Questions & answers

Peking duck is the signature dish of Beijing: a whole duck roasted until the skin is glassy, amber and crisp, then carved and eaten in three steps — crisp skin first, then slices of duck wrapped in a thin steamed pancake with scallion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce, and finally the rest of the duck as soup or a second dish. At Quanjude Ottawa, a duck chef carves each duck at your table. Read more about the Peking duck experience.

Quanjude (全聚德) is a historic Beijing restaurant brand founded in 1864 and best known for its roast Peking duck. The name is often explained with the ideals “complete without flaw, gathered without scattering, virtue above all.” Quanjude Ottawa is a restaurant at 90 George Street in ByWard Market that serves Quanjude’s Peking duck and a wider Beijing and Chinese menu to the Ottawa market.

Quanjude opened in Beijing in 1864, more than 160 years ago, and became the best-known name for Peking duck. Its hung-oven roast duck craft was listed as national intangible cultural heritage in China in June 2008, and Quanjude in Beijing has hosted visiting heads of state, including many dinners given by Premier Zhou Enlai. Learn more in our heritage story.

In the traditional hung-oven (open-oven) method, the duck is hung inside a brick oven and roasted over an open flame of fruitwood. The skin roasts and crisps in the dry radiant heat while the inside cooks gently, which is why we describe our duck as roasted outside and cooked inside, with crisp skin and tender meat. Roasting takes about 50 minutes, and our Ottawa kitchen follows these steps.

Peking duck is prepared so the skin becomes thin, glossy and shatteringly crisp, and it is carved in front of you and served with thin pancakes, sauce and fresh scallion and cucumber. An ordinary roast duck, such as Cantonese-style duck, is usually marinated, served chopped on the bone, and eaten with rice or plum sauce. See our Peking duck vs. Cantonese roast duck.

Peking duck is traditionally eaten in three parts. First, the crisp breast skin, dipped lightly in white sugar and eaten while hot. Second, the carved duck wrapped in a warm steamed pancake with a little sweet bean sauce, scallion and cucumber, eaten by hand. Third, the duck rack: have it made into duck soup, packed to take home, or prepared salt-and-pepper style (our recommendation) or spicy (+$15 for one preparation, +$18 for an additional one). Photos on the Peking duck page.

At Quanjude Ottawa the Classic (Premium) duck at $88 suits about 2 to 3 guests and the larger Peony duck at $108 suits about 3 to 4 guests, assuming you also order a few other dishes. Each whole duck comes with 24 steamed pancakes.

The Peony duck ($108) is a larger duck whose carved breast is arranged on the plate in the shape of a peony blossom, a presentation first shown at an APEC state banquet in Beijing; it is our recommendation for celebrations. The Classic duck ($88) is a smaller duck served with the same pancakes, sauce and sides. Compare them on the Peking duck page.

At Quanjude Ottawa the duck rack comes back to you the way you choose: made into duck soup, packed for you to take home and cook yourself, or prepared salt-and-pepper style — our recommendation — or spicy. Choosing one of those two preparations is +$15; adding a second, additional preparation is +$18. The head, tail and tenderloin are also brought to the table.

A reservation is recommended, especially for Peking duck, weekends, groups and private rooms. Quanjude Ottawa also welcomes walk-in guests when tables are available. To reserve, call (613) 860-0888; we will ask for your name, phone number, party size, date and time, and whether you would like to pre-order a Peking duck. See reservations.

Yes, ordering ahead is a good idea. A duck takes about 30 minutes to reach your table, so mention it when you book or as soon as you sit down. À la carte, Quanjude Ottawa serves Peking duck as a whole duck; on weekdays the Lunch Set (Monday – Friday, 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM (not on holidays)) includes half-duck options.

Yes. Quanjude Ottawa’s Lunch Sets are served Monday – Friday, 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM (not on holidays): one for 2 guests and one for 2–3 guests, each with half a Classic Peking duck. Outside the Lunch Sets, Peking duck is served whole. See the Lunch Set.

Quanjude Ottawa is at 90 George Street, Unit 200, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5W1, in the ByWard Market neighbourhood, next to Rideau Street and a short walk from Rideau Centre and Rideau O-Train station. Our telephone number is (613) 860-0888. See directions, transit and parking.

Quanjude Ottawa does not have dedicated parking, and the spaces at the building entrance are private and cannot be used by guests. Please use paid street parking or one of the paid garages within a few minutes’ walk, including the garage at the Rideau Centre shopping mall. Our parking guide lists nearby options with walking distances, next to an interactive map.

Quanjude Ottawa is open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

The nearest O-Train station is Rideau Station on Line 1 (Confederation Line), roughly a two- to three-minute walk away, and several OC Transpo bus stops are on Rideau Street and Dalhousie Street nearby.

Yes. Families come for round shared tables, mild dishes such as the Peking duck pancakes, noodles and dumplings, and the show of the duck being carved. High chairs and children’s tableware are available; please ask when you book. Please tell us if a dish should be made mild — some are spicy.

Yes. A $20 corkage fee applies per bottle of alcohol brought by guests.

Water — hot, room-temperature or iced lemon water — is complimentary. Tea (jasmine, chrysanthemum, pu-erh and tieguanyin) is $2 per person.

Yes — Quanjude Ottawa has a range of vegetable dishes, such as sautéed snow pea sprouts with king oyster mushroom, Yu-Shiang eggplant, the mixed vegetable salad and Chinese yam with osmanthus. Please tell us you are vegetarian when ordering so the kitchen can confirm how each dish is prepared. See dietary & allergen information.

Our online menu marks dishes that contain nuts (including peanuts and sesame) and dishes that are spicy, and flags dishes that feature fish or shellfish. These are based on the main ingredients on the menu; sauces and cooking oils may contain other allergens. Please tell your server about any allergy before ordering. See dietary & allergen information.

Most of the menu is not spicy, including the Peking duck. Dishes marked with a chili icon are spicy, and three chilies means very spicy; examples are the red-oil chicken, Sichuan noodles and boiled duck blood curd. Tell your server if you prefer milder food, and ask before ordering for children. The menu also lists a taste description for each dish.

Dishes at Quanjude Ottawa are made for sharing — a standard plate usually serves 2 to 3 people, so a table of four typically orders one duck plus three or four dishes. Individual soups are one bowl per person. If you prefer not to choose, our set menus are built around a whole duck for 2 to 10 guests.

Yes. Quanjude Ottawa has a dim sum menu with shrimp dumplings, shui mai, steamed beef balls, sticky rice in lotus leaf and more, plus royal handmade pastries. Dim sum is served Monday to Thursday all day, and until 4:00 PM Friday to Sunday and on public holidays. See the dim sum menu.

Yes. Quanjude Ottawa has four private dining rooms: three medium rooms for about 12 guests each, which can be connected for larger groups, and one large room for about 18 guests. Medium private rooms require a minimum pre-tax spend of $500, plus a minimum 20% service charge. The large private room requires a minimum pre-tax spend of $1,000, plus a minimum 20% service charge. See dining & private rooms.

Yes. Large tables in the main dining room are round with a turntable for sharing, the three medium private rooms can be connected for a bigger party, and the large room seats about 18. Tour groups are welcome — please call (613) 860-0888 well ahead so we can plan the ducks and the menu. Our set menus run up to 8–10 guests per table.

Yes — Quanjude Ottawa hosts birthdays, family celebrations, wedding and engagement dinners, holiday gatherings and business dinners. Tell us the occasion when you book; we recommend the Peony duck and, for groups, a private room. Celebrating your birthday with us? Let your server know and enjoy a complimentary serving of longevity noodles.

Yes. Quanjude Ottawa’s dining room and private rooms suit corporate dinners, wedding and engagement dinners, family celebrations, holiday gatherings and tour groups. Menus are arranged around a whole duck; contact us with your date, number of guests and budget. See dining & private rooms.