Beijing Duck or Beijing Roast Duck

Beijing Roast duck is thought to be one of the most delicious dishes all over the world; most visitors coming to Beijing will never forget to have a try. Eating Peking duck is seen to be one of the two things you are absolutely supposed to do while in Beijing.

History of Roast Duck
The art of roasting ducks evolved from techniques used to prepare sucking pigs.

The history of the roast duck can be traced back to as early as the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368) when it was listed among the imperial dishes in the Complete Recipes for Dishes and Beverages, written in 1330 by Hu Sihui, an inspector of the imperial kitchen. Details regarding the cooking process were also described in this early cookbook.

In the early 15th century, when the Ming Dynasty capital was shifted from Nanjing to Beijing, roast duck remained one of the famous dishes on imperial court menus. According to the local history, the earliest roast duck restaurant in Beijing was the old Bianyifang Restaurant, which opened during the Jiajing reign (1522-1566). Distinct from the method in which the duck is hung from a hook in the ceiling of the oven and roasted over and roasted over burning wood, the Old Bianyifang Restaurant roasted its ducks with radiant heat. The walls of the oven were first heated with sorghum stalks whereupon the duck was placed inside and cooked by the heat given off by the walls. A duck roasted in this manner is crisp to the touch and golden brown in appearance; its flesh is both tender and tasty.

During the Qianlong period (1736-1796), roast duck was a favorite delicacy of the upper classes. According to Recipes from the Suiyuan Garden, the famous cookbook written by the poet and gourmet Yuan Mei, "Roast duck is prepared by revolving a young duckling on a spit in an oven. The chefs of Inspector Feng's family excel in preparing this dish." Other scholars, after dining on roast duck, were inspired to poetry. In one collection of old Beijing rhymes (Duan Zhuzhici) one of the poems reads: "Fill your plates with roast duck and suckling pig." Another contemporary annotation reads: "When an official gives a banquet he will choose dishes to please each of his guests. For example, Bianyifang's roast duck"

To satisfy the growing demand for roast duck, and with an eye on the profits to be made from a good name, many restaurants opened from a good name, many restaurants opened under the Bianyifang name. In fact, in 1926, nine roast duck restaurants in Beijing carried this name. In the late 1960s the Bianyifang Restaurant's name was changed to the Chongwenmen Roast Duck Restaurant, but in 1979 it resumed its former title. Its menu includes more than 20 traditional duck dishes, including the Four Delicacies: wing and web, liver, heart and pancreas.

Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant全聚德  
Qianmen Branch (前门店)
Location: No.32, Qianmen Dajie (前门大街), a ten-minute walk from the Tiananmen Square
Tel: 010-67011379, 010-65112418
National Toll-free Telephone: 400-700-1864

Hepingmen Branch (和平门店)
Location: No.14, Qianmen Xidajie (前门西大街), Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-63023062, 010-63018833
National Toll-free Telephone: 400-700-1864

Wangfujing Branch (王府井店)
Location: No.9, Shuaifuyuan Hutong (帅府园胡同), Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-65253310, 010-65228384
National Toll-free Telephone: 400-700-1864

Asian Games Village Branch (亚运村店)
Location: No.309, Huizhong Beili (惠忠北里), Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-64801686, 010-64801685
National Toll-free Telephone: 400-700-1864

Bianyifang Roast Duck Restaurant 便宜坊
Chongwenmen Branch (崇文门店)
Average cost per person: CNY70-120
Location: No. Jia 2, Chongwai Dajie, Chongwen District
Tel: 010-67120505

Hademen Branch (哈德门店)
Location: No. A2, Chongwenmenwai Dajie (崇文门外大街), Chongwen District
Tel: 010-67120505

Xingfu Branch (幸福店)
Location: No.36, Xingfu Dajie (幸福大街), Chongwen District
Tel: 010-67116545

Xinshijie Branch (新世界店)
Location: No.5, Chongwenmenwai Dajie (崇文门外大街), Chongwen District
Tel: 010-67088680

Hangtian Branch (航天店)
Location: No.101, Fucheng Lu (阜成路), Haidian District
Tel: 010-88146066, 010-88146068