I’ve never reviewed coffeeshop food stalls before, but I feel they are often overshadowed by the more famous stalls at old-school hawker centres. I’m set on changing that by embarking on a island-wide food adventure to explore coffeeshop stalls – focusing on those with long queues, strong buzz in the local community, or the potential to be hidden gems.
While visiting Yishun, I came across a coffeeshop stall selling braised duck rice. I absolutely love duck rice, but most versions I’ve tried have been fairly average, with the standout exception of Kun Ji Duck Rice at Marine Parade. Curious about this stall’s popularity, I looked it up and was surprised to learn it had been featured on the food channel Get Fed. The question remained: was it truly good enough to earn their high praise? With that in mind, I joined the line to find out.
Fortunately, the stall moved quickly, efficiently serving the steady stream of customers. I ordered a plate of their signature braised duck rice for $4.50 – a very reasonable price. Interestingly, alongside duck rice, the stall also serves braised pork rice, which is quite a rare find for a dedicated duck rice stall.
Tucking in, I immediately noticed the rice was moist and bursting with flavour, thanks to my request for extra gravy. The grains were tender with a pleasant chew. The duck itself was magnificent – tender throughout, with rich, chewy bits of duck fat. It had a subtle underlying sweetness, and the soft, gelatinous skin created an absolute flavour bomb when paired with the savory meat.
In my opinion, the gravy was the true highlight of the dish, seamlessly elevating both the duck and the rice. The accompanying herbal soup served as a comforting palate cleanser with every sip.
As the saying goes, “you never know until you try.” 848 Braised Duck Rice completely shattered my expectations. It’s no surprise they earned a spot on Get Fed – they serve a genuinely delectable plate of duck rice, and the long queues of Yishun locals speak for themselves.
Rating: Rice: 8/10
Duck: 8.5/10
Flavour: 8.5/10
848 Braised Duck Rice
848 Yishun Ring Rd, Singapore 760848
Opening hours: Thursday to Tuesday 8.30am to 8pm; Closed Wednesays
