of noodles and duck you get is pretty generous, and they come with vegetables and a spoonful of sambal.

After giving the noodles a good toss, I liked how there was enough sauce to coat them evenly.

The noodles were springy, but the sauce reminded me of a watered-down version of char siew sauce, which is more savoury and smoky. The noodles still managed to coat the tongue with a nice greasiness, which made me want to smack my lips after each mouthful.

And somehow, noodles always seem to lack little oomph without some chilli, so don’t be afraid to mix in some sambal for a spicy kick.

Similarly, I liked that the duck came in a variety of thicker and thinner pieces. The skin left on some slices also added a nice fatty layer of grease to the duck.

Overall, for a filling bowl of noodles and duck, I think it is pretty value-for-money.

While the dishes at Hiang Ji Roasted Meat Noodle House are slightly pricier compared to other hawker stalls, I think the generous portions and good service make up for it.

And even though I would have preferred the meats to be a little more tender, I would still swing by the stall for a convenient lunch.

If you work around the Toa Payoh area, why not head to Hiang Ji Roasted Meat Noodle House for a quick and easy lunch option?

Expected Damage: S$5 – S$5.50 per dish