The oldest duck house in the capital, Bianyifang first began roasting ducks during the Jiajing period (1522-1566). The ducks are roasted in a closed-door oven, known in Chinese as menlu kaoya; other duck houses use an open-fire oven. Bianyifang is a drab state-run eatery with the service we've come to expect from such businesses, but it remains popular with old Beijing families. On the positive side, the ducks are roasted to a perfect and appetizing brown and they are scrumptious. A whole duck costs 168RMB.

A2 Chongwenmenwai Dajie, Chongwen district(tel 6712 0505)

Dadong Kaoya replaced the old Tuanjiehu Roast Duck Restaurant, opposite the Zhaolong Hotel on the Third Ring Road, once one of the best places in Beijing to have duck. The duck remains the focus of the new restaurant, but Dadong caught up with the fashion of also offering a complete menu of lavish dishes, such as abalone, bird’s nest and sea cucumber. Unless you have deep pockets, and gourmet demands, just stick to your basic duck meal and some simple accompanying dishes to avoid an exorbitantly priced meal. We recommend Dadong's branch overlooking the interesting site of the old imperial granary at Nanxincang, which will provide added value to your meal. Dadong is an up market dining venue, so expect to pay a bit more for your duck in such lavish surroundings. After dinner, have a drink in one of the venues located in the old granary buildings.

A whole duck costs158RMB, while choosing your own duck or one selected by the chef, costs 178RMB. Condiments that go with a duck meal are an additional 8RMB/per person.

Bldg. 3, Tuanjiehu Beikou, Chaoyang district (tel 6582 2892)
1-2 Nanxincang Guoji Dasha, 22A Dongsi Shitiao, Dongcheng district (tel 5169 0329)

This family-run eatery is operated in the Li's own little courtyard house, hidden deep in a hutong neighborhood. The venue may be a bit run-down, but it certainly has character, and it's a real hutong experience. Li Qun’s ducks are tasty, roasted to perfection to retain some fat, and the meat is moist and the skin crispy. A whole duck costs 138RMB including condiments.

11 Beixiangfeng, Zhengyi Lu, Chongwen district (tel 6702 5681)

Xiangmanlou, which looks more like an American dinner than a duckery, is considered one of the best duck joints in town. This clean and pleasant restaurant is always packed so you're advised to make a reservation. A whole duck costs a reasonable 98RMB, including condiments and pancakes, making this one of the best duck deals in town.

18 Xinyuan Xi Li Zhong Jie, west of Yuyang Hotel, Chaoyang district (tel 6467 4391)

A home-style restaurant, Xiao Wangfu serves a collection of dishes with the mala flavor of Sichuan, robust and earthy sour cabbage of northeast as well as cumin of Xinjiang. Xiao Wangfu’s roast duck is equally swell. Dining on its rooftop facing the beautiful green area of the Sun Altar Park is a wonderful way to enjoy your meal with a summer breeze.

Ritan Park North Gate, Chaoyang district (tel 8561 5985)

Ya Wang, or Duck King, is conveniently located in the middle of the Jianguomen diplomatic area, with several other branches situated conveniently around the city. The original roast duck costs 128RMB, with an additional 3RMB charged for condiments and 12RMB/0.5kg for pancakes. For 198RMB you can sample the yiya sanchi, or three-ways of eating one duck, which includes the traditional duck wrapped in pancakes with condiments, stir-fried dark duck meat, and duck soup. The emperor grade duck sells for 388RMB--staff say this imperialist duck dines on a better feed than his less well-bred cousins.

24 Jianguomenwai Dajie, west of Scitech, Chaoyang district. (tel 6515 6908)

Without a doubt, Quanjude, which dates back to the Qing dynasty, is the most famous duck restaurant in Beijing. However, with success has come complacency. We believe other venues in Beijing offer a far better duck experience at a lower price and with better service.