Peking Duck is renowned for its crispy skin, tender meat, and rich flavor. Craving Peking Duck in Shanghai? Well, here are a few restaurants at different price points.
What Is Peking Duck?
Peking Duck is one of China’s most celebrated and iconic dishes, of which its origins can be traced to the Ming Dynasty.
Preparing Peking Duck is a meticulous process. First the duck is cured, then air is pumped between the skin and the meat, followed by a coating of usually maltose and vinegar. It is then traditionally roasted in a wood-fired oven.
The result is an ultra-crispy skin for which Peking Duck is famed and tender meat with deep, aromatic flavors. It is steeped in cultural experience and tradition with a bit of theatrics, as the duck is usually carved tableside.
It is served with thin, chewy pancakes, plum or Hoisin sauce, and a variety of shredded veg like cucumber and spring onions, so you can build your own little duck rolls.
The duck is usually carved into skin-only, which is dipped into white sugar, and skin with meat.
Where To Eat Peking Duck in Shanghai
Where to best enjoy this delicacy?
Here are two upmarket options and two fast casual restaurants. And yes, all of the following restaurants are brands from Beijing.
Sheng Yong Xing 晟永兴
Click here for the venue listing.
Sheng Yong Xing is a Michelin one-star restaurant for Peking Duck located at Five on the Bund. Here, it’s Bund-side views and service to match. The second location at the Foxconn Building in Lujiazui, but it doesn’t have the same feel as the Bund locale.
They use 45-day-old ducks and roast them over jujube wood. Each duck even comes with a QR code which you can scan to trace its source, given as a keepsake along with a duck keyring. In addition to the duck, the menu features contemporary Chinese dishes. While it is fine dining-style duck, it’s not a whole lot more for the experience and level of service.
A whole duck is ¥500, or ¥128 per person. Condiments are ¥8 per person, pancakes are ¥10 a basket.
For cooking the duck carcass, it’s a ¥68 surcharge, for having them deep-fried with salt and pepper.
If I had to choose, I’d opt for Sheng Yong Xing for its service, ambiance, and quality of duck. If you’re looking to impress travelers or out-of-towners with Peking Duck in Shanghai, this is the spot.
One gripe though, some dishes are priced per person, not by portion, so be mindful or inquire when you order.
Da Dong 大董
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Da Dong is also a fine dining banquet-style restaurant for Peking Duck. And according to their detailed menu page on their ducks, they’ve been upgrading the duck and method for the last 20 years, now serving the 5.0 version that is supposed to be “extra delicate, greaseless,” and with a “succulent crunch.” The menu is a tome, and lists every imaginable classic Chinese dish from kungpao chicken to Cantonese-style charsiu. Another dish Da Dong is also known for is their sea cucumber.
There are a few versions of their “crispy and non-fatty duck,” roasted, suckling, and smoked with lemongrass, all ¥398 each, and includes pancakes. Condiments are ¥12 per person. It’s OK. Some people are hardcore Da Dong fans, but I’m more of a Sheng Yong Xing advocate.
Da Dong launched Xiao Da Dong a couple years back, a fast casual version of the brand. Ducks at Xiao Da Dong are ¥209 each, condiments for ¥10 per person. I haven’t tried Xiao Da Dong yet, but from what I’ve heard, the quality isn’t far off. The average check at Da Dong is ¥500, while Xiao Da Dong is ¥130, according to Dianping.
Quan Ju De 全聚德
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Quan Ju De is a time-honored Chinese brand founded in 1864. It is possibly the most famous name in Beijing when it comes to Peking Duck. There are dozens of locations in Beijing, six in Shanghai, and a couple more around China, including branches in Vancouver and Melbourne.
I ventured to the Huaihai Zhong Lu location. The main dining hall is decked out in plain banquet décor, and there are a handful of private rooms. It’s stark and bare, but the value for money makes up for the lack of ambiance.
It’s ¥238 for a whole duck, which comes with pancakes and condiments for five! It’s hella cheap especially if you compare it with Sheng Yong Xing and Da Dong.
The quality of the duck was noticeable, mainly that it was very much fattier, but it was more plentiful in portion.
For the carcass, there are two add on options, ¥25 for pepper and salt fried or ¥28 for duck soup with rice.
Qingnian Gongshe 青年公社·烤鸭
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Another cheap alternative is Qingnian Gongshe, another big chain brand.
They do an osmanthus glazed Peking Duck for ¥118/half, ¥198 whole. Condiments are ¥5 per portion, pancakes for ¥6. I couldn’t quite tell the difference if there was or wasn’t any osmanthus flavor. So, let’s say, it’s subtle.
The duck quality was not bad, and not as fatty as the one from Quan Ju De.
Also, the décor was a little better, modern but simple.
It’s a solid spot for a fast casual Peking Duck meal for real cheap.
Also recommended is Four Seasons Peking Chamber (四季民福烤鸭), another reputable Beijing brand. It has two locations, Joy City and in Hongkou.
But I’m all duck-ed out, and I’ll leave the exploration up to you.
