The best Peking duck in Beijing: five restaurants that roast to perfection
- There is no shortage of restaurants serving the classic imperial dish in China’s capital
- Here are our favourite five places, which all serve delicious duck with crisp skin and tender meat
For many people visiting Beijing, trying Peking roast duck features high on their to-do list. From former US first lady Michelle Obama, who dined at the famed Da Dong Roast Duck restaurant, to late German chancellor Helmut Kohl, who visited a branch of the renowned Quanjude chain, the famous dish attracts dignitaries and ordinary food lovers to China’s capital.
A bite of the duck – which is eaten for its crisp skin and tender meat – more than makes up for Beijing’s choking smog and traffic jams.
While Da Dong and Quanjude are the most famous restaurants for Peking duck, there are lesser known places that are beloved by locals and tourists.
Taking into account food quality, restaurant ambience and price, here are the five best Peking duck restaurants in Beijing.
1. Jing Yaa Tang
In the basement of the Opposite House hotel in Sanlitun, you’ll find Jing Yaa Tang – our favourite among the five restaurants. Opened in 2013 and decorated like a traditional Chinese theatre, it has a tranquil and upscale ambience. Diners can look through a glass panel and see how the ducks are roasted in the wood oven.