Peking Duck & Beijing Food
🦆 Peking Duck & Beijing Food
Beijing's food is bold, unapologetic, and unlike anywhere else in China. The city's cuisine is defined by Peking duck, imperial court food, and the hearty flavors of northern China — wheat, garlic, vinegar, and slow-cooked meats.
If Shanghai is about subtlety and balance, Beijing is about impact.
Peking Duck — The Definitive Guide
Peking duck (北京烤鸭, Běijīng kǎoyā) is the dish that defined Beijing to the world. But here's the thing: most Peking duck is disappointing tourist food. Finding the right restaurant matters.
The difference:
- A mediocre Peking duck is rubbery skin, bland meat, and a rushed table-side service
- A great Peking duck has lacquered, shattering skin, tender meat, and arrives at your table with ceremony
How to eat it properly (the traditional way):
- The server brings the duck and carves it tableside
- Spread a thin pancake (薄饼, báobǐng) in your hand
- Add a spoonful of sweet bean sauce (甜面酱, tiánmiànjiàng)
- Place slices of duck skin and meat
- Add julienned scallions and cucumber
- Roll and eat — in one bite if possible
Where to Eat Peking Duck
The Tier List
| Restaurant | Price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Quanjude (全聚德) | ¥200–400 | The original and most famous. Multiple locations. Tourist-oriented but reliable. |
| Bianyifang (便宜坊) | ¥150–300 | Older, more traditional method (closed furnace vs open). Less showy but some say better flavor. |
| Sijian (四季民福) | ¥150–250 | Modern, consistent quality, excellent value. Best balance of quality and price. |
| Da Dong (大董) | ¥300–600 | Upscale, innovative take on Peking duck. Famous for the crispy duck skin. Michelin-starred. |
| King's Joy (京兆尹) | ¥400–800 | Vegan Peking duck — yes, it exists, and it's actually impressive. For when you want something different. |
Our recommendation: Sijian or Da Dong. Quanjude is fine but tourist-heavy. Avoid small street-side places claiming to serve Peking duck.
Other Must-Try Beijing Dishes
| Dish | Chinese | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Instant-boiled mutton | 涮羊肉 (shuàn yángròu) | Hot pot with paper-thin lamb, dipped in sesame sauce. Winter essential. |
| Mongolian hot pot | 蒙古火锅 | Crossover of Chinese and Mongolian hot pot styles |
| Zhajiangmian | 炸酱面 | Noodles with fermented soybean sauce, cucumber, and egg. Beijing comfort food. |
| Jianbing | 煎饼 | The famous Chinese crepe — egg, scallions, crispy wonton, hoisin. Breakfast staple. |
| Peach gullet (swallow's nest) | 燕窝 | Luxury item — bird's nest soup. Very expensive. |
| Mongolian BBQ | 蒙古烤肉 | All-you-can-eat grill — choose your meat and veggies, they cook it |
| Donkey burger | 驴肉火烧 | Regional specialty — shredded donkey meat in a crispy bun |
| Fried liver | 炒肝 | Pork liver and intestine stew — Beijing breakfast dish. An acquired taste. |
| Sugar-coated hawthorn | 冰糖葫芦 | Candied hawthorn berries on a stick — sweet and tart. Street snack. |
Best Food Neighborhoods
Wangfujing / Dongdan (Tourist-friendly)
- Wangfujing Snack Street (王府井小吃街) — tourist night market, mixed quality but atmospheric
- Bianyifang (便宜坊) — the original Peking duck, near Dongdan
Nanluoguxiang (Hutong)
A warren of hutong alleys with local restaurants, bars, and small eateries:
- Jingzhi (京味斋) — traditional courtyard restaurant with traditional opera performances
- Various small hot pot and noodle shops along the alleys
Guijie (簋街) — Night Food Street
The city's main late-night food street. Opens around 6 PM and goes until 3–4 AM. Specialties include:
- Spicy crayfish (麻辣小龙虾) — Chongqing style
- Hot pot
- Barbecue skewers
Qianmen / Dashilan
Near Tiananmen Square, this area has old Beijing restaurants:
- Tongrenchuntang (同仁春) — famous for traditional Beijing cuisine
- Zhongshan Cake Shop (中山路) — try the sesame cakes
Practical Tips
How to order:
- Most restaurants have picture menus or digital menus accessible by scanning a QR code with Alipay
- Use translation apps if needed
- Ask "你们有什么好吃的?" (nǐmen yǒu shénme hǎochī de) — "what do you recommend?"
Dietary restrictions:
- Vegetarian is challenging — Beijing cuisine is heavily meat-based
- Look for 素菜 (sùcài, vegetable dishes) in traditional restaurants
- Pork is used in almost everything — Muslim travelers should look for清真 (qīngzhēn, halal) restaurants
- Alcohol: Beijing's local beer is Yanjing (燕京) — drink it cold
Price range:
- Street food / noodle shops: ¥15–40 per person
- Mid-range restaurant: ¥80–200 per person
- Peking duck (full duck): ¥150–600 depending on restaurant
- High-end: ¥500–1500+ per person
Cost Summary
| Level | Cost per person |
|---|---|
| Street food / noodles | ¥15–40 |
| Mid-range restaurant | ¥80–200 |
| Peking duck (full duck for 2) | ¥200–600 |
| High-end / Michelin | ¥500–1500+ |
| Average daily food budget | ¥100–300 |
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Written by Bobby, living in Chengdu since 2023
