Philadelphia Food｜From Now On, I’m Only Eating Peking Duck Here! 🦆

TLDR: The #1 Peking duck in the Greater Philadelphia area! On the East Coast, only JiangNan, D.C.’s Lao Szechuan, and Peking Gourmet Inn are duck spots I’d revisit. I’ve heard the West Coast sets a higher bar overall, but JiangNan definitely rivals my one Bay Area experience at Koi Palace. Here’s my personal ranking of Philly-area Peking duck (as a Sichuan native who’s eaten duck in Beijing—not a pro, but a passionate eater!): 🥇 Tier 1: JiangNan 🥈 Tier 1.5: Shanghai 1 (Cherry Hill) 🥉 Tier 2 (Formally Beijing-style, with carcass soup or on-site carving): Mama Wong, Margaret Kuo’s 📜 Tier 3 (Cantonese-style “Peking duck,” still tasty & great value, usually without pancakes): Tian Wang, Wen Wang, Sang Kee, etc. 🦆 We visited JiangNan two weeks after opening—no long wait! Went in blind and were blown away. Ordered a whole Peking duck, boneless spicy pig trotters, wood-smoked pork collar, braised bamboo shoots, okra salad, and ice jelly packed with fresh fruits. We even took the duck carcass home for soup (+$15 if they prepare it, but we were too full!). With tons of leftovers, two people could manage for just over $100, but we couldn’t resist trying more dishes… 🦆 The star was undoubtedly the Peking duck. One bite and I knew it was worth it. The chef crisped the skin tableside with a flame torch—absolutely magical with sugar. The duck was rich and thinly sliced, just as it should be. The pancakes were thin, chewy, and kept warm with parchment between each piece. They even served pineapple chunks to cut the richness—thoughtful details! We always order the whole duck for quality and quantity, so next time I’d love to try their fish and ribs… preferably with more friends! 🦆 Post-pandemic, many Philly Chinese restaurants have dipped in quality, so JiangNan is a delightful surprise. From the ambiance to the food, it hits that “date-worthy Chinese restaurant” standard. Even the semi-disposable bamboo chopsticks felt like a premium touch! Let’s be real—Philly Chinese food often leans toward affordability, and many “disappointments” come down to value. But this time, I’m fully endorsing JiangNan. For truly exceptional spots, price matters less. I hope they maintain this quality—I’ll be back regularly for duck! And maybe more NYC-level Chinese restaurants will see Philly’s potential and move in. 🦆 Wishing for world peace, more spots like JiangNan and hand-pulled noodle shops in Philly, and fewer PF Chang’s. 🙏 🦆 JiangNan Philadelphia 927 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 #Foodie #PhillyEats #PhillyFood #PekingDuck #ChineseFood #PhillyLife #PhillyRestaurants