Are you familiar with Beijing’s most famous duck chain Quanjude? What about its buffets lunches and dinners? Last week, I heard that the famous, tourist favored brand has started to offer a specially priced buffet, starting at RMB 88 (lunch) and RMB 98 (dinner), inclusive of unlimited roast duck. As a duck lover, I couldn’t wait to check it out the next day.
The buffet is only available at its Shuangjing branch, which is just outside Line 10’s Shuangjing station. This is a first, we hope of many, as the 150-year-old Beijing based brand hardly does any promotional offers.
The buffet area is located on the fourth floor of the same office building that houses the Quanjude restaurant. When we visited on Saturday for lunch, the place was hardly half filled. Obviously, they did not do a good promotional job since the offer started last May.
The buffet had generous portions on the duck with two chefs taking turns to slice the duck on site and on minimal breaks. There was a sign behind the chefs suggesting that only one person per plate per serving, but there was hardly a line of people therefore we helped ourselves to a bit more.
Although not perfectly served, the duck was hardly inferior to the high priced RMB 198 (starting price) on the menu. As there is no warmer here like the ones found in the restaurant it is advisable to start off collecting dipping sauce, pancakes, cucumber and scallion so you can eat the duck hot and fresh.
Although customers are not expected to have duck skin and meat separately like what is the norm when ordering in the restaurant, the chefs were nice enough to meet specials requests. For example, I asked for more skin, and ducks legs that were both fulfilled. If you came for the duck, there is plenty of it to go round.
Besides duck, there was a wide selection of hot dishes, cold appetizers, soup, fried noodles, sweet Beijing desserts, and drinks including coffee and beer. Just make sure not to overeat.
Different from typical Quanjude restaurants which are heavily packed with tourists, the buffet features mostly local families and friends gathering.
The chef’s stand was a popular spot for the children to stand and watch as a fatty duck turned to what was a skeleton within two minutes.
Highchairs and western bathrooms are available. The staff was friendly, and very helpful in quickly collecting empty plates from the table as well as watch out for the kids.
The buffet is available every day.
Quanjude Peking Duck Restaurant (Shuangjing) 全聚德烤鸭店(双井店)
Daily 11.30am-1.30pm and 5.30-8.30pm. 8 Guangqumen Waidajie, Chaoyang District (5861 2288) 朝阳区广渠门外大街8号(双井桥西南角)
Photos: Clemence Jiang
