Is the food there nice?
I tried many shops, and found the food wanting, and way over-priced, so I generally avoid Balestier Rd eateries altogether.
Well one thing i realised about duck rice is it depends on your luck.
First of all, the ducks are roasted elsewhere, so it really may not be the freshest. if kept for a while, they freeze them and reheat them and that is where the inconsistency results.
For the stall i mentioned, they are generally good, though the last try i had 4 days ago was a lil stiff. But the queue formation for ta pao is there after 6pm and on weekends.
unfortunately i cant recall the shop name. it is quite unglam looking, with a few rows of table inside and a fridge full of self help drinks on one side. more like an old coffee shop.
even 933 can taste good on certain days and lousy on certain days. perhaps you really have to know the boss.
for most rosted stuff if kept in the fridge, the technique is to thaw it first and then run hot oil from a wok before serving. it will make the skin crispy without overcooking the inside further. i learnt this from a seasoned chinese chef whose family recipe is in roasted poultry meat.