Top 12 Must-Try Beijing Roast Duck Restaurants

I'm a Beijing local who's made "eating duck" my KPI. Over the past year, I’ve had 87 roast duck meals, and I've narrowed it down to this top 12 personal list. No hype, just my mouth's experience—feel free to copy my homework.

Let’s Show Off the Results Before the Tips

Last winter, I set a personal goal: “Don’t miss any Michelin, Black Pearl, or hole-in-the-wall spots.” So I made sure to eat at least one duck every week. By the time I hit the 40th duck, my friends suggested I become a “duck critic.” After the 80th, I just hid the scale. Now, I’m revealing my best value 12 all at once—if you still mess up, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

My Top 12 List (Sorted by Personal Preference, Not Official)

My 3 Hard-Won Tips from Experience

1. Reservations: Except for Ziguang Garden, you basically can't walk in at the other 11 spots on holidays. Three days in advance for Shing Yung and Jingyan are a must, and a week for Hanyin.
2. Duck-Slicing Time: Good places insist on slicing the duck on-site, which takes about 5-7 minutes—don’t play on your phone, the best time to enjoy the skin is within 30 seconds; it gets greasy if it cools down.
3. Take Home Duck Frame: 90% of the places let you take the duck frames home—just pop it in the air fryer at 180℃ for 5 minutes back at the hotel; it’s even crispier than when you eat it there—a perfect late-night snack.

A Quick Rundown of Each Restaurant I Tried (in the order I visited)

① Shing Yung

First bite of duck skin dipped in caviar, the sea breeze mixed with jujube wood aroma hits just right. The pancakes are super thin, greasy but never overpowering. After eating, I bought a pack of jujube wood to smoke steaks at home—so good.

Tips

• Parking's tight; use the nearby Taikoo Li underground, scan to get three hours free.
• Don’t miss the duck soup dumpling, it’s heavenly.

② Haitian Pavilion

Old-school “roasted outside, boiled inside”: the duck is filled with hot water, and the skin is roasted golden, locking in all the juices. The chef slices it along the grain, giving it a subtle duck oil aroma without being greasy. At just ¥220, it’s the best bang for your buck.

③ Jingyan Hanyin

Tucked in a courtyard next to the Guozijian, Duan Yu himself slices the duck. Only serves two people per duck, with truffle honey + caviar duck skin + traditional pancakes for a trio of tastes—sweet, fresh, crispy, and fragrant all at once. The ambiance is perfect for impressing your parents.

④ Lushanglu

Shandong style takes roast duck to a new level: reddish duck skin slathered with caviar, layered on Shandong pancake, with dried shrimp sprinkled on top. The flavors of sweet, salty, and ocean dance on your tongue; I ordered a second pancake instantly.

⑤ Jiuchengju

Braised small duck, the skin crumbles at the touch. The chef pairs it with mint leaves and bun slices, making the mint’s coolness and duck oil aroma seriously refreshing—100 times better than a traditional pancake. The duck is small, so even a girl can finish it solo.

⑥ Quanjude Qianmen Origin

With a seventh-generation heir in charge, the hanging roast “fat is best” motto holds true—my fingers were left a bit oily post-meal. I love this old-fashioned approach; if I don’t wipe my hands after, I’ll call it a loss. Don't forget to buy zero-degree duck feet as souvenirs, they’re so crispy you’ll question life.

⑦ Four Seasons Minfu

The view at the Forbidden City location has a 3-hour wait, so I went straight to the one at Dongsi. When the nine-grid sauce dips arrive, I had to take a picture first. Duck skin dipped in rose sugar gives a sweet, crispy bite; garlic paste with sugar is an unexpected dark cuisine from old Beijing that surprisingly tastes great.

⑧ He Mu The Orchid

Perfect for night owls: You can order duck skin egg porridge until before 23:00. The combo of duck skin, sugar, and sesame creates a crunchy burst; the porridge is simmered until it’s gloriously creamy—perfect for a late-night snack that’s decadently delightful.

⑨ Xinrongji

“Rong rolls” are mini duck pancakes filled with Yunnan matsutake mushrooms + scrambled eggs + noodles, blending mushroom, egg, and duck flavors in a delicious mix. Each duck only yields about six rolls, so be quick or miss out. I packed three rolls for the train ride home, and folks in nearby seats were asking for my recommendation.

⑩ Xin Shijiu

Duck liver paste + Beijing hawthorn + sesame sauce pancake—an oil, sweet, and nutty flavor explosion. The hawthorn is made from self-cooked red fruit, a great palate cleanser. The pancakes come out crispy, the extent of the bulge determines its attractiveness, so snap the pic while it's fresh.

⑪ Shijiu Dong Sanhuan Zhonglu

Roasted over an open flame, the crispy skin and tender meat are usually spot-on, but sometimes the cooking can be inconsistent. Once, I got a slightly paler duck skin, and the staff immediately switched it out—great service. If you want to be safe, call ahead to check who’s cooking that day; I always go when the senior chef is on.

⑫ Ziguang Garden

Halal steam-roasted duck might not be super crispy or juicy but for freshly roasted at just ¥120, who can complain? Add some spicy sour cucumber shreds, and it’s the perfect combo; one bite of duck, one bite of cucumber—it hits the spot without breaking the bank, a great find for students.

Lazy Version of Itinerary (3 Days and 2 Nights)

A Few Final Notes

• Service Charge: Jingyan and Xinrongji automatically add 15%—don’t tip again.
• Takeout Boxes: Most are free, but Quanjude's front counter charges ¥2 each; bringing your own bag is cooler.
• Metro Access: Except for Hanyin which requires an 8-minute walk through alleys, the rest are within 200 meters of metro stations, so no stress even in the rain.

Alright, I’ve given you the 87 duck meals of my life, and now it’s up to you for the remaining 256 calories!