Xiao Di Charcoal Roasted Delights: Succulent char-kissed roast meats you can’t get enough of

Roast meats have undoubtedly carved out a place as an integral part of the Singaporean diet, mine included. Perhaps it’s the ubiquity of stalls or the fact that these decadent morsels are so darned delicious.

Regardless, some stalls catch the eye better than others. Xiao Di Charcoal Roasted Delights piqued my interest with its namesake charcoal roast method. I may be easy to please, but I had a great feeling in my bones about this one.

I was particularly antsy during my journey to the stall, having learnt from the grapevine that it’s best to go early to avoid disappointment. So there I was at the 27 Jalan Berseh coffeeshop, a good few hours before Xiao Di is rumoured to sell out.

9-month-old Xiao Di Charcoal Roasted Delights may be a fresh face, but it’s certainly a force to be reckoned with. The stall is spearheaded by Chef ‘Ah Jun’ from Ipoh, who is no stranger to the roast meat realm. With a decade of experience in the craft, including a head roastmaster stint at Tian Cheng Charcoal Roasted, Ah Jun is quite a roast maestro.

If you’re wondering if that’s the man himself in my photo — no, that’s his assistant. Ah Jun kept busy behind the scenes; the only ‘traces’ of him came from the resounding thwacks of his cleaver against a wooden chopping block as he prepared order upon order of roast meat. I couldn’t have disturbed him!

And there, behind the glass-fronted counter they hung — a glorious array of tantalising charcoal-roasted delights glistening beneath the bright glow of the heat lamps. I placed my order and received it just before the crowd streamed in and wiped out the meat on display. It pays to be kanchiong.

What I tried at Xiao Di Charcoal Roasted Delights

Xiao Di’s menu is straightforward, featuring fixed individual plates: Roasted Duck Rice (S$4.50), Char Siew Rice (S$4), Roasted Pork Rice (S$4) and Soy Sauce Chicken Rice (S$4). You can mix and match your preferred meats for an additional S$1.50 per serving, too.

Oh, but for me? No decision-making required; I was down to try everything Xiao Di had to offer. I headed straight for a ‘customised’ platter of all the fixings: Char Siew, Roasted Pork, Roasted Duck and Soy Sauce Chicken, all priced at S$5 per serving. With a plate of Rice (S$1) each for me and my dining partner, the feast cost S$22.

For the record, mixed platters like mine aren’t listed on the printed menu as they are at many other places. Part of me felt like such an expert — you know, like I was ordering from a ‘secret menu’.

My first order of business was none other than the Char Siew, each slice sporting a tantalising glaze. From the get-go, these pieces struck me as thicker than most others I’ve tried. As it turns out, these were cuts of pork belly.

Even as someone who’s usually averse to fattier cuts of meat, I’ve come to thoroughly enjoy pork belly char siew. Xiao Di’s rendition was no different — each morsel offered a perfect balance of meat and luscious fat, making for a satisfyingly succulent mouthfeel that was simultaneously firm and melt-in-the-mouth tender.

The caramelisation was spot-on, too, with a rich sweetness that melded with the distinct smoky notes imparted by the charcoal roast. However, I couldn’t help but wish for more crisp charred bits on the meat’s surface for an added textural contrast that would have elevated each mouthful to perfection.

Next on the roster was my all-time favourite: the Roasted Pork. I clearly had high hopes for it and am happy to report that it was every bit as delicious as I had anticipated. Each piece bore a sliver of perfectly crunchy skin that was neither too thick nor salty.

Like the Char Siew, the Roasted Pork had its meat-to-fat ratio nailed. I particularly loved how well-seasoned the tender meat was, retaining every bit of its flavourful, natural juices.

Of all the roast meat and rice pairings I sampled on my visit, none quite matched the combination of Roasted Pork and rice. Doused in a sweet gravy infused with subtly herbal notes, the rice served as the perfect complement—or counterbalance—to the robust umami of the sio bak.

Following the strong showing from both the Char Siew and Roasted Pork, the Roasted Duck had huge shoes to fill. Given that it also happens to be Ah Jun’s speciality, it seemed poised to do just that, right?

Absolutely. Each slice of duck was adorned with a lustrous layer of delicate brown skin, rendered to perfection with a pleasant smoky char.

The tender duck meat was incredibly moist and juicy, requiring little effort to work through. Amidst its rich flavours, I detected hints of exquisite dang gui (Angelica herb) as well. Although somewhat muted in my opinion, it was a welcome herbal touch that I was surprised to find in roasted duck from a humble hawker stall.

The duck paired especially well with their house-made chilli. The aromatic blend was downright addictive — laced with fragrant hae bee, chilli and shallots. Trust me, it’ll have you returning to the stall front because one saucer simply isn’t enough.

Finally, it was the Soy Sauce Chicken’s turn to shine. The meat was exceptionally tender and succulent, with a delightful sweet-savoury flavour profile imparted by the soy marinade.

However, I have to admit that this couldn’t match up to Xiao Di’s ‘holy trifecta’ of Char Siew, Roasted Pork and Roasted Duck. Still, I must add that I savoured every bite of it despite not being a fan of roasted chicken in the least.

As you would when you enjoy a plate of chicken rice, don’t forget to pair the Soy Sauce Chicken with some of their zesty garlic chilli sauce for an added oomph.

Final Thoughts

It’s been a long time since I’ve had roast meats as stellar as that at Xiao Di Charcoal Roasted Delights. Forget about asking me to pick a favourite; I enjoyed everything the stall had to offer. Yes, really; the next time I have even the tiniest craving, you’ll see me travelling down to the stall in a heartbeat.

Despite being a relative newbie, Xiao Di has clearly shown its upper hand in the art of charcoal roasting. Give them time; I foresee that they’ll soon cement themselves among the roast meat greats.

Expected damage: S$4 – S$7 per pax

Order Delivery: foodpanda Deliveroo 

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