The Beijing Duck (alternatively Peking Duck) is one of the food delights of Beijing, its crispy skin, juicy meat, and the classical accompanying dishes make it a compulsory dish. When choosing where to have the best duck dinner, Catherine Lu Tours has a couple of good alternatives that are not only about eating, but about experiencing the culture, the atmosphere and the taste altogether. In this article, we'll explore where you can try the best Beijing Ducks dinner in Beijing via Catherine Lu Tours, what to expect, and how to make your meal more than just food.
Best Places & Tours to Try Beijing Ducks with Catherine Lu Tours
Peking Duck Dinner and Show with Beijing Private Night Tour
What it is: It is a night-tour that is a combination of a Pekin Roast Duck dinner with classic Chinese evening entertainment programs such as an acrobatic performance or Kung Fu performance.
Highlights:
You are picked up by your guide at your hotel to a highly local Peking Duck restaurant. You'll enjoy the full duck meal with pancakes, cucumber, spring onion, sweet bean sauce, etc.
After dinner, you choose between an acrobatic or Kung Fu show for a cultural finish to the evening.
Why it's special: The combination of food + cultural show gives a more immersive experience. The duck is prepared in classic style: syrup coating, drying, hanging, roasting in closed or open ovens, sliced artistically in front of diners.
What to Expect in a Quality Beijing Ducks Restaurant
The duck used is typically of a specific breed, raised to certain standards. It's prepared meticulously: cleaned, hung to dry, glazed, roasted. The skin becomes crisp while the meat remains juicy. Catherine Lu Tours mentions that in the Night Tour dinner.
The duck is sliced in front of you, and served with pancakes, sliced cucumber and spring onion plus a sweet bean sauce.
Settings may vary: local, authentic restaurants versus more upscale or well-known ones like Dadong. The vibe influences the whole experience.
Travel & Tour Tips for Enjoying Beijing Ducks
Book the night tour:
The "Beijing Night Tour with Show and Peking Duck Dinner: Beijing Private.” is tailor-made for this experience. It includes transport, guide, dinner, and show. So you avoid worrying about logistics.
Ask for local recommendations:
Even when you go to restaurants like Dadong, local tips (which dishes to pair, best portions) can make a difference.
Plan for timing:
Duck dinners tend to happen in the evening. If combined with other sightseeing (temple visits, hutongs, etc.), allow enough time for travel and relaxation.
Check your dietary preferences ahead:
For example, if you don't eat certain sauces, or prefer lean meat etc., tell the guide. Catherine Lu Tours is flexible in several of its offerings.
Add with Sightseeing Nearby:
Numerous suggested duck restaurants such as Dadong are situated near the landmarks of Beijing such as the Forbidden City or Wangfujing Street. Catherine Lu Tours tends to create itineraries such that you can tour the city and then have a dinner of Beijing Ducks and be able to absorb the whole day in the city.
Conclusion
When you are in Beijing, and you are not only interested in getting a meal, you want flavor, tradition, atmosphere, a taste of the local culture, then it is a smart idea to taste Beijing Ducks with Catherine Lu Tours. It can be the entire evening event of the Night Tour with duck dinner and show, or a gourmet dinner at Dadong, you will get the authentic and quality assurance. Taste the fresh skin, the fat meat, the traditional sides and have the guides and restaurants bring this iconic dish to life.
FAQs
Q: What does the difference between blanketing duck and Peking duck mean?
A: They refer to the same dish. The English version of the traditional name is a Peking duck; the name Beijing Duck is nothing more than a more appropriate translation.
Q: How many courses or what sides usually accompany the duck?
A: You'll typically get pancakes, spring onion, cucumber, sweet bean sauce, and sometimes additional dishes depending on the restaurant or tour. In the Night Tour you share the duck plus other local dishes.
Q: Is the “Beijing Private Night Tour” expensive?
A: The price is usually USD $105260 per group in terms of size and options and it covers dinner + show + guide + personal transportation.
Q: Do children fit in these restaurants?
A: Yes. The Night Tour is family-friendly. Portions are generous, and many restaurants are used to serving international guests.
Q: Which restaurant is better, fancy or local duck?
A: That is determined by what you desire: ambiance, setting, price, and vibe. If you care more about theater/show + atmosphere, the Night Tour is great; if you prefer top food quality and less spectacle, going to a restaurant like Dadong is excellent.