World-Famous Guitar Duck at Ramruay Pochana, Bangkok, Thailand

Guitar Duck

by Ramruay Pochana Restaurant, Bangkok, Thailand

I had heard about Bangkok's legendary guitar duck for years and finally got the chance to try this very special Thai-Chinese delicacy at Ramruay Pochana, the restaurant that pioneered this unique cooking method.

Guitar duck, named for the special way in which it is prepared and cooked, is a rich, filling, smoky, sweet, and savory preparation of some of the highest-quality duck meat in Thailand. Be sure to bring a big appetite if you are planning to pay a visit to Ramruay Pochana!

guitar duck in Bangkok, Thailand

BANGKOK, THAILAND

The name of this dish refers to the unique way in which it is prepared. First, they debone the duck and stretch the skin out onto a medal frame in the shape of a guitar. Next, the duck skin is briefly poached by pouring cups of a mixture of boiling water and sweet Thai rice wine over it. The duck is then marinated using a secret combination of herbs and ingredients, left in the sun for several hours until the skin is totally dry. After that, the duck is roasted in a giant gas kiln for 40 minutes before being deep-fried to a perfect golden brown. The process is labor intensive, but the results are incredible.

World-Famous Guitar Duck at Ramruay Pochana, Bangkok, Thailand

Guitar duck is a feast for both your eyes and taste buds. The ultra-crispy skin of the duck is so thin that it cracks and shatters like glass when you bite into it. The meat inside is tender and juicy, with a subtle smoky flavor that perfectly complements the crispy skin. The dish is served with a side of sweet and smoky Chinese-style dipping sauce that adds a tangy kick to the savory flavors.

Ramruay Pochana restaurant invented this unique method of cooking and serving duck, and as far as I know, they are the only restaurant in the world that serves this special dish.

Guitar Duck Price

A guitar duck costs 700 baht and is served with dipping sauce and Chinese mantou bread. It might seem a little expensive, but the portion is huge (it's an entire duck, after all) and can easily serve a party of people. If you can't finish it, you can always take the rest home for lunch the next day.

The menu is printed in both Thai and English.

They also sell a variety of Chinese dishes including whole suckling pig cooked in a similar method to the guitar duck, Peking duck (a personal favorite dish), and more, but guitar duck is certainly the dish that put them on the map.

Ramruay Pochana menu and price for guitar duck, Bangkok, Thailand

Location

Ramruay Pochana is located in Rama III neighborhood at Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra 26 Alley, Chong Nonsi, Yan Nawa, Bangkok 10120. It's not located super close to any public transport line, so the best way to get there is to drive or take a taxi from Si Lom or Sathorn. The restaurant is across the street from Central Plaza Rama III shopping mall.

Ramruay Pochana (Guitar Duck restaurant), Bangkok, Thailand

From the outside the restaurant doesn't look like much. In fact, you might even miss it at first because it feels more like walking into a parking lot or garage than a restaurant! The inside is plain and simple, but that's because their food is so good, they don't need to make it fancy. The taste speaks for itself! It's a very traditional and old-fashioned Thai-Chinese restaurant with a long history and a dedicated fan base.

Ramruay Pochana traditional Thai-Chinese duck restaurant in Bangkok

See the map for the exact location.