Peking Restaurant, Hong Kong

So I finally got to sample authentic Peking Duck. I’m not going to let the fact that I’m currently nowhere near Peking spoil a good post. Peking Duck in Hong Kong is probably the closest I’m going to get.

I’ve long suspected that the rubbish my local takeaway describes as “Peking Duck” is nothing like the real deal. Cremated slivers of duck fat served in a foil container. Sound familiar?

Myself and the wife ventured up Nathan Road and eventually found the simply named “Peking Restaurant”, recommended by our trusty Lonely Planet. We were met at the top of the stairs by a jolly waiter who informed us the place was full for the night. The place was rammed with locals (always a good sign) and I had the sinking feeling that we had just missed out on something special. Oh well. The waiter sensed our disappointment and offered to prepare a takeaway for us, but we politely declined. No point in going to China to eat takeaway, right? That night we ended up eating at a great Indian restaurant in the scary Chungking Mansions.

The following day however, we were picking up suits from the tailor which happened to be in the vicinity of the restaurant. Too early for lunch? Nah, let’s do it.

Well, it was fantastic. Juicy duck with golden crispy skin and a selection of condiments, all washed down with plenty of jasmine tea. My only faux pas was adding the pickled cabbage and peanuts to my duck pancakes! The waiter cheerfully informed me that they were “a snack”. Oh well, it tasted great.

At the end of the meal our happy waiter (who recognised us from the night before) offered us a complimentary dessert; it was basically a Chinese version of a doughnut, sugar-covered pastry with a soya bean filling. Not bad.

Peking Restaurant

1st Floor, 227 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Delhi Club, Hong Kong

Chungking Mansions is a strange and scary place. It’s like a dingy, high-rise rabbit warren populated with hostels, restaurants and shops. Very popular with backpackers, you can purchase almost anything here: a snack, currency, pirated DVDs. The guide books often describe it as a fire trap; indeed a fire did break out here in 1988 killing a Danish tourist.

We were intrigued to see it for ourselves and decided to check out a restaurant called “Delhi Club”. The Lonely Planet guide to Hong Kong describes this place as “pretty flash by Chungking Mansions standards”. Pretty flash is good enough for me.

I do try to eat local food when I travel, but I don’t feel guilty about eating a curry in Hong Kong; any who’s been there will know about the huge Indian population in Kong Kong, particularly in Kowloon.

I rarely notice the decor when I sit down to a meal, but even I couldn’t  fail to take this place in. The ceilings are really low, and you’re in danger of getting a tan from the lights. Needless to say, the lighting doesn’t flatter the food, but I enjoyed the place. There was a great buzz and the staff are really friendly. We ordered a selection of Indian dishes, delighted that we were finally having a meal in Chungking Mansions.

Benares it ain’t, but if you’re looking for a good-quality introduction to dining in Chungking Mansions (and fancy a curry), I’d recommend the Delhi Club.

Delhi Club

Flat C3, 3rd Floor, C Block, Chungking Mansion, 36-44 Nathan Roadm Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula, Hong Kong