Apollo Duck: A Bangkok Roast Meat Lunch Worth The ฿840
A walk-in lunch at Apollo Duck in Bangkok. Crispy pork, char siu and duck on the platter. ฿840 between us. Honest review with the receipt to prove it.
Apollo Duck is a small Cantonese-style roast meat shop a short walk from the BTS. We rocked up at lunchtime on a Saturday, no booking, and were sat within a minute. The bill came to ฿840 for two of us with drinks. Here is what we ordered and what I would order again.
Where It Is And What To Expect
The shopfront is hard to miss. Green and yellow signage, "APOLLO DUCK" in big letters in English and Thai, with roast ducks hanging in the window. There are a few green stools out front for waiting but most of the seating is inside. The dining room is small, tiled, brightly lit and full of Thai families at lunchtime. Not a tourist place. Menus are laminated with photos so you can point if you do not read Thai.
What We Ordered
Six items between two of us, none of which disappointed.
B09 Mix BBQ Platter, three kinds (฿450). This is the reason to come. We asked for no chicken so we got crispy pork belly, char siu and roast duck. The crispy pork crackling was properly crisp, not chewy. The char siu had the right amount of caramelised fat. The duck was tender with the skin still holding some crispness. Comes with a small bowl of clear broth on the side to sip between bites.
N04 Dry Noodles With Shrimp Roe (฿145). Thin egg noodles, tossed dry, topped with shrimp roe. Salty and savoury in the right way. Good change of texture from the rich meats.
S03 Plain Noodle Soup (฿60). A simple bowl of noodles in broth. Cheap, clean and a good palate reset between mouthfuls of fatty pork.
A01 Poached Hong Kong Kai Lan (฿95). Blanched Hong Kong kale with a light dressing. Worth ordering. The platter is heavy and you need a green to cut through it.
D11 Refillable Iced Tea (฿65) and D16 Singha Water (฿25). The refillable tea is the better deal. Bring a friend and split it.
What It Cost
฿840 total. About £19 at January 2024 exchange rates. For comparison, a single main at a mid-range Sukhumvit restaurant costs more than the entire platter here. Cash is fine. They had a card reader when we visited but bring baht to be safe.
Should You Go
Yes, if you want a proper Cantonese roast meat lunch without the Chinatown crowds or the price of a hotel restaurant. The platter is the move. Two people can eat well for under ฿1,000 with drinks. I would go back tomorrow.
Practical Bits
Phone: 081-201-4444. LINE: @apolloduckbkk. Walk-ins are usually fine outside of peak lunch (11:30 to 13:00). The menu has English alongside the Thai with photos for every item.