Somerville Shopping Centre,
119 Meadowland Drive,
Howick
Auckland,


(09) 535 8389

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4 out of 5

In Howick’s Somerville shopping centre, where you’re spoiled for choice with good low-budget Asian restaurants, Duckling King hardly stands out. It’s small and crowded with a tiled floor, formica tables and neon lighting.

The name says it all: the roast ducks hanging behind the window which separates the kitchen from the cashier are why this place excels.

Orders placed, our lunch was in front of us in a jiffy. My companion had crispy-skinned duck on slippery young chwun wheat noodles ($8) moistened with hoisin sauce. The plate included a few steamed bok choy and a bowl of clear chicken soup came on the side.

I had steamed duck and taro (also $8) which came in a rich broth. A second ceramic bowl contained an egg vermicelli soup into which I transferred the duck and taro piece by piece, eating alternate mouthfuls of meat, vegetable and noodle.

Both the roast and steamed versions of duck were served in generous chunks which were moist and tasty.

Free refills of tea arrived in our plastic cups as soon as they were empty.

This is fast food par excellence. The (non-duck) remainder of the menu is made up of roast pork, spicy chicken or braised beef brisket served either plain, with rice, with dry noodles or with wet noodles.

Long live the king.