Siji Minfu Forbidden City Branch, Beijing

The Ultimate Peking Duck Hotspot

Hey there, fellow travelers!

I'm Nihao Liliri, your go-to travel blogger for all things China and beyond.

When you're planning a trip to Beijing,

the number one dish on your must-try list is definitely Peking duck, right?

Even before I arrived in Beijing,

I spent hours agonizing over questions like:

"Should I go to Quanjude?"

"Is Siji Minfu better?"

"Which branch has the shortest wait time?"

I did so much research!

On this trip, I decided to check out the Siji Minfu Forbidden City branch

to experience it for myself.

To give you a quick spoiler: the food was absolutely stellar,

but I honestly don't think you need to go out of your way to visit the Forbidden City branch

just for the "palace view."

Let's dive into the detailed review! ❣️

Peking Duck Basics & History

Why is it called Peking duck, and what makes it so famous?

The ultimate signature dish representing Beijing

is undoubtedly Peking duck (北京烤鸭).

As the name suggests,

it's a roasted duck dish that originated right here in the Beijing region.

It actually developed as a royal court imperial dish during the Ming Dynasty,

and today, it stands as one of China's most iconic national dishes.

While many people think of it as just "simple roasted duck,"

it's actually an incredibly sophisticated and delicate culinary art.

The skin is roasted to an ultimate crispy perfection,

and you wrap the duck meat, scallions, cucumbers, and a special sweet bean sauce

inside thin, delicate pancakes.

In fact, locals in China often value the ultra-crispy

roasted skin even more than the meat itself.

That's why high-end Peking duck restaurants place such an immense focus on the roasting technique and the texture of that crispy skin.

It is a staple for locals hosting family gatherings or welcoming important guests,

and it's also one of the most highly recommended dishes

for international travelers visiting China.

If you've come to Beijing, trying it at least once is an absolute must.

Comparing Beijing's Top 3 Peking Duck Spots

Quanjude vs. Siji Minfu vs. Da Dong

While there are countless Peking duck spots throughout Beijing,

travelers usually flock to these three major heavyweights.

First up is Quanjude (全聚德).

Opened in 1864, it is the oldest and most historic Peking duck restaurant,

unmatched in its legacy and tradition.

It's the first brand that comes to mind when people think of Peking duck,

but it tends to be very tourist-heavy

and is on the pricier side.

I actually visited this spot during my exchange student days (more than a decade ago! ^^)

when I traveled to Beijing.

Even back then, my friend who was studying language there

told me that locals don't really go to Quanjude...

it was just a really expensive, upscale place. Haha.

Second is Siji Minfu (四季民福).

It's no exaggeration to say this is currently the trendiest and most popular Peking duck spot in town.

With a high ratio of local diners and rave reviews for its flavor,

traveler satisfaction is incredibly high.

Of course, that also means you should expect some pretty serious wait times.

Third is Da Dong (大董).

If you want to enjoy your Peking duck in a more upscale, fine-dining atmosphere,

this is highly recommended.

The plating is beautiful and the course menus are excellent,

making it a great choice if you're looking for a special, elevated meal.

Just keep in mind that it is the most expensive of the three.

I actually visited Siji Minfu during my trip to Shanghai before,

and I was absolutely thrilled with the experience.

So, for this trip to Beijing, I didn't hesitate for a second

to choose Siji Minfu again.

Siji Minfu Peking Duck

Menu Recommendations & Dining Review

As expected, a foolproof spot for Peking duck!

This time, we visited the Forbidden City branch of Siji Minfu.

With two of us dining,

✔️ Half Peking Duck

✔️ Stir-fried Green Beans

we kept our order pretty simple like this.

There were two pairs of chopsticks for each of us,

but I'm not quite sure why? .?

If anyone knows, let me know in the comments...

Shortly after ordering, a staff member brought the whole duck

right to our table to show us first.

Then they took it to the carving station shown in the picture

to slice it up for us.

It happened so fast, I couldn't catch a video, so sad T_T

These are the essential sauces and wraps (pancakes) that you must order

when you get the Peking duck.

They need to be ordered separately,

but if you forget, the staff will usually ask or just add them for you.

The biggest highlight of Siji Minfu

is the incredible balance between the skin and the meat.

The skin is wonderfully crispy without being overly greasy,

and the meat is tender and juicy with absolutely no gamey smell.

The moment you place the duck, green onion, cucumber, and sauce on a pancake and take a bite,

you instantly understand why people wait hours for this.

I was so impressed when I first had it in Shanghai,

and it was just as amazing here in Beijing!

And the dish that turned out to be an unexpected superstar was the stir-fried green beans.

Eating only Peking duck can get a little rich after a while,

but these green beans work like a charm to cleanse your palate between bites.

Personally, I think this is an absolute must-order side dish.

And here’s a golden tip for all the drink lovers out there!

In China, a lot of restaurants

don't charge a corkage fee.

So we picked up a bottle of Baijiu (Chinese liquor) at a nearby convenience store

and brought it along to enjoy with our meal.

The pairing of the rich, savory Peking duck and the strong Baijiu

was surprisingly perfect!

If you're curious about traditional Chinese liquors, I highly recommend giving this combo a try.

If you ask them for a "Fenjiuqi" (decanter),

they'll bring you these cute Baijiu glasses

along with a serving carafe that helps open up the spirit's aroma,

so make sure to save this tip and show them the photo!

Why I don't recommend waiting in line at Siji Minfu Forbidden City branch

To give you the bottom line right away,

there's no need to go out of your way just for the palace view.

The reason I labeled this post "Not Recommended"

isn't because Siji Minfu itself is disappointing.

In fact, the food was absolutely wonderful.

What I don't recommend is specifically the "Gugong (Palace) Branch."

Honestly, I also had romantic ideas of gazing out at the palace

while enjoying my Peking duck.

But once I got there, it was a bit different from what I expected.

First off, the restaurant doesn't feature massive glass walls.

So unless you're lucky enough to get a window seat, you won't see much of a view at all.

To make matters worse, most window seats

are reserved for large tables of 6 or more.

Since most people travel in smaller groups of 2 to 4,

your chances of actually getting seated by the window are pretty slim.

Ultimately, most travelers end up

dining in the standard seating area,

and if that's the case, there's really no reason to endure the massive wait at the Gugong branch.

Siji Minfu has several locations across the city,

including branches in Wangfujing and Jinyu Hutong.

The food quality is consistent across all locations, so I highly recommend choosing the one with the shortest queue!

After all, saving an hour or two of your precious travel time is way more valuable!

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