The epitome of any Chinese feast and something that sets a good Chinese restaurant apart from a great one is the iconic Peking duck. A treat for the whole family, this delightful dish is loved for its crackly skin and tender meat that overwhelms the palate—in a good way of course.
Complete with the addition of hoisin sauce, sliced cucumbers and scallions before being wrapped in a thin crepe, Peking ducks that are well executed always boasts a delightful crunch on the first bite, followed by an addictive tenderness and flavour which takes your palate to a magical place. It’s no wonder this dish is regarded as China’s national dish.
Given its culinary complexity, not all Chinese restaurants serve Peking duck, but if you know where to look, then enjoying this dish on a regular basis need not be so hard. Here is our list of the best Peking duck restaurants in Singapore.
New to Hua Ting’s menu is their ambrosial Smoked Peking Duck infused with Aged Pu-Erh served with Yuzu Sauce (S$45++/half).
This aromatic rendition is taken a notch higher than your average Peking duck with the infusion of fragrant pu-erh tea leaves that, aside from perfuming the meat as it cooks, add another layer of flavour that might intrigue the palate at first, but no doubt tastes brilliant.
442 Orchard Road
Orchard Hotel Singapore, Level 2
Singapore 238879
Tel: +65 6739 6666
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
#2 IMPERIAL TREASURE FINE CHINESE CUISINE
Well-known for roasting their Peking duck (S$90++/whole) to perfection, Imperial Treasure serves one of the finest and most authentic iterations of this prized roast dish around.
With a solemn dedication to preserving the centuries-old methods of the Emperor’s imperial kitchen, the chefs take special care in ensuring that each whole duck is roasted to crisp perfection and sliced on the platter before your eyes.
10 Bayfront Avenue, L2-04,
Marina Bay Sands,
Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 6688 7788
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront
#3 MIN JIANG
Celebrated for its outstanding Cantonese dishes, this immaculately kept restaurant in Goodwood Park hotel is where many go to satisfy their cravings for dim sum that is served on trolleys during lunch.
But if you do find yourself hankering for Peking duck (S$70++/whole), you should probably also know that Min Jiang is an excellent place to get just that.
22 Scotts Road,
Goodwood Park Hotel,
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 6730 1704
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Newton
Photo Credit: Si Chuan Dou Hua PARKROYAL On Kitchener Road
As one of our favourite Chinese restaurants in town, Si Chuan Dou Hua at PARKROYAL On Kitchener Road is where you can find top-notch grub that always impresses.
Each of its three outlets boasts a different menu to cater to specific clientele but the one at Kitchener sees a relatively stronger dedication to Sichuan and Cantonese dishes and is the one we flock to for better than ordinary Peking Roast Duck (S$ 40 for half, S$70 for whole).
181 Kitchener Road
Singapore 208533
Tel: +65 6428 3170
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park
Peking duck (S$66++/whole) is serious business at TungLok XiHé Peking Duck Restaurant—if its name wasn’t already enough of an indication. The restaurant sources a very specific breed all the way from Ireland, one that is specially aged to produce dense and porous skin along with the succulent meat.
Cured in a mix of spices and seasoned before being hung to roast in a traditional oven, the end result is always a perfectly roasted duck. Unlike your typical Peking duck, theirs is highlighted with a unique blueberry sauce and pop rocks dip, giving a whole new meaning to culinary innovation.
181 Orchard Road
#07-07/08/09
Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6736 0006
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset
Photo Credit: Yàn
Boasting an authentic Cantonese menu and a prime rooftop location that allows for a scenic view of the city, Yàn at the National Gallery Singapore is the perfect spot for Cantonese fine dining in Singapore.
Cooking up a visual storm backed by 20 years of experience, Chef Chan Kung Lai astounds with his masterful culinary prowess that can be seen in the way he designs his dishes from his ingredient choices right down to the way he presents them. We find their Peking roast duck (S$90++/whole) impressive in the sense that it was classically prepared devoid of any modern flavour touches—that seems to be the trend in many Chinese restaurants these days.
1 Saint Andrew’s Road, #05-02
National Gallery
Singapore 178957
Tel: +65 6384 5585
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall
For more recommendations, read our guide on the best dim sum restaurants in Singapore.