The place for Herbal Roast Duck
For years, Dian Xiao Er was a restaurant we often passed by but never considered stepping into—until two years ago when we featured them in one of our food trails. Since then, it’s become one of our go-to spots for family meals.
The herbal roast duck is delicious, and the sauce is quite addictive. They have a good selection of “zi char” style dishes which we enjoy. The ambiance is warm and welcoming, perfect for family gatherings, and the prices are reasonable. It’s no wonder we keep coming back.
Although Dian Xiao Er didn’t invent the herbal roast duck, but it is fair to say that over the last 22 years, they have popularized it in Singapore. It is so much so that it is on the eating itinerary of some visitors to our island!
They have three different flavours but we always go for the dang gui (angelica herb) duck since we like the flavour. I am sure there are fans of the Ten Wonders and Ginseng Duck as well. Each duck is seasoned differently and served with a unique sauce. The duck is always served warm as they only roast the bird just before meal service and the ducks are kept in the oven. The flesh is tender and juicy while the skin is crisp and the dang gui sauce is quite addictive. 4.5/5
We liked it so much that we have even joined as members! That means aside from the other discounts, you actually get one whole duck free!
Warm and Welcoming Environment
Another aspect of Dian Xiao Er that we really enjoy is the cozy, family-friendly décor. The extensive use of wood throughout the restaurant creates a warm, rustic ambiance. The round tables are perfect for accommodating extended family gatherings.
We were pleasantly surprised by the size of the NEX location. It extends quite deep and offers a variety of seating arrangements to suit different group sizes. With 16 branches already, and another one set to open soon at Parkway Parade, the slow and steady growth over the last 22 years is a testament to their focus on the quality of their food and service.
Popular Dishes
Here are some of their most popular dishes:
Warning – this starter is addictive. The crispy fried pumpkin is crunchy on the outside with a sweet centre that complements the salted egg sauce perfectly. The crispy lotus roots give the dish its unique look and is just as tasty. 4.25/5
This is the kind of dish that even strict meatarians wouldn’t mind eating. The crispy deep fried kai lan leaves mix well with the pork floss. You can’t really taste the bitterness of the leaves, just a crispy texture. The stems are lightly sautéed such that the texture is still crunchy. 4.25/5
Whenever we visit Dian Xian Er, we usually order the Nonya Curry Fish tail (Claypot Fish). Their curry is delicious and perfectly balanced. This Assam fish isn’t bad, but between the two, I still prefer the Nonya Curry Fish. I can’t really put my finger on it, but I’ve had more addictive Assam Fish elsewhere. 4/5
Cod fish goes really well with soy sauce, but I felt that since the fish is already by oily, deep frying it made it just a little too rich. I’d still prefer my cod fish steamed. 4/5
Soup Of The Day
They have 7 different soups that they would rotate as soup of the day ($7.10++/bowl). The soup-of-the-day that day was the Collagen Soup with Fish Maw. The soup was silky and filled with fish maw, mushrooms and wolfberries. 4/5
Citibank 1 for 1 special
Citibank card holders can enjoy 1 for 1 soup of the day till the end of 2024 with a minimum S$75 spend.
DD.Duck Blind Box
Due to popularity of their roast duck, Dian Xiao Er has created a rubber duckie as their mascot. For those who like collecting memorabilia may like to collect all 6 designs. In August, every table that orders a roast duck dish will be given a blind box where it could be any one of these 6 designs.
We think the Army Soldier Duck is the cutest!
Conclusion
Some of the other dishes that we often order are the fish maw thick soup and pork belly with salted fish. We find most of the zi char dishes here to be quite competent. But the main reason that keeps us coming back is the herbal roast duck. It’s a great spot for a casual family meal!
Disclosure: This was a media tasting. Opinions expressed are those of our own.
