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 food is world-famous nowadays and served in many restaurants. Also, it has become a home-cooked food for Beijingers.
What is Peking Duck?
Originating in Beijing, Peking Duck is a dish named after the city, as the word “Peking” is an old variation of “Beijing.” 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 Duck 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). 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 Duck with a local flavor. Also, in the Qing dynasties, this Chinese food of Peking Duck became a delicacy in the imperial court.
Best Peking Duck Restaurants in Beijing
1. Quanjude Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant
Address: No. 30 Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Price: ¥200-¥300 per person
Established in 1864, Quanjude is one of the most famous Peking Duck houses in Beijing. The subbranch at Qianmen Street is the first and oldest one. It adopts the traditional open-flame roasting technique, and roasts the duck with fruitwood, which offers an authentic Peking Duck experience. If it’s your first visit to Beijing on your China tour, never miss this long-standing restaurant.
2. Dadong Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant
Address: No. 301 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Price: ¥400-¥500 per person
Famous for its creative and renovated methods of making Peking Duck, Dadong is a restaurant for Beijing Roast Duck at Wangfujing 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. Liqun Roast Duck Restaurant in Beijing
Address: No. 11 Beixiangfeng Hutong, Qianmen East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Price: ¥150-¥250 per person
Created by Zhang Liqun, a former chef at Quanjude, Liqun Roast Duck Restaurant in Beijing is transformed from a siheyuan in an old Beijing hutong and 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. By the way, the buns for Peking Duck there taste great together with the crispy duck, never miss them on your Beijing tours.
4. Dayali Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant
Address: No. 6 Yabao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Price: ¥100-¥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 Duck 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. Bianyifang Roast Duck Restaurant
Address: Tianshuiyuan Beili, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Business Hours: 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Price: ¥150-¥250 per person
Founded in 1416, Bianyifang is no doubt one of the oldest Peking Duck restaurants in Beijing, with its Closed-oven Roast Duck Technique listed as one of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This restaurant for Beijing Roast Duck 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 you’ve traveled to the old times.
6. 1949 – Duck de Chine
Address: No. 98 Jinbao Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: ¥200-¥300 per person
Also known as 1949 – The Hidden City, Duck de Chine is a heaven for foodies. Unlike the other restaurants, this one blends traditional Peking Duck with French influences, offering a unique but delicious flavor. The 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 makes you feel at home.
7. Sijiminfu Roast Duck Restaurant
Address: No. 11 Nanchizi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Business Hours: 10:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Price: ¥100-¥200 per person
Established in 2008, Sijiminfu is a newer member of the family of Peking Duck 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. Ziguangyuan Roast Duck Restaurant
Address: No. 31 Dashilar Street, Xicheng District, Beijing
Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Price: ¥100-¥200 per person
Located on Dashilar Street, a famous hutong in Beijing, Ziguangyuan is easy to find. It is a halal restaurant for Peking Duck known for its attentive service and high-quality materials. Except for traditional Beijing Roast Duck with crispy skin and tender meat, it also offers other halal dishes like barbecue and lamb skewers. Also, the handmade yogurt is highly praised, never miss it on your China food tours.
9. Shengyongxing Roast Duck Restaurant
Address: No. 5 Xindong Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Business Hours: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Price: Approx. ¥300-¥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 Duck 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. Xihe Yayuan Roast Duck Restaurant
Address: No. 1 Jianguomen Outer Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Price: ¥150-¥250 per person
Located on the ground floor of China World Mall, Xihe Yayuan, as its name shows, is an elegant restaurant for Peking Duck 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 Beijing Roast Duck with crispy skin and tender, juicy meat.
Recommended China Food Tours including Beijing & Peking Duck
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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. 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. Roast the Duck
- Preheat the oven to 200°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 180°C, and continue roasting for about one hour until its skin turns golden and crispy.
Finally, the Peking Duck 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.
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