There is this small, indistinct, simple and unpretentious eatery that belies the delectable treasures within, inconspicuously located just along J. Abad Santos St. in Little Baguio in San Juan City. It is called Choi Hung Roasts, which specializes in roasted duck.
There are, as yet, no such places in Alabang where I am, but the call of the duck was so enticing that it got me and my friends to brave the traffic all the way to San Juan in search of this hole-in-the-wall spot. As of this writing, the place is newly opened, still on a dry-run, and cannot be found on Google Search. But the food is incredibly good and extremely reasonable that I know it won’t be long before lovers of Cantonese-style duck and roasted meats will be raving and writing about it.
Choi Hung Roasts is owned by the group renowned for the popular Tuen Mun Roasts on Banawe St (QC) and Eat Fresh Famous Hong Kong Street Food which is also on J. Abad Santos St. in San Juan. In fact, the Tuen Mun menu and prices are almost the same as Choi Hung’s.
Parking is difficult, to say the least, but the traffic and parking ordeal are well worth the Roasted Duck Rice. The place is tiny (as any hole-in-the-wall eatery usually is), with space for just about 4 or 5 tables. The interiors are sparse and almost bare. But the moment you open the door, that distinctly rich Cantonese aroma of spices and roastings fill you nostrils and get you drooling. The duck is perfectly roasted, very flavorful and succulent, and placed atop a hearty serving of rice along with the duck’s savory juices, at under P200 a serving!
I would say, the duck is all that it’s quacked up to be!
A Bouche Amused 