The Ugly Duckling

The Ugly Duckling brought duck-centric cuisine to Kaki Bukit's Makan Empire, founded by twin brothers Girda and Gardi Bin Bandi who honed their duck-cooking skills during their tenure with the Timbre Group. Drawing from their pasar malam stall origins, the siblings built a concept entirely around this less-common protein, challenging Singapore's chicken and beef dominance with creative preparations that showcased duck's rich, distinctive flavour.

The menu featured inventive duck applications across multiple cuisines and cooking styles. Duck Leg Confit came glazed in sweet sauce or enriched with creamy truffle mushrooms, while Duck Rendang Lasagna merged Italian comfort food with Indonesian spicing. Roasted Duck Pizza provided another fusion option, all priced between eight and thirteen dollars to maintain accessibility. This approach demonstrated how duck could transcend traditional Chinese roasting or French confit preparation, adapting to contemporary cafe-restaurant formats that appealed to younger diners.

Located in the industrial Kaki Bukit area, The Ugly Duckling carved a niche among factory workers and food enthusiasts willing to venture off Singapore's main dining circuits. The focus on a single protein allowed the brothers to perfect their techniques and source quality duck consistently, though operating in an industrial estate presented challenges in attracting foot traffic. Reports suggest the establishment has since closed, but during its operation, The Ugly Duckling represented an ambitious attempt to elevate duck beyond specialty restaurants, proving this underutilised meat deserved broader representation in Singapore's diverse food landscape.