Johor Bahru’s (JB) two most popular herbal roasted duck brands have been around for the longest time, but whose roasted duck do you swear by?
Both Restoran Ya Wang and Meng Meng Roasted Duck are popular joints for delicious herbal roasted duck in JB, and have gained a cult following over the decade (it’s DECADES for Ya Wang!). And the question still stands: Which brand serves better roasted duck and roasted meat? Ya Wang or Meng Meng?
To find out, we’re having roasted meat back-to-back to determine our favourite!
Overview: Ya Wang vs Meng Meng
- Roasted Pork vs Crispy Roasted Pork
- Char Siu vs Honey Roasted Pork
- Soya Sauce Noodles vs Soya Sauce Noodles
- Shrimps Omelette vs Egg Omelette with Shrimp
- Chilli vs Chilli
- Roasted Duck with Angelica Herb vs Roasted Duck with Chinese Herbs
1. Roasted Pork vs Crispy Roasted Pork
Ya Wang’s Roasted Pork had a rich roast flavour and the crispy skin was satisfying with every bite. Meanwhile, Meng Meng’s Crispy Roasted Pork had soggy skin drenched in sauce and it tasted like salty cured meat, instead of a flavourful roasted pork.
Winner: Ya Wang
2. Char Siu vs Honey Roasted Pork
Not only was Ya Wang’s Char Siu lean and a little tough to chew, the usual honey flavour of char siu was missing too. Fortunately, Meng Meng’s Honey Roasted Pork had a golden brown caramelisation and the succulent pork melted in our mouths – wasn’t expecting that!
Winner: Meng Meng
3. Soya Sauce Noodles vs Soya Sauce Noodles
Ya Wang’s traditional thin noodles were springy and delicious, but Meng Meng’s flat noodles took it up another notch. Ya Wang’s soya sauce noodles were tossed in both dark and light soya sauce, which gave it a sweeter taste. Meng Meng’s soya sauce noodles were tossed in light soya sauce that had additional broth fragrance, and hence overall a richer umami flavour.
Winner: Meng Meng
4. Shrimps Omelette vs Egg Omelette with Shrimp
We always love a good side of omelette to share! Ya Wang’s Shrimps Omelette was thin with crispy edges, like omelettes you’d find in zi char places. The shrimps were generous, but they were a little dry and the omelette tasted a bit too charred towards the end. Meng Meng’s Egg Omelette with Shrimp was thick, fluffy, and eggy, but only had few pieces of shrimp. Plus, it had a bit of a frozen shrimp aftertaste. Both omelettes were equally unsatisfactory.
Winner: Tie
5. Chilli vs Chilli
Chilli is the most crucial condiment for roast meat! Ya Wang’s spicy chilli was tongue-numbing and tangy, definitely great for those looking for some heat with roast meat. Meng Meng’s sour chilli, on the other hand, gave us spicy tingles, and it was more fragrant than Ya Wang’s – definitely better and refreshing to pair with roast meat.
Winner: Meng Meng
5. Roasted Duck with Angelica Herb vs Roasted Duck with Chinese Herbs
The real showdown begins! Who has the better roasted duck?
Ya Wang’s Roasted Duck with Angelica Herb (also known as dang gui) was incredibly tender and juicy. The smoky, thin duck skin didn’t have much fats underneath, and we could keep eating without feeling guilty. Paired with the sweet, aromatic dang gui sauce, every bite of the roasted duck was a perfect blend of savoury sweetness.
Meng Meng’s Roasted Duck with Chinese Herbs was equally tender and juicy, and instead of the usual duck scent, the meat actually had a natural sweetness to it. However, Meng Meng’s roasted duck didn’t have a strong roast flavour, and its plump duck skin was too cloying for us. Plus, the herbal sauce was just salty without any herbal flavour.
Winner: Ya Wang
Verdict: Ya Wang vs Meng Meng
If you’re looking for delicious noodles, tangy chilli, and succulent honey roasted pork that melts in your mouth, Meng Meng is the place to go.
But if you’re craving crispy roasted pork and juicy, herbal roasted duck, you can bet that Ya Wang has no competition with its aromatic and tender roasted duck. After all, Ya Wang means “Duck King” in Mandarin, and that’s certainly a worthy title!
Ya Wang doesn’t accept cards, but Meng Meng does! So don’t forget to pay in Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) with your YouTrip card to enjoy favourable rates with YouTrip’s Wholesale Exchange Rates when you foot the bill.
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Read: 5 Food You Must Eat in JB Mid Valley Southkey Mall
Read: Sephora Singapore vs Sephora JB: Which is Cheaper?
Read: Restoran Ya Wang (鸭皇药材烧腊大王) JB Review
Read: Meng Meng Roasted Duck (阿明帝皇鸭) JB Review
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