What Is Peking Duck? A Short Guide Before You Order in London
Peking duck is a roast duck dish originating in Beijing, traditionally carved tableside and served with thin pancakes, spring onion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce; Peacock London's version, the Forbidden City duck, is served three ways.
Peking duck takes its name from Beijing (formerly romanised as "Peking"), where the dish originated as an imperial court preparation before becoming one of the most widely recognised dishes in Chinese cuisine. The duck is air-dried, then roasted until the skin turns a deep, glossy red-brown and crisps — the texture of the skin is traditionally considered as important as the meat itself.
How it's traditionally served
A whole duck is typically carved at the table, and the crisp skin (sometimes served separately from the meat) is wrapped in thin steamed pancakes with julienned spring onion and cucumber, finished with a sweet bean or hoisin-style sauce.
How Peacock London serves it
Peacock's version, the Forbidden City duck, is served three ways — a modern presentation that stretches a single duck across multiple courses. It's the restaurant's signature dish and a common choice for celebrations, ordered against a dining-room view of Big Ben and the Thames at County Hall.
Ordering tips
- Best forSharing, celebrations, groups
- Booking adviceReserve ahead, call +44 20 7928 8728 with questions