China: Li Qun Peking Duck

If you happened to visit Beijing, China, there is no excuse for you not to dive into one of it's local food specialties - the Peking Duck.

There are literally restaurants in every corner that serves this dish, so now comes the problem of which one is better than the other. I for myself prefer to visit a place that caters for locals simply because of it's total package - traditional authentic taste in the most perfect setting - rather than go to a place that obviously says "LET'S CAPITALISE ON TOURISTS" on their big outdoor signboards.

I was fortunate enough to be traveling with my parents, especially my mom, she knows where to go best. And so we did... Li Qun Restaurant tucked in a small alley amongst the old original Hutong settlement, serves the best (by far) Peking Duck. The duck is small which makes the meat more tender. It is also noticeable that theres less fat in these smaller ducks - making the dish less oily.

There are a number of famous people and dignitaries that have dined in this same restaurant - Chow Yun Fat, Al Gore, Princess ShilingTong (Thailand), President of Spain, Michelin Star Chef Frederic Chesneau (France) are just to name a few...


It would be a challenge to find this place. Ask people around the area for directions.


Once you hit the sign, just follow the duck drawings to find the place.


Small rundown walkway, in the middle of nowhere.


The outside waiting area. Actually the place itself is very small that there is no inside waiting area, everyone just stands outside to wait for their table. Goodluck during winter!


Traditional Roasting Pit.


Letting the excess oil drip.


Main dinning hall - Small and Packed.


Yumeh!


Wrap + Special Sauce + Spring Onion + Duck


Looks good. Taste even better!

Quick Tips:
1. Call 1-day in advance for reservation.
2. Do not just wait outside without checking on your seat availability every other 15 mins. They will forget you and let others in first even with your reservations.
3. Be prepared to finish eating within 1 hour. There is a time limit for you to enjoy your food. This is just to cater for the amount of customers waiting outside.

Happy Eating! Share your own experience should you happen to visit this place. I want to hear the other side of this story! - should there be... :)

LI QUN
No.11 Beixiangfeng, Zhengyi Road (Qianmen Dongdajie) | Tel: 6705-5578