Written by Veronica |
Beijing is a paradise for food enthusiasts, and it treats visitors to a variety of Chinese foods, among which the Peking Duck stands out as the most famous and iconic food in this city. Owing to its rich historical heritage and good flavor, this Beijing foodĀ is world-famous nowadays and served in many restaurants. Also, it has become a home-cooked food for Beijingers.
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- What is Peking Duck?
- A Brief History of Peking Duck
- Best Peking Duck Restaurants in Beijing
- How to Eat Peking Roast Duck
- How to Make Peking Duck at Home (Peking Duck Recipe)
- FAQs about Peking Duck
- Travel with China Xian Tour to Discover Authentic Beijing Flavors
What is Peking Duck?
OriginatingĀ in Beijing,Ā Peking DuckĀ is a dish named after the city, as the word āPekingāĀ is an old variation of āBeijing.āĀ This food not only contains a duck but consists of many ingredients, such as pancakes, cucumber, spring onion, and sweet bean sauce. To sample this food, all these elements and the sliced Beijing Roast DuckĀ with crispy skin and tender meat are put in a roll of a pancake for Peking Duck.
A Brief History of Peking Duck
With a long and rich history, Peking Duck, whose origins date back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), gained popularity during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).Ā Emperor Yongle moved the capital to Beijing in the early 15th century, and the roast duck techniques were also brought into Beijing and developed based on “Jinling Roast Duck”, forming the unique Beijing Roast DuckĀ with a localĀ flavor. Also, in the Qing dynasties, thisĀ Chinese food of Peking DuckĀ became a delicacy in the imperial court.
Best Peking Duck Restaurants in Beijing
1.Ā Quanjude Beijing Roast DuckĀ Restaurant
Address:Ā No. 30Ā Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Business Hours:Ā 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Price:Ā Ā„200-Ā„300 per person
Established in 1864, Quanjude is one of the most famous Peking Duck housesĀ in Beijing. The subbranch at Qianmen Street is the first and oldest one.Ā It adopts the traditional open-flame roasting technique,Ā and roasts the duck with fruitwood, which offersĀ an authentic Peking DuckĀ experience. If itās your first visitĀ to BeijingĀ on your China tour, never miss this long-standing restaurant.
2.Ā Dadong Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant
Address:Ā No. 301 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Business Hours:Ā 11:00 AM – 9:30Ā PM
Price:Ā Ā„400-Ā„500 per person
Famous for its creative and renovated methods of making Peking Duck, Dadong is a restaurant forĀ Beijing Roast Duck at WangfujingĀ that emphasizes a leaner and less fatty version while retaining the crispy skin, which most Beijingers prefer. Besides, it boasts an elegant and modern decoration, and along with its commitment to excellence, it is a good choice for those seeking a refined dining experience.
3.Ā Liqun Roast Duck Restaurant in Beijing
Address:Ā No. 11 Beixiangfeng Hutong, Qianmen East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Business Hours:Ā 11:00 AM – 10:00Ā PM
Price:Ā Ā„150-Ā„250 per person
Created by Zhang Liqun, a former chef at Quanjude, Liqun Roast Duck Restaurant in BeijingĀ is transformed from a siheyuanĀ in an old Beijing hutong andĀ has gained a good reputation for its good taste and wonderful service. Liqun offers a pleasant environment that appeals to those looking for a more traditional dining experience.Ā By the way, the buns for Peking DuckĀ there taste great together with the crispy duck, never miss them on your Beijing tours.
4. Dayali Beijing Roast DuckĀ Restaurant
Address:Ā No. 6 Yabao Road, Chaoyang District,Ā Beijing
Business Hours:Ā 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Price:Ā Ā„100-Ā„200 per person
Established in 1997, Dayali is one of the best Beijing Roast Duck restaurants and is particularly suitable for family gatherings. It offers the authentic flavor of Beijing Roast DuckĀ at a relatively low price. In addition to the specialty Peking Duck, it also serves Sichuan cuisine, Cantonese food, and more. By the way, if you take a kid there, the kid will get a cute cartoon bag as a present.
5.Ā Bianyifang Roast Duck Restaurant
Address:Ā Tianshuiyuan Beili, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Business Hours:Ā 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Price:Ā Ā„150-Ā„250 per person
Founded in 1416, Bianyifang is no doubt one of the oldest Peking DuckĀ restaurants in Beijing, with its Closed-oven Roast Duck Technique listed as one of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This restaurant for Beijing Roast DuckĀ is suitable for banquets and family gatherings. Stepping into this restaurant, you will be amazed by the strong traditional atmosphere through its antique decoration, which makes you feel youāve traveled to the old times.
6.Ā 1949 –Ā Duck de ChineĀ
Address:Ā No. 98 Jinbao Street, DongchengĀ District, Beijing
Business Hours:Ā 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price:Ā Ā„200-Ā„300 per person
Also known as 1949 ā The Hidden City, Duck de Chine is a heaven for foodies. Unlike the other restaurants, this one blends traditional Peking DuckĀ with French influences, offering a unique but delicious flavor. TheĀ Roasted Beijing Duck is fragrant with crispy skin, and the duck rack with spiced salt is particularly tasty. Moreover, you will accept a thorough and satisfactory service there that makesĀ you feel at home.
7.Ā Sijiminfu Roast Duck Restaurant
Address:Ā No. 11Ā Nanchizi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Business Hours:Ā 10:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Price:Ā Ā„100-Ā„200 per person
Established in 2008, Sijiminfu is a newer member ofĀ the family of Peking DuckĀ restaurants but has quickly gained popularity due to its highly cost-effective. The restaurant provides a more casual dining experience while maintaining excellent flavors of the traditional Beijing Roast Duck. Located near the Palace Museum, this restaurant offers seats to view the Imperial Palace directly, which is also a reason why it is so popular. If you want to get a seat like that, you need to get there earlier.
8.Ā Ziguangyuan Roast Duck Restaurant
Address:Ā No. 31 DashilarĀ Street, XichengĀ District, Beijing
Business Hours:Ā 10:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Price:Ā Ā„100-Ā„200 per person
Located on Dashilar Street, a famous hutong in Beijing, Ziguangyuan is easy to find. Ā It is a halal restaurant for Peking DuckĀ known for its attentive service and high-quality materials. Except for traditional Beijing Roast DuckĀ with crispy skin and tender meat,Ā it also offers other halal dishes like barbecue and lamb skewers. Also, the handmade yogurt is highly praised,Ā never miss it on your China food tours.
9.Ā Shengyongxing Roast Duck Restaurant
Address:Ā No. 5Ā XindongĀ Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Business Hours:Ā 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Price:Ā Approx. Ā„300-Ā„400 per person
Famed for its dedication to traditional roasting techniques and high-quality ingredients, this treasured restaurant offers a great dining environment and experience. Peking DuckĀ is the brand and most popular dish of it. Except for the traditional sauces, it also serves caviar, making a different yet palatable flavor.
10.Ā Xihe Yayuan Roast Duck Restaurant
Address:Ā No. 1 Jianguomen Outer Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Business Hours:Ā 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Price:Ā Ā„150-Ā„250 per person
Located on the ground floor of China World Mall, Xihe Yayuan, as its name shows, is an elegant restaurant for Peking DuckĀ and is famous for its high-end decorations. With its exquisite designs, it is suitable for business banquets and family gatherings. Like Quanjude, it uses traditional fruitwood roasting methods to make BeijingĀ Roast Duck with crispy skin and tender, juicy meat.
Recommended China Food Tours including Beijing & Peking Duck
- 13 Days China Private Tour from Beijing with Yangtze Cruise
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How to Eat Peking Roast Duck
At a typical restaurant when you order Peking Duck (Beijing Roast Duck), hereās what you can expect, and how best to enjoy it:
- Whole or half ducks are offered; often the whole duck is freshly roasted.
- At many of the iconic restaurants the carving is done tableside by a skilled chef. In those cases the chef will bring the duck out, slice the skin and meat in front of you.
- The pancakes (called āč·å¶é„¼āhĆ© yĆØ bĒng or simply Mandarin pancakes) and the condiments (cucumber sticks, spring onion, sweet bean sauce) are either included with the duck, or may be offered separately depending on restaurant and setā
- Typical way to eat:
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- Take onepancake and lay it
- Spread a little sweet bean sauce over the pancake.
- Place some crispy duck skin (and a bit of meat) + cucumber sticks + spring onionon the pancake.
- Roll it up (bottom upfirst, then left and right over) or fold and pick up with chopsticks.
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- Additional suggestions to order alongside
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- The pancake wraps and condiments if they are not included.
- The duck soup made from the carcass or duck bone broth.
- Maybe a vegetable side dish or light stir-fry, which can help you balance the richness of the duck.
- For kids/families: choose a place that is less formal if you want a relaxed meal with a stronger family vibe.
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How to Make Peking Duck at Home (Peking Duck Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 whole duck (about 2 kg)
- 4 tablespoons maltose
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 apple, dice into pieces
Instructions
1.Ā Prepare the Duck
To make a Peking Duck, you need to prepare the duck in advance to gain the best taste and texture. What cooking method is traditionally used to prepare Peking Duck? Here is the answer.
- Rub a good layer of salt all over a pat-dried duck, and leave it to rest for about 1 hour.
- Pour the boiled water over the entire duck skin, and it will become tightened.
- Brush maltose syrup over the duck skin evenly, put it into the fridge for about 1 hour, and then brush another layer.
- Hang the duck in a cool, ventilated place to dry for at least 4 hours until the skin is dry.
2.Ā Roast the Duck
- Preheat the oven to 200Ā°C. Afterward, stuff the duck with diced apples, put the well-prepared duck on the middle rack of the oven with the breast side facing up, and roast for 15 minutes.
- Reduce the temperature to 180Ā°C, and continue roasting for about one hour until its skin turns golden and crispy.
Finally, the Peking DuckĀ is ready for serving. This is a simplified Peking Duck Recipe. If you want to learn more about the exquisite techniques of Chinese cuisine, you can attend our 3-hour Cooking Class Tour in Beijing Hutong.
FAQs about Peking Duck
1. What is so special about Peking Duck?
Peking Duck is most special in its cooking technique. This special and creative technique has made it so rich in flavor and texture (thin, crisp,Ā juicy,Ā tender). And many people also appreciate how itāsĀ servedĀ (a ritualised way). It is always a delicate dish and able to evoke some long history
2. What makes an authentic Peking Roast Duck different from other types of roasted duck?
Peking Duck keeps its shape by removing organs through a small cut under one wing instead of the bellyĀ (which most other roasted duck will do). And it doesnāt rely the fragrance of any herb,Ā the flavor comes from the duckĀ itself and also the drying processĀ andĀ roasting skill. Above all, he thin, glossy, crispy skin gives it anotherĀ signatureĀ as well.
3. What is the secret to achieving that signature crispy, lacquer–like skin?
The duck is scalded to tighten the skin, air-dried for hours, then roasted in a hot brick or hanging oven. ThusĀ the fat could renderĀ and the skin turns golden and crispĀ in the end.
4. How is the duck traditionally carved, and is it always done tableside?
Yes. The traditional style always involves the chef slicing the duck tablesideĀ andĀ thisĀ presentationĀ is more or less considered part of this dish.
However, notĀ every restaurant would have this service,Ā especially if youāre visiting those casual ones. But in Beijingās top duck houses,Ā it is something that can not be omitted.
5. Are there any parts of the duck that are often prepared into a second dish (like soup or stir–fry)?
Yes. After theĀ main skin and meatĀ have been served, the restaurants would often take the remaining carcass/bones to make a soup or brothĀ for you. And you can also see the rest of the meat be widely used to makeĀ a stir-fry.
6. What are the thin pancakes used for wrapping the duck called?
They are often called āMandarin pancakesāĀ or āč·å¶é„¼āĀ (hĆ© yĆØ bĒng) in Chinese. They are steamed or lightly warmedĀ before serving. And they are quite thin but rich with tenacity.
Travel with China Xian Tour to Discover Authentic Beijing Flavors
Beijing is undoubtedly one of the most famous and rewarding travel destination. Its vast and profound history has also bred countless local flavors, which are also living carriers of old-time memories. To explore the most of these flavors, we recommend you to take a customized Beijing food tour with China Xian Tour. Our local guides will provide you with the top private services while taking you to discover the deeper meaning of these incredible dishes. Contact us now and prepare for a wonderful exploration through Beijingās food culture.
