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Name: Peking Gourmet Inn
Address: 6029 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 22041
Telephone: (703) 671-8088
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.02

Peking Gourmet Inn

6029 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 22041

(703) 671-8088
Store is closed

Peking Gourmet Inn Menu

Chef's Specialties

Peking Duck

Garlic Sprouts Stir-Fried

Chef Fon's Shrimp

Steak Northern Style

Lamb Chop Peking Style*

Walnut Chicken*

Seafood Imperial

Ginger Shrimp with Tender Asparagus

Sea Scallop with Roasted Garlic

Jeo-Yan Shrimp*

Szechuan Beef Proper*

Chilean Sea Bass with Black Bean Sauce*

Chilean Sea Bass Peking Style*

Chilean Sea Bass with Mixed Vegetables

Lemon Chicken

Black Pepper Beef*

Orange Beef*

Ginger Beef

Peking Gourmet Chicken*

Lamb with Spring Onions
Soups & Appetizers

Golden Yuan Bao (4)

Gourmet Lettuce Wrap

Steamed Vegetable Dumplings (6)

Mini Steamed Dumplings (8)

Crab Rangoon (4)

Peking Spring Chicken

Spring Rolls (4)

Fried Dumplings (6)

Fried Chinese Leek Dumplings (6)

Gourmet Shrimp Wontons (6)

Sesame Shrimp

BBQ Spareribs (4)

BBQ Pork

Egg Rolls (2)

Fried Wontons (6)

Peking Chicken Wings (6)*

Orange Chicken Wings (6)*

Peking Celery

Szechuan Cabbage*

Chinese Winter Squash and Sea Scallop Soup - For Two

Seafood Asparagus Soup - For Two

Imperial Soup - For Two

Chicken Corn Soup - For Two

Snow Crab Asparagus Soup - For Two

Snow Crab Wonton Soup - For Two

Hot & Sour Soup*

Hong Kong Wonton Soup

Wonton Soup

Egg Drop Soup

Duck Bone Soup - For Four
Poultry

Fresh Garlic Chicken*

Treasure Chicken*

Jade Chicken*

Moo Shi Chicken

Orange Chicken*

Kung Pao Chicken*

Chicken with Cashews

Chicken Peking Style*

Chicken Szechuan Style*

Chicken Curry*

Moo Goo Gai Pan

Sweet & Sour Chicken

Chicken with Snow Peas

Kung Pao Chicken & Shrimp*

Chow San Shien
Seafood

Kung Pao Shrimp*

Shrimp & Sea Scallop Imperial

Shrimp & Sea Scallop Peking Style*

Black Pepper Jumbo Shrimp*

Black Pepper Jumbo Shrimp & Scallops*

Black Pepper Sea Scallops*

Shrimp Imperial

Shrimp with Snow Peas

Shrimp with Lobster Sauce

Shrimp Szechuan Style*

Shrimp Peking Style*

Sweet & Sour Shrimp

Shrimp Curry*

Treasure Shrimp*

Moo Shi Shrimp*

Shrimp with Cashews

Shrimp with Peanuts*

Shrimp with Fresh Hot Peppers*

Sea Scallops with Snow Peas

Sea Scallop Peking Style*

Sea Scallop Szechuan Style*
Pork

Pork with Fresh Hot Peppers*

Moo Shi Pork

Pork Chung King*

Roast Pork with Snow Peas

Sweet & Sour Pork

Pork Peking Style*

Pork with Plum Sauce

Pork with Spring Onions
Beef

Peking Gourmet Beef*

Beef with Sea Scallops Sautée

Szechuan Beef*

Beef with Spring Onions

Beef with Green Peppers

Beef with Mushrooms and Bamboo Shoots

Beef with Snow Peas

Beef with Fresh Hot Peppers*

Beef with Broccoli

Beef Curry*
Vegetables

Fresh Shitake Mushrooms

Four Season String Beans*

Gourmet Chinese Eggplant*

Spinach Sautée

Vegetable Sautée

Snow Peas with Water Chestnuts

Broccoli & Mushrooms with Oyster Sauce

Bean Curd Szechuan Style*

Bean Curd Family Style*
Noodles & Rice

Gourmet Pan-Fried Noodles

Seafood Pan-Fried Noodles

Singapore Rice Noodles*

Vegetable Fried Rice

Yang Chow Fried Rice

Mandarin Fried Rice

Shrimp Fried Rice

Roasted Pork Beef or Chicken Fried Rice

Mandarin Lo Mein

Chicken Chow Mein

Shrimp Chow Mein

Healthy Meal suggestions for Peking Gourmet Inn

Chef's Specialties

Peking Duck [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Sprouts Stir-Fried [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chef Fon's Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak Northern Style [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lamb Chop Peking Style* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Walnut Chicken* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Imperial [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ginger Shrimp with Tender Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sea Scallop with Roasted Garlic [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jeo-Yan Shrimp* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Szechuan Beef Proper* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chilean Sea Bass with Black Bean Sauce* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chilean Sea Bass Peking Style* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chilean Sea Bass with Mixed Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemon Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Pepper Beef* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Orange Beef* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ginger Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peking Gourmet Chicken* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lamb with Spring Onions [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soups & Appetizers

Golden Yuan Bao (4) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gourmet Lettuce Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steamed Vegetable Dumplings (6) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mini Steamed Dumplings (8) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Rangoon (4) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peking Spring Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Rolls (4) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Dumplings (6) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Chinese Leek Dumplings (6) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gourmet Shrimp Wontons (6) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sesame Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

BBQ Spareribs (4) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

BBQ Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Egg Rolls (2) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Wontons (6) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peking Chicken Wings (6)* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Orange Chicken Wings (6)* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peking Celery [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Szechuan Cabbage* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chinese Winter Squash and Sea Scallop Soup - For Two [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Asparagus Soup - For Two [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Imperial Soup - For Two [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Corn Soup - For Two [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Snow Crab Asparagus Soup - For Two [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Snow Crab Wonton Soup - For Two [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot & Sour Soup* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hong Kong Wonton Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wonton Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Egg Drop Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Duck Bone Soup - For Four [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Poultry

Fresh Garlic Chicken* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Treasure Chicken* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jade Chicken* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moo Shi Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Orange Chicken* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kung Pao Chicken* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken with Cashews [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Peking Style* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Szechuan Style* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Curry* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moo Goo Gai Pan [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet & Sour Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken with Snow Peas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kung Pao Chicken & Shrimp* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chow San Shien [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Seafood

Kung Pao Shrimp* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp & Sea Scallop Imperial [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp & Sea Scallop Peking Style* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Pepper Jumbo Shrimp* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Pepper Jumbo Shrimp & Scallops* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Pepper Sea Scallops* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Imperial [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp with Snow Peas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp with Lobster Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Szechuan Style* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Peking Style* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet & Sour Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Curry* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Treasure Shrimp* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moo Shi Shrimp* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp with Cashews [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp with Peanuts* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp with Fresh Hot Peppers* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sea Scallops with Snow Peas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sea Scallop Peking Style* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sea Scallop Szechuan Style* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pork

Pork with Fresh Hot Peppers* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moo Shi Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Chung King* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roast Pork with Snow Peas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet & Sour Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Peking Style* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork with Plum Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork with Spring Onions [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beef

Peking Gourmet Beef* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef with Sea Scallops Sautée [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Szechuan Beef* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef with Spring Onions [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef with Green Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef with Mushrooms and Bamboo Shoots [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef with Snow Peas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef with Fresh Hot Peppers* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef with Broccoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Curry* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Vegetables

Fresh Shitake Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Four Season String Beans* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gourmet Chinese Eggplant* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach Sautée [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetable Sautée [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Snow Peas with Water Chestnuts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Broccoli & Mushrooms with Oyster Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bean Curd Szechuan Style* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bean Curd Family Style* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Noodles & Rice

Gourmet Pan-Fried Noodles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Pan-Fried Noodles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Singapore Rice Noodles* [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetable Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yang Chow Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mandarin Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Pork Beef or Chicken Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mandarin Lo Mein [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Chow Mein [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Chow Mein [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Falls Church for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 5501 Leesburg Pike )

Applebee’s ( 127 East Broad Street )

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 913 W Broad St )

Famous Dave’s ( 370 W Broad St )

Visit below restaurant in Falls Church for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 5501 Leesburg Pike )

Applebee’s ( 127 East Broad Street )

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 913 W Broad St )

Famous Dave’s ( 370 W Broad St )

Write An Anonymous Review

Christine L.

Went here for dinner with party of 6 plus 2 tots. Good thing our friends made a reservation. It was crowded when we got there around 6pm on a sat night and even worse as we left. It was so crowded, the hostess had to yell for people waiting to move outside bc we couldn't manuveur our way out. Ordered 2 Peking ducks: soooooo delicious. Skin was nice and crispy and stayed crispy the entire time. Duck was cut in nicely proportioned slices to wrap with the sauce, garlic sprout, cucumber and hot pepper in the soft thin taco shell looking thing. I've never had Peking with this wrap before. I've had it with the thicker white bun. I prefer this thin wrap. You don't get so full off the bun and enjoy more of the tasty duck. Tots also enjoyed the wrap. Also ordered the garlic sprout (cooked) with chicken. Never had a dish like this before and liked it too. Tot loved the chicken, which was cut into thin strisp that she can easily hold in her tiny hands. Chicken was tender and juicy. Sprout gave the dish and extra crunch. We also had fried shrimp, which hubby liked. Lamb chops were tasty and moist. Never had lamb chops prepared with this crispy batter. Nice flavoring and not too gamy. Dishes also came with rice that has peas in it. Plenty of food for our party. Even had leftovers. Definitely a must try if you're in DC, but remember to make reservations if you don't want you wait. For mamas: our waiter, Chao, was very entertaining. He somehow knew we were vietnamese and knew some phrases here and there speaking to us. The kids had boosters with seatbelts instead of high chairs. I prefer boosters since they don't take up as much space. Most boosters at other restaurants don't have seat belts so we always end up with the highchair. The waiter came by in the middle of dinner to show our kids "magic." It was paper crafts he stuck in a straw and it "changed" colors. It kept the kids entertained and we thought it was very sweet of him.
(5)
Alice W.

Peking duck: the most famous duck dish from China prepared since the Imperial Era and one of the most tastiest dishes in the world. Having grown up as a Chinese American living in the DC area, I've had my share of Peking duck dishes. Peking Gourmet Inn, Mark's Duck House, Peking Restaurant Inn, etc. While none of these Peking duck restaurants are anywhere close to the quality of duck you get in Beijing, Peking Gourmet Inn gets an A- for trying. Part of the fun in eating Peking duck is watching the chefs carve, slice, and serve the duck into skin and meat pieces. Peking duck is prized for its thin, crisp skin. Typically, duck bred specially for the dish are seasoned before being roasted in a closed or hung oven. The meat and skin are eaten with pancakes, scallion, and hoisin sauce or sweet bean sauce. Sometimes they're also eaten with cucumbers. The servers will generally help you wrap the first, laying out a thin steamed pancake, layering sauce, and topping with duck skin and meat, scallions, and cucumbers. It's such a tasty concoction, you can't eat just one. One thing a lot of people don't know (which is quite unfortunate) is that you can ask for the remaining fat, meat and bones. The remains can be made into a broth with or without noodles, served as is, or the meat chopped up and stir fried with sauce. It's delicious, so next time you're here, ask for the bones! Definitely make reservations before coming here. It's busy and crowded any day of the week. Parking can be tricky but manageable. A fairly unacceptable downside: they charge tea per person.
(4)
Donald L.

Pricey but worth it ! great service and very well prepared food.
(5)
Kimberly T.

I came here a couple weeks ago to introduce an out of town friend to the best that the DMV has to offer. I was super hungry when I came since I wanted to make sure that I got all the good when I got here. I came a little early and I made reservations about two days before, but we came on a Tuesday night which was pretty slow. I wait for the friends for about an hour. While waiting, my waitress Fannie, brought the cucumber, spring onions, and duck sauce. I talked to one of the managers about what I should show my friend during this time. She gave wonderful recommendations based on what we would like and the best that we have to offer. When one friend showed up, I am super hungry so I asked for some of the egg rolls to tide us over as we waited. Fannie brought them out after about 6 minutes of waiting and she brought my love, Uncle Charlie's Peppers. I began just eating the peppers straight up. Once out last party member arrived, the duck came out soon after, and Fannie rolled all of ours for us. She started noticing that I liked a lot of peppers and accommodated me to have them. She was so nice. I loved her. She even tried eating one of the peppers straight because i was and she told me that she was pretty much crying. So cute. We also got the four season green beans which were amazing. The beans were cooked to perfection, still crunchy and the sauce was amazing. We got a new item, the Firecracker spring. It has two different types of chili peppers fried with a lightly fried shrimp. Needless to say, I ate all the chili peppers. There were these two gentlemen sitting behind us, and because I am a little too much I noticed that they were pretty much eating the same meal as us. I convinced them to get the four season green beans, but it was also their first time at Peking Gourtmet Inn. I was invested in them. I honestly hope they had a good time. But they got the toffee apple, which I was glad since my table was super full wanted I wanted to show my out of town friend the amazing dessert. All in all, I had an amazing time as usual, and can't wait to come back again for my mom's birthday.
(5)
Kevin L.

It's difficult to find Beijing duck in the US, and this place does it decently well. However, the flour wraps were a bit too hard in texture, and is one area that can be improved. The wait to be seated can be quite long so it's best to go with a reservation or go at an off-peak time.
(4)
Kirk S.

Hidden inside a crappy little strip mall is perhaps NOVA's best restaurant ever. And I'm not exaggerating. The Peking Gourmet Inn has one signature dish: Peking Duck. It's basically super-savory duck with a sauce, miniature crepe-like wraps, and various other condiments. And it's DELICIOUS. No words can describe how awesome the namesake dish - or their absolutely phenomenal garlic sprouts - are. This place would even be worth it for the atmosphere. The walls are filled - and I mean filled - with pictures of past presidents, politicians, actors, rock stars, and service members. It's overwhelming. The fact that people in D.C. - who might not even have a car easily available - are driving to this location speaks volumes. Basically, if you are a foodie in the D.C. area, you better try this place at least once.
(5)
Ruth C.

This is the family-style restaurant where I send everyone in the area for Peking duck. And then I invite myself along to ninja home the post-carving carcass. Tableside carving to Dexter up your bird. They trim the skins separately from the meat, which I have mixed personal feelings about: classic carving elsewhere versus a healthy way to even the ratio of meat and skin. Hoisin sauce, cucumbers, and julienned scallions are fine but the wrappers here aren't my favorite. Garlic shoots were delicious, and the chicken we ordered it with was moist and texturally combined well. Closely tying for second place were the fried lamb chops, great cook and seasoning. I might even repeat the fresh shiitake and baby bok choy dish, even if I felt that trimming off the mushroom stems was unnecessary. I probably had the most neutral reaction at our table to the Jeo-Yan shrimp-- garnished with barely blanched broccoli florets, I thought these jumbo battered shrimp were decent but not amazing. Chilean sea bass was cooked nicely with a touch of douchi, but almost drowning in generic brown sauce. Scallops imperial and Szechuan beef also fell under pretty standard fare. Yu choy had been sauteed enough to be tender, and I gobbled down the browned garlic cloves hidden amongst them. I usually find pan-fried noodle dishes Americanized enough to be offensive, but here it managed to skate through my radar without an eye-roll. Chicken fried rice and white rice fell short of approval as an edible safety order by a few noobs dining with us. Our evening ended with cucumber shots to help stave off the meat sweats as we returned to the competitive strip mall parking lot. Service managed to accommodate our larger-than-expected reservation, thanks to the celebrity table being available. They were otherwise relatively attentive, though as disclaimer we did play the Hey Buddy Let's Talk In Our Native Language card while getting staff recommendations for supporting dishes. I was disappointed to be steered away from the mapotofu, but the servers know best. Also, anything that looks Americanized on the menu is going to taste as white-washed as it sounds. They do magic here, not miracles.
(4)
Connie L.

Love! Awesome food awesome service! The Peking duck is so delicious! Everything is from their own farm too! The string beans and bok choy with mushrooms are also delicious! Definitely a must go to restaurant when you have visitors from out of state:)
(5)
Sam Y.

Definitely the first place people think of when they think of Peking duck in this area. Extra crispy skin, tender flavorful meat, perfectly warm wraps. Must try the sliced cucumbers and jalapeno's - life changing! A little overpriced at $42 per duck, but great place to go for special occasions (ie birthdays, graduations, etc. - can accommodate large groups, but make sure to reserve in advance). Reason for 4 stars, instead of 5: Everything else on the menu besides the duck is just okay, nothing that will blow your mind. Don't waste your time (and stomach space) as you can get better Chinese food elsewhere. The duck is the only thing worth getting here. Also, do not be lured by the group menus. No matter how many people you come with only one duck is included.
(4)
Judy And Joe N.

I have been here twice now, so I suppose a review is due... Let me just establish that I typically don't care for roast duck. I grew up eating Cantonese-style Chinese cuisine on the West Coast and roast duck was always a staple in our family meals on the weekends. Although I did enjoy the skin on those ducks, I found that the fat and the sometimes grey-ish color of the meat was just too off-putting. J on the other hand, LOVES duck. When we lived in Hawaii, he would love getting the roast duck buns from the food court at Ala Moana mall. When I happened across the profile for the Peking Gourmet Inn on Yelp, the positive reviews and mouthwatering photos drew me in and convinced me to bookmark it for when my sister visited from Cali. Another reason I wanted to try the duck here despite my opinion about what I believed Peking duck to be up until this point: the pancake wraps. I'm accustomed to the fluffy white buns that accompany "Peking duck" at Cantonese restaurants. I've seen the pancake wraps in some Chinese films and have always been curious about those... On our first visit, we ordered 2 ducks between 4 people. Just in case the duck alone wouldn't be enough food, we also ordered the shiitake mushroom/baby bok choy dish and their seafood "pan-fried" noodle dish. On the second visit, J and I ordered one duck between the two of us and the seafood/asparagus soup for 2. It was the perfect amount of food for 2. OMG that duck is amaaaaaaaaaazinnnng! It is meticulously carved tableside, the skin removed from the meat and so thin and crispy, the fat is scraped away from the meat, the meat is slightly pink (not grey, yay!) and thinly sliced. Everything is then neatly plated and served alongside thin sliced scallions, thin spears of cucumber, a dozen house-made pancakes (per duck), hoisin sauce, and if requested, fresh chili peppers soaking in soy sauce. We polished off both ducks like hungry hippos. I've been living in MD since early 2011. WHY HAVE I ONLY DISCOVERED THIS PLACE NOW??? The mushroom/bok choy is decent, saucy and seasoned well. The "pan fried" noodle I did not enjoy, but only because it differs so much from what I am used to in Cantonese cuisine. Our waiter warned us about that, so it was our own gamble to try it. For $30+, I wish we had skipped it though. The service here is wonderful. They are just attentive enough, and even help you roll your first roll - which can be very helpful for first-timers. I'm still not a fan of Northern Chinese food, but this is how Peking duck is supposed to be. I will never eat it any other way. I'm moving back to Cali next month and have already started looking for places out there that serve Peking duck in the authentic Northern Chinese style. Wish me luck. Until then, I will try to come here once a week before I leave!
(4)
Jenny S.

I came here for the first time Sunday 2/1/15 and I truly enjoyed my experience. We ordered the peking duck which was carved table side and also hand wrapped by our server which I wasn't expecting. The duck was nice and juicy but not fatty like other places where you can order a whole roasted duck. We also had the fire cracker shrimp which was flavorful but not overly salty. We ordered the fresh shiitake mushrooms and baby bok choy which were cooked nicely. I came with some business partners who ordered for all of us. I would definitely like to come back and try some of their other dishes.
(4)
Damon B.

Make a reservation. Try the duck. Do not order a bunch of extra stuff--the duck is enough for around four people. The other dishes are okay, but they don't compare to the duck. The duck comes with a sauce, some veggies, and some sort of pancakes. The server slices the duck at the table and lays it out for you. To eat the duck, you take one pancake, add sauce and veggies and duck meat, and then roll it up like a burrito. It's weird, but awesome. Holy cow is this place crowded and loud! People are running all over the place. Food is coming out every two seconds. Heck, it's even difficult to park! And before I forget to mention it, parking is kind of bizarre. The restaurant is located in a sketchy ethnic strip mall that has lots of people milling about at night. Who knows what they are up to, but the lot is not well lit and is very crowded. We went with another couple and their daughter, who ran amock all over the place. The wait staff and other guests were accomodating. The only other thing that is interesting to note is that the walls are adorned with photos of just about every celebrity you can think of. I assume they have all actually eaten at the restaurant. ;) In short, this place is definitely unique and worth a visit.
(5)
Danielle A.

The hoisin sauce is ambrosial. Ok, weird to start a review of a peking duck place by lauding the hoisin, but I'd be lying if I said I've never stood in front of my fridge after a visit to Peking Gourmet sipping the hoisin from the styrofoam container. Obviously, get the duck. I know it's $40. I know it's a lot of meat (or not a lot if you're going with more than 1-2 other people). Just get the duck. It's perfect, they put on the show, and they give you a bowl of hoisin to go with it. Oh! And I asked our waitress to give us the carcass when we finished so I could make it into stock, and she came back with TWO carcasses wrapped in plastic along with our leftovers! I want to drive this goddess to DC so we can get married, because that was SO AMAZING. (And my duck stock turned out wonderfully, thanks for asking). The Hong Kong wonton soup is the most flavorful, delectable wonton soup I've experienced. A perfect, clear broth and moist little nuggets of flavory wontony goodness. Don't miss it. The fried garlic sprouts (we got it with shrimp) were also mind-blowing. How can straight garlic be so perfect?!? Busy. Always. Worth the claustrophobia. Every. Time.
(5)
Timothy P.

Best Peking Duck in NoVA! Love the fanfare behind the duck carvers who surgically slice the sweet, crispy skin away from the succulent dark meat that has been masterfully roasted to perfection. - also, go for the crispy beef and the chicken wraps! - great for groups (family/friends) and birthdays Parking can be hectic, but there is a free lot in the strip mall where it is located. Door is easy to miss, next to a Thai place with a larger sign.
(5)
Cee L.

This is my favorite restaurant for peking duck. The meat isn't fatty and the skin is so crispy. Try the cucumbers instead of the green onion for your wraps. As I write this review, my mouth is watering. There are also tasty shrimp and noodle dishes. I'm usually too full from eating the peking duck so I haven't had a chance to try too many other dishes. FYI don't celebrate your birthday here unless you want all of China surrounding you to sing happy birthday. The singing was so loud that strangers came up to me later in the evening to wish me a happy birthday.
(5)
Willy W.

Precursor: I love Peking duck. It's served alongside hoisin sauce, cucumber and scallions on the side. It's like the Chinese taco! Apparently this is the "go-to place" for Peking Duck in the nation's capitol. And there's a good reason to call it that - they do it well. Now as many others have previously noted, the rest of their dishes really isn't anything all too special. We ordered a couple of drinks and soups along with a fried rice (as filler) which were about average honestly. The star of the show is the duck - no questions asked. We ordered one; at $39 it's extremely yummy, but not cheap. I'd give it 5 stars if were closer to say $25-30 as a better value. I do like how they carve up the duck table-side and separate the skin and meat. Soooo good. Even on a Thursday night, I sure was glad to have a reservation. The place was packed; that's what I would expect on Fridays and weekends, which can only be worse I imagine. Now if I were a betting man, I'd venture to say that you could find a better duck for less in a true China town in NYC, San Fran or Philly. I like the classic leather menu, waiters' uniforms and walls of VIP pictures. John Travolta and W Bush are right by the entrance. I would not hesitate coming back - just kinda far and hassle getting there~
(4)
David K.

LOVE THIS PLACE! I crave it actually. I went here for Chinese New Year recently and have been back several times since. The Peking Gourmet Inn will whisk you away to another era of old school Chinese restaurants. Every time I go here I feel like I'm somewhere else other than the suburbs of DC. The Peking Duck here is very good. I also had the (made for Chinese New Year) cold appetizers which were outstanding. I always get the Peking duck (1/2) as the primary dish and then branch out from there. On a recent visit I had the salted, fried shrimp which was also excellent. LOVE their kitschy "Tiki cocktails" (also harking back to another era when Chinese food was "exotic." ) I always get the "Zombie" which is no frou frou cocktail. The bar makes this classic with Bacardi 151 and fruit juice. This concoction lives up to its name! GREAT people watching, this place BUZZES on a busy weekend night. Old school politicos abound. Overheard a representative for the NRA one night when I was in there talking insider DC politics. Service is OUTSTANDING. Would give 4 1/2 stars if I could.
(4)
Jister Y.

My family loves the peking duck here -- and only the peking duck. I'm not the biggest fan of the other dishes but I do appreciate a restaurant specializing in one dish really well. The spicy peppers that have been pickled in soy sauce are a big hit. Ask for the cucumbers! Tip: Wendy is the kindest waitress! Ask for her when you make reservations and you'll find out why. Yes, you'll need to make reservations.
(4)
Tu H.

If you want Peking duck, this is the place. The service is great, Steve, our waiter is awesome. I've known him since he was at another restaurant and I'm glad he's here. The lettuce wraps is also good and don't miss the ice cream, it's a great way to end the meal.
(5)
Rebecca M.

Delish. I can't believe that it took me almost a year to get back to this place. This restaurant was the first one I tried in the area (for Lunch that time) and was rather good. This time though for Dinner it was excellent. The service was attentive and well-paced. Jasmine tea-- aromatic and well-prepared Peking Duck Wings which are spicy-- Flavorful and amazing! Crab Rangoon-- Awesome! Spring Rolls- Surprisingly amazing. Not too greasy with a light crispy wrapping Fried Dumplings-- Awesome. Had identifiable meat with a doughy and pleasant dumpling outside. Garlic Chicken-- Okay. Probably my least favorite part of the meal. I wish it had more snow peas. Pork Fried Rice-- Very good They finished off the meal by giving us two complimentary glasses of Cucumber Juice which is something I have never had before and would never think of ordering. It was delicious and refreshing after a meal on the greasy side. Food prices for dinner ranged from $14-24 for a shared entree which are large. Rice and noodles were around $10. Expect to pay around $24 per person before tip if you don't get drinks. Note: You will feel more than a little left out if you don't try the Peking Duck. After seeing at least 6 served to tables around us we lamented our small party. Bring friends so you can enjoy what everyone else is munching on.
(5)
Seung Ho J.

Peking Gourment Inn is a DC institution, so I find myself torn writing this review. The Peking Duck is actually good, do not get wrong, for 40 USD the duck is definitely worth it. However, the rest of the menu is not overly amazing it is better than your average Chinese delivery restaurant. Then again American Chinese food is vile. Chinese food encompasses cuisine that have stark contrasts by regions. The very notion of Chinese Cuisine is a misnomer and one that has a rather racist origin. Cuisine from Hunan province is strikingly different from the Cuisine of Shandong, the "western" comparison is to call Italian food the same as Russian cuisine, yes they are that different. Now, returning from my rant..... Peking Gourment Inn does use very fresh ingredients, the cooking is better than average and even on a bad day the duck is on the tasty side. Considering the history of this restaurant it would be easy for the staff to be overly haughty and snobbish, however, despite their age the staff is still quick and responsive and professional.
(4)
Hien P.

The peking duck here of course is to DIE for. I believe it was $40 for a whole duck with pancakes and a side of onions and cucumbers. We also ordered fried rice and a vegetable dish. Mediocre to say the least. The location is a bit sketchy and once you walk into the building, there are pictures on pictures on pictures on the walls. You barely even see the wall paper. The decor is very "oriental"? Anyways, the bottom line is that the peking duck is awesome... just the duck though.
(3)
Diane G.

Anyone that gives this place a bad review is either crazy or getting paid to do so. The food is authentic, expertly prepared and well served. The wait staff are outstanding, helping with each others' tables and courteous. Very attentive. The spring rolls are delicate and crispy - just as they should be. Every dish I've eaten there has been excellent. It's a bit crowded, but that just proves my point. You can tell most of the folks are old and faithful customers.
(4)
Ellen K.

I normally hate duck. But I LOOOOOOOOVE the duck here. There's no game-y smell to it, the skin is nice and crispy, the pancakes are chewy, the peppers hot, the cucumbers cool, the green onions crunchy... anyway, it's perfect. My favorite dish here is the GARLIC SPROUTS... delicious. I usually get pork or shrimp with them. And I also love the hot and sour soup here, though I haven't had it the last few times because I didn't think I'd be able to fit all of the other delicious eats in to my stomach otherwise. The one thing that disappointed me about this place is that the portions are getting significantly smaller, while their prices are staying the same. I went there yesterday with my parents, and the three of us ordered two whole ducks and the garlic sprouts. Based on past experience, I thought we should have maybe just ordered 1.5 ducks, but my parents said I could take the garlic sprouts as leftovers if we got too full. Now in the past, each duck would produce about three plates--two with skin and meat, and one with the legs. Yesterday, each duck just produced TWO plates--one with the skin and meat, and one with the legs. So the ducks seem smaller than before. Next, the garlic sprouts came out... my mom and I were SHOCKED. I think the dish shrunk by half. For now, Peking Gourmet Inn remains one of my favorite places to go out to eat, but if the portions continue to shrink (or if the food quality goes down), then I'm going to have to find a new go-to Chinese place. But I really really hope that it won't come to this!!!
(4)
Steve P.

One of the coolest places to eat in the entire DC area. Authentic chinese food and a landmark institution! We were drawn in by the reputation of the Peking duck and it is NOT disappointing! This last time we had a big group and enjoyed our meal in the traditional family style. There was a winter squash soup that was amazing for it simplicity. Paired with house made lo mein noodles. the sea bass, beef and broccoli along with a couple of other smaller sides. Their dumplings and egg rolls are amazing! I know we are looking at the tame menu for westerners, it really makes me want to try some of the more traditional preparations! They are always busy but service is really attentive and fast. Be sure to call ahead and bring some pants with an elastic waistband!
(4)
Amy B.

Made a reservation a week in advance. When i called to make a request the day of, they said they never had our reservation and didn't offer any apology or try to help us out in any way. They're so busy it doesn't seem like they care about service anymore.
(1)
Nick B.

Peking duck is an experience. That's really all I can say. During my recent misadventures in the DC area, one of my "hosts" suggested that PGI should be top of a list of places to go for a meal, and we did indeed have a feast. Not only was the duck incredibly flavourful, the entire experience is great, the servers were great. I suppose it helped that my host is a regular. We also had some sort of beef dish, the name of which escapes me, and some incredible dumplings - and left with a lot of leftovers that sadly we never got around to eating. Even the rice we ordered was fantastic. I kind of got the vibe of the Chinese place in "A Christmas Story" from the staff though, like if I showed up at the right time they'd be singing carols.
(5)
Jesse L.

Love this place! Listened to the reviews and stuck with the Peking Duck and had no regrets. The duck is brought out and expertly cut in front of you. The chef takes her time to wipe out the excess oil in each cut before she places it on the plate. It is eaten with a pancake wrap (made in house), spring onion, cucumber, pickled peppers in soy sauce and sauce. All the flavors were so well together! the duck is cook perfectly! highly recommend and would love to again!
(5)
brian t.

Best duck EVER! Carved at your table with most the fat removed. If you've never eaten here before they even show you how to eat/prepare the duck in a little duck taco with all the fixins one order is great for sharing, but that is really the only thing I come here for. Def make a res or you might wait a while to be seated. Also, if you only order the duck and another dish, you might want to ask for them to be brought out the same time. We ordered the duck and the green beans and did not get the green beans till we were pretty much done with the duck. We were hoping to get them the same time to enjoy together. I also love their hot tea. More tea please!
(5)
Brianne C.

5 stars for the duck, 3 stars for everything else. The Peking Gourmet Inn executes its signature, a roasted duck with crispy skin, pancakes, tangy/sweet hoisin sauce, and green onion shoots, astonishingly well. The duck breast has a gorgeous color, impossibly tender and moist flesh, and deep flavors, while the skin (which I normally decline) is light, rich, and reminiscent of duck confit. The remainder of the dishes we have sampled, including (gummy) chicken with garlic shoots and a spicy tofu dish are less remarkable, and even disappointing. I shall return to Peking when I am craving succulent duck breast served by a woman who knows how to wield three spoons.
(4)
A S.

I'm usually not a big fan of duck but this place got it right!!!! I should also add that I have been in the (Chinese) restaurant business for more than 20 years.
(5)
Jess R.

Before Peking Gourmet Inn, I wasn't a big fan of duck, but now - all haters be damned - this is the best duck you will EVER eat. It's "last meal" good. It's worth the price and make reservations if you're concerned about the crowd. I love this place. I only get the duck b/c it's the best. I'm sure the other dishes are great - but I want to stuff my face with duck. I get a kick out of all the photos on the wall but honestly, Peking Gourmet Inn doesn't need them. The duck is that good. (The only negative is I don't think they give free refills, but the awesome duck still makes it 5 stars.)
(5)
Jay K.

This is hands-down the best Chinese restaurant I have ever been to. The Peking Duck is to die for and everyone must try if you come here. I have had a wide variety of dishes from here from dumplings to the meat dishes to the seafood dishes and they have all been great. One dish that particularly sticks out for me is the Seafood Pan-Fried Noodles. This dish is amazing and is probably my favorite one. I can't wait to come back here and everyone out there should give it a try. One small note is that even if you have reservations you will have to wait a while to get a table.
(5)
Avi G.

Some of the best chinese food I've ever had. The peking duck is a must get. It tastes great and its interesting to watch the waiter carve it with precision.
(4)
Azn G.

I've been to the restaurant 2x now. The first time i went with a group of friends and we got the lunch platter where they serve around 5 entrees. They were okay. The second time i got the lunch special, chicken with veggies. I liked their hot and sour soup. The egg roll was pretty crispy and good. The duck was good but noting special. The service was fast but the waittress was kind of pushy. This place is known for the duck and pictures with famous people..hmm.. President Bush.
(3)
Ling W.

You needn't bother reading the menu -- just tell the server you want the Peking Duck. They will suggest a sufficient number of side dishes to suit the size of your party. The Peking Duck is their speciality, and their server will show you how to eat it, in a form that looks like tacos. We were a party of three and got one duck, a side of green beans, and a side of rice. We had enough leftovers for two more meals, which tasted nearly as good as when we had it fresh at the restaurant. The pina colada is great -- not overly sweet like you usually get at bars, so you can actually appreciate the flavor of the pineapple and coconut.
(5)
Heather H.

We brought a party of almost 20 people to Peking Gourmet and they treated us like royalty. The duck, yes, the duck was amazing, but frankly, everything that came our way was on point. We had excellent service, maybe because we were a large party and maybe because we were feeling frisky and ordered three bottles of champagne. Whatever the impetus for pleasant and attentive service, we got it. I've been living in the area for over year and a half, and this is where I will bring people looking for excellent Peking-style food.
(4)
cenan p.

Best Peking duck in town. All the fat is trimmed in front of you. We always have that with hot and sour soup and spring rolls.
(5)
Nicholas G.

My favorite chinese food in the DC area. Try to garlic sprouts, they aren't quite what you might expect and are one of the most interesting and tasty dishes I've had! They have great lunch specials. If you are going for dinner show up early because it gets busy quickly!
(5)
YM C.

Peking duck was good and crispy! $42 for a whole duck. Other dishes we tried were the shiitake mushroom with Chinese bokchoy (savory) and the firecracker shrimp (crispy, not sure if it was worth $42). The service was fast and great. Definitely coming back again. Great for groups.
(4)
Herschel S.

Second time around coming here! Passion is gone. Le sigh... Aside from the peking duck here, nothing is really good. We ordered the Jeo-Shen shrimp and the seafood asparagus soup. The soup was just okay. The shrimp dish was too greasy for me. I couldn't eat a second piece. Service here is great. The waitress engaged us in conversations about China, about which dishes to try, etc. At the end of the night, we felt robbed though. Price is expensive for the regular Chinese dishes. I understand why the Peking duck is expensive not sure about the others. Not sure if I'll come back.
(3)
Cp T.

Attentive staff, great food.....and I actually think quite reasonable for the freshness and quality. Would definitely go again and again
(5)
Mark S.

Duck is so delicious! This place is a little higher priced, but everything I've had is great and definitely worth it. Biggest complaint is they can be so busy that I've had to wait an extra hour after our reservation time before we were seated, but we were also there with a party of 10. Also our party of 10 took over 2 hours to get through our whole dinner.
(4)
Hain L.

Peking duck & Sea scallop with winter squash soup - DELICIOUS! and it was the perfect amount of food between my friend and I. Service - EXCELLENT. Our server (Pang) was attentive, patient, nice, and just all around great. When one of the busboys spilled plum sauce on my friend's shirt, Pang, the server, brought it to the manager's attention and the manager offered to pay for drycleaning. We made a reservation a day ahead. When we showed up on Saturday for dinner, we were seated within two minutes.
(4)
Erica Y.

Best peking duck in town. However, most other dishes are very much "americanized" Chinese food. Besides the duck and maybe the dumplings, you won't find many authentic chinese dishes. Still, you go there for the duck. You will see the Chinese families go there and order 2 peking duck and some dumplings, and nothing else. :)
(3)
C P.

Yes yes yes, Duck is fantastic along with all the other selections that the place has. The shrimp dish is amazing as well, but the Duck is what this place is known for and everyone in my group of 10 loved it. There is a mini bar my friends and I drank heavily at, then got seated to feast on some Peking style duck. Great place, would go there many more times.
(4)
Mike T.

Excellent food ... excellent service. Great place to celebrate any (every!) event with your best friend. Ordered the Peking Duck -- absolutely delicious! Perfect lunch.
(5)
Bill F.

Look this place is delicious. It is famous and deserves its fame. Now DO NOT GO HERE on a weekend.. They are woefully understaffed and consistently overbook. I have had multiple instances where it took over an hour and a half from my reservation time to be seated. Please make sure that you have enough time, because despite the crowds and the wait its worth it. They need to move into a bigger location with better parking as this place is WAY to small for what they are trying to do.
(4)
Jennifer C.

I'd probably give Peking Gourmet Inn a 3 star rating if it wasn't for the fact that they had the best fried dumplings I've ever had. I had to go here after seeing Duff Goldman featuring their Peking Duck on, "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." From the exterior, you would never guess the walls were lined with photos of celebrities and politicians. I made a reservation, as recommended by other Yelp reviews. When my dining companion and I arrived, they didn't have our reservation at all. I was annoyed to say the least, because they told us it would be a two hour wait. We were tired and hungry, but after I voiced my complaints, they agreed to seat us. Lesson learned, confirm your reservation here because they may not have bothered to write it down the first time. Finally, we were seated in the very packed, cramped restaurant. Our waiter was fine. Definitely could have been friendlier but he took our orders in a timely manner. We had the fried dumplings and Peking duck. The fried dumplings were amazing. Definitely some of the best chinese that I've ever had. The Peking duck was good too, but I was a bit underwhelmed after all the rave reviews. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I did not find it worth the $42. However, I would come back, with reservations, then a confirmation of said reservations, just for those delicious dumplings.
(4)
A C.

Must visit and must go when in Washington! Must reserve and be there on time. I ordered their special duck and wrap on the side along with noodles, rice. Fish, beef, pork. Everything was just too good. Ugh- j wish I can go back! It was delicious and so worth my weight gain. This will be my Washington go to restaurant.
(4)
Kenneth C.

THis is by far some of the best Chinese food I have had outside of well China. The staff is always amazing and the house is always packed!!! It can be very expensive, but the food and service are well worth the cost. The entrance is a small door in the middle of a strip mall, not what you would expect for a high end Chinese restaurant, but once inside you are greeted by a venerable who's who of DC. If you get a chance to speak the owners take their advice when it comes to what to enjoy.
(5)
Melissa T.

Is customer service important to you? If so get ready to try the best Chinese food in Northern Virginia! I must be honest I've never been to China and I don't think I've ever had authentic Chinese food. But I have some friends that have been and they love this restaurant as do I. each time I enter this place I get a warm greeting by all of the staff. It's always super busy but each patron gets individual attention. I know this is a random comment but I recommend that you try their ice cream the coconut ice cream is the best!
(5)
K C.

Four or five items that are killer.. duck, garlic sprouts, Sichuan Beef Proper and the Jeo Yen Shrimp.. becareful with the rest of the menu. servers are very help. Women who handles the front desk should be sent to the kitchen to do dishes.. Went the other night she was rude.. unfriendly.. not very helpful and frankly.. would make me not want to come again.. Young servers behind her giggling and playing with their hair.. Hey there is food being served in here and yes Virginia there are a number of great spots within a ten minute drive so don't get too cocky..
(4)
Robin I.

We just moved to the DC area from LA's San Gabriel Valley---the home of the best Asian food in the US. The Asian food here, from what we've experienced so far, does not come close to the SGV, but that's okay, it is what it is. That said, we really enjoy the Peking Gourmet Inn. It's a great place to bring the kids, and the duck is very good. When my husband's parents (Taiwanese) visited from CA a few weeks ago, we took them here. We had a great time and they enjoyed the duck, however my husband and in-laws agreed the other dishes we ordered were just ok; clearly prepared for a non-Asian audience, which is understandable because... look around. So the duck is really, really good, but the atmoshphere and service are supreme. This place is like Lawry's in Beverly Hills. Intead of the portable prime rib carving stations at Lawry's, here there are portable duck carving stations, where old guys with slicked-back hair carve-up duck like nothin. Old school all the way and totally charming. Very family friendly, the staff is accommodating to little ones, and totally pro. Love it!
(4)
John H.

Ok,so I know lots of famous people.....Dick Cheney is famous and I don't like him...... Gary Danko is famous and I do like him......same with Jose Andres This place is no Gary or Jose......had 8 different dishes.....the only dish worth while was the Peking duck.......I'd give this 2 1/2 stars just for that.......went home with a stomach ache from too much grease and fat........next time I want to look at famous people's pictures on the wall ill go to Katz Deli
(2)
Jim W.

Excellent Peking duck. A bit pricey. But very good. Great service. Will go back again.
(4)
Jen C.

Loved Peking Gourmet Inn to begin with, but when I called not so in advance for a party of 14 people, they accommodated us for the time we wanted which I was really happy with. Once we got there, it was packed and busy but they got our table ready in about 5 minutes. They asked if we wanted a couple ducks--we asked for EIGHT. They were quick, and we looked quite ridiculous surrounded by so many duck carvers. We were greeted by two of upper management, asking if we were trying to beat a record (and we probably would have ordered more sans the side dishes). What stellar service...the waiter was always there to make sure we were happy with everything we needed. Extra plus for giving sauce/greens per every 2 people, which made it much easier to enjoy the duck. In conclusion--for groups that want to feast and beat our record 8 ducks, Gourmet Inn can handle you well.
(5)
Yo L.

5 star for the peking duck dish, the decore, the service! 2 star for the always long wait even with reservations! 3-4 star for rest of the food! please go for the duck! everything else is pretty average!
(5)
Ashley S.

Honestly.. What Asian family hasn't eaten here?! This is one of my favorite places to eat in the DMV area. This place is so great you even get to see famous people's portraits on the wall!! I love the duck, served with the heavenly pancake, where you get to create your own masterpiece. Sauce, green onion, pepper, you name it! They have other great entrees here too (like the sea cucumber) and it's a great family Sit down restaurant.
(5)
Chris M.

We celebrated my folks' fiftieth wedding anniversary with a family trip to DC. SInce they've always liked Chinese food, we tried to find something not too pricey, but with great reviews and found Peking Gourmet Inn on Yelp. This was a great choice! The staff and service was wonderful. Our waiter was the consummate professional. He was constantly checking on us and our needs without being intrusive. I was looking at some of the multitude of pictures decorating the dining room and noticed one of a couple marines dining. One of the staff must have noticed my confusion and stepped over to proudly tell me that the younger one was "his boss". It was obvious that the gentleman held a lot of respect for the younger man and the fact that he'd been a US marine. The food was amazing with some of the best Peking Duck I've had. We had the Group B menu and my only "complaint" would be that there was too much food! I'll definitely become a regular for future business trips in DC. However, I'll DEFINITELY be calling ahead for reservations. This place fills up fast despite it's (hidden) size.
(5)
Young I.

I have eaten at Peking Gourmet so many times it's impossible to count. I am incredibly fond of this restaurant, it's deservedly celebrated duck, and a server named Wendy. The duck is really, really, really...ridiculously good-tasting. So for many reasons, I want to give the restaurant 5 stars. But I can't. I can't even do 4. Here's why: $42 for the duck. An outrageous price and price hike from the mid $30s for what little wondrous meat the young bird yields. I'm going to eat it still, but I'm going to hate you a little bit for it, Peking Gourmet. Keep jacking the prices everywhere - like your Jeo-Yen Shrimp and bean sprouts - with your boundless greed. Love you.
(3)
Steve P.

This was my fourth time eating Peking Gourmet but my first time getting carry out. I had to give it 4 stars because it isn't the same experience has dining in. The food was good. We arrived 30 minutes after placing the order on a Friday night and the food was ready for pickup. We had the orange beef, lo mein, and pan fried dumplings. The pan fried dumplings were the highlight of the meal.
(4)
Paul M.

They are famous for the duck. Granted. Be a rebel and order everything except the duck. You will have a new appreciation and respect.
(5)
Wally S.

There is not question that this is one of my favorite restaurants on earth if not my absolute favorite. I order the Duck, the Hot and Sour soup and the fried wontons. The duck is crispy and lean and so delicious the green onions are out of this world. The soup wontons and the hoisen sause are also a 10 out of 10. i can not say enough. Best best food around
(5)
Arindam P.

The duck was great! I would have to go again to enjoy such a delicious meal! The Gourmet pan fried house made noodles was also salivating! However, I was disappointed by the Szechuan Beef - it was too sweet for my taste.
(4)
Anthony G.

Make a reservation or be prepared to suffer not all the time but especially on weekends. This place is like a joy ride at a theme park. The P duck of course is the Patti Lupone of dishes! It's good BUT get something else with it like fried rice at least because just the duck will not do. I love the crowds here there are happy Asians and sad Asians and prep blue shirt boys and ladies with Birkenbags. This is a fun place and I've been coming here for years so if you're visiting and want to make this a fun dinner night then do it! It isn't cheap cheap but it's not chino expensive either.
(3)
Alexander F.

Peking Gourmet is the most famous Chinese restaurant in Northern Va. Tons of famous people have gone and go there regularly even the Bush family (remember when Bush senior puked at a Chinese diplomatic function? haha). They have a very large menu and I like everything I have gotten there but they are known for their Peking Duck which is the best I have personally had. I also really like their garlic shoot dishes. If you are going with a girl make sure she eats some too or your screwed, damn that are tasty! I think they grow them on their own farm if I'm not mistaken. Def a must hit spot if you are in Falls Church.
(5)
Lindsay H.

What a great place! A staple in the DC area. Don't be disheartened by the area of town it's in (or the mattress store next door). This is one of my favorite restaurants in DC. Try it. You'll love it. Randy is our favorite waiter too! My recommendations: can't go wrong with the duck, Szechuan Beef, or Scallops with Garlic.
(5)
Yaoxing L.

The Peking duck is really good. But other dishes are not delicious enough for Chinese people.
(3)
Jackie N.

They have awesome duck, as everyone as already said. Here are some pointers. 1. Make reservations for at least 15 to 20 minutes before the time you actually want to eat. On weekends, make it 30 minutes before. 2. They have a tiny lobby area. If it's crowded, know you're knelt getting seated right away, so just send in ONE person to tell them you're here. Don't have all 8 people go in, just to have everyone come back out and wait. People are stupid. 3. Their drinks are STRONG. They don't even list what alcohol is in drink, so that's a huge sign already. We got the fuji volcano and my friends couldn't drink it, so I had to man up. I was way tipsy before the duck even came out! 4. Crab Rangoon is my favorite appetizer. They have some good main dishes if you want something besides duck. The lamb chops are surprisingly good, Insider info from my aunt - there's a Chinese restaurant at the intersection of gallows and route 7, in the shopping center with dsw and tj maxx, who hired a cook from Peking gourmet and now he cooks duck there. It's the exact same. The restaurant is tiny and ambiance isn't the same, but hey, it'll do in a pinch.
(5)
Julie H.

Love Peking Gourmet Inn! My best friend turned me on to PGI about two years ago and it's now my favorite place. I love the Peking Duck but my favorite is the Jeo-yan shrimp! I got to wash it down with at least one of their fabulous Mai-Tais! The service is always outstanding!
(5)
Ross M.

WARNING - If you come here and DO NOT get the duck, you are an idiot and need to be punched in the face. And if you suck at driving in parking lots, just don't come here at all. Guide: Step 0 - Make a reservation Step 1 - Order the Whole Peking Duck ($40) Step 2 - Order the Shiitake Mushrooms with Baby Boy Choy Greens (goes nicely with the duck, I'm sure other thing are good too) Step 3 - Say YES to cucumber Step 4 - Watch them carve it Step 5 - Ask your waiter to save the bones Step 6 - If you have CHI, then you have the best Step 7 - Don't eat too much rice, they put crack in it Step 8 - Listen to the Chinese Birthday Song 3+ Times Step 9 - Take a cucumber shot Step 10 - Tip your server well, they treat you well Step 11 - Pick up your duck bones and make some soup at home! That's all there is to it. Best Duck in DC. Service was great.
(5)
Sapna B.

I came here tonight with my husband and we had a delicious meal! Make a reservation...I was so happy we had one because the wait was over an hour! We got a half portion of the Peking Duck and an order of the Szechuan Scallops. We ordered the scallops first and they were good but it came with A LOT of onions and green peppers and not so many scallops. Also it was under-seasoned (mainly missing salt) but once we added some soy sauce and chili sauce to the entree, it was delicious! The peking duck was fantastic. We loved how they give you the crispy pieces of the skin as well as the delicious meat of the inside. Don't skip out on the green onions or the hoisin sauce, both are fantastic. Again I added some soy sauce and chili sauce inside the pancake and it was so wonderful! We didn't see any dessert options we liked so we skipped on that but overall we were very pleased and will definitely be coming back in the near future.
(4)
Jess Y.

4 stars. Make sure you make reservations before you come. This place is always crowded and the waiting area fits about 2 people standing. But, it is worth the reservation and/or wait. The entire restaurant is also plastered with pictures of the owner with famous people that have visited the restaurant. My friends have said that when they dine here they often spot a celebrity or two also dining at the same time. It's that famous. But, the pictures do a get a bit overwhelming. The Peking duck is amazing. Crisp, juicy, flavorful, and delicious. I have had Peking duck in Beijing and this one is better. The skin is absolutely delicious and roasted to a perfect crisp. When the duck comes, a server will quickly carve the duck for you and arrange it beautifully on a platter. For those of you that do not know how to eat Peking duck, the servers will also be more than happy to roll you your first pancake. Basically, you put down some hoisin sauce on your pancake, add some of the greens (scallions and cucumbers) and then a few pieces of duck (a combination of skin and meat is usually a good idea). I wish that they also offered the thicker white bread-like buns that I have seen offered at other Peking duck restaurants. I also do wish that they used the duck more than just for the pancakes. At other less-commercialized Everything else at the restaurant is ridiculously over-priced and rather standard. The garlic sprouts chicken is pretty interesting and tasty, but way too expensive. Really, the only reason I come here is for the duck. Our server was hilarious. I think he might be certifiably crazy, but he was definitely fun to have as a server. He also mixed up our order but he was so friendly and talkative that we could overlook that.
(4)
Gregg C.

I love this place. Worth the long drive to get here. Duck is my favorite - followed by the spring rolls. Garlic sprouts are also great.
(5)
Daphne S.

Its still good Chinese food. Sadly, not as good as they used to be. Duck, skin should be crispy, and its not, and its greasy. Pancake for the duck is made too thick. I was disappionted. Still a decent dining spot, but I'm not sure its entirely worth the $ they charge anymore.
(3)
Hai H.

I am not a big fan if duck but this is the BEST duck you can find on the EAST COAST! Always order a side of cucumber, celery, and hot peppers because it wonderfully compliments the duck. Eat your heart away!
(5)
Holly C.

Excellent peking duck! From the pancake, to the sauce, and of course the actual duck! Juicy & tender & the skin has just the right amount of crispiness to it. I like how they carve it right in front of you. Our waiter was nice and the food came out quickly (they probably have ducks constantly cooking!). I wish we were hungrier & could have ordered other dishes or appetizers. I was looking around & everything looked so good. The restaurant itself is decorated nicely - more modern and chic with walls of pictures of famous people.
(5)
Johnny A.

Been a customer for 20+ years. Last 2 experiences were way below par. I suspect that they are either a) trying to hold down expenses or b) the kitchen can't keep up with the demand or maybe a combination of both. Examples; 1. egg rolls were soggy, 2. Fried Won Ton was recycled thru the fryer until they were rock hard and the stuffing had shrunk way. 3. I am used the duck producing more servings than the pancakes could accommodate. This time the duck looked like a pigeon and there were 2 pancakes left over. 4. Schezuan beef proper had a chemical after taste..may have been overcooked. 5. sautÃ©ed vegetables featured only one vegetable lots and lots of squash..no string beans..2 snow peas..3 slices of carrot and 1 broccoli floret
(2)
L K.

LOVE THIS PLACE! Their Duck is so good along with all the other dishes I've tried :) yum! I have been here several times with a large group and have ordered the 6 people& up course meal. and I LOVE IT! I hesitate coming here with out more than 6 people because the course is so good! you can order all the dishes individually even if you come with a small group tho. My favorites are definetly the duck, salt and pepper shrimp, and the chicken with garlic stems. MAKE SURE YOU MAKE A RESERVATIONS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! DON'T GO WITH OUT A RESERVATION OR YOU WILL END UP WAITING FOR A LONG TIME!
(5)
Stacy L.

I'm not sure the reason this place gets rave reviews. The lettuce wraps were good but nothing spectacular. My friends ate the egg/spring rolls and thought they were okay but were starving and anything would have been fine. The crab rangoon had rancid, fishy tasting crab in an overly deep fried hard shell. My friends disposed of their bites on their plates and I choked down one bite. The BBQ pork was served hot in overly saturated oil. The cuts of meat looked so unappetizing that my friends didn't eat it. I had one chewy overly cooked bite and ended up disposing of it on my plate. What a waste! Both these appetizers were not traditional Americanized Chinese food and not for the better. Please don't say this was the real deal authentic Chinese food as I have had that and it tastes amazing. We all made sure our entrees had white chicken after the first round of meat was gross. I didn't order a shrimp dish as I intended. The Kung Pao chicken was okay, verily dry. There were no vegetables (bell peppers & scallions) as I'm use too with this dish and limited sauce. There was just meat and peanuts but I still managed to eat it. It was edible. My friend ordered sweet and sour chicken. The sauce was so light it didn't even coat all the deep fried chicken so she had to ask for more sauce. She enjoyed it. My other friend ordered heaping plates of chow mein and fried rice and both went virtually untouched. I took the fried rice home to my man who said it wasn't that good but free food is free food. We ended up going out for food and drinks to recover. The waiter kept taking the condiments and sauces away and we had to ask many times to keep them. He was really rude when we asked if we could have separate checks. Don't even get me started on the prices. Ridiculously overpriced like $20-40 (normally $10-15) per dish especially for low quality food. My friends were from out of town and chose this place because of great reviews. I can't believe famous politicians have eaten here.
(1)
David C.

I've eaten here for years. I mostly do takeout (about once a quarter) and occasionally go to a party here. Li at takeout knows me well. She is one of the warmest, friendliest people I've ever met and she is a real asset to this part of the house. She used to work with Ping who I've seen in the front hostest stand the last year. She too is very friendly and delightful. Everyone raves about the duck and I too thing that it's very good. It is expensive. Don't look for traditional Chinese dishes. There are a few, but the reality is most of what is called "Chinese" in America is a San Francisco version of high-Chinese cuisine. There are many good examples of authentic Chinese within a mile of here going both toward Eden Center and towards Bailey's Crossroads. I stick to "Peking Gourmet Beef" and the chicken version of this dish. It's a fried spicy preparation that doesn't have a lot of thick sauce. The eggrolls are delicious and need to be tried with the sweet mustard preparation. I think the spring rolls are equally delicious, but they can be a little greasy. I think the dumplings are a highlight. They are very rich, so consider adding the vegetable dumplings to the pork preparation. I also recommend getting them steamed. The fried rice is full of fresh ingredients.. I have never cared for the atmosphere. It's a strange imperial red, with dark wood and walls of pictures of dignitaries. There is so much staff in their pressed coats that I feel like I'm in an asian market on a busy evening rather than a dinning experience. The best way I can explain it is that the dinning room doesn't add to the experience. It is only an odd distraction rather than something that adds to the food.
(3)
Viviane T.

I've been to this place twice. The second time thinking to myself, "why am I here again?". The first time we got the peking duck and the garlic sprout with shrimp (amongst other dishes that I can't recall), this time around, we got the garlic sprout with chicken, mandarin fried noodle, seabass filet with black bean sauce, and two appetizers (the fried leeks dumplings and the mandarin soup for two). We passed on the peking duck this time and well, the best thing that we ordered were our two cocktails. Sad. I grew up in Los Angeles and then moved to Philadelphia, so I've been blessed with wonderful and authentic Chinese food. If you're like me and that's what you're looking for, Peking Gourmet Inn isn't the place. Yes, this place is popular and you will see a ton of pictures with famous people in them, however, don't expect authentic Chinese or anything wonderful to write home about (minus the garlic sprout because it is an exotic dish). I've experienced better perking ducks and Chinese for a lot cheaper. I will admit, the service here is decent for a Chinese joint and again, their cocktails are fantastic, but aside from these few factors, eh, i won't pay $100 for a dinner for two. NEXT.
(2)
J S.

Wow! What a disappointment. Limited menu mostly for Caucasians. Not authentic Chinese except maybe for the Peking Duck. At last the service was decent.
(2)
Ann V.

Amazing yet again. Peking duck forever and ever.
(5)
Rebecca Y.

The Peking duck ($39) was a disappointment to me, but only because I just came back from studying abroad in Beijing and had the original Peking Duck in Beijing at Quanjude. For America, I guess this Peking Duck was suitable, although for the quality, it's extremely overpriced. It came with cucumber, onions, hoisin sauce, and pancakes that were a bit too thick, but still ok. The duck was nowhere near the quality of the ducks in Beijing and the knife skills of the man who cut the duck was nowhere near the knife skills of the duck chefs at Quanjude. The meat was slightly tough and not as tender and juicy as the duck at Quanjude. The skin was not crispy and didn't have that lovely melt-in-your-mouth quality that I love. Kung pao chicken and spicy eggplant was very saucy and they gave us HUGE portions. The inside of the restaurant is HUGE and seats a lot of people. Service was decent. Decor is ok, lots of pictures of famous people eating at the restaurant adorning the walls. I wouldn't recommend this place for a date, not very romantic. Ok place to eat with friends. Not a very safe neighborhood from what I hear. This place is clearly Americanized Chinese food, but a bit more gourmet than the standard Americanized Chinese buffet. If you like Americanized Chinese food, then come here. If you want something a more authentic, go to Sichuan Pavilion or Hong Kong Palace.
(2)
Tony T.

The best thing about this restaurant is the Peking duck. The skin is crispy and the duck meat is tender. I enjoyed the garlic sprouts immensely but other than that, the rest of the food was fine. Had the mushrooms with green vegetables and a fried rice. Neither was different than what I would find in Chinatown in NYC. The jeo-yan shrimp was good as well. Overall the food was good but the duck was the best thing about the meal (although it is a bit expensive at $40 a pop).
(3)
S C.

This is by far one of my favorite restaurants! I have tried duck at others places and it is not the same! Last night we went with a group of 12 at around 8:00pm and there was still a good amount of people there. Luckily there was no wait, like there usually is, because we were starving! Don't expect fast food service and especially with a large group, I noticed it was hard for the server to keep up with our needs. We ordered the Peking Duck, Jiao Yen shrimp-love love love the deep fried garlic flavor, bok choy with mushrooms, and spinach. Spinach was overcooked and not very flavorful, which someone from our party decided to let the server know and he was more than happy to bring us out a new batch. Service may not be top notch and quick but they try and remember regular customers. I have been coming here for at least 25 years, love it!
(5)
K T.

Want to know how good this place is? So good that when the power in that shopping center went out, it was lit by candles, accepted only cash and served only duck...there was still an hour long wait. To eat in the pitch black! The duck and the bok choy are amazing. It is always crowded and pushy, but if it lacked these elements, somehow it wouldn't be an authentic asian experience. New Years Day tradition.
(4)
Keli R.

Peking duck is that elusive food that I always wanted to sample but could never find a place that had great reviews OR a person that would take the journey with me. On a recent trip to the nation's capital, a friend brought me here and it was fabulous. The place is gigantic, packed, loud and eventful. Almost every table orders the duck and the table side service is awesome. We sat down and ordered a few apps, all pretty delicious. We then ordered those silly drinks with umbrellas because hey, when in Rome and our overly animated...4 foot nothing waitress swore by them. My companion, as well, proclaimed that one would "knock you on your ass"....oh, and it was everything I'd wanted and more! Fruity, touristy, alcohol-y goodness. We were definitely surrounded by some important people here. Perhaps diplomats, ambassadors...someone high up somewhere...but we fit in just fine with out jeans and tshirts. You could see the amount of money being thrown around this place but it isn't pretentious at all. Our duck came and i clapped my hands like a school girl. YEY! crispy skin! Yey! personally grown garlic shoots!!....The presentation was interesting and I loved every minute of it..but HURRY UP! I want my duck! I don't think I took a minute to breathe....well, maybe enough to sip on my fruity little cocktail goodness. I may have over endulged on the garlic and paid for it later..but at the time, it was being inhaled and I loved every minute of it. My friend had had the shoots as well. So, two garlics equal each other out. Isn't that how it works? All in all, peking duck is expensive. It isn not an everyday occurance. But when you can share it and enjoy it together (which is the best way food is eaten) it is well worth it.
(5)
Eddy E.

the service was horrible!!! I went there with my family and the waitress named Fanny was really rude and didn't check on us to see if we needed anything.She did not fill our hot tea or ask if we needed anything the whole time.The plates of food came late and she served other tables before our table.Never going there again! It is not worth it at all,I would rather go to another Chinese restaurant were I know they will treat me better.The food wasn't even that great.Its below average and overpriced!The only reason why so many people go there is because of the famous people who have visited! If you want to great treated like crap come here!
(1)
Aubrie A.

This place was great! Our server (I think his name was Ming) was so helpful and willing to accommodate some picky eaters at our table. The Moo Shu shrimp was particularly good! The most unique thing we had here was the fried bananas - they were sweet and prepared at our table which was fun to watch!
(4)
J P.

This restaurant really needs no grandiose review because if you have been to Peking Gourmet and had the duck you are a fan and probably keep going back. If you haven't been, take the time to go. I would recommend for a first trip to just go as a couple. Large parties crowd the entrance and those parties wait for a long time to get sat. It would place a damper on a first experience I think, instead walk up to the hostess and tell them you are a party of 2 and expect to be sat within a couple minutes.
(5)
Mrs. S.

When I think of going to a Chinese restaurant, this is what I envision. All those dirty hole-in-the-wall places are fine if you're craving low-grade food just to fill your stomach. Peking Gourmet Inn is for when you actually want to eat something that tastes good! That said, this place is excellent. We had the duck (of course), which was pretty good. I've only had duck one other time in my life (from a Bavarian restaurant, so it was pretty terrible) which was the case of my wariness. But I liked this duck. They cut it right at the table and then the head waiter made the first one for us. The Peking Gourmet Beef was delicious. It's large cubes of beef that are crispy, and the sauce is to die for. It had ginger and garlic, a great combination. We also had the Garlic Sprouts with shrimp. It was super garlicky, but also super tasty. The Crab Rangoons were the only questionable item--it was clear they were made with canned crab (albeit REAL crab!), but taste just fine with the spicy mustard sauce. Also, the experience was topped off with the great service. Although we went on a Friday night (we got there at the start of the rush), the servers were attentive and our water glasses were never empty. The decor is very nice, and unlike other restaurants I've eaten at that attempted to look nice, I think they actually clean this place. It is a little funny that the muebleria next door had a mattress out front with sharpie written on it to advertise their furniture discounts. Don't let that weirdness be a factor, because when you're inside PGI, you disappear into a beautiful sea of red, gold, and deliciousness. Oh, and reservations are practically required if you want to be seated in a timely fashion. I felt bad for the people who had to wait outside in the 100-degree heat for their tables (because there's no waiting room).
(5)
Brian G.

This is the second Chinese restaurant I like. The other one is in Philadelphia. It's an awesome place to dine. I have a big problem with this place, I never could go there and order something beside the duck, that's a shame. I tried so many times, but as soon as I smell the flavor, I get completely lost and order duck right away. BTW, this is not a authentic Chinese restaurant, they are much much healthier and more Americanized. So if you are Chinese, you wouldn't like this place.
(5)
Brandon F.

Quack Quack Quack it's a duck attack. Don't forget to ask for the DUCK BUTT. I have been coming to this place for 15 years and will keep coming as long as their fryer is bubbling. Tip 1. Call ahead! It is no secret that Peking Gourmet Inn does it right. Tip 2. Ask them to cut off the duck butt for you to keep. There is a decent amount of tender meat and the extra skin can be put to good use. Tip 3. Save room for dessert. Taste amazing and it is a little fun. Table side times 2. How do they do it right you ask? They grow their own giant green onions, make their own hoisin sauce and pancakes. Now the duck. Deep fried duck means the most wonderful crispy skin and juicy meat. Every part of this Asian duck taco is AMAZING. The duck is cut table side. First the skin, then the fat removed and lastly the juicy meat. How to put the pancake down right. 1. Put a little hoisin on the pancake. 2. Put a few jumbo green onion slices down. 3. Lay down the juicy duck. 4. Top with a few more sprigs of green onions. 5. Drizzle hoisin sauce and roll that pancake up. The duck is about $40 and you can add sliced cucumber to you pancake smorgasbord for $3. The cucumber isn't needed in my eyes but I was introduced to that option after a decade. Maybe I'm old school. Table side number two, DESSERT. The toffee bananas are crispy, warm, sweet and delicious. They heat the bananas up in bubbling gooey toffee goodness and drop them into ice water. The toffee rocks up around the warm banana and boom, served. Eat them quickly while the center is still warm. If two table side shows are not enough than get the flaming volcano for two and drink with three or four.
(5)
Terri R.

We went early on a Saturday night with a reservation and were seated immediately. So far so good. But then the small room we were put in was soon filledwith families with small children, cute yes, but I don't want to have dinner with small children! The Peking duck was indeed excellent. I do have a bit of a problem with a $3.00 charge for a small plate of sliced cucumbers to add to the scallions in the pancake. It was still very good, but next time I would not pay extra for a cucumber and I would ask not to be seated with so many kids. When we sat down the room was almost empty otherwise we would have asked to move.
(3)
Sam B.

One of the most consistent experiences I have ever had. The dishes are fresh and very tasteful especially the veggies. Crisp, juicy and not overwhelmed by other flavors. One thing that needs improving on is the server's table etiquette. In waiting tables 101, you are taught to never to reach in front of the person sitting, always go around them if you need to remove something. Having one's armpit that close while dining leaves a lasting impression and not a good one at that. Having said that, the only down side in the food is that once you've eaten at Peking Gourmet in the future any other place you visit will always be compared to Peking Gourmet. So, its either Peking Gourmet carry out or not for me.
(4)
Mirela T.

This place NEVER disappoints! Granted if you didn't know that where it was located you'd miss it. the Culmore location isn't the best, but once you get inside the restaurant it is nothing but magic. The restaurant is very, very big. Not sure how many tables it has, but i am sure it is a very large number. It definitely needs every table it can get, as the popularity of this place is insane. Recommendation is to not miss your reservation if you have one, and if you don't be ready to wait. Their waiting area is super tight and small, very cramped, i suggest avoiding it at all costs. Come during off peak hours or make a reservations. THE FOOD....i mean the DUCK is delicious. It has never disappointed. It is crispy, and well prepared and is delicious! Other than the duck which is what everyone goes here for, the lettuce wrap is almost a great appetizer. Not sure what all is in it, i just know it tastes perfect for a quick bite before you indulge in your duck. For vegetables the snow peas and water chestnut and the green beans are money! I wouldn't recommend the shrimp and scallop imperial dish, it just tasted funny. It was a steamed dish, so there wasn't much flavor. The ambiance of this place is very traditional Chinese. Lots of round tables and decorations that remind you of Chinese culture. They also have photos all over the walls of famous/important people that have come to the restaurant. Ranging from Artists to Generals to Event Presidents. That does say something about the quality of this place and i thought it was pretty cool. It is a great conversation piece as well. The service is always exceptional and i feel like everyone is very friendly. Good for birthday dinners, they all sing happy birthday in Mandarin, i think that's super cool!
(5)
Elina Y.

The skin is exactly how I like my fried chicken; thin and crispy. The meat inside is mouth watering, just thinking it makes my gums water. I cannot believe I grew up next to this restaurant from birth to 4th grade..only to experience it not too long ago. For shame!!!! I've had duck at other chinese restaurants, both fast food and dine-in and Peking Gourmet is by FAR the juiciest. And their interior decor of famous patrons on the wall is fun to look at while waiting in line or waiting for your duck.
(5)
Bo R.

This is the BESTTTT peking duck place! One of my aunts (she lives in FL now) always has to stop by when she is in town bc this is also one of her faves and she swears nothing else compares! The staff is always so nice and helpful aside from the hostess station... for whatever reason there is always slight confusion with the hostess. Other than that the portions were hugeee, food was delicious and the prices aren't too bad either. We come here quite often and this place never lets us down!
(5)
David S.

Wife and I had lunch here Saturday afternoon. This place doesn't look very impressive from the outside, and the dark passage way between the entrance and interior door was a little scary for my wife. However, once we made it past the hostess station, the place opens up with several large dinning rooms. The interior decor is high end, and the service was superb and attentive, but the food was spotty. We had half of a Peking duck ($22), and the table side service was very nice and professional. The duck skin was crunchy and the duck meat was nice and tender. The pancakes for the duck was home made and delicious. Some of the pancakes dried out before we could finish them, but the servers replaced them for us w/o any problems. Other than the Peking duck, the other items we ordered were disappointing. We had the spring rolls ($6.75 for 4 small rolls). The skin was crispy, but the stuff t was really mushy. We don't recommend the lamb with spring onion. The lamb was chewy and sinewy, and there was way too much slimy spring onion. The Chilean Sea Bass ($20) was okay. Overall, we'd give this place a higher rating if the food was better.
(3)
Huntting B.

You know what...This place was awesome. The only bad thing about this place is the prices. This is not a cheap chinese place. But it makes up for the cost with amazing service (not typical chinese service) and wonderous food! I couldn't stomach the cost of a whole duck...so I sheepishly asked if I could get a half a duck...and they obliged! How about that! They made my night for sure! I woulda ordered a full duck if I had to, but there was no way I could eat that much! The duck soup was quack-a-licious too! I don't think they did Duck the third way (stir-fry o duck) but I didn't look too hard. My girlfriend had some yummy chicken dish too. I can't remember what it was...actually...at this point, but it was really good. Duck is obviously this places specialty, but my guess is that you won't get a dish that is sub-par here! Yum Yum Yum!
(5)
Courtney R.

Haters gonna hate, but I'm gonna try not to. First of all, this place was uber joyous. Like Santa's workshop, except with tuxedos. EVERYONE was smiling and laughing and talking--super happy fun party time. And it was a Tuesday. Maybe Chef Liu has ruined me, or christened me with a pair of AZN balls. None of the food wowed me--then again I'm not a fan of duck, I find it too greasy (though I've no problem scarfing funnel cakes, pizza, etc.). I suppose greeeezly is a better word, a mix of greasy and gristly. Nothing was spicy enough for me, in fact much of it was too sweet. Maybe I'm just a dumb honky and Peking duck is supposed to be this way. Anyhow, it's quite an experience and we did the group dinner. I would definitely come back and order an entree because... The drinks are no joke. If you think Pina Coladas are for pussies, think again. I was drunk after one. It's like Rupert Holmes joined the Sword. My crew was getting Suffering Bastards and they were hammered within 10 minutes. All that laughing suddenly made sense. After three Pinas, I was securely slizzered, nuzzling up to my parrot tumbler and sucking on pineapple cubes. Damn who needs duck? I'm feasting on parrot, yafeelme?
(3)
Olivia A.

Hands down: the only solid place in NOVA to get Peking Duck. I've been coming here for the duck for years (no, I will not say how long). Here's the downside: the price has gradually been increasing over the past few years AND the amount of pieces they're cutting are getting smaller and smaller. Therefore, most of the time, I get the duck to-go and bring it home so I can cut that duck up my way. I definitely recommend doing that if you ever just come here for the duck. The rest of their menu is so-so, it tastes like American Chinese food. It's not bad, but it's not amazing either. However, it certainly stands near the top when ranked with its competitors like Full Kee, Miu Kee, and all the other Kees in the area. The service is typical really. But I've come to learn that service like that in Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants are simply representative of their culture. I'd go more into that, but then it becomes a lecture really and no one wants that. Either way, Peking Gourmet, yuuuuum! Besides, the place is generally pretty packed and I'm pretty sure that's a good sign.
(5)
Donald P.

Wow...there are a ton of waiters here. The older Chinese waiters tried engaging us by attemping to speak Korean, but it sounded something reminiscent of a marketplace where the vendors try to peddle their goods. I've been here on a couple other occassions and each time it was good. However for some reason I'm hard pressed to say I'm a fan. Perhaps I'm just not a big fan of Peking Duck although my eyes couldn't believe how big this duck was, then again being dismayed by how freaking little meat was on such a big dang duck. The scallops with snow peas were battered and fried...not sure if the menu actually said that or not but it was disappointing nonetheless. The Chinese brocolli was really salty, and the hoisin sauce was unusually strong if that makes any sense.
(3)
B L.

I am an old fart in my thirties. But I also vividly remember having my 4th birthday here, experiencing its explosion of "Peking" flavors for the first time. A true loss of innocence. Then on, HappyMeal and I departed ways for a whole month in 1985. You can debate all day about whether this place serves authentic "Peking" duck or not - natives in Beijing are still figuring out its origins. Nonetheless, this is the authentic "Falls-Church-Virginia style" Peking duck I grew up with. Your legs might be sore while the front receptionists are yelling at each other in Mandarin to confirm customers' reservations. But this "short" wait will be rewarded with a wonderful meal. Happiness starts once you are seated in red leatherette chairs. It's hard to beat the good-friends & good-duck combo for a great evening. Not to mention its joyous servers since 1978. This is pure nostalgia. Sidenote #1: It's hard to argue that this place is not a Washingtonian establishment. As other reviewers have mentioned, this place is decorated with pictures of DOD-military local celebrities. Please tell me a picture of General Norman Schwarzkopf, grinning "success" after a full plate of Peking duck, doesn't make you smile. Sidenote #2: When the servers are singing the "Happy Birthday" song, they will not replace the 2nd verse with the birthday person's name. A slight awkwardness surely ensues when the song parade ends.
(4)
Colin P.

Best Peking Duck on the east coast. Go here for the duck and nothing else. It is a bit pricey but it is worth it.
(4)
Taryn L.

Okay, minus 1/2 star because I personally thought the garlic sprouts with shrimp was a little bland, but really, others at my table thought it was perfectly delicious and went back for more and more. And since they don't let me subtract 1/2, a full 5 is what this place gets. I think everyone else on here has crooned sufficiently about the duck for others to get the picture. However, as someone who likes duck meat but hates that duck is often prepared WITH the fat left on and sometimes fried into the dish, making it difficult to eat around the fat, that here ... ? They slice that fat off for you. Yes, first they delicately slice the fried skin (I typically hate skin, too, but it was easy to make an exception here), exposing a 1/4 inch layer of fat to the world, but then they slice that off too, lopping oval-sized chunks of moist, tender duck meat onto your plate, piece by juicy piece. Definitely get the side order of cucumber ($3) to accompany it - the cucumber, sauce, scallions, duck and crispy duck skin wrapped in a thin, homemade pancake makes for a symphony of flavors in your mouth. Don't leave without trying the duck. Because we didn't think the duck would be enough for the three of us, we also ordered the garlic sprouts and shrimp. Not bad, but pales in comparison to the duck. I did appreciate the lightness of the dish ... not fried, thank goodness. We started with the 8 mini steamed wontons or something mini and steamed -- highly recommend. I think they were filled with shrimp ... maybe some pork. Whatever it was, I was groovin on it. We also ordered some sides of fried rice = fine. For drinks, we did cocktails all night long. The Mango Martini is strong but also very nectar-rich and sweet. Others had the Scorpion and the Despicable Bastard (or something Bastard ...) and also described them as strong. That led us to share the Lava drink for 4, which they brought to our table aflame. Quite the experience. Our server deserves a huge gold star for taking such good care of us. Though clearly very busy, he had a knack for appearing when we needed something. He made all of us our first round of duck wraps and accommodated our request for a duck carcass by bringing us two. My dad travels frequently to Beijing and Hong Kong and said this duck was better than what he'd had there (granted, he's American), but given that the other reviews say similar things, I believe it. The night was so much fun and such a treat, we'll brave the crowds to return! (Yes, do make reservations! We showed up a little early, were added to the earlier seating but still wound up being seating around or slightly after our original reservation. Folks who came at the time of their reservation (judging by the names I glanced at on the seat as people came in) seemed to be seated a bit late. So be prepared to wait! They do have a bar, but no seating and very cramped. At least you can drink while you wait!)
(5)
Alyssa K.

The garlic sprouts and chicken stir fry was good. But the Peking duck yesterday was way over cooked and the hot & sour soup sure was gelatinous. I don't know if this is on the list anymore. It's fine. But it just doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be. And i'm only talking a couple years. The place could really really really use a makeover. The carpeting is just gross.
(3)
Carol W.

I have been here numerous times for lunch. Usually its a last minute decision so I normally get the Szechuan Beef. I always ask for it to be spicier and they always accommodate. Though I like it, I won't say its the best I have had so when people have asked me about Peking Gourmet, I say its okay, but not necessarily somewhere you have to go. That has all changed now. I went here for a retirement luncheon and on the menu was the Peking duck. OMG, if you like crispy skin and succulent duck with little pancakes, plum sauce and scallions all rolled into a nice couple of bites, then you need to go try this. I could totally make a meal just on this alone; little did I know it was just the appetizer. This meal also came with the Szechuan Beef and a garlic chicken (with rice and veggies) as well, but honestly those were kind of bland for me and though considered the entrees definitely not the highlight of the meal. The duck - its a MUST try it, if only once. It is that good. So I now feel the need to share my new found love of duck with my fellow friends - I might have actually go here sometime other than lunch!
(4)
Karen M.

I've been here a couple times and had take out once and must say, it is definately better than most Chinese food in the area. Stay tuned for the rest of my review for the take out fiasco! I would give this 4 stars, but have to grade down because of my take out experience. Anyway, I can't say I know what "authentic" Chinese food is since I've lived in the US my entire life, and have yet to visit China. So, in comparison to American Chinese food, what I do like about this place is the fried rice. Love the rice. Its got some egg, a bit of vegetables (I think peas and onions) and isn't oily and dark brown with a ton of soy sauce. Its light, fluffy, and has a very slight fried flavor to it. I've had the tofu twice, and haven't tried anything else yet. The one HORRIBLE thing about this place is the parking. I was raving to the boyfriend about this place and went to pick up food for us one day after work. I don't know what was going on that Friday night, but there was no parking. Anywhere. None on the street (where there were tow trucks waiting for some poor fool desperate enough for the duck that they'd risk parking on the street). No parking in the neighborhood behind the restaurant. And I circled and circled for 20 minutes and had to drive away in teary frustration. I even debated buying something from Rite Aid nearby so I could park and then scurry across to get my food. There wasn't even parking in the Rite Aid. I then got on the cell and called the boyfriend to say it just wasn't going to happen and I was aborting the mission. Well, he happens to drive by there on his way home from work. Since he can park in the Accessible/handicap parking, he was able to get a spot and get our food. However, he said there were bags and bags of take out just sitting there behind the front desk. I wonder how many people did what I did and just had to leave!?! What they should do is when parking is that bad, is have runners bring your food to your car for take out. I've been tempted to call for take out again, but have PTSD from my last experience. In fact, I'm hungry and its quitting time here for the day and I'm dreaming of that rice...do I dare risk it?
(3)
Bernadette S.

Reservations definitely recommended especially if you have 4 or more in your group. do not skip out on the duck even if you think you dont like duck. This will change your mind. 1 duck is good for about 4 people. other stuff worth trying is the kung pao shrimp, and the Schezwan Beef Proper.
(4)
Sam C.

We arrive at 4:45pm and seating is immediate as the dinner rush has yet to begin. My won ton soup was served with gourmet fried noodles that complimented the savory broth perfectly. Speaking of perfect complimenting flavors, the sweet mustard sauce that came with the spring rolls is worth mentioning. In order of taste preference, we got the bean curd szechuan style, steak northern style and sea scallop peking style. I thought the spice in the scallops overpowered any flavor worth remembering. The steak was good but had a funny ketchup flavor that immediately made me think it was catered for an 'Americanized' palette. I am pretty much Americanized so I actually liked as it is akin to Orange Beef. Also worth mentioning is the light batter on the steak where many other establishments over batter their meats. Bean curd was cooked perfectly to the right tenderness in a nice balanced light brown sauce. Service was excellent. A host went out of his way to make sure we had extra rice and he noticed me eyeing the Chinese zodiac paper place mats. He made sure I got new ones to leave with. (maybe it's because he saw me taking pictures and assumed I would blog/yelp about it)
(5)
Ed B.

Apparently, lots of famous people have dined at this restaurant, but I did not feel well after eating there. The next day, I checked the public health inspection report (Dec 2012) for this restaurant and discovered a number of critical health violations, including holding raw animal food in ways that may cause cross contamination. You can review this public report for yourself at : healthspace.com
(1)
Jennie C.

Great service - we were a little late for our reservation but the people still let us in. Our server was very courteous and very patient and didn't hurry us up, despite the fact that here were dozens of people stuffed in the hall waiting to be seated. People in the halls are very rude when it gets crowded - was almost impossible to make your way out to leave the restaurant. Lots of famous people all over the walls which gave the restaurant a unique character. Duck is good. But I think the most amazing part about it was their plum sauce. I've never had such amazing sauce before in the past. The skin used to wrap the duck is also delicious. I love how they cut the duck write in front of you. Other food is good too! My lamb-eating friends highly recommend the lamb there.
(4)
Abby G.

Best Chinese food in the area! It's fun to look at all the old pictures on the walls of famous Washingtonians. We've had some good spottings there, too. Best egg rolls I've had in a long time! Try the sprouts, too. Go with a big group so you can justify the duck. You need to make a reservation on the weekend.
(5)
Chris N.

The name says it all and they live up to it. Their Peking Duck is excellent, the best I've ever had. Table side carving, scallions, peppers, hoison, cucumbers, they give it all. That being said, the rest of their menu is not the best I've ever had. Apps and entrees are mediocre. Their dessert is definitely not their forte. Their service is hit or miss some times. And i'm not a fan of the fact that they tried to fit 200 people into a place that can fit 150 comfortably (not actual numbers). ...but the duck is really good. In the 4 years I lived in VA i've been there well over 50 times but out of those 50 times, I ate only duck 45 times.
(3)
Jennifer N.

Peking Gourmet Inn (PGI) has in mind an old fashioned idea of luxury - the walls are covered with photographs of famous (and less famous) folk who have dined there -- when's the last time you've seen a restaurant use photographs of, say, John Travolta standing next to the manager as an authenticating device? When is the last time you have thought "oh wow, Travolta ate here. It must be good!" The tiny 'bar' (where you can stand when the queue by the door becomes unbearable) feels a bit like a bar you'd expect to see in Mad Men or a cruise (or the Titanic). And then there's the dining room itself which is long, narrow, and deeply red - red carpets, red lanterns, red ceilings. I say all of this because this had been described to me as the place for "power lunches" and really, this is not the sleek modern look of, say, Blue Duck Tavern which is what I imagine as the space for power lunches - this is the old-fashioned look of 1950s "elegance" (or imagined elegance). Dining there made me feel like I was on a weird nostalgia trip (made weirder when you exit the PGI and discover that you're in a strip mall). So a few other notes before the food. You have to make a reservation. Absolutely. Folks were getting turned away left and right. And even with a reservation, chances are you will wait 20 minutes or so. The waiting space is a very small area by the door, and pity the hostess who has to organize this crowded space. Better to move in and stand by the "bar" - a very long, very narrow space that is adjacent to the dining room (stand close to the "bar" or else waiters will bump into you). Here's what underwhelms me: the food. Everything was shiny, greasy, life-before-the-foodie revolution, old fashioned (e.g. Kung Pao) nostalgia grub. The shrimp fried rice was an enormous platter of, well, rice (admittedly, there were some peas and a few bean sprouts, and, of course shrimp) - it reminded me of what my grandmother would have wanted from a Chinese restaurant in 1970s America. The shrimp peking style (shrimp with water chestnuts and bamboo shoots, in a spicy brown garlic sauce) is heavy on sour bamboo shoots and light on taste. The four season string beans and the treasure chicken (diced chicken with green peppers, mushrooms, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots) were probably the best of what we ate - despite the * next to the entree which indicates spicy, it was also surprisingly under-flavored, but more than adequately greased. If you don't believe me about this place being seriously old school, order the fried banana. I've never seen fried banana preparation quite like this - it includes a large bowl of ice water placed in the center of your table. The waitress arrives with carmelized banana wedges and throws them into the ice bath. She then swirls them around vigorously and removes them one by one. The highlight of this place is that despite the barely organized chaos, it runs like a well oiled machine (the food comes quickly, the staff is friendly), and dinner for 4 (with leftovers) came to $83. I'm pretty sure we could have ordered 3 dishes for 4 people (we ordered 1 dish/person) and still felt satisfied. But I can honestly say that I wouldn't drive 35 minutes from my house to Falls Church for PGI, and the search for amazing Chinese food in the DMV continues...
(2)
Nadia A.

I was not impressed with this place. The food I had was not memorable nor did it have any flavor in it. I had some kind of noodles, if the food was good I would have been able to remember the name!
(1)
David L.

As of late we've been having Asian food Fridays, which should occupy us for quite a while given the proximity of Falls Church. If you've ever been, you probably agree that they should just shutter the downtown Chinatown and move it out here. Anyway, Peking's four stars and three hundred reviews brought me down this way. While waiting for the rest of my party, I was impressed at the steady stream of people heading inside, so much so that it prompted me to go ahead and put our name on the list and begin the hour-long wait. The store front and entrance makes this place seem smaller than it is, but it's fairly cavernous inside and decorated in Chinese fashion. It teems with staff and patrons. Most noticeable are the pictures of patrons that cover nearly every square inch of the walls. It makes you feel, just for a second, like you're in downtown New York rather than Falls Church. It seems that the entire officer corp of our armed services has eaten here, along with some notable politicians. Apparently, President H.W. Bush made regular trips out here. Obviously, the duck is their specialty, but we didn't think shelling out the $40 would be the best bang for our buck. So as much as I wanted to see a duck carved right before my eyes, we went with the Sezchuan beef, sweet and sour pork, and noodles. Everything was great, though not spectacular. The large portions make up for the seemingly high prices. The average entrÃ©e is between $15 and $25. The service was a bit lackluster and obviously disappointed when we didn't order drinks or the duck.
(4)
Mr. P.

Best Chinese food in the DMV area. I will admit I know nothing about traditional Chinese cuisine so I can't speak on those who criticize the food for being "Americanized." Admittedly I have grown up eating mostly carry out Chinese food so I can't say my food palate is well versed in the intricacies of Chinese cuisine but what matters most to me is that it's comfort food. The noodle and beef dishes are all very good and actually not as greasy as you might expect. Lets be honest though the star of the show is the peking duck. Perfectly cooked and seasoned duck with crispy skin, but it in the wrap's with some fresh onion and it's the perfect bite. I could go here just to order the Peking duck and be incredibly happy. One duck probably feeds 4-6 people depending on your appetite. They have one nice dessert dish which is banana which they drop with piping hot caramel and then proceed to drop it into a cold ice bath to solidify the crunchy caramel on the outside. Definitely a delicious dessert and I'm not usually one to ever look at a dessert menu at a chinese restaurant. The restaurant is large with a lot of seating. But if space and comfort is your thing, that would be the one negative here. They really squeeze in as many tables as possible which is understandable given the constant flow of restaurant patrons on any given night. That's a positive for me if you can go on a tuesday night and see the restaurant full. I would definitely advise making a reservation in advance. It's definitely fun to look around the walls and see all the presidents, celebrities, politicians, and war hero's who have eaten there and had their picture taken with the owners. Even if you aren't a huge fan of Chinese food this place is kind of a culinary instituition in the Northern Virginia area, so don't be afraid to give it a try despite being located in a pretty sketchy looking strip mall in Falls Church VA near bailey's crossroads. The interior is nice.
(5)
Henry R.

This place is located off of route 7 at a busy area in Falls Church. Finding a parking here on a busy weekend can be a nightmare. Make sure to make reservations in advance for a weekend. Inside, it is big, but very close-quartered. On the walls throughout the restaurant, you could find famous celebrities, war generals, to president who have previously dined here taking picture with the owner. Peking Gourmet Inn has arguably the best Peking ducks you can find in the area and this is what my rating here is solely based on. This is what they specializes in, this is what they are known for and they do a good job at it. Now the price is very steep for the Peking ducks as well as other dishes. But this is a place that can only churn out Peking ducks that is good and unique to this place. That is why we only come to this place on special occasions mainly just for the Peking ducks - Asian family style. I have been here numerous times with family members and friends just for the duck. You can't come to this place and not have the duck. In my honest opinion, all other dishes on the menu aside from the duck are way overpriced. I can find cheaper eats elsewhere if I wanted the other dishes listed here. The ducks will come out with a duck butler who will carve the whole duck out table-side, carefully skinning the meats and skins without the fats. The ducks are served with pancakes, plum sauce, and also cucumber strips and green peppers upon request. Combined together, it is phenomenal. I have had other dishes here too which aren't bad and it comes in large portion. But I would take the Peking ducks over these dishes anytime when I'm dining here. I highly recommend the Peking ducks!
(5)
Dylan K.

This place is just okay. Great duck, but at $40, i don't notice a real difference between this duck and the one i get at Shanghai village in bethesda - other than the pancakes are misshapen and the onions are a bit tangier here. The garlic sauce with the spring rolls was AWESOME. After that, everything else was just okay. The szechuan beef proper seems to be famous, and whenever i go here with my extended family, they rave about it. Tastes just like any "crispy beef" to me. We also ordered scallops with black bean sauce, some kind of deep fried shrimp with salt on it, and some of the chicken with garlic sprouts. Oh and string beans. Completely unremarkable, wouldn't ever go out of my way to eat any of the entrees again. If not for the duck and the garlic sauce, 1 star without a doubt. Fortunately they are both awesome. If you haven't had peking duck before, its definitely worth getting the once.
(3)
Xi H.

I just don't understand the popularity. Granted, we didn't get the duck (as it's mega-expensive) but to me a quality restaurant will have more than one decent dish on the menu. This place isn't terrible, but it's quite pricey and the food is just not that good. I ordered some breaded chicken and it didn't taste like much - aside from smoke. It was as if the cooking oil was scalding or there was something else in the kitchen that burned and flavored everything else in there. The wait staff was good about taking it back and replacing it with a different dish, but that too had a similar taste. Basically, it's very expensive - even for something other than the duck - and the food is really not that good at all. Save your money and your time and go somewhere else.
(2)
Naoum A.

Duck is a must have. Szechuan beef, the jeong shrimp and basically everything is on else is on point.
(5)
Dave J.

I never thought I would give an unqualified 5 star review for a Chinese restaurant. Yet Peking Gourmet gets 5 unqualified stars. I had always wondered what high quality Chinese cooking was like; in addition I had always wanted to try Peking Duck. I had heard that in the N. Virginia area Peking Gourmet was known to serve Peking Duck as their signature dish. The wife and made an early dinner reservation and were treated to a truly outstanding meal. We arrived at a very non-descript rundown looking strip shopping center. However once entering the restaurant everything changed. I would describe the decor as very cool traditional old style classic Chinese, whatever that means. It was still very early evening yet was still quite busy. We told or waitress this was or first time here and that we had heard the Peking Duck was very good. She told us that if this was our first time the Peking Duck was a must and was a perfect serving for 2 people, perfect! It can with pancakes, hoisin sauce, spring onion strips and cucumber strips. Since this was our first visit we ordered their Gourmet Lettuce wraps, Hot and Sour soup and four Season String beans, too much food for sure but we really wanted to try and sample as much as we could. The left over's would be taken home. The lettuce wraps came quickly and were delicious, the hot and sour soup the was the best I have had. Next the duck, wow, amazing. The hoisin sauce, onion and cucumber were brought to the table, 2 minutes later a whole golden brown duck arrive on a cart was expertly sliced table side. First the skin was removed and the excess fat scraped from the back of each super crispy piece and place on a large platter next came very thin slices of duck. While all this was going on or waitress assembled our perking duck pancakes, which she then expertly rolled into a small wrap. All I can say was it was better than I could have expected. The combination of the tender duck, crispy skin with the onions, cucumber and hoisin was amazing. The green beans were cooked perfectly, crispy with just a little heat and served piping hot. Everything we ordered combined to make one of the best meals we had had in a long time. We can't wait to go back and sample some of their other dishes. Service was impeccable from start to finish, as the evening wore on it got very busy. Yet service never showed even the slightest hint of slipping. The service was every bit as good as the food. Prices while higher that your typical Chinese is very reasonable, expect to pay in the $17 +/- for a given entrÃ©e. Our Perking duck was $39 and plenty for 2 people. FYI - make a reservation or you'll be eating somewhere else. You will not get a table if you don't, I learned the hard way on my first visit. In the end I can't recommend Peking duck enough, it takes Chinese cooking to a whole new level.
(5)
Kayla H.

Good food. Huge portions. If you go, get duck. That's the lesson I learned. I gave it four stars based on the service. Every employee treats you like an important guest and they are very attentive at filling glasses, answering questions, etc. If nothing else, this place has classy service. A+++
(4)
Asher Jude C.

The food is very good however, the service deserves negative stars. I took my parent out for their 50th Anniversary and we made a reservation for a party of 25. We waited for over an hour for our table. After sitting down for an hour, the owner told us that we need to hurry up and leave because other people are waiting. How can a party of 25 people eat in an hour!? She kept rushing us. I finally got fed up with how rude she was being that I told her I would never come back and her response, "that's fine because I get plenty of business as it is already so hurry and pay." Unbelievable. There's plenty of other peking duck places around. I can do without the rude customer service from the OWNER herself.
(1)
Ryan W.

What the what? I have over 550 Yelp reviews under my belt and yet I haven't posted a word on my favorite Chinese restaurant??? Let's fix this right now. Peking Gourmet Inn is probably the best thing to come out of a relationship with an ex-girlfriend. She and her family took me there almost 15 years ago, and I've been going ever since. When my family comes out from California to visit, this is the ONLY DC-area restaurant they insist we visit. This is high quality (Americanized) Chinese cuisine. There are also a fair number of Chinese patrons, so I can only assume there's a "grown-ups" menu for those of the Asian persuasion. The Peking Duck is the signature dish, obviously. The duck is cooked perfectly and carved tableside, including crispy skin, onions, pancakes, sauce and cucumbers (seasonal). I won't go through the many other excellent dishes, but suffice it to say PGI uses high quality ingredients - no mystery chicken parts in the Walnut Chicken, just chunks of actual breast meat. The jao-yen shrimp are huge and amazing. Service is extremely friendly - most of the servers have been there for years. The only downsides to PGI are the long waits and a relatively expensive bill - but it's worth it.
(5)
Deborah S.

Their Peking Duck is THE BEST in the US. I live in the West Coast (Nor Cal) but my husband is from Maryland. So whenever we fly back to visit his family in friends, we make it a point to eat at Peking Gourmet Inn. Their duck is delicious, clean and sliced fresh table-side so we know where our food is coming from. They take care to trim the fat which is good but there are times I wish they would leave a little duck fat on there for my own indulgence. Not only is their duck delicious but all of the dishes I have tried (i.e. Jeo-yan Shrimp, Szechuan Beef Proper, Chilean Sea Bass Peking Style and Steak Norther Style to name a few) are all superb! I love that the duck comes with thin MuShu Pancakes rather than the overfilling buns. The only reason I give them 4 stars is because they do not have changing table and I have been there three times with my infant so I had to use chairs in the back of the restaurant. Not fun when it's snowing outside and so it gets cold back there.
(4)
Ryan L.

I went here at the suggestion of a friend and was immediately taken back by their wallpaper: the pictures of famous people with the owner. Among them are Jerry Sinefield, and George W Bush. I have had a few things of theirs but there is only one thing you need to eat here: The Duck. If you want a "Duck Tale" of your own or even if you are on the fence about it, this duck was featured on "Best Thing I ever ate" and it has earned that. I would also highly recommend the hot and sour soup since they have the best hot and sour soup I have ever had. If I have not sold you on this yet, I had a project manager who works in the federal practice but lives in North Carolina. Every time he has to fly up here for business he makes it a point to eat at this restaurant. You wont regret coming here, I know I never do.
(5)
Miguel P.

Where is the 0 stars. We had reservations for 8:00 PM it's 8:46 and we haven't been sat. I requested to talk to the Manager after a couple of complaints, and the owner greeted me and didn't even apologize. They are rude and have the worst customer service.
(1)
R J A.

Another great visit to Peking Gourmet Inn. I made a reservation earlier in the week for Saturday night at 7:30, but when I showed up, my reservation was nowhere to be found in their book. However, even with a packed house and my disappearing reservation, the hostess found a table for me right on time, and then BOOM... Delicious Peking Duck. The food was amazing as always, but the service was exceptional from beginning to end. 5 stars (again) for great food and amazing service. Thank you, Peking Gourmet Inn, for another great meal.
(5)
Sandy T.

Has to be one of my favorite chinese restaurant and I don't think I will ever get tired of their duck! It's so good! Their are plethora of authentic chinese dishes on the menu but it's always better to ask the waitors and if you're chinese, it's a plus. They'll recommend the real stuff. However, do make reservations, this place gets packed! especially towards dinner time. There is one dish on the menu I personally wouldn't recommend. It's a fried beef dish; meat was hard and dry...
(4)
Yvette T.

Pitch black. Dirt two-lane road. Your headlights sweep across a sign that reads: Road Ends Ahead. Having yet to reach your destination, you forge ahead only to see a second warning. Refusing to accept reality, you eventually pass a third and final sign "End of the Road" while flying off the cliff into the canyon, Thelma and Louise style. Though not quite as tragic, warning signs abound for those seeking authentic Chinese food at Peking Gourmet Inn. Warning #1: The fact that Peking Gourmet Inn is the only Chinese restaurant I have ever been to that has a bar. Denial response: Owners just trying to entertain the never ending flow of guests awaiting a table at the popular restaurant. Warning #2: Aside from a large table celebrating a birthday, our table was the only other table of Chinese people. Denial response: Falls Church, VA is no San Gabriel Valley (in Los Angeles). Warning #3: The restaurant is said to be a favorite of the Bush family. Denial response: Hey, everyone's gotta eat. Those brave enough to continue down the road to Peking Gourmet Inn despite the warnings will be rewarded with a rather authentic Peking Duck dish for $38. With the restaurant serving roughly 500 ducks a day, the carvers have developed the masterful skill of shaving the skin off the duck without leaving an ounce of fat. For customers new to the dish, the wait staff is more than happy to assemble a "taco" (pictured below) for you as an example. The duck itself was impeccable: warm, crispy skin with the right amount of flavoring. However, the bing (thin pancakes for wrapping) was overly moist, which as it lost heat, became slightly soggy. A plate of cucumbers can be added for an additional $3. After the duck, the road took a wrong turn. The sauce for the fresh shitake mushrooms with Chinese baby greens (bok choy) was excessively sweet. Chilean sea bass Peking style, a recommendation from our waitress, was the culinary equivalent to a hot tranny mess; barely tasting like Chilean sea bass, it did not blend well with the sauce In the end, Peking Gourmet Inn can only be classified as a one-hit wonder (or a marketing marvel). For the unfamiliar, the restaurant is the simple way to experience the Beijing tradition of duck without hopping on a plane. My recommendation is to just order the duck, and save the rest of your money for Panda Express, which offers the same inauthentic Chinese food for a third of the price. Pictures: bit.ly/aekvI8
(3)
Patrick G.

Overpriced and overrated. Go to Duck Chang's in Annandale if you want the real deal (they BROUGHT Peking Duck to NoVA long before PGI) at a much better price.
(3)
Sushi C.

The do a great duck, no doubt, but don't miss the other dishes (walnut chicken, garlic shrimp, stir fried veggies, etc) . I have been there a few times and every time I am impressed by the quantity of food in each plate: this justifies the prices which are on the high side. Not a place to go if you are on a diet, but do not hesitate to ask for your leftovers. And be mindful that this place is VERY popular so be patient when waiting for a table even if you had reservations. The restaurant is huge but still gets mobbed. The Bush family/cronies photos all around the restaurant are an additional interesting detail.
(4)
Emily N.

My family and i come here around the Christmas and New Yearish time! This place is packed to the max. So it's highly recommended to come with a reservation. It's definitely the place to be if your in the VA area. When you walk in, yeah it's not the fanciest place. Yeah it's not the most well presented place. But it's filled with pictures upon pictures of very well known celebrities, congressman's to even the presidents with autographs filling the large room! Literally i crave the peking duck sometimes. Sometimes? Actually that's an understatement. I crave the crispy, tender, savory yet sweet from the hoisin sauce, peking duck. When you come here, it's a must that you order the peking duck. The duck comes to your table hot and crispy. Then the server begins to slowly yet delicately carve the duck right of it's carcass with such technique. Your left with the best duck you've ever tasted. So moist and the crispy skin is honestly the best treat you'll ever have. Then you wrap that up in their homemade "pancakes" with your choice of spring onions which are grown in their farms privately, hoisin sauce, and or cucumbers. Perfection. (Also you can ask them to wrap up the carcass to bring home to make a homemade stock if you into that) Another thing that i find irresistible about this place would have to be their, "Jeo-Yan Shrimp" which are jumbo shrimp lightly battered and fried to a crisp golden brown, topped off with a mix of spices. Simply amazing. The "Garlic Sprouts Stir-Fried with Chickens" are also something you must try. Another thing that my family and i must get when we visit this place are the mini steamed dumplings. So tiny yet a perfect pop of taste. Service is usually a hit or miss. Though the last time we went, our server was very energetic for being us being there on New Years! So kind of that man. Though it is rather very pricey, it's truly something to look forward to once or twice a year.
(4)
Angel W.

SO GOOD. I grew up eating super authentic Chinese food at home, but I crave good old Americanized chinese all the time. Peking Gourmet has got to be the gold standard for superior American-Chinese food, all their entrees are catered for non Asians and any time you go, 75% of the patrons are Caucasian. The duck is an ~exotic touch, but who wouldn't love perfectly crisp skin with a slight hint of fat (the carvers are pretty skilled at grazing the fat off) and fresh duck meat? for $40/duck you don't get much besides 2 nicely plated slices of meat and skin, but I can almost look past that. though last time I went, a roach was crawling down my tablecloth. one star off for that, keep the roaches in the kitchen where I can't see them!
(4)
Catherine H.

I've been coming here since I was a kid. Hands-down the best Chinese food around
(5)
Mike E.

Peking duck was presented in fine fashion and tasted great - despite having to sit underneath the pictures of all those Republican senators! We had great service. We were even accommodated without a lot of notice; it was just about full when we called in from the parking lot for seating for two - and the hostess said Come on in! Very glad to have gone. Service was excellent, and the Mrs, forever the cook, asked for the bone so that she can make soup, sauce or whatever. Our waiter came back with two of them wrapped separately and securely in plastic wrap. --I would go again and try something else, but this place is a little pricey. And although it's not formal, a lot of folks were all dressed up - even the kids!
(4)
Sunny P.

We made reservation for 7:30 pm but we got there 30 minutes early hoping we'd get seated but it was so crowded so we ended up waiting. We ordered so much snow crab asparagus soup, something yun bao, peking duck and shrimp garlic sprout. The waiter kind of rushed us when we ordered but food was delicious! highly recommend when you are in dc area :)
(5)
Gabrielle B.

Pros: Food is delicious. The Peking duck is perfectly done, but if you want something healthier, the steamed chicken and vegetables is light, delicious and is made with chicken breast. The seafood is fresh and they have an abundance of vegetables to choose from if you don't like meat or fish. Service is great. Negatives: The wait staff work hard to turn the tables over quickly so this isn't the place to sit and catch up with friends. You have to make a reservation or you won't get in. The restaurant is large so when it is crowded, it is really hard to hear.
(4)
Duy N.

the gold standard of peking duck. that is all.
(5)
Thomas C.

I have been to this restaurant many times over the last 20 years and it is awesome. However, some people on this site seem to think that this place is some sort of fancy restaurant; it is not, it is just bomb ass Chinese food. The place is a must if you are in the NOVA area. The Peking Duck is expensive but awesome. I also love the Szechuan Beef, as they make it nice and crispy here. The other dishes are good, nice versions of relatively standard American Chinese fare. If you have a large party during the week, you may need reservations. Weekends and holidays, all parties will need reservations. For a Chinese place the service is good.
(4)
Molly G.

Ordered crab rangoons and egg rolls to start. Over cooked and not great flavor. Had ginger shrimp and chicken and snow peas for entrees. All of it was pretty bland - nothing that I was excited about. Worst part was the service. We had also ordered the Singapore noodles and they forgot it completely. When we mentioned it, they weren't even apologetic. We won't be going back.
(2)
Marina D.

This is my favorite restaurant on the Planet!! ONly order the Duck and the Hot and sour soup. Anything else is a total waste of the room in your stomach. This will be the most unique meal you will ever eat. They sell over 1000 long islands ducks a week for a reason. This may not be your favorite too, but you will love it i guarantee.
(5)
Amy C.

The wait is crazy on a weekend evening, so try to avoid that if you can...they do call-ahead seating to get on list though. Peking duck is very good (ask for bones to take home if you like those for soup), though I think I really liked the dish for the homemade wraps and blend of flavors inside. When I ate the duck on its own, it didn't have as much flavor as I'd expected. The lamb chops are the BEST I've ever had (they advertise lamb is from New Zealand)...I'm not a lamb fan, and I liked that more than the duck (and I am a duck fan). Service is great, where I was impressed with how the hostess managed the crazy large crowd. Price is expensive for Chinese, though I think you get what you pay for - quality authentic Chinese food with amazing service. Trust the waiter too - he has excellent taste (at least ours did)!
(4)
Wai W.

My cousin took my family here for dinner one time. Let me tell you, the Peking Duck here is "WOW! .... just WOW!" Then for the next 3 days we ate here for lunch and Dinner. The service was very nice for Chinese restaurant. It may be a little expensive, but it was well worth it. The Peking duck was not oily at all. The skin was really CRISPY. They server skillfully carved the skin in front of us and was quick. Their hoisin sauce and pancake was tasty. The soup served to us was with the left over duck bones. That was good too. Then we had Stirred Fried Duck Meat with Veggie, that was good too. Err... we didn't order anything else except the those above. =P Definitely two ducks up! =) If you go anywhere else for Peking Ducks in DC or VA, you'll be disappointed.
(5)
Danish Z.

Excellent Peking Duck but disturbing trend occurring - year after year the food other than the Peking duck is declining, as is the service. Waiters now seem annoyed with customers, food arrives before drinks and in haphazard order (entrÃ©es before appetizers). I understand they do a lot of business and the Peking Duck is amazing buts its really turned into a factory with ok food and now the duck is the only reason to go....
(2)
Casey D.

This looks like a consistently well reviewed place, and I'm going to add my stamp. I've had Chinese in China and this is on par with anything I've had over there. I was dining alone and got the 1/2 peking duck. It was very good.
(4)
Ina C.

This duck is phenomenal. I wondered why this place seemed somehow different from others, and then I went to their website and saw that they grow their own green onions, make their own hoisin sauce and make their own pancakes! It's pretty common for diners to ask for the carcass (I wish there were a more pleasant word for this) to take home. We took two of them home, made some broth, hardly seasoned it at all, dumped in some rice, and it was deeeelicious. The way they season their duck is near perfection. Amazing!
(4)
Jon Y.

As with all my reviews...to come, I believe in rating places based on their best thing to offer that compensates for any downers the place may have. 5 of 5 for their ducks: By far the best Peking Duck yet. Soft juicy meat, perfectly peeled crispy skin, and incredibly balanced plum sauce that adds creamy texture and offsets the bitterness of crisp spring onions with its sweetness. Shredded fresh cucumber adds the refreshing and cool taste to the oily bird. Another great twist is their fresh cut green hot peppers always packed with a great flavor which also keeps the oily taste neutralized. All wrapped in a moist thin pancake, this wrap is as perfect as it gets as a wrap in texture, taste, and flavors...if wrapped right. When you reach that perfect balance, you can call it the heavenly wrap. 4.2 for Pork with Garlic Sprouts (When available): One of their most flavorful dishes. f you are adventurous, ask them to make it spicy. They will add their fresh green hot peppers to it which adds a great flavor and kick to already flavorful dish. 4.2 for Seafood Pan-Fried Noodle: Great noodle filler to have. All the seafood in this dish is also all jumbo size. Real snow crab meat, jumbo shrimp, jumbo scallops, mushrooms, vegetables. I always ask for extra sauce on the side in case the noodle is bland which happened a few times. Other dishes i like are: Szechuan Beef Proper. I don't like any other dishes they have. In all other dishes, they play it "safe". You won't go wrong with them but they wont put a smile on your face. ALWAYS make reservations and don't show up late unless you like people bumping into your back and forth while you are waiting in line for 45 minutes.
(5)
David F.

The Peking Duck experience here is well worth the almost $40 per duck. They carve it for you tableside, laying the slices of crispy skin along with slices of breast together on a plate. Dark meat gets cut from the drumsticks and thighs and are placed on another plate. The duck comes with sides of shredded green onion, julienned cucumber (ask for it if they don't give it to you), hoisin sauce, and handmade "pancakes" to wrap all that goodness up. If you like spicy foods, than you can also ask for hot peppers cut thinly in soy sauce, and add those to your wraps too. The duck is easily one of the best meals I've ever had, and it's been consistently good for 20+ years. I can't really speak much about the rest of the menu because every time we go we just order 2 - 4 ducks!! Don't forget to ask them to pack up the leftover bones/carcass from the carving. You can use it to make stock etc.
(5)
Hen A.

when i asked va folks where i can find the best peking duck....everybody pointed to this place ....the entrance walls are littered from floor to ceiling with photographs of famous patrons from movie stars to presidents....even with a reservation it was a long 40 minute wait....only to be seated in a cramp little table....my peking duck came on a cart...the server masterfully carved slice after slice of delicious moist peking duck...did the wait and craving make it taste better?...but..it was one of the best i have ever tasted....typically not a fan of white meat....but here it was exceptional....i carefully built my peking duck "tacos" with a piece of skin...a bit of white meat...a bit of dark meat...my hoisin sauce and bits of greens for decoration.....it was worth the wait....and a definite experience....
(4)
Andrew F.

Best. Peking. Duck. Ever. AMAZING!! Come here if you're ready for a TREAT! This place is famous ... as it should be!
(5)
T N.

My family and I love this place for their Peking Duck. It's a little on the pricey side (about $30 for a duck) but it is definitely worth it! We usually order 2-3 ducks when we go there and we enjoy every bit of it. We even ask for the bones to go. The only other dish that my family and I enjoy there is the fried shrimp, but that's it. We've ordered a lot of the other dishes but were extremely disappointed with all of them, even the soups. One time, we ordered the chinese broccoli with oyster sauce and it was extremely salty and had to make the waiter take it back. Seriously, stick with just the Peking Duck and you won't be disappointed. The service is very friendly. We always seem to get the old Chinese men who are so nice and cute in a grandpa-ish way haha if that makes sense? The place is always packed especially on the weekends but the service for us never failed. I can't wait to go back for my mom's birthday!
(4)
Todd K.

I've given this place three tries. The first time I went I was impressed by the decor, the numerous pictures of presidents, generals, tons of military personnel and other important persons posted all over the walls, and the general style of the place. That has since died since it is mostly a first-glance thing. In the three times I have gone I have not been impressed with the food at all. I was told that this is THE place to go for Chinese food in the area, not because of what important people have been there but rather just because the food is great. The first time I went with generic dishes you can get from any Chinese place. Verdict: the same or better quality of generic American-Chinese dishes can be had at any run-of-the-mill Chinese food restaurant in your area. The second time I went with chef specialties, one of which looked so delicious that an Asian family next to us asked the waiter to order it for themselves (I mean that never happens, usually it is the American family asking the Asian family what they are eating and getting that). Verdict: eh. One of our dishes was terrible, the other was not too bad, but a bit too much vegetables for my liking. The third time I went was after a recommendation from a colleague of mine who said that if you go to this place one should ONLY get the Peking duck, everything else is just "eh", so for $38 I went with a friend and got the full duck. Apparently this place is known for Peking duck (I guess that explains the name, PEKING Gourmet Inn, and the duck logo on the outside of the building. The presentation is amazing; the duck looks delicious, the waiter will cut the meat off the bone and present it beautifully on the plate and will even go so far as to make the dish for you, placing a pancake on your plate and filling it with sauce, cucumber, scallion, duck skin and duck meat. But the verdict? It tastes great, but I was not impressed. For $38 I'd expect a lot more meat, and the meat wasn't all that tasty - in other words I really couldn't tell a difference between it and my mom's chicken other than the color. So what it comes down to is a great looking place that many important people frequent which probably explains the exorbitant prices you should expect to pay for food that (I think) tastes worse than the run-of-the-mill places around the corner. Oh, and they charge you $1.10 for standard hot tea...
(2)
Angelus H.

All I have to say is OH MY GOD...or for you fancy Texters..OMG (a.k.a. OMFG)......I can't speak for any of the other dishes but that $39 Duck is to die for.....I was eatin here out of a dinner invitation from my friend and he told me not to bother with ordering anything else....according to him...it all sucks donkey d*ck.... We ordered the Duck and it was enough for 2 people...and Im a hefty eater. We also drank the Chrysantheum tea....its naturally sweet and and soft...helped digest the food and complimented our meal perfectly.......On the down side...We decided to order the Banana Something something for dessert.....Yeah...It was kinda nasty.sooooooo....just order the duck and tea....forget everything else.
(4)
Jules B.

If you like Peking Duck, there is no place on earth better than Peking Gourmet Inn in Falls Church VA. There are three factors for great Peking Duck. 1. The skin is crispy and light. 2. The crepe is soft and moist. 3. The sauce is delicious and smooth. On top of all this, the fat is scraped away from the meat and skin to make it a healthier meal. I have attended this restaurant since 1975 and the service and food is just awesome!
(5)
Eliza C.

Ok Beijing duck, regular americanized chinese meals. Nothing original about thisrestaurant. Duck is cut infront of you but they do no use any gloves while handling the duck.
(3)
Sara J.

When we moved from DC's City Lights of China delivery zone, I was worried we'd never find a delicious chinese place in NoVa. But Peking Gourmet Inn is an institution. They don't deliver but have an amazing vibe at the restaurant you don't want to miss. Old school, packed with families and the no-nonsense servers wear maroon tuxedo jackets. Awesome experience -- oh-- and the cashew chicken is to die for, as is the steamed bok choy. Skip the beef dishes.
(4)
Adam M.

This place is great. The closest thing to Peking duck that I had in Beijing. Service is fast and friendly and the food is excellent. Do yourself a favor and eat here
(5)
Kristy C.

Final Assessment Overall Experience: 10/10 Food: 1010 Decor: 7/10 Tab for six: $150 (including tax and 18% tip) Would I go back here? YES, yummiest Chinese food ever! For many pictures from Peking Gourmet Inn and better description, please visit my blog! :) thechewycookie.blogspot.â€¦
(5)
John F.

Peking Duck a must. Definitely worthy of a spot on food network "Best Thing I Ever Ate". Will definitely be coming back.
(5)
David L.

Well, the duck was supposedly all the rave here. I'm not a duck eater, but will try anything once. I will say that I never knew roasted duck could be so tasty. The pancakes (flour shells) were fresh and the veggies (shallots and english cukes) were portioned perfectly to fit the pancakes. It was really good and the service was excellent. Our server prepared the duck for us and it was visually "fun" to watch. We also had sesame beef proper and the shrimp Jeo Yan or something like that. The shrimp was good, but I found the beef too sweet for my palate. Got a duck to go for my bro. How cool does that sound?
(4)
Dan C.

Disclaimer: I didn't have the duck and ordered the Szechuan Beef and the Four Season Split Beans. This review is separated in to two sections. Read the section that applies to you. For non-Chinese/3rd+ generation ABC bananas/individuals unfamiliar with real Chinese cuisine-- Clearly, truly, and surely the pinnacle of Chinese cuisine in the Washington D.C. metro area. Anything and everything on the menu is sure to please your palette. You'll feel that the menu, while pricey, was money well spent. Make sure to take all your non-Chinese/Chinese-who-don't-speak-Mandarin-or-ÂCantonese friends to this restaurant. For Chinese/1st or 1.5 generation boaters/individuals well-acquainted with real Chinese cuisine-- Run for the frigging hills. Keep anyone you care about away from this place and maintain your distance. To declare favor for the Peking Gourmet Inn is to reveal your inner banana and declare your love for bleach baths. The Peking Gourmet Inn is a culinary travesty. I can't speak for the duck, but the other dishes were bland and the seasoning/spices did not penetrate the meat or the vegetables. Let me put it this way: I'm used to pairing my rice with meat when taking a bite of dinner, but the meat was so bland that I found myself pairing rice with the beans for taste. I had to visit McDonald's after my meal at the Peking Gourmet Inn to wash down the bitter aftertaste of mediocrity with large fries. Red flags: #1--Cheesy English zodiac placemats at each table. Any restaurant using cheesy English zodiac placemats are automatically suspect. #2--There's sugar at the table. What true boater puts sugar in their teas? #3--A fork and a knife are the standard utensils in the folded napkin. Chopsticks are brought out separately. #4--There's no Chinese menu. It's a Chinese restaurant, but there's no Chinese menu. What does that say about the clientele? #5--The Asian-looking-people-to-Others ratio was too low. If you're in a Chinese restaurant, but nobody is Chinese...
(1)
Robin M.

By far the best all around dining experience I have had in Virginia! Our waiter Won was amazing, funny, helpful and on his game! The food was very good, I just wish they would have chopped the Peking duck whole, bones and all.
(4)
elizabeth g.

The food was delicious. Absolutely amazing. I love Asian food and wanted to go somewhere nicer/more upscale for my birthday. A group of friends and I went (6 people total) and chose the Group A group dinner choice. There was a lot of food. In fact, we had a variety of leftovers. The first cours is hot and sour soup, which comes in individual cups. Also with the first course is cabbage and celery (soaked in peanut sauce I believe). I didn't really like the cabbage, but my friends did. It tasted like cole slaw to me. Next, the staff brings out sauce for the duck, onions, and cucumbers to put in the pancakes with the duck. We had 6 people; so, they carved two ducks. They seperated the dark meat, white meat, and skin. They also saved the legs for us. THE DUCK IS DIVINE! After the duck, we had fried rice, shrimp with asparagus, peppered beef, and string beans. More and more food kept coming. It was all so tasty. After the main course, we had a glass of cucumber juice and then some mango ice cream. The ice cream was so creamy and delicious. All in all, I would definitely recommend this place for a special occassion/group dinner. I'm not sure I would go here with just one other person though... It seems to be much better in a group setting.
(5)
Faye C.

I've been here quite a bit, usually when family comes in from out of town and we want to impress them. It's usually quite solid. The duck skin is crisp the meat is tender and juicy. The thin crepes are freshly made. I usually also have the excellent garlic sprouts and shrimp. After having dinner there on a busy night- Easter- I have to withhold one star from my rating. The duck was not fresh. It came much quicker than usual indicating to me that they had roasted a bunch in advance. The skin was not crisp as usual. They also ran out of their garlic sprouts by 6pm, so we ordered their special spring onions instead. These were overcooked in too much oil. And lastly we ordered their tofu, which was unremarkable if not a little bland. I'll most likely be back, but never again on a holiday. And I'm never ordering their spring onions again if they're out of garlic sprouts.
(4)
Kevin J.

Delicious again. Went here with a huge group of people for a post-new years celebration. Service was great and as always, the duck was amazing. Get the duck...GET THE DUCK! Quack!
(4)
Scott V.

It's all about getting a golden, crispy duck carved tableside. If you like mouth-watering waterfowl and trips back in time to when waiters wore matching suit coats, then this place is for you. We also ordered some vegetables and a crispy beef entree, but I didn't think they were worth the money. Just get duck, and thou shalt be happy. 'Nuf said!
(5)
Anisha H.

Omg I love Peking Gourmet Inn!!! Best duck in NOVA for sure, they carve the duck for u n make u a pancake roll that taste soo yummy. Besides the duck, I had their lamb chops, black pepper shrimp! The food just sends my taste buds to heaveeenn!! I have never had a bad dish here. Just remember if u plan on going here, I highly recommend making reservations, they r always full. Parking is never an issue and the best part...their food is reasonable :) I can't wait to go bk ..best Chinese food ever.
(5)
kristy r.

Duck is the best. Bar none, Superb! The chinese tortillas that they give you to make your duck tacos are so moist and juicy. The plum sauce is on point and the spring onions are what give it that snap that make your taste buds explode. Our typical order consists of a whole duck (duh), garlic shrimp and shredded beef. I believe this it what President Bush II would order when visiting Peking. They take pride in everything they do even the fried rice so if you choose to stray from the Presidential menu be not afraid.
(5)
Elliot L.

not only is the duck great, but their other chinese food items are great. if you don't get the duck, you'll be the only table without it. we enjoyed the fried shrimp and the chinese string beans. both great. highly recommended, but that's not new. get reservations if you can, otherwise expect a wait on any given night.
(4)
John C.

Great food. Very crowded but that's usually a good sign that something is right at this restaurant. Once we were seated, the food came out quickly, was delicious, and the service was also excellent. Because of how busy the place is, things can get a little hectic but as long as you expect it, it's part of the experience. Lots of food, very reasonably priced, and delicious.
(5)
Thomas W.

Pay attention to the name! There are many wonderful dishes here, but the Peking Duck is the reason this place is famous. The thousands of quality Long Island Ducks brought to the PGI have made this place the Asian restaurant for Power Lunches in the USA. If you come for lunch, try out the wonderful Peking Spring Chicken and the wonderful specials. I am not a fan of the pan fried noodles here--too large. The barbecued ribs, and all of the great meat dishes are the way to go here. If you are vegetarian, they have some wonderful bean curd dishes, especially szechuan style. The spinach with garlic, Chinese broccoli, and bok choy dishes are also outstanding. If you look at the many pictures of Presidents, military personnel, and celebrities, and talk to the friendly wait staff you will know you are in a special place. Please give yourself time to fight the traffic and find parking. Hopefully, the PGI will stay open and unchanged for many years to come.
(4)
Hyunoo P.

I came here for something that wasn't the duck. FML
(2)
Monica W.

This is by far my favorite Chinese restaurant. It never disappoints! It is a little expensive, but entirely worth it. The Peking duck is one of my favorite dishes ever, any cuisine! Their lemon chicken is also the best I've ever had. I brought my father here for father's day this year and he was totally blown away. I noticed some complaints about wait time from some people, but they do accept reservations, and that eliminates all wait time. The service here is also amazing. They are very attentive, great a suggesting items that would go well with what you're ordering, but they don't hover or intrude on your meal.
(5)
Derek K.

In a town of watered down "Chinese" restaurants, this place took me way back to my childhood where my parents used to take me to authentic joints with Chinese waiters and waitresses running back and forth like there was a fire in the kitchen! If you're going on a weekend, make a reservation. The first and only time I went, they were moving people by the masses. I noticed there were at least 3 people who came separately who wanted a table for one. People don't normally dine dolo unless the place is legit! The duck was the best I had in some time... and the fact that they carve and assemble your first 3-4 wraps is amazing! Our waitress in particular was very good with her utensils and worked through the duck like a skilled craftsman. We got so many different dishes and two glasses of wine, and we still only came to around $75 or so. I'm going back!
(5)
April G.

Love the duck! We have been here several times and everytime our experience is wonderful. We are not fond of the noodles expecially at the hefty price that comes with them. The duck is worth every penny. You will not find a better place to get duck in the DC/VA area better. We did try the garlic sprouts (a favorite of Pres. Bush) and they were tasty. Definately a great place to try when you are looking for something different or want to impress out of town guests.
(5)
Chatsphotogpilot C.

This is the Chinese restaurant that D.C.'s famous flock to. Its walls are peppered with photographs of Presidents and Senators. Good Singapore noodles, excellent hot and sour soup. Wonderful stir-fried bokchoy. Vegetable gyoza are bursting with ginger flavor. Their signature chicken dish is very good, as is the Peking Duck. Crisp on the outside, moist and juicy inside. Wonderful with the accompaniments (duck sauce, scallions, all wrapped up in a pancake). Very highly recommended.
(5)
Tuan N.

Best Peking Duck In Nova
(4)
David K.

Are you seriously checking Yelp to find out about Peking Gourmet Inn? Have you not heard about it from like 17,343 people, all of them saying that its like the best thing ever? Well, it is like the best thing ever. Go there. NOW! Go with at least 4 total people, if not more, its way more fun that way.
(4)
Nicole C.

Ate the peking duck about 2 weeks ago- all i can say is that the duck had crispy skin, juicy meat and was overall FANTASTIC! I will definitely be dining again.
(5)
Duke C.

Duck done right....mostly I'm a big fan of peking duck and have tried it many places - including a few times in Beijing! This one was pretty darn close - here's my rundown: 1) Duck Skin - crispy skin, great separation of skin off the duck to make for remarkable carving. 2) Duck Meat - tender, they claim to use long island ducks which is the best you can get in the US IMO. The ducks are pretty small so while you don't get a lot in quantity this also means they are very soft. 3) Duck Fat - this is the real shame. I know it's fat but it's part of the taste and experience of having the delicious fat squirt into the sides of your mouth. When the carve the duck here they scrape off all the fat. I can't abide by this at all and it lost a 1/2 star for me on this one. I hope the save the fat for other uses. 4) Pancakes - another lost star on this one - they tasted more like mexican tortillas than mandarin pancakes. They were very grainy and heavy - quite the opposite of what they should be. 5) Fixings - The cucumbers and scallions were fresh but I prefer them sliced much thinner. The sauce seemed a bit runny but still good flavor. We also ordered the Peking Shrimg and Scallops which were quite disappointing - a giant pile of bamboo and water chestnuts. I'd stick with the duck with this place. Reservations definitely recommended as the place was packed.
(3)
Martin F.

Peking Gourmet is one of those places that smothers you entirely in an unrivaled sensory experience that leaves you yearning for more. I first heard about this little gem from my dear wife. She attended a business meeting there and came home so full of praise, that we decided to check it out at the next special occasion. Before I address the actual culinary experience, I would have to mention that this establishment really flourishes with large groups of patrons. The more, the merrier. As to the meal, I must say that whatever your expectations might be, the experience will surpass them with no effort whatsoever. Try at your own risk. You might just become a loyal fan!
(5)
William T.

I've been going to Peking Gourmet my ENTIRE life! I'm in my mid 20s and I remember my family bringing me here as a baby all the way up to now. I go here about half a dozen times a year with my family, whenever there is a family get together, or a special occasion. I went there yesterday with my grandparents. This is honestly the best Chinese food in the DC area, if not the best Chinese food I've had. I eat Chinese about once every week or two, but it is always cheep takeout from places that are a dime-a-dozen, but every time I go to Peking Gourment it is a real treat. The only down side is that it can get pretty packed and pretty loud.
(5)
Derek W.

The Peking Duck is authentic (having been to China I know) and quality is great! The staff and service are wonderful, however the wait can be horrendous, but well worth it. There are cheaper alternatives in the area, but the quality and service of Peking cannot be match in NOVA. I like to look at the photos of all the famous people on the walls who have eaten there too.Watch out for the Mai Tai's, very strong!
(4)
Wai T.

Just like hubert, I've had the so-called peking duck in a number of countries and continents. I also thought I knew what it was, until I had it at Peking Gourmet Inn. The place itself is very hard to find... it's one of those storefront that doesn't stand out. But thanks to the bright yellow duck signs on the side, I made out it's where I need to go today. Upon entering, you can definitely see the restaurant has been open for a long time. It's got the traditional style chinese restaurant in America type of decor. It's pretty nice. Then on the wallside, just like any restaurants that has earned rights to brag, they have photos of owners with "important people" on the wallside, Bush Sr, Bush Jr, Collin Powell to name a few. So, after seeing all the rave (both good and bad) reviews, I ordered the infamous peking duck (at first, I was extremely disappointed to confirm the truth that they do the duck only 1 way), and a garlic spout stir fry chicken dish. Then come in the sauce. Before I visited the restaurant I did a little homework and get to know that all side ingredients (spring onion, pancake, even hoisin sauce) was specially home made / home grown. So I took the care to try out the hoisin sauce with the tip of my chopsticks, even before the duck arrived. I'm sold. I'm soooo sold. If the sauce is *THAT* good, the duck's gotta be amazing. The sauce is rich and silky, full of flavor yet not overwhelming. I tried just a little bit of spring onion (read: I usually hate it) but I think it's pretty much the same as any normal ones. Not impressed with their saying of "home grown giant spring onion bulb". The pancake was perfect. Can't have anything to complain about. Now the star of the evening -- the duck. After they carried it out, a staff very skillfully take out all the skin (but NO FAT) from the duck, carefully putting them in some preset orders, and then they trim out all the fat from the duck, finally thin slice (the perfect thickness) the meat. They also take out the wing and legs for savages like me to savor. After they are done with the duck, I'd say 95% of the meat is on the dish, with almost no fat. What else can they do with the carcass? There's really no "3 way peking duck" possibility with the way they do it. So I'm happy. Now, don't forget I also ordered another dish. I ordered it because I've seen many reviews of things like "the duck is the only thing worth eating in this place" and "it's expensive and not worth it". I would beg to differ. It was so delicious that I can honestly say I enjoy the garlic sprout. It's not garlic-y, but sweet. The seasoning and wellness was perfect. I'm not saying it's not costly, all I'm saying is delicious. I had a great time. I love this place. Amen.
(5)
Kent W.

Luckily, my friend and I got a table without reservation. This place was a full house --- patrons coming and going. As I'm walking in, I'm thinking to myself...this place has to be one of those hyped-up celebrities joint (pictures of every single politicians filled the walls). So, we ordered the duck, cause that's what it's known for (we also ordered the lettuce wrap --- bah. not a fan but any who). The duck came out and: "it was freaking huge...mutated huge...science fiction huge" "it was still damn scorching hot-right out of whatever they were cooking it in" "it smelled great" "oh yeah! it was mines!" Flavorful duck, moist, and most tender. The craziest part was: there's these ladies that hand carve the duck in front you --- the entire duck! Oh. BTW, it's all about the crispy skin.
(4)
Anne G.

I must begin this by saying the food here is undoubtedly outstanding - 5 stars no doubt. Especially the spring rolls with garlic sauce, and the Moo Shi chicken. HOWEVER, my lower rating is constituted from recent experiences. I've been going to Peking Gourmet for 10+ years. It has been the spot for many family gatherings (birthdays, anniversaries, etc). Recently I ordered take out and while chomping down that Moo Shi goodness - amidst all of the colorful cabbages and blends, was a roasted cockroach. I literally threw my bowl :( Needless to say I called management right away. I am a pretty forgiving person - so even looked past the roach. It was the service that dissapointed me so much. I was promised the moon and the stars over the phone upon hearing my story - and driving 30 minutes BACK to the restaurant (at the managers request to see first hand the roach) - yet was ignored the moment I handed over the roach. They didnt want the roach to ensure "quality control," They just wanted to confiscate the evidence and be done with my patronage. A true dissapointment considering I loved their food - and to this day still crave it : /
(3)
Ana R.

I will first say this isn't the best Chinese food I've ever had. I grew up on Chinese food, at an Arlington restaurant called hsian foong and was superb. PGI doesn't compare to Chinatown in NYC or SF, but for this area consider it the best you'll get Pricier than most Chinese restaurants ANYWHERE, I wasn't overwhelmed by the food. But it was delicious, if that makes sense. I guess I expected more because of the hype built up for this place. You have to order the duck here (duh) because it's the best thing on the menu. Period. A solid five stars. Although, for what they charge in comparison to other establishments, I was surprised that cucumber slices were an additional expense! Not cool. The appetizers we ordered were great- loved the pickled cabbage, the steamed dumplings and the pot stickers. The main courses were very good. I already commented on the duck being the best. I didn't care at all for the Peking Gourmet Chicken. I found it overwhelmingly bland and oily. I enjoyed the Szechuan Beef Proper. The flavor was fantastic although they need a better batter for the beef and perhaps more beef and less batter. The batter was just too dry and powdery and took away from the fantastic sauce that accompanied the dish. Lastly, the Kung Pao Shrimp was delicious. Overall, I am thrilled that this place isn't too far from my home in Arlington and I look forward to making multiple return visits.
(4)
Vivian C.

Pretty decent Peking Duck. Would love it more if they offer it with mantou (fluffy white bun, mmmmmm, fluffy). I can't comment on anything else since I was there twice and twice I got the duck, and I don't really want to try anything else there!
(4)
Jack P.

Good but overpriced. Looks like the inside of the Chinese restaurant in a Christmas Story
(4)
Tina P.

Hands down the BEST Peking duck I have EVER had!! just too bad it's 3000 mile away!! It was soo Delish, the skin was extra thin and crispy, the dipping sauce, ultra thin "pancakes" were perfect, and the duck meat was moist to perfection! The only bad thing is because it's soo popular and famous the wait is horrendous!! at least an hour, but totally worth it!
(5)
marc a.

If I could, I'd give Peking Gourmet a 2.5, but I don't want to say "meh, I've had better" because I haven't had better Peking Duck. The rest of the experience, however, is one where better can be had. First, the good: their signature Peking Duck, which they carve tableside with special duck carvers. This is a five star dish, and you can see why former Presidents Bush (both their photos are among the many politicians and pseudo/real celebrity photos) liked this place. It is simply awesome. The skin is nicely crispy, and unlike 99.9% of the Peking Ducks you can find in the US they actually take the time to scrape the fat from the skin and meat so it is nicely lean. Their hoisin sauce is exceptionally good, the pancakes fantastically flavorful--a great dish all around. Now onto the bad: first up, their reservation system. This is an extremely popular weekend restaunt on weekends, so we made reservations for 8pm. Unfortunately, they treat the word "reservation" like Vizzini treats the word "inconceivable," and like Inigo Montoya I'm left muttering "you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." What they did is they took our reservation over the phone, but then when we finally got through the throng of people all they did was cross our name off the reservation list and throw us to the bottom of the list with the walk-ins. So instead of being seated at 8pm we were seated at 8:44 (we were literally 60 seconds from walking out), and even though we ended up getting seated at a four-top several parties of three and four who came in after us and who didn't have reservations were seated in front of us. The maitre d' (is that the proper term for a female?) was cheeful enough, but this is just awful behavior and it really will keep me from going back again to eat in the restaurant. In terms of non-duck dishes, we ordered the asparagus and baby corn, a vegetable dish that was expertly prepared in the Cantonese tradition but the "light garlic sauce" was tremendously light on the garlic. Good if you want fairly fresh tasting vegetables in a sauce thickened with cornstarch, but this was supposed to be a light dish and it just wasn't as light as I would have hoped. The Jeo-Yan shrimp, a favorite of the significant other, was described as "most exotic," but apparently "most exotic" means that it includes fried ginger and garlic as a garnish. It tasted okay, but was extremely heavy, which is an usual thing to say about a shrimp dish. It left me underwhelmed to say the least. Given the debacle that is their reservation system and the mediocre dishes outside the duck, I think next time I order the duck to go and get the rest of my food from someplace else.
(3)
Katie S.

Peking Gourmet Inn is okay at best. The decor-- the photos on the wall-- were great, but I could not help feeling that the food was simply mediocre. We had the Peking duck, beef Peking style, combination fried rice and pork Peking style. The pork was pretty good. The duck was pretty good, but since I know how to assemble a Peking duck "wrap" I didn't really appreciate the server getting in my face to make it for me. We also definitely felt that this place is still trying to climb onto the backs of Senior Military/ Gov't officials. Although a casual restaurant, I bet if you got all dolled up in some fancy duds... maybe slap some medals and awards on your chest, you'll get PRIMO service. That's my POV for what it is worth.
(3)
Chris N.

We went here - they said there was "one party in front of us". OK - how long will it be? "I can't tell you". FAIL. Sorry Peking Gourmet, I guess you don't need the business - see ya never.
(1)
Will G.

I've been to Peking Gourmet Inn twice and LOVE it. The first time, the service was incredible. The second time, not so much - I got the impression our waiter understood almost no English. The food however, recovers any stars that should be lost to one bad waiter. The Peking duck is to die for. This dish alone would earn five stars for the place. If you already know how to eat it, let your server know (instead of sitting there feigning indignation as they demonstrate and yelping about it later as one reviewer apparently did). If you've never eaten Peking duck before, they'll gladly show you how. The Szechuan Beef Proper is also excellent. It's not quite hot enough for me but a little (a lot) of hot oil and eating the peppers solves that as the FLAVOR is incredible. The Orange Beef is also very good. Large tender chunks of beef.
(5)
Brian A.

Daffy and Donald would be proud to sacrifice themselves to this recipe! Yes the duck is awesome! We also had fried dumplings, rangoons, egg rolls, and crab wonton soup. The rangoons were the only thing I would say was just OK. Oh and for dessert the fried crystallized apples were fabulous. The only draw back to this experience was the slow service we waited almost 20 minutes for our soup! Once it finally came out things seemed to go smoothly. I enjoyed the duck so much I was upset when they took the carcass away after cutting it for us. I was inclined to pick it up and start eating it like fried chicken. All of the other food we watched go out looked fabulous as well. Make a reservation for sure!
(4)
bob a.

good chinese food, no General Tso chicken, amazing Crispy Schezuan Beef Proper, ok egg roles, good sweat and sour soup. Really good Beef Lo Mein, rude service tho.. really rude.. good sweet and sour pork, but a bit over priced. Really good lunch specials tho.. highly recommend them.. Really good Kung Pao chicken, needs to be a bit spicier.. for the best General Tso chicken go to the Grand Hunan Restaurant in the Westover area of Washington BLVD in Arlington. Near the Westover Market.. its really the best I have ever had!!
(4)
Remy M.

Best Chinese food around! No doubt about it. I highly recommend getting the duck, but all the other dishes I've had have been great as well. Other recommendations: the eggplant, beef proper, crispy shrimp or...honestly, just order a second duck. Great for large groups or small. Make reservations, though...they get pretty busy, especially on the weekend.
(5)
Christina Y.

This was my second time here, but this time around, even though we made reservations, we still had to wait. However, once we were seated, we were kindly greeted by the waiter who helped us order. He promptly brought us our drinks and appetizers because he knew we were hungry. When we asked him to show us how to properly eat Peking duck, he went into the kitchen to grab tongs in order to show us (without touching our food with his hands; hence the tongs). He then gladly answered a few questions we had. We learned that they ship in about 8,000 ducks from Long Island a month! That's nuts! Even though we aren't famous or iconic political figures, he also took our picture when we asked him to :) I highly recommend eating the duck with cucumbers and a small jalapeÃ±o pepper. It balances the taste quite nicely. Even though we were all stuffed, we still had so much left over that we decided to take the rest home. The freshly packed sauces were a great end to my experience here! I can only do so much duck in a month, but I'm sure I'll be back again sooner than later with friends who have never been here before.
(4)
Travis H.

Yummy! Crowded and lacking in atmosphere, but the food is terrific. The pictures of all their famous guests on the walls are impressive.
(3)
Jenny S.

I love this place! I've been coming here since...well...forever it seems like. Every time I come here, I come with my family and we always get the same dishes: 1) Walnut Chicken - It almost looks like sweet and sour chicken, but with candied walnuts. Has just the right balance of sweet and spices. 2) Jeo-Yan Shrimp - Their version of "salt and pepper shrimp" except there's MORE than just salt and pepper. Always fried to perfection and I think they sprinkle some crispy garlic top with just the right amount of red pepper. My mouth is watering just thinking of it! 3) Szechuan Beef Proper - Basically just crispy hot beef you'd find anywhere else, except it's sweeter...and better. Some of my family members think it's too sweet but I just love it. One spoonful is never enough. 4) And last, but not least...the Peking Duck. Let's just say, it's LEGIT. Slices of meat and crispy skin are cut perfectly thin and then it's wrapped in a pancake with optional hoisin sauce, green onions, and cucumbers. If you get a good duck carver, the skin is so juicy with minimal fat. Always so good and so worth the price! We also randomly get other things on the menu but mainly stick to the ones listed above. Everything is just so good and I will never get tired of this place...ever. Easily the best Chinese food in Northern Virginia!!! A lot of times, this place is crowded so it's always helpful to call ahead or even make reservations if you have a large party. The servers are always very attentive and great. And the hostess is always delightful. Also, it's always fun to look at all the pictures of celebrities and important government people (like John Travolta, PSY, and George & Barbara Bush) who came and ate here. That's gotta say something about this place!
(5)
Jessica K.

i was surprised! i have never tried peking duck before and it was amazingly good. i think my friend and i ordered too much food. we got the hong kong wonton soup, jasmin tea, and peking duck with a side of cucumbers. the price was good but it was so much food. we would most def. go again and not order the soup this time. the bad thing was that eating the left overs days later didn't taste as good.
(4)
Michael N.

One of my favorite restaurants in the DMV area! I only get the duck here. Come in a big group and just order the duck. My friends and I ordered 4. It's that good! The skin of the duck is nice and crispy, the meat is flavorful and moist and they carve it right in front of you! Ask for the duck to be cut hong kong style with the fat still on the meat, it literally melts in your mouth. They also can get rid of the fat if you are trying to be semi healthy. The duck is served with wraps, scallions and a hoisen based sauce. Ask for cucumber to add a nice fresh crunch and it helps cut some of the heaviness from the duck. I always leave happy when eating here! They also have walls and walls of famous guests who have eaten there such as Presidents, actors, and chefs.
(5)
S E.

Yes the Duck is that good....Get it here. Had other good tasting dishes...but everything is heavy on the fried/oily side.... As far as the wait...I get it's an institution...but waiting in a packed lobby staring at the star (Does Psy count as a star) and political pictures wears off after the first 15 minutes past your reservation. We were seated 90 minutes late...eating this meal at 9:00 with a 9 and 11 year old kind of stunk. My review won't matter, they have more business than they can handle....and if you've never had Peking duck get it here....but the wait will suck.
(3)
Tucker H.

I'm with Steve L. the duck is 5 stars, everything else we've tried was average. The only appetizers that we have tried recently were shrimp toast and the basic pork dumplings, both of which were average. In the past we have tried some of the other entrees, but none stuck out as particularly good or bad. The duck is the real reason to go here, and it is completely worth the trip. The skin is crispy and the meat is moist and flavorful. When you wrap the meat and some skin up with some hoisin sauce and green onions in one of the little pancake it just tastes delicious. We've never had any issues with the service, but it is always packed so the servers are usually pretty busy running around, so don't be shy about trying to get the attention of yours if you need to.
(3)
Y C.

Peking duck and Jeo-Yan Shrimp are good. Four Seasons String Beans are pretty good, just a little too salty. The portions for these dishes are pretty large, but the prices are relatively high as well. Seafood soup is decent. Free fried rice was provided along with the dishes.
(4)
Hailey H.

I love this place. Get the duck. FOR GOD'S SAKE, GET THE DUCK. I've also tried the garlic shoots with shrimp--pretty good. And the roast pork fried rice--solid. But really, it's all about the duck. Crispy, flavorful skin, delicately carved duck meat, cucumber, green onions, and sauce. It's seriously one of the best things ever. But remember to make a reservation :)
(5)
Melissa M.

I love this place! I wish it was closer to where I lived as I would get food weekly. We had a party of 5 (made reservations) and were seated right away. We had the Peking Duck, lemon chicken, black pepper scallops/shrimp and sauteed spinach. Everything was amazing and my favorite was the black pepper scallops/shrimp! The prices are not what I would call reasonable to to have such delicous food the prices are worth it.
(5)
Katy L.

Just. Get. The. Duck. It is really that amazing. Be warned though: If you come on a weekend night, be prepared to wait. A long time, in a cramped place, unless you have a party of 6 plus, then you can reserve a table. Luckily, my boyfriend's mom knows the owner so we get sat immediately, but just be aware. But it is totally worth it.
(5)
Silvia L.

YUM. Authentic Chinese.
(4)
Gabriela C.

The only thing that redeems this place is the duck, and coming from a non-Chinese, non-duck consumer, that may be why I liked it so much. The sauce is delicious and it pairs very well with the strong taste of duck meat while the green onions and the cucumbers gives it a nice bite and fresh addition. HOWEVER, the service, I mean, the lack of service definitely cost this place the 4 & 5 star ratings... When you go into a more expensive restaurant you expect a different kind of treatment. It's all about the details: greeting customers pleasantly (at the door and at the table); not having a look that indicates you're a hassle to the waiter; actually LOOKING at you while you ask a question/give your order/answer a question instead of looking somewhere else; rushing you all though the process which makes you feel like you're being timed and must leave when the buzzer goes off; reaching across the table over your face without as much as an excuse me or I'm sorry; and most of all, not treating you like a toddler who needs to have their meat cut up and put into the right places in YOUR OWN plate without as much as an "let me show you how to traditionally eat the duck". Our waitress must have been slaking off or falling behind because she seemed annoyed that we simply started eating the duck slices off the plate that the carver placed on our table when she wasn't there. She rushed in after a few minutes and simply proceeded, without a word, to slap a pancake on my plate, add sauce, veggies and duck on it, then rolled it into a taco, and went over to my husband's plate to do the same, and then just left. No words, nothing, not before, during, or after. Had this been a clothing store, I would have called the cops on her because I would have felt violated. And when we finished paying, she wasn't even concerned about saying "thanks for coming" or "have a good night" or anything like it, she just dove straight to the signed receipt to see what was her tip. I am serious, I saw it, she pushed aside another diner while trying to get by between tables to get to it. It's such a shame that I REALLY liked the duck. The place was so noisy on a Thursday night. So glad we were seated right away and didn't have a wait because I don't think I would consider coming back next time my husband has the urge to have peking duck. Overall: DUCK IS GREAT, SERVICE IS LACKING & ABRASIVE, bordering on rude.
(3)
Rachel S.

Horrible service! The duck was good but for the service, it was not worth it!
(1)
Ken K.

my wife's friend recommended this place, ordered peking duck, jeo yeon shrimp and string beans. i've never eaten peking duck before (at least i don't remember having it), so can't tell how it compares to other places, but it was really tasty. the fattiness of the duck skin went well with the savory duck meat, sweetness of the hoisin sauce and the slight kick from the green onions. shrimp is extremely crunchy and large, it goes well with their red hot sauce. string beans were really good as well.
(4)
Tom D.

3.5 stars I agree with Jenn H --- strongly recommend the Sea Scallops with Roasted Garlic -- and of course the duck too....Peking Gourment is one of the only things I can agree on with a bunch of military attaches and republicans -- they seem to frequent this place in droves -- I am pretty oblivious to those around me upon first bite -- I love the garlic sprouts, Szechuan Beef Proper and leek dumplings are all delicious...it's good, usually -- but at times not so much -- some hype and it doesn't quite deliver.
(3)
Kristine M.

Peking duck, as many have said, is the reason to dine here. They serve it as one course and not three - which is disappointing, but you can order duck bone soup as a starter (tip - a small bowl feeds four). Another disappointment - no almond cookies - actually I haven't found almond cookies since I moved here from Chicago two years ago. I'd take an almond cookie over a fortune cookie any day. But over all, this is a DC area landmark and shouldn't be missed. Order the duck!
(4)
Daniel K.

Good food, the duck IS in fact fantastic. The rest of the food is Good. Not amazing.
(4)
V D.

This is literally the only chinese restaurant that I will eat at. I've been eating here since 1980. They still have some of the same waiters here that were here when I started coming in 1980. LOL. It is a family run business, handed down to the kids from the father. It has increased in price a lot in that time, since it has gotten a lot more popular (and has had to expand quite a bit). There are celebrity pictures all over the walls and celebrity sightings are not rare. Almost everyone we have brought here has loved it and if they live locally have returned on their own repeatedly, which I guess attests to it's worth. Everyone talks about the duck, but I'm not a big duck fan, although I will eat it if it is ordered by the table. One of the specialty dishes is Szechuan Beef Proper which is always a hit with everyone when we order it. My favorites (since I'm not really a foodie) are the moo goo gai pan, and sweet and sour chicken. Their egg rolls are fabulous and they have a new lettuce wrap that is unbelievably wonderful. Even a picky eater like me loves it! My husband used to pick this place as our "special day" place when we lived in Arlington. We still go back here if we have time when we are up running errands. If you go in the evening on a weekend, you will almost certainly need reservations. Same on any holiday. If you go early enough you might still get a table. During the week it's a bit better. I don't know about lunch since I don't eat like that for lunch.
(5)
Louise O.

Great old-school Chinese restaurant. The duck is pricey, but worth it. A few nit-picky (but still need to point out) comments: pancakes a touch too thick and doughy... 4 out of 5 stars the scallions were not evenly sliced...3.5 out 5 stars As mentioned below, the duck is only 1 course...they do not make a soup out of the bones and meat still on the duck. HOWEVER, you can ask to take the duck bones and fat home to make a soup at home. The waiter was EXTREMELY nice and gave me 2 leftover duck carcasses to take home. Seriously, Emeril calls duck fat..."duck love." Thinking of making a soup with one and a duck and mushroom risotto with the other. Top the risotto with a dash of truffle oil?!? OMG, yummmmm... We went for lunch on a Saturday and it wasn't crowded at noon. M and I also ordered the spring chicken and the home-style tofu. Both delicious and the leftovers were enough for 2 more meals. L
(4)
citress c.

I've been there twice so far and their Peking duck is as good as, or even better than the Peking ducks I had in Beijing. In Beijing, I went to 2 Peking duck restaurants, one that makes Peking ducks the traditional way where the ducks are very fatty (the skins are crispy but comes with some amount of fat underneath them), and another that caters to foreigners, where the ducks are much leaner but was a little lacking in taste and flavor. Peking Gourmet was able to achieve the best of both worlds - the duck slices and skins have no fat on them but they taste so wonderful! Another dish that was outstanding was the Peking style lamb chops - crispy with a very flavorful light breading on the outside. Tender, very well prepared. I've also had the chicken lettuce wraps and the pan fried noodles - both of which I would not order again. They were very unmemorable. Bob's 66 makes way better Shanghai style fried noodles (which are the same style of noodles, not sure why Peking Gourmet calls it "pan fried noodles" which seem to suggest that they are the crispy Hong Kong styled noodles). Portions are huge - definitely for sharing.
(5)
Steve Y.

Great food...specially yummy Peking duck!!! My best recommended Chinese restaurant!!! Since I moved to DC area from LA I was so disappoint nice Asian restaurant around DC, but this is the one I really like. Duck is really tasty and seafood dishes was also good. I will going back to this pretty soon for nice Peking duck...!!! Been out there again last night with my family and my friends family. W ordered two peking duck, Seafood Pan-fried noodle, Joe-Yan shrimp, and Fresh Fish Filet with Black Bean Sauce. Their peking duck is did not have a cilantro smell, so please you could not stand also enjoy. They sea food is also so tasty, but beef or poultry is little too sweet for me. High light is mixing black been sauce and rice with little bit of spicy soy sauce. I can not wait be there again. As usual never forget a reservation, becuase the place is always packed in.
(5)
Philly D.

Hands down one of The Best Chinese Restaurants I've ever been to. First indication of a great restaurant, long line outside the restaurant. The majority of customers Chinese/Asian and a good mix of other ethnicity's. Now onto the food...BEST DUCK EVER. I was told by my friends who took me here that they have their own duck farm. Everything we ordered was delicious. We ordered the baby bok choy and mushrooms, the Jeo-Yan Shrimp (a bit salty and crispy fried shrimp- addictive), crispy beef, I think we also ordered chicken lettuce wraps and of course...the Peking Duck, which they hand carve at your table!
(5)
L P.

The duck is the only dish worth ordering. The worst dish is the Beef Proper (stringy, chewy and sickeningly sweet strips of fried beef doused with sesame seeds and a few carrot strips to add color) Disgusting. Three stars just for the duck. Service? Come on... It's a Chinese restaurant...
(3)
Leo B.

This place is delish, hands down, just read all of the favorable reviews about it! The only small negative is that they are a bit on the pricey side, so don't be shocked when the check arrives.
(4)
Michelle B.

This is the only place I eat duck and don't feel bad about it. I don't know what they do to make it so addictive... maybe they're mixing some crack in the rub, I don't know, but you must get it. Also, I love that they still have the paper Chinese astrology placemats. I'm an ox. Ox's dig the duck and egg drop soup.
(5)
Marco T.

I never had chinese food this good in my life... The vegetable dishes are great, the meat even better, their fried rice and soups.... to die for. I dont think any words have been invented yet to describe how good the duck is. the peking duck (you can order 1/2 or whole) is the best dish they have. it comes with fresh pancakes (if you think I am talking about IHOP type pancakes hit yourself in the face and don't sue me for damages) the best plum sauce (probably as addicting as nicotine) and two veggies.. i wish there were more than 5 stars because this place deserves 6
(5)
Karman L.

Took my family here last night for Chinese New Year Dinner, it was highly recommended by co-workers. We were disappointed when we got to the restaurant (we thought we were getting "authentic" Chinese food.) Signs that this is an "Americanized" Chinese Restaurant: 1) They do not have a menu written in Chinese 2) Zodiac table mats 3) You have to ask for chopstix and rice bowl, but they give you two plates 4) There were FEW Asian dining there 5) Stirred Fried Seafood Noodle cost $27 (typically $10) 6) Waiter recommends a Deep Fried something dish 7) Fortune cookie at the end of the meal 8) Lobster costs $40 (typically $20 for two lobsters) We opted out on the Peking Duck ($37 is not a great price when they just serve one course of Moo-Shu Duck (Sliced Skin and Meat with Pan Cake). "Authentic" way of serving Peking Duck is at least 3 courses from the duck - 1) Moo-Shu Duck , 2) Stirred Fried Duck Meat with Veggie 3) Duck Soup ) But we did have a very nice waiter who helped us pick out the most chinese dishes the restaraunt served. He told us which dishes we would probably would not like. (he spoke fluent Mandarin and a little Cantonese) 1) Garlic Sprout w/ Pork (he said it's better than order it w/ Chicken, thanks!) 2) Family Style Tofu 3) Black Pepper Jumbo Shrimp (which was really salt and pepper fried shrimp) 4) Mom's Eggplant (Fried Stuffed Eggplant - This was on the Special New Year Menu-Not sure if they have this all year long) We were presently suprised with our dinner. It was actually not bad for the dishes that our waiter help us with. So don't get your hopes if you want real Chinese food! For the price they charge here, we actually will preferred a chinese fusion restraunt such as PFChang for better decor and stuff. O well!
(2)
Rommie M.

Honestly what more can be said about this place that hasn't already been said? As an avid fan of Chinese food, I can say that this is the best in the area. Pictures of political figures, military staff, sports stars and local dignitaries adorn almost all the wall space. If its good enough for Joe Gibbs, its good enough for me. Is it worth the hype? 100% yes. Haters can hate all they want, this isnt your normal weekly Chinese take out place. This restaurant is a part of local culture and should be something all should partake in, such as New Yorkers and their dirty water hot dogs and pizza. put into the limelight by George HW Bush during his term, but known to locals for far longer than that. The joint is famous for its Peking Duck (so its not just a clever name), and it is downright one of the tastiest bits of fowl one can eat. If watching the duck being carved table-side isn't your cup of tea, then just turn your head and suck it up while you enjoy the delicious bounty of taste that is about to enter into your face. The duck should be an accompaniment to your meal (I understand that its $38, but oh so worth it). It is appetizer (I realize that it is a whole duck, but this place is just too good to eat one thing) of deliciously moist duck breast rolled in a Chinese style pancake with cucumber spears and hoison sauce. There is crispy duck skin on another plate to boot! Welcome yourself to flavor country, it doesn't get much better than this. Other meals you ought to pursue, Chinese Leek Dumplings, Black pepper Sea Scallops, Jeo-Yan Shrimp and Szechuan Beef Proper (or candied beef as we call it). This place is worth the wait for sure. Tips of the trade, go on a random night, like Tuesday, you will most likely find a table quickly rather than on the weekends, when it is a must to call ahead and reserve your table.
(5)
Andrea v.

Very tasty meal. Garlic sprouts with chicken, Jade chicken, and Chinese cabbages with Shiitake mushrooms. Steamed vegetarian dumplings, and hot & sour soup to start. Everything was perfectly done. Hot & Sour soup was the best I've had outside of the San Francisco bay area. Vegetarian dumplings were surprisingly good - tasty, fresh, good texture. Garlic sprouts with chicken was the hit of the evening. Wonderful buttery garlic flavor with just a little crunch and snap from the sprouts. Chicken was tender and moist. Jade chicken also was done perfectly - taste, texture and presentation were spot on the white pepper gave it a nice spice without being overpowering. The vegetable dish was also quite nice, fresh, cooked perfectly, good flavor. The portions were all well sized - no skimping. The down side - the prices are on the high side, and the service was pretty terrible. There was a table near us, full of regulars, who were tipping darn near any waitstaff who came near their table. We felt a bit ignored and had to ask for normal things like water, our tea, chop sticks, extra peppers, etc.... We also had some problems with language. One of our party asked a question about the garlic sprouts - and it took several waitstaff to try and get an answer due to their lack of English skills. Bottom line. Go, eat. Very tasty food. Don't expect stellar service, just deal with it and enjoy the food. Prices are high, but worth it. I'll be going back - if only to try their well known Peking Duck.
(4)
G S.

This is the BEST Chinese place I've ever eaten at. Best Peking Duck hands down. If you're coming here to eat, be prepared to wait for hours because the lines are crazy long. The longest I've waited for a seat was 3 hours. The guy in front of me with his family had a reservation and still had to wait at least an hour. They got really great service and the old guy that cuts the duck is awesome!
(5)
Sharif N.

The best kung pao chicken and shrimp dish. Also, the wings as an appetizer are really tasty with the special sauces and garlic. This place is really well known for the DUCK. It is really good and you can order it with someone else for $30. Parking is crowded b/c its in a strip mall, but there is room inside the restaurant, it is just always full!!
(5)
Anson P.

I've been here a bunch of times after my initial review but tonight was one of the first times that I've been here with a group of about 35 people. My brother was having a birthday dinner and we got our own section of the restaurant with 3 tables. My brother is completely against set menus so our table decided to go for a free for all order-fest as did the table next to us. The third table was completely unoriginal and thus went with a set menu. Honestly, there's nothing as awe inspiring as watching 5 or 6 people carve ducks in front of you. An army of duck carvers is how we roll. Drinks were attended to in a timely fashion. I was also amazed with how good the orange beef was. I had never had it here before and someone in the party wanted it. Overall, it was an excellent evening especially 2 days before Xmas.
(5)
Jessi L.

Despite the strip mall location this place delivers very tasty food! A lot of political and famous people who have been here are featured on the walls. We love to bring friends who are visiting here! It is such a fun and interactive experience. The Peking Duck is so tasty and I find myself craving it randomly! One time a group of us ordered their laid out menu for four at the front of the menu and it was SO much food because it also included a duck plus other apps, entrees, and dessert! We took most of it home. While the food was all pretty good I think next time we will stick to our duck and the entrees we want. It is definitely a place in the DMV that everyone should try! It is always super busy so reservations are highly recommended. Also make sure to ask for the cucumber strips in addition to the other accoutrements that come with the duck. I like the extra crunch factor. I think they're only a 1.50 more.
(4)
Colleen M.

Again, a great meal here, of a great dish, Peking Duck. My nephews, brother and husband, all ate like kings, and the waiters were so patient with my nephews (11, 7 and 2) and the duck was fantastic. Oh, by the way, order the "special" shrimp appetizer, not on the menu, only the ones who have been many times know about. You won't be disappointed....can't wait to go again soon!
(4)
jenn h.

I thought I knew my Peking duck. I lived in San Francisco my whole life; we had a huge Chinatown, and many of my friends were Chinese. I had eaten at plenty of multi-course Chinese banquets where I was always served tasty duck skin in fluffy, white buns. Apparently, I hadn't REALLY eaten proper Peking duck until the day I ate at Peking Gourmet. According to the owner here, there are only four or five AUTHENTIC Northern Chinese restaurants in the entire US. Strangely enough, there isn't even one in San Francisco. But Kansas City, of all places, is a city where you can dine on the real stuff. The owner grows his own spring onions at a farm in Virginia, and he imports the flour for his handmade pancakes. I wasn't used to using flat flour pancakes, but that's supposed to be the true way to go. Throw in some of the carved meat, a bit of skin, spring onions and hosin sauce, and roll your way to a delicious treat. At $37 per duck, this might sound like an expensive meal (especially compared to the Peruvian chicken deals at El Pollo Rico or Super Pollo), but trust me when I say that IT'S WORTH IT. If you go with a big group, consider ordering from their 'Party Menu' so you can sample the other tasty dishes. If you want to order everything on your own, I'd recommend: - Imperial soup (for two) - Walnut Chicken - Szechuan Beef Proper - Jeo-Yan Shrimp - Sea Scallops with Roasted Garlic *But first and foremost is the Peking Duck!
(4)
Christine L.

I haven't really tried anything other than the Peking Duck there, but I only ever go for the duck. It's a bit pricey ($35 per duck which probably serves ~2) but it's so amazing. They've got good service but the wait time can get pretty long (it is worth it though!) The tastiness of the duck can vary depending on the carver. I've found that the older the carver, the better the carving (maybe due to more experience?) -- they can really cut away the fat and grease well, leaving scrumptions thin slices of duck meat and skin.
(4)
Adrian B.

A long time ago, when dinosaurs ruled the earth, my girlfriend (now my wife) took me to this restaurant. I had never had duck before and I was somewhat of a skeptic on a pricey Chinese place, but after dining there once, my only regret was not having gone sooner. I grew up in the Midwestern U.S. and there were two Chinese restaurants near my home--I was a connoisseur of fried rice, egg rolls, and fortune cookies...no more! After reading an article in the City Paper my first weekend at college in Washington, DC about a Chinese restaurant in Georgetown that was shut down for serving pigeon meat, I struck Chinese restaurants from my list of acceptable dining establishments--until Peking Gourmet Inn! What makes this restaurant special? The food is excellent, the service is consistent, there's very little turnover in the staff in the 10 years I've been going there, and at least one of the owners is there every single solitary time I've been to the restaurant. After 10 years of going there once a month, I can truly say I've never had a bad meal there. The signature dish of the restaurant is Peking duck--the skin is always perfectly crispy, the meat is always perfectly cooked, and it is imperative to have Mr. Wu cut your duck. Mr. Wu is the elderly Chinese gentleman that you see in some of the pictures associated with the restaurant on this site. Make sure you slip him a tip--I usually give him $5, but around Christmas I make it $20. [update: Mr. Wu has "retired and gone back to mainland China", according to our server last week.] The Jeoyuen (sp?) shrimp is lightly fried (is there such a thing?) shrimp with garlic, green onions, and peppers sprinkled on top served with broccoli. Kung Pow chicken and shrimp rocks the house, as well--chances are it'll be the best you've ever had. The string beans are delicious, too. Szechuan beef proper is very good, though it may catch you a little off guard because the beef is crispy. The pork fried dumplings are divine--they're best with crushed red chili pepper sauce and soy sauce mixed together for dipping. There's something for everyone on the menu--these are the dishes that I enjoy the most when I'm there. Getting back to the staff--this is something I've never encountered at any other restaurant, save the Fish Market pre-sale to another company. Chances are, every time you go there you'll see the same crew of wait staff there. There are two brothers and one sister that run this place and one (if not all) of them will be there when you visit. One brother is short and chubby, the other one is skinny and wears a bow tie all the time like Mayor Williams, and the sister--they're all snappy dressers. They always stroll around the restaurant, talk to customers, and watch over their staff. This restaurant is very popular with the Bush family, particularly 41. I've seen Geraldine Ferraro, Bush 41, John Glenn (table next to us the first time I was there), and many other domestic and international power brokers while dining there. The walls are lined with pictures of the famous (and not-so-famous) folks that dine there. Keep your eyes peeled when you go--you never know who you'll see there.
(5)
Andrew M.

Absolutely the best Chinese food you can get. Definitely order a suffering bastard as a drink. The duck and seschuan beef proper are can't miss meals also
(5)
Diana K.

This place seriously spoiled me. I've been lucky enough to have been coming here with my family since I was a little kid, but that means no other Peking Duck has ever been able to satisfy me. It's certainly a little pricier than your average Chinese restaurant, but its so worth it, even if just for the duck. Everything is wonderful, especially the Pan Fried Seafood Noodles and the Schezuan Beef Proper, and you should probably start with the Egg Drop Soup. No matter what else you order, as long as you get the Peking Duck you'll leave happy. It's incredibly juicy and flavorful, and their fresh pancakes and the owner's farm-grown spring onions are a treat with it. Their hoisin sauce somehow tastes better than anyone else's. And it's always a delight to have the same adorable tiny old man carving your duck so carefully just about every time you come.
(5)
Kevin Y.

other than the peking duck, i wish they had more authentic peking. cuisine. overall the food is still very good, just not as authentic as i expected it to be. their leeks and green onions are indeed very fresh. kinda expensive for what you are getting.
(4)
Jill H.

I really don't think this place is as good as everyone makes it out to be. I think the dishes are boring and non too flavorful!
(3)
Samantha M.

I absolutely love this place, I've been going at least once a month or more since I can remember my parents have been taking me since i was little. The food good all the time fresh and tasty, delish! Prices are worth but I wouldn't consider it too expensive.
(5)
Deb I.

Smack in the heart of M-13 territory, but that doesn't keep the customers away. You will always find a line here at dinner. Stick with the Peking duck, as that is what it is known for. Their other dishes are just ok. The Jao Yun shrimp, deep fried battered jumbo shrimp topped with a concoction of dry fried ginger and spices is addicting.
(3)
Kal D.

I heard about this place and I was craving duck so I had to go. The crispy duck was AMAZING. I completely agree with everybody else that says its very overpriced. But, in terms of good tasting food it was very satisfying. I tend to use hot and sour soup at chinese restaurants as a barometer (maybe not the best of choices). The hot and sour soup was delicious. It had the perfect balance of tart and a strong kick. I also had the beef with spring onions. I will absolutely get that the next time I go again!!
(4)
Jen K.

4.5 stars! I've been hearing for years about the Peking duck at this place, and how the Bush family dines here. I finally dragged my momma and little brother out to try it out. It was great, but I wasn't blown away -- as is often the case when I hear how great something is. Those damn expectations always bite me in the ass! First, I very much appreciated the attentive service. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable, and made great recommendations to us. Our glasses were replaced with new ones before being even close to dry, and the carving and serving of the Peking duck was wonderful (our waitress asked if we knew how to assemble the dish, and made us each our first duck-filled pancake). The atmosphere was a little odd. I have trouble associating a GREAT restaurant with head shot-covered walls. The Peking Gourmet Inn certainly has reason to be proud of their celeb diners, but the autographed photo-adorned walls seemed a little tacky. Also, it was quite chilly, temperature-wise, and a bit too bright and without music (so seemed a touch stark rather than warm and inviting). The food was good. We started with mini steamed dumplings - good but just like every other steamed dumpling I've had; we ordered a special of Chinese leeks and chicken (also good - a light flavor, obviously true to China rather than Americanized with extra sugar); the Peking duck, of course -- cooked perfectly (crispy skin and moist meat), and they have recently started adding cucumber to the mix. Apparently some customers recently saw Peking duck served this way in Beijing on TV during the Olympics and asked for it, so the staff here tried it and agreed that it was a delicious addition. Our server recommended that we try a "toffee apple" for dessert. I had no idea what to expect. She returned with a bowl of ice water, told us not to wash our hands in it, and then left. A few minutes later she returned with a plate full of sizzling apples -- fresh steamed apple chunks coated in caramelized sugar (bubbling) and sesame seeds. She dropped each chunk into the ice water to harden the caramelized sugar coating and then placed onto a new plate. What a surprising, different, fresh-tasting dessert! The sesame seeds made it fit right in with the Chinese flavors. Definitely something to try if you're at the Peking Gourmet Inn! All in all, I had a great dinner here. Just think that I should reserve 5 stars for the places I rave about to others and/or keep returning to myself, and this experience led to neither of those two scenarios.
(4)
Larissa M.

Highly recommended. I've been dining here with family and friends for more than 10 years now, ever since I was a kid. Top notch quality chinese food here...don't expect it to be anything like the fast food chinese carry out joint down the street (although I don't mind that sometimes when I want some chinese food fast!) I would highly recommend: the PEKING DUCK (this is the best, their specialty and oh-so-delicious). I still remember when the Peking Duck used to cost $17.00...now it's like $40. They carve the roasted crispy duck table side. I'd also recommend the Jul-Yen Jumbo Shrimp, Striped Sea Bass Hunan Style fish (delicate fish in a light sweet/hot sauce) and the orange beef (the orange beef is delicious here, crispy on the outside, tender and juicy in the inside). If I made you a little hungry, I apologize but this place is definitely worth a try. If you are wondering why they only have 1 location, it's because they are wildly successful, they have built a great reputation and they want to retain the quality of the food and service here (I spoke to one of the owners, which is the daughter of the founder). Gosh, I'm craving it now actually....
(5)
Fiona Y.

There were only two of us, so we only had two dishes and an appetizer (the Peking Duck, some "beef proper" dish, and steamed vegetable dumplings). My date raved about this place, so I was interested in trying it. I also saw that it received high reviews. But when I actually tried their food, I was shocked how badly everything tasted, and two of the dishes were even chef's specialties! First of all, I was so disappointed in the duck. One done well has a succulent and crispy skin, with flavorful meet to accompany hot, soft fresh pancakes. What we had was dry, and the pancakes were too thick (mooshi-style) that had a stale and old texture. The dumplings tasted as if they had been sitting out for a while with hardly any flavor. And just when I thought things couldn't get worse, the beef dish came out. It was barely edible! I usually can eat most things, but this was really bad. It was overcooked strips of beef that was deep fried with a hard sweet batter, and it was still tasteless! The rice (which we didn't order) came out about five minutes after the beef was delivered to us. Strangely they served it like fried rice with onions and peas. The service was okay. I had made reservations that morning and they spelled my name wrong, so they didn't have it listed but I convinced the host that one of the names close to my spelling was intended for me. There were plenty of busboys to keep the turnovers going quickly. Although the waitress was nice, I felt as if she was pushing for us to buy more than what we wanted. The ambiance was what one would stereotypically think of a Chinese restaurant in America with old red floral carpets, woodcarvings on the walls, and lanterns hanging from the ceiling, Unlike many Chinese restaurants in America, the bathroom was relatively clean. It was interesting, though, to see that there were probably at least over a 100 photographs on the wall that showed celebrities with the owner. I'm sure they have an impressive list of clients- many of people in the military, former presidents, and actors. On the way out, I saw one with George Bush (the senior) and John Trevolta. Honestly, I am shocked by how popular this place is. I can't undersatnd why. Granted I will say that I have also lived in China where I had some of the finest Chinese cuisine in the world and grew up with good Chinese home-cooking, but there is a reason why this place had mostly white people. It caters to the American palette. Sadly, I think many Americans really don't know what good Chinese food is like or oftentimes not willing to try authentic dishes. Many think Chinese food should be overly sweet and salty fried foods. I think this place is a tourist trap. The food is over-priced and bland. It does not deserve its reputation.
(2)
Harry T.

I won't go anywhere else for Peking Duck in DC. This place is an institution. Try the garlic sprouts with either chicken or shrimp. It's a unique ingredient that I've never seen anywhere else. Make sure to put in your reservation and be patient. The place is always packed on a Friday and Saturday so plan accordingly.
(5)
Chin C.

Great Peking duck and good chinese dishes. We tried Lamb Chop Peking Style, Walnut Chicken, Fresh Fish Filet with Black Bean Sauce, all were good. Definitely a must-go place for Peking duck.
(4)
Gayle G.

This place has "peking" in their name for a reason. The Peking duck. I need to repeat that. The Peking duck. You are getting sleepy. Peking duck. You will go here and order the duck. The Peking Gourmet in has been at this location since the late 70's. And it still brings in a crowd, The chef and owner the spring onions, as well as makes the pancakes in house. Maybe THAT'S what makes it sooooo good. Huge portions and a friendly staff makes this a no brainer when it comes to choosing a chinese restaurant. If duck ain't your bag, try the spring onions with lamb, beef, pork or shrimp. Those onions must be grown with a secret ingredient cause they make anything that's cooked with them so tasty.
(4)
Lynn C.

I heart this place. They have the best peking duck and wonton soup in the whole area. I grew up going here for birthdays, graduations, etc. The owner, Lilly, is such a sweetheart. I also like the shrimp fried rice, beef and chicken in wine sauce, and of course the specialty leeks w/ shrimp. My mouth is salivating thinking about it.
(4)
J G.

I was writing a review for Mark's Duck House and realized I've never given my 2 cents for Peking Gourmet. I've been going here since I was in the womb. This place is awesome, pretty much everything I've ever had from hot and sour soup to egg rolls to duck to fish. It's definitley a must try for any visitors. I'd reccomend reservations on the weekends though. *One more tip... best Mu Shi Pork I've ever had and it re-heats great
(5)
Justin B.

This is simply the best Peking Duck I have ever had, and I lived in Hong Kong for a couple years. If I go have lunch by myself I order the lunch special pork and fresh hot peppers. Either way you can't lose. I always ask for the fresh chili's in say sauce on the side of whater I order.
(5)
Susan F.

I was told by several people this is THE BEST Chinese restaurant ever. Did it live up to it's hype no. Last night we arrived at 7:00 PM only to be told there was no seating until 8:30 PM. So we made reservations and went and got a drink elsewhere. When we came back at 8:25 PM we has to wait 35 more minutes to be seated! I was thinking this place is good. The eggrolls were fantastic. The dish I ordered....it was a beef dish with garlic and ginger was pretty horrible. The meat was mushy. Our table had ordered a peking duck. They are apparently known for their duck. I am not a huge fan of duck and didn't care for it...but my friends ate it up! The other entrees ordered at the table were all mediocre. The shrimp dish tasted fishy. The Schzwen Beef Proper was just okay...and there was a chicekn dish also ordered that was just okay. I would go back if friends wanted to go...but I probably wouldn't venture there on my own...
(3)
I. P.

good old school Chinese. the inside is a surprise. by old school I mean white tablecloth service with an army of wait staff catering to your meal. never needed to ask for more water. your main waiter is attentive and can make good recommendations. the food is clean and good. we almost never have a moment where the food has left us puzzled or unhappy. the walls are decorated with tons of pictures of local political celebrities. a bit fun looking around and enjoying a quiet meal.
(3)
Shawn N.

Worst and most expensive Chinese food I've ever, ever had in my life. Orange Chicken and steamed veggie dumplings (I was given pork) came to 28 dollars and I could barely choke down a few mouthfuls. The chicken was seasoned terribly and gave me an instant stomach ache and the dumpling sauce was so overly powerful that it made the already soggy dumplings even worse. I'd rather eat mall Chinese food than go back here again.
(1)
Paul D.

this place is awesome!!!!!!!!!!! the peking duck is the best, service is very good, shrimp and pan fried dumpling are awesome. not modern or fancy just great food.
(5)
Robert Z.

The Best. I've been looking for a Great Paking Duck forever. I wasn't disappointed. The best ever. The service was first class also. Several other dishes also were killer. This Fine Dining Place Is Zuverman Approved.
(5)
Matthew L.

I should finally write a review for this place. I have eaten here 3 or 4 times. Obviously the highlight is the peking duck. If you are smart you will stick to ordering this with the cucumbers. There is also one additional dish of note. The lamb chops have a perfect texture and flavor to them. If you stick to these two orders, you will not be disappointed.
(4)
Elmar E.

Awesome meal! I was recommended by a friend to try out their Peking duck which was pretty awesome. It's priced at $42 but was filling nonetheless. They filet the skin off of the fat. Then cut out the meat when it's scraped off. Overall, it was still a large meal! The overall ambiance was pretty chill. Most tables are filled with many generations of family. We made reservations but was still able to be visited easily. I'll be sure to stop by again.
(4)
Eileen N.

Pricier, especially in comparison with other local Chinese. But... The quality is definitely better. Tonight we had take-away, with huge portions that will last a couple of days. It doesn't look like much, but it's good food.
(4)
Huy H.

We went for the Peking Duck and you're definitely paying for the experience. It is definitely an institution -- we went on a Thursday night and had to wait a few minutes for a table of three. The duck skin just melts in your mouth! But as a dish, the flavors are fairly one-note. You have the somewhat gaminess of the duck and a kick of the onions. Careful with the duck sauce as it can easily overpower everything. The pancakes dried out fairly quickly so eat them fast once you've made the rolls. We also got the Chinese Leek dumplings and vegetarian dumplings which were decent. They seemed homemade which was nice. Definitely make a reservation if you plan on going!
(4)
Jade Y.

My go-to place for special occasions, or, really, whenever I feel like it! I hesitate to (finally) write a review because I don't think my words will do justice the establishment that is Peking Gourmet Inn - also known as simply "Peking Duck" - but here we go. You have the option to get half a duck or a whole duck.They carve the duck in front of you, separating the meat from the fat, until you have a nice plate full of meat, skin, and legs. I highly recommend getting cucumbers and pickled peppers to accompany the duck because the resulting balance of flavors is absolutely heavenly. In terms of portions, I found that half a duck with one additional dish is plenty for a party of 2. But I've ordered two ducks with two additional dishes while dining with a party of four girls, so obviously I know nothing about portion control. Tip: If you prefer your duck fatty, ask for the duck be cut "Hong Kong style" and they'll adjust their carving method accordingly. Non-duck items I've ordered are the jeo yun shrimp, the baby bok choy with shiitake mushrooms, the sea bass with black bean sauce, and the garlic sprouts. The jeo yun shrimp is a must-try, but all of them are tasty. Service is always great. They have a cute birthday ritual where if you alert your server beforehand, half the restaurant staff sings "happy birthday" to the birthday boy/girl in Chinese. Someone ALWAYS has a birthday there. Don't forget to make reservations and happy duck-ing!
(5)
Melody C.

All i can say is wow, best peking duck experience i've had in the DMV area. A great place to take friends for a more authentic experience. you can order the duck as a centerpiece so everybody gets a taste, or as the main dish - in which case you want to order 1 duck for 2 or 3 people, or 2 ducks for 3-7 people. they bring out the glistening roast duck and place it on a tray and begin to carve it out in an elaborate show - first by slicing off the crispy skin and shaving off the fat, until only the layer of fat shows, then shaving the fatty part off, then getting down to the juicy duck meat, deftly carving thin slices of duck meat and piling it onto the plate in a fancy presentation, and serving it to each individual diner on a steamed pancake with plum sauce, cucumbers and thin slices of scallions. mmm. brings back memories of beijing! we also ordered bone-in lambchops that were coated with this crispy sour/salty (worcestershire sauce with caramelized onion?) . that was the bomb! that in addition to jiachang (family style) tofu and fried rice was more than enough for 3-4 people - it was a lunch feast. waitress was nice, attentive, but a little bit talkative. i noticed the clientele was different than most chinese restaurants i go to - a lot of koreans - it seems to attract a more international crowd. it's a bit more expensive than the average nice chinese restaurant. but it's well worth the trip and the bill because the food is so good. this place is also a favorite of many dc luminaries from the government, , judiciary, media, and military apparently - bush senior apparently loved it. it's also very nice on the inside (despite the dinky strip mall it's located on.
(4)
Victor W.

Followed everyone's advice on here and ordered the duck. The whole presentation and delivery made me feel a little special. Bonus point for the chef scrapping extra fat off. While it was good, I could tell it wasn't perfect. Growing up eating duck in China, my impression of a perfect duck, just from a presentation standpoint, should be shiny with a deep texture. The one we had was like the ones on the pics- dry and ashy.
(4)
FOODude F.

Excellent service, food is consistent premium Chinese, even Chinese food haters will love it. The Peking duck is very tender and tastes great. Had the peking duck, lamb and scallions, Lo Mein, Szechuan Beef... all were really good.
(5)
Johnson H.

Visited here for the second time and I must say that I have the same view after the first visit. Which is that the only thing to really rave about here is the Duck. All the other dishes we ordered were not really authentic or flavorful at all. It's not the first place I would go to for Duck in our area and definitely not first place I would go to for more authentic flavored chinese food.
(2)
Jin N.

My absolute favorite place to get duck. Bit pricey but worth it. It's very crowded in restaurant too.
(5)
Melanie Z.

Food makes this 4 stars, service makes it 5. We stopped for lunch on our way to the Lorton train station as it was just off the highway and we had read the "Best Thing I Ever Ate" schpiel on this place. Well, the Peking duck was worth the drive--carved tableside, the duck is first cleaned of its crispy skin, layered on the platter in front of you, then the fat is scraped off and discarded, and then the meat is carved and added to the platter. Makes me pretend it's lower-fat with the removal and all. Then the server will make up a pancake for you, layering duck and skin with the sauce, garlic greens, cucumber (if you request it), and rolling it up into a neat bundle using two spoons. When you try to replicate his technique on subsequent pancakes, you will fail, even though you have the advantage of your hands. Still, it's damned delicious. It makes a filling lunch for 2; could feed 3 lighter eaters. We were making lunch our dinner so we also ordered the garlic greens with pork, and those were really tasty--apparently PGI is the only place in the area to offer them. They lack the spicy pungency of garlic but still carry its flavor in a milder form. The Peking duck is not cheap but you're getting some great entertainment along with it. The service was impressive for straddling both attentiveness and efficiency--we felt cared for and unhurried, but still gazed in awe at the turnover rate of the restaurant. In the back of the restaurant they have the "lazy susan" style tables that are good for groups wishing to dine family style. They offer takeout as well.
(5)
Alex J.

Did you ever find that awesome little place where you always take guests when the visit? This is my go to spot for out-of-towners. There is a great energy and the staff is fantastic. Photos of the DC elite line the walls and when you breeze past the inevitably long line with your reservation your friends will feel like they are getting the VIP treatment. The duck is simply incredible and the expert table-side carving adds to the experience. Ask the server to prepare your pancake for you. When going with my fiance we keep it simple and get the shrimp or the duck. When we go with a group we usually choose one of the prefix meals and sit back and enjoy as our guests get wowed with each dish that comes out. Prefix menu items are served family style and there is always something for the most finicky eaters (even if they don't eat duck). Finish it off with the toffee peaches which are also prepared table side and you'll have a memorable experience and a mild food coma. The only thing missing is the table-side holiday carolers form a Christmas Story. Love it, love it, love it. I am totally stunned that anyone would give this place a bad review. It's great food but you have to order their specialties. Why anyone would go here and get a bowl of noodles is beyond me. It's like going to a steak house and saying the place sucked because your entree salad wasn't memorable. Lame.
(5)
Hoon C.

This really is THE Chinese place to go in NOVA. If you want peking duck, there is no better place. Odd location - in a strip mall location that is not known to be the best part of town. Parking can be frustrating. A huge assortment and array of Chinese dishes. Their ingredients are fresh and portions are good. Not cheap. Hundreds of famous locals and celebrities go here as you'll witness see photos of them on the walls everywhere. RESERVATIONS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
(4)
Jennie T.

"When China had established diplomatic relations with the U.S. in 1973, Prime Minister Zhou Enlai enjoyed a dinner with President Nixon. During their meal, Zhou showed Nixon how liquor could be set aflame. Nixon was fascinated with the trick and took two bottles of Moutai home with him. At home in the White House, Nixon attempted to astound his wife and daughter with the same trick. Unfortunately the bowl that contained the spirit heated up and cracked, setting the tablecloth ablaze. The heat set off the fire alarms in the building and the incident gave root to the story that is still remembered today." This same drink that Charlie Chaplin calls 'the drink of real men' is sold at Peking Gourmet in Falls Church, VA. Like a bottle of nail polish remover, you can smell the potency of the strong chemicals that whirl in its' peculiar transparent form that could otherwise be mistaken for a tiny glass of water. If you've read my review about my Zombie escapades on being careful with drinks that include strong liquors such as absinthe - just know that this tiny glass of liquid makes the Zombie taste like a glass of watered down grenadine. You could light up your evening with sticks and stones, but if you want to use a match - take a quick shot of Moutai. When you take a look around, and see nothing but endless framed photos of the owner, Eddie Tsui with several different famous diplomatic figures from around the world - you know whatever you're about to have is going to be a spectacle worth coming back for. To begin, we started out with a plate of savory pork dumplings that were accompanied by sweet soy sauce for dipping. Though a great appetizer that helped me sober up for the real deal, this was just the tip of the enormously magnificent iceberg. Let me just say, that you've never really had peking duck until you've had it from the Peking Gourmet Inn. That's right. Scratch all the soggy and clumsily chopped chunks of greasy purple meat that were thrown onto a tacky plastic plate or stuffed into a styro-foam box that you've ever had from a fast food chinese restaurant; scratch all the funky peking duck pizzas, peking duck sliders and peking duck what nots that you've ever ordered and measured to your chinese friend's hype. Scratch all of that. Wake up an inner craving that you've never had before, and taste the perfect medley of sliced spring onions, a dallop of sweet plum sauce, a soft slice of duck meat and its' crispy skin, wrapped together in a thin tortilla that'll make your tastebuds sing unforgettable notes of sweet, crispy, fresh and savory all in one warm bite. As if the peking duck being chopped, skinned and plated infront of your eyes wasn't enough of a show - their Candied Apple dessert is also a progressive spectacle that you'll actually be able to participate in this time. When a large ice bath is placed on your table - just know that it's not for your post-peking-duck-wrapping fingers. They'll bring you wet naps for that. In a few moments, your waiter will come out with a bowl of piping hot candied apples that will be one by one, dropped into the ice bath, leaving strings upon strings of sweet, sugary candy that your waiter will encourage you to pull off and eat. Afterwards, the cooled off candied apples will be drained and placed on a separate plate for you to enjoy a sweet version of your previous crispy yet juicy snack. For a Full Review & Mouthwatering Photos, click here!: thehungrymuse.com/2010/1â€¦
(5)
Heidi W.

I'm usually pretty lenient on my reviews (I mean, I'm giving this place 3 whole stars) when the food is delicious. You can have the worst service, bad parking, disturbing decor, but if your food wows me and makes me come back for more, you get at least 4 stars. Food: The first word that comes to mind is disappointing, and the next is overrated. We ordered the peking duck because it's what this place is known for. I spent a lot of time in Beijing, and I've had a lot of delicious authentic peking duck there. That being said, I'm also not too picky about the duck. The duck was good. Not I-DREAM-ABOUT-YOU good, and not terrible, either. Just...good. But the rest of the food was just mediocre. Their special beef dish that people keep raving about was also just terrible. It was overly sweet, hard to chew, and tasted more like stale candied jerky. The whole time I was here I was thinking: I drove 2 hrs from Bethesda just for THIS? There's better food closer to home. Price: Expensive. And when two of your popular dishes fail to impress me, I don't think it's worth it to pay so much to eat here. Service: Very good. The servers were nice, and it was cool to see someone carve the duck in front of you...very Chinese! Decor was also quite pretty. Overall, Peking Gourmet Inn gets an "eh" rating for now. I might come back if I get out-voted for a group dinner outing. I really wanted to like this place because of its great reviews, but alas, it just didn't do it for me.
(3)
Talin C.

I don't understand why people love to eat there? I went there with a reservation and still waited 30 minutes. The food was OK, and service was great because I lucked out with a lady named Lucy but other than that I'm not impressed. I went there because of all the hype and now that I went there I will not go back. They must pay people to write about their restaurant..... Just doesn't make sense..
(2)
Rita W.

I love Peking duck! This is a unique restaurant because their duck is so good and they have pictures of famous people who have eaten there too. Always expect this place to be crowded and parking can be tight. You should always make reservations where you preorder the number of ducks. Parties of 10 or less are best. Ordering more pancakes costs extra, and they make them smaller than they used to but you can still manage. Garlic Sprouts are good, but nothing incredibly special. Nothing at this restaurant is cheap, so I'd take out the order for garlic sprouts and put it toward another duck!
(4)
Krissy W.

Extremely disappointed. Two appetizers, two entrees, and $40 later for a plate of tasteless mush.
(1)
Julie B.

This is authentic Chinese food. The flavors were amazing and the handmade pancakes and noodles were quite a treat! We had the winter squash soup and dumplings. The soup had a very delicate ginger flavor, reminded me of Sai woo beef soup, and it was quite hearty. The dumplings tasted so good too! We had the Peking duck, fun to eat! Also had the combo noodles. The noodle dish alone could feed 6 people! Overall, the flavors were authentic and delicious!!
(5)
Wing Head Y.

Very, very, very disappointed. Thought I was coming down with a cold or something when I asked my wife if she can taste the food?? Thought I lost my taste buds but that wasn't the problem. Service was great, packed house, but absolutely bland food. No flavor. I had to add soy sauce to everything except the duck. Food is over priced and not worth paying for. The spicy jumbo shrimp was our best plate vs orange chicken, beef broccoli , combo fried rice, Peking duck so,so. This place makes PF Changs taste like Ruth Chris! Wish I can jump in a time machine and made it a Pizza Night.
(1)
Elda A.

Went for dinner and thankfully called ahead for reservations- they were packed! The only problem was we went with our 7 month old and they didnt have highchairs just booster seats for older kids. If we had just ordered the peking duck i would have given 5 stars. The duck was really good, carved at your table. We also ordered crispy beef schezuan and lo mein. The lo mein was meh.. Had to add soy sauce for flavor and beef was good but not worth the price. Portions were pretty big. Service was excellent
(4)
Cathy N.

Peking duck always great. Also got gourmet pan-fried noodles, jeo-yan shrimp, Szechuan beef proper, fried rice and pork garlic sprouts. Those are worth getting. Very crowded but it was due to a lot of birthdays and a graduation crowd.
(5)
Melody Y.

A little pricey, but I always leave happy. Make sure you make reservations. The 3 dishes we always order are: - peking duck - garlic sprouts - jeo-yan shrimp
(5)
Glen W.

Best Peking Duck of all time, and you have to love the pictures of every two-bit right-wing leader the world over on the walls.
(5)
Rebecca T.

This place has, quite simply, the best Peking Duck I've ever had. And I love Peking Duck! Their other food is always excellent as well, but nothing beats the duck. Let's put it this way. I used to live near here. Now I live in North Carolina. Almost every time I come up to visit my parents, I request that we have Peking Duck at the Peking Gourmet Inn. One think to note, the restaurant gets VERY crowded on the weekends. Make a reservation or you could wait over an hour for a table! The crowds make the place a bit noisy, but I think that just adds to the family-style atmosphere. Happy eating!
(5)
J. D.

Food is delicious and the staff is extremely nice.
(4)
Christina L.

This place is pricey but worth the experience. I have to admit the duck is super good and crispy. Pretty sure no where in California can beat this place! But just come here for the duck and don't waste your money on anything else.
(3)
Miss R.

I'M A BIG FAN OF ROASTED PEKING DUCK! One of the greatest Chinese Restaurants There is a wait to be seated, a line, to be specific (maybe we came in during busy hours, DINNER TIME!) A bit pricey, but worth it :) I was brought here by family-friends & they weren't wrong, maybe one the best duck-served ever here in the United States - Eastcoast-area that is. And now, my boyfriend is asking me to find the best duck place? I'm pointing him here, no doubt about that! :-)
(5)
John C.

The duck is absolutely delicious and interesting to watch being carved tableside. Fun place to take a date and order a "Volcano". Great service and fun surroundings with hunderds of autographed pictures on the walls.
(5)
William W.

This is one of the best Chinese restaurant s I've ever eaten at. We got the Peking duck, which fed all eight people at our table. The staff is friendly, although don't leave your table unless you have to because you might get run over by the many employees. The food is great. The curb appeal is not so good, and it's in the ghetto, but it's worth eating there.
(5)
Bob T.

The was a great place, and it has gone way downhill. Maybe it's because I've had that as a reference that I have been *so* disappointed with my last few visits. It's a tough habit to break, and I think I'm finally over them. If you are trying to decide if you're going, please compare current reviews against older ones. You may notice that many of the (justifiably) great reviews are from some time ago, and the current ones tend to be less complimentary.
(2)
Shannon C.

As soon as I walked in the door at Peking Gourmet I was greeted by their enthusiastic wait staff and was quickly ushered to a table. I ordered the beef and broccoli lunch special and my husband had kung pao chicken. Our food was just ok. We both found our dishes were a bit under-seasoned and under-salted. Everyone was incredibly nice at Peking Gourmet, but we will continue our search for a great Chinese Restaurant.
(2)
H C.

We came with family and the seating was accommodating. The service was that of fancier restaurant - unlike most Chinese restaurants - if you like that stuff. I just prefer good food. The Peking duck was good. The only thing that keeps this from a five star is the wait - 50 minutes to get the food and everything did not come out together.
(4)
Miguel B.

I had been looking forward to trying this place for so long, but sadly I am disappointed. I thought the duck was bland. This was my first time trying duck and probably my last. The garlic sprouts and pork was just mediocre, nothing special at all. The fried rice was well.. Fried rice. Not even as good as the cheap takeout I get around the corner from my house. It was all incredibly overpriced, and lastly, the location is appalling. I'm sorry, but I just don't understand what all the hype is about. At least my 5 year old loved it, and he's a picky eater. I guess I'm the weird one.
(1)
Rob G.

The peking duck here is phenomenal, as is all the other food. It can get a bit crazy here, even if you reserve a table, which is an absolute must for weekends and holidays, but it is worth the wait. Service is attentive and efficient, once you get seated, so don't be put off by the chaos at the hostess stand. The Bean Sprout specialty dishes are also really wonderful. Execellent chinese-american cockatils too!
(5)
Sampad D.

This is a amazing place. From outside, it looks like a hole in a wall but as soon as you enter the place, It is a different world. Wonderful ambiance with pics of celebrities on the wall. The food is just great . We ordered soup,a chicken appetizer and one entree. All of them were superb and by looking around at different table, I can say everything is going to be tasty and amazing.The servers and hosts were very nice and took good care of us. They also have separate menu for people in group. Overall an amazing place and HIGHLY RECOMMEND this place.
(4)
Jess Y.

What can I say? It's perfect. After moving from Hawaii over a decade ago, I've never had good duck again until Peking Gourmet. (The duck in Hawaii was amazing) I searched high and low for something even near comparable to what I had and I finally found something even better! The duck here is really consistently perfect, the service is amazing, and I always have a wonderful experience. As all the reviews say, yes you should probably be ordering the garlic sprouts as well-- delicious! Don't forget to try the lamb chops, they are phenomenal!
(5)
Bobby F.

Kung pai chicken and of course the Peking duck here are amazing. Would definitely come again when I'm around the area.
(4)
Heidi R.

Until last night, I hadn't been to eat here since I was a kid, but it was every bit as yummy and fun of an experience as I remember. The peking duck, while pricey, is delicious - perfectly crisp (but not greasy) skin, tender (and also not greasy) breast meat. All wrapped up in a little pancake with crunchy cucumber and the inn's home-grown spring onions. Yum. Szechuan beef proper comes heaped on the plate. Maybe a little too chewy for me, and could have been a little spicier to balance the sweetness of the crust. Good none the less. We also had chicken with garlic sprouts and jeo-yan shrimp. Each dish was delicately flavored and well balanced. I liked that it wasn't your typical Chinese food with everything in the same brown sauce. The garlic sprout dish tasted exactly like something I ate in The Middle of Nowhere, China - this is a good thing! Overall, it was a little pricey, but worth it for the fun of the table-side duck carving. Way better than your average Chinese take-out place.
(4)
Chillin E.

The best peking duck in the U.S. that you could possibly find. For that reason alone I give this place 5 stars, however most of their other food kind of sucks. Next best thing on the menu other than the duck is the jiyaoun shrimp or however you say it.
(5)
Alicia C.

Went here aith a big group for the sole purpose of trying the peking duck. It had been a very long time since I'd had the dish (and the last time I had it I was in Beijing) so I was really looking forward to it. This place definitely did not dissappoint. The duck was amazing. So was everything else I tried that night (some kung pao chicken and some shrimp dumplings). The service was incredible as well (ie they had no problems putting up with our large group and even took the time to laugh and joke with us). Overall, there was definitely much to choose from on the menu so go with a big stomach and definitely don't skip out on the duck!
(5)
Liza P.

One of the best, if not the best, chinese restaurants around. Good portions, excellent quality of meat and veggies. Don't be afraid of the neighborhood or shopping center --- once you are inside, it's a different world. This is a great place to go for high quality chinese food -- definitely worth taking family/friends who are visiting.
(5)
Tina P.

yum! been going there for years and it's truly as good as it gets. fresh ingredients. i love it.
(5)
Lore R.

If you are in the mood for Chinese food and want the biggest bang for your buck, then I would recommend going here for lunch since you get get a bowl of soup and a hearty plate of food for about $8.00 (exclu taxes). For the lunch specials, I would recommend ordering the hot and sour soup and the shrimp with veggies dish. However, I would be more reluctant to order their dish with beef strips since the beef tasted a bit rubbery. This a good place to go to if you want to see pics of former and present military officials.
(3)
Paul M.

Without a doubt the best Peking Duck available within 100 miles of Washington DC. Half orders are also available if a whole duck is too much (or too little!). The Jeo Yan Shrimp (breaded, deep fried jumbo shrimp with spices) and the Szechuan Beef Proper (dried beef in a sweet brown sauce with sesame seeds) are also must try items. The prices on all of these items are higher than you would expect for a typical chinese restaurant, but this is no typical chinese restaurant and they are certainly worth the price. Peking Gourmet gets very crowded, despite the size of the restaurant. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for groups larger than 2. Take out is also available, and the duck travels well. Don't let the strip mall location scare you away! You haven't lived until you've had their duck!
(5)
Jonathan S.

You can't beat this place with a (chop)stick. Like the other reviewers, I can't get enough of the Peking Duck, but the duck shares top billing in my book with the "Szechuan Beef Proper." "The Proper," the sole name required by my friends and me to refer to the dish, was so named when a WaPo reporter writing a story on Pres. Bush (Sr.)'s affinity for the place got a taste and wrote, "This is the proper way to prepare Szechuan Beef." The resto took the name and ran. The Proper is a crispy version of the normal Szechuan Beef (also served here), pan fried at very high temps to create a caramelized, sweet, crunchy glaze over the beef shreds. Tastiness to the max! You have to try it to believe it. You can even pop the sweet beef, cold from the fridge, for a breakfast snack! Mmmm..... My dad intro'd me to this place (he used to live around here and loved this place), and he now lives in Idaho. I catch immeasurable grief now if I fly out to Idaho for a visit and haven't packed several tupperwares of the Proper in my bags. Other winners: - Pan-fried noodles (ask for it with the "wide, homemade" noodles) - Chicken and leeks (leeks are grown on the family farm in Leesburg) You need not stray beyond the four dishes noted above unless you're an unfortunate vegetarian, in which case there are some pretty passable choices on the menu. Make reservations, as Fridays and weekends can get crowded until 9-ish. This place was made popular by military brass and the Bush family, and pictures of notable military and politicos (mostly Bushes and other GOP'ers) adorn the walls (to a ridiculous extent) as serious testament to the serious quality. Don't let the suspect neighborhood behind the restaurant or the old-school Culmore shopping center storefront lead you to delusions that this place is average; try it and love it!
(5)
Jess A.

I'd never heard of the place, or knew it was any kind of big deal. My dad took me by here on the way to the airport, to treat me and mine to one last nice meal on the way out of town. I'd never had Peking duck before, and this place wow'd me. So good! I would go back in a heartbeat.
(5)
Christina B.

There is not much that I agree with the Bushs on but Peking Gourmet Inn truly has the best Peking duck. I also recommend asking for Mr. Woo to carve your duck for you-he is a legend there and you will see the master in action.
(5)
P L.

This place is amazing! You obviously can't not get the duck. It's in the name of the restaurant. The duck is fresh (they're delivered from a small farm in Long Island everyday) and it's sliced tableside for you with pancakes, hoisin sauce, and onions. You can even ask them to chop the leftover duck so that you can get at all of the pieces, not just the good parts (seriously). Other dishes I'd recommend are the seafood pan fried noodles (noodles are also made fresh daily) and the Szechuan beef proper. The latter is one of the most original dishes that I have yet to see duplicated at any other restaurant. It's a crispy sliced beef dish with a hot, yet sweet tang to the sauce. Wow... I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! The only negative is that even if you make reservations, you still have to wait about 20-30 minutes. But it's worth it.
(5)
Eugene H.

I'm a huge peking duck fan so obviously had to try out this place. I think this place is overhyped and overpriced due to the many VIPs that stopped by at one point. The peking duck is just so-so, but the price is pretty steep.
(3)
Karen K.

Peking Gourmet Inn is a different experience from most Chinese restaurants in the DMV area. The waitstaff are all dressed in jackets to give a formal look to the service. Our server, Wendy, was efficient, friendly, and at times a bit of a comedienne. The food was served family style so we could share all of the dishes ordered. The food is good but does not quite rise to the level excellent. For sure, everyone enjoyed what we ordered. Nothing left!
(4)
K J.

By far the worst I've ever had. The broccoli and beef was bland and chewy. The wontons over cooked and empty. And the wonton soup basically just water. This place may have been a big deal in the 80s, but today it's just a crappy Chinese restaurant in a shopping mall.
(1)
Ha N.

#1 dish: Peking Duck Love how thin they slice the ducks. I really like the pancake, hoisin sauce, scallions, cucumber, jalepenos that they serve with it. OK...This place gets PACKED. I made reservations and still had to wait 15-20 minutes when I arrive. Our service was good. I would recommend trying this place at least once :)
(4)
Lisa B.

I've been coming here since I was kid for big family gatherings and special occasions. The duck is what brings us (the rest of the main dishes are surprisingly mediocre). Garlic sprouts and dumplings are also good, but if you aren't in it for the duck you'll do better elsewhere. However, if you like duck (with skin and fat) with sauce and scallions rolled up in a fresh pancake, it doesn't get much better than this!
(4)
Lisa A.

Order the Peking Duck! To.Die.For.
(4)
Kevin R.

extremely busy during the weekend and you have to wait even with a reservation sometimes. Interior was well decorated with famous people and military coins everywhere. Staffs were friendly and they are not young!.. but very professional. learned my lesson by only order duck and pig out until you cant eat no more. other variety of food are something that you can get anywhere else. boss likes to give out hand shakes. i feel special just because he shook hand with other famous people.
(5)
Chloe V.

Still the best restaurant for Peking Duck!
(4)
Jimmy H.

I went here for my sister's birthday dinner and although we had a 7:30 pm reservation, we still waited about 20 minutes. Immediately when you enter, you'll notice that the reception area is quite small and can quickly get crowded. The hostess (also I believe the owner) was pretty courteous except for when she kept yelling at everyone to clear the way so people could leave. Totally understandable, but I would have preferred her to sound a bit nicer about it all. In terms of food, peking duck is obviously what you come here for and we definitely indulged ourselves by ordering two. I appreciated the attentive service which included someone to carve the duck table-side and then proceeded to wrapping a roll for each person. I will say though that they do leave quite a bit of meat on the ducks which seemed a bit wasteful. However, when we asked to take the carcasses home for cooking broth, they were happy to accommodate the request. We also ordered lamp chops and sea bass which came recommended by a family friend, but ended up being a bit of a disappointment. They also offered a special Lunar New Year dish of fried stuffed eggplant which was really good. In addition, there were stir fried sprouts that everyone enjoyed. Overall, good Chinese food at a higher price point than what we would normally pay for. I wasn't blown away, but then again, I've eaten a lot of good Chinese food from living in NYC for 5 years. Great for accommodating big groups and no extra service fees for bringing in cakes for birthdays. I would come back, but probably would not go out of my way to.
(3)
S H.

My family frequents this place a lot. I've never had a bad experience here, but I don't know if that's because we come here regularly with a huge group. Not sure if they recognize me when I come on my own, but either way it's always amazing. Some good dishes to order: Peking duck - if you're in a large group and you want to impress some people, this is a fantastic dish to order. you might have leftovers. make sure to use sauce and put some onions on as well! Combination fried rice - amazing Crab rangoon, fried or steamed dumplings, gourmet lettuce wraps and spring rolls are all good appetizers Walnut chicken - really good, in a red sauce Jeo-yan shrimp: fried jumbo shrimp, amazing seasoning Szechuan beef proper: really heavy beef - only get if you're super hungry. also kinda chewy. Don't usually order it anymore, not my favorite, but some are partial to it Four season spring beans are my favorite way to eat veggies ever! Anyhow, whenever I'm in the area I'll always stop by. Not sure if it's actually that amazing or that it's just so familiar to me that I will always love it. The waiters are so friendly and always stop by to talk to my grandparents. Reservations: if you've got a big group and it's a busy night, I would suggest making one. But on off nights if you come earlier you will probably get a table without a reservation.
(5)
Grace B.

Just wonderful. We typically visit Peking Gourmet at least once per month (this month we visited twice). We always get the duck - at least one. The giant fried shrimp and lamb are also a must. Customer service is generally top notch - and if there is a delay it is generally because they are packed to capacity. One of the last times we visited the line to the hostess stand was out the door - reservations are highly recommended as this place has a cult-like following. Don't let the location fool you - this place is amazing and a MUST!
(5)
Nicole L.

Verdict: AAA rating Having finally conquered the legendary Peking Gourmet Inn it felt quite satisfying. The surrounding area of Peking Gourmet Inn was not so desirable but it was not dangerous in any ways. I decided to organize this duck experience because my co-worker raved about it especially getting seated at the Presidential table. I had a group of 10-11 people but it expanded to 14 as people rolled in. I started ordering the dishes with Server 1. The table was clearly overcrowded. In the instance, the quick thinking servers thought of some solutions - breaking the group up to another table, joining three rectangular tables to fit us, and finally they sat us at the Presidential table. Haha that was awesome. The servers saved my frazzled nerves. Hallelujah! As we were led to the other side of the restaurant, we were entertained by the framed photos of famous people and politicians which were a talking point for many of us. From there Server 2 seamlessly took over and continued with drink orders. The Peking ducks, three in total swiftly made their way out. The servers carved the duck skin and meat wonderfully and displayed them on the lazy susan along with the sauces, pancakes, scallions and cucumber. It was spot-on on the texture, flavors and taste. Sooo Good. Definitely the best Peking duck in the DC-Metropolitan area!! We stuffed our faces with the crispy yet not oily skins and moist meat I reminded everyone there were 10 more courses ahead. Jeo-Yan Shrimp: Yet another deliciously prepared dish, the salt and garlic were a perfect blend of spices on the crispy large sized shrimps. A must-have! Szechuan Beef Proper: This dish was average and quite common at American Chinese restaurant. It was crunchy and sweet at the time. It was generously portioned so much so we had half a plate left at the end of the meal. New Zealander Lamb Chops: I couldn't say I've had deep fried lamb chops with spices but hell it really worked at Peking Gourmet. The lamb was cooking perfectly it was medium inside and crunchy on the outside. Very tasty!! Garlic Sprouts with Chicken: I thought this would be a vegetable dish but it turned out there was more shredded chicken than garlic sprouts. The overwhelming proportion confused many at the table that it was not a "vegetable" dish. I pointed out that people should try the sprouts which should had been the focal point of the dish. Black Mushrooms with Boy Choy: A classic Chinese vegetable dish it was cooked perfectly with a light sauce over the vegetables that absorbed the light soy flavor. Yu Choy with Caramelized Garlic - A simple plate of stir-fried greens with lots of caramelized whole garlic. It was light but delicious. Seabass with Blackbean Sauce - Slices of seabass stir-fried with blackbean it looked like there was too much gravy but it was gone by the time I remembered I ordered the dish. Special Seafood Noodles: Atypical must-have noodles at every round table with 10 courses and over. It had a great seafood flavor with a chewy thick noodles. I thought this dish really completed the dinner party. Scallops with Spices: A platter of fresh sea scallops with a blend of five spice and soy-based sauce. It was slightly salty, tasted okay. Chicken Fried Rice: We couldnt get away with an all-American friend who had to have chicken fried rice. I didnt taste it so I couldnt comment. At the end, we were served cucumber juice to cleanse the palate. I was very touched by the servers at the restaurant that really went out their ways to make our dinner experience a wonderful one. The service was just outstanding! That, and the duck were worth going back again and again.
(4)
Peter T.

Had the peking duck, I guess I was impressed? To be fair, I waded through awful NoVa traffic at 3 pm on a Friday (suicide, it's a suicide, biddy-bye-bye), so by the time I got there, the duck would've had to sing me happy birthday in a lusty voice on top of a piano to get me in a good mood. Also, I had duck for the first time in Paris, and I don't think there's any coming back from that. So I admit, I have my biases. All that being said, this was an enjoyable experience. The wait staff was very friendly, and very good at their jobs because they were moving people in and out of a seriously busy restaurant. The guy who comes to your table to slice apart a duck in front of you is a nice touch, as he's got a back pocket full of jokes that are somehow funnier when told by elderly Chinese men in white chef's coats. Once you get over all the stimuli - three different languages being spoken, walls crammed with autographed pictures, a long line of customers and harried busboys, you can finally consider the food itself. Yeah, it was good. Just good. The duck is moist, but fatty. A little too fatty for me, so It didn't blow me away, but my girlfriend loved it. That always helps. I'd definitely be willing to go back and order a non-anatidae dish. So there's that. I guess the lesson to take away from this is don't go anywhere near rush hour. Not sure it's worth sitting on the Beltway, but with "regular" traffic, it couldn't hurt to try, right?
(3)
Brenda D.

The ONLY reason to come here is for their duck. It really is phenomenal and I love their cucumbers and onions. The duck is fresh and cut right in front of you. If you want, you may request for the duck bones and bring them home. If only 2 people are eating, 1 duck is more than enough food. Everything else on their menu is expensive and I can get better, cheaper and more authentic Chinese food elsewhere.
(3)
PR B.

We got there around 6:30pm and were actually surprised that there was no wait. We were seated expeditiously and given menus. The waiter was typical of other Chinese restaurants, perhaps a bit more attentive. We obviously got the duck, which is a MUST. It is delicious, thinly carved, and not greasy. I didn't care for the tortilla that comes with the duck (reminded me of a Mexican restaurant), but with white rice, the duck is amazing. We also had the pork fried rice, egg rolls, and egg drop soup, which were good/decent, but nothing to write home about. All in all, I love this place and will return. Highly recommended. Con: Parking is crappy and it can get crowded around 8:00pm (as we were walking out, people were lining the halls, the doorway, the entrances).
(5)
Trish M.

Great dinner. Excellent service.
(5)
Tiger C.

The walls are littered with pictures of celebrities, politicians, and other people who eat food. The setting is a traditional Chinese style restaurant, but the opening door and plaza look fairly ghetto. Once inside though, the size of the dining room is fairly large and the place is normally packed in the evening. The waiters are cool, they know how to speak Chinese, English, and Spanish, especially knowing the jokes in each language. The duck is alright, better than most other places in the states, but nowhere, nowhere near the duck in Beijing, Chongqing, or even Shanghai. Having said that, I do not think you are going to find many places equivalent or better for peking duck. Other dishes, not so much, have had a few of the shrimp dishes and other meat dishes, and they pale in comparison to the duck. Oh by the way, like most other Chinese restaurants, do not take a Discover card.
(4)
Juliet K.

have i really never written a review of this place before?! i've been here a number of times, and each time the duck amazes me. the skin is so crunchy and the duck succulent. the wraps are housemade, and perfect in thickness. i love that they give you cucumbers to put Inside, and the hot peppers are actually hot, so eat with caution. delish. the only thing i ever eat here is the duck, so i really dont know about anything else. drool. maybe i should go back tonight?!
(5)
Jay R.

Fellow Yelpers, don't believe all the five star reviews. This place does NOT have five star food. If you want better Chinese food, go to Mark's Duck House. We started with oversized fried wontons (forgot the exact name; something like Yuan Bao) that were stuffed with some gooey mixture of small diced pork and glop), and Chinese cabbage, which didn't have enough flavor. For the main, we had Szechuan Beef Proper, which was a piled high plate of over-cooked over-crispy beef that tasted more like batter (or whatever the heck they use) than beef. We also had Shrimp Peking Style, which was a bit light on the shrimp, and (contrary to the menu description) didn't have a spicy sauce. Two TsingTao beers, two appetizers, two mains, total hit $66 before tip. Not a good use of our money. We have NO idea what everybody else is raving about with this place. We think a lot of people must have no idea what really good Chinese food tastes like.
(2)
Ross L.

This is my favorite duck! Amazing. Family traditions unfold here often!
(4)
John T.

One of the best places I've found in the DC area... A very large group of us went on a Saturday night... the place was packed. Make a reservation! The food was fabulous... the Peking duck superb! The wait staff was attentive, but not intrusive, we had plenty to eat and drink, and we got out of there for less than $50 per, which was pretty good considering the amount of alcohol consumed. Highly recommended, but make sure you have a reservation. Your life will be easier, as they really don't have a vast waiting area.
(5)
Joe G.

Quack quack. Get the duck, skip the yuck. The Peking duck is eggcellent. Crispy skin and tender meat served with house-made pancakes = very yummy (apologies in advance for those with math difficulties). The rest of the food is for the most part bland, Americanized, and overpriced.
(4)
Agustin K.

We were quite skeptical at first since this place is so famous, I mean The White House are frequent guests here. Reservation is a must, especially in the weekend. And come before 1pm. We got our reservation for 12.30 and when we left, line was out the door. The inside wall is covered with framed pictures of famous people with this one Chinese guy in all the pictures so I guess he is the owner. I admit that I felt a little bit of being part of history. Until the ducks came of course. Each duck is $38. And then the waiter skillfully carves it in front of you. It was like watching a ritual. All of us silent watching and anxiously waiting. They scrapped off the excess fat from the skin which is one of the biggest plus for me. Aside from that, they didn't waste anything. Gave us all the drumsticks and meat. The skin is home made. A little ticker than the factory produced one. Pan fried right before serving so I like it better. Scallions, cucumber (wjch we have to pay extra) and the special hoisin sauce and we are all set. The duck soup is a must as well. With napa cabbage and tofu added, its quite a hearty soup. We also ordered the string beans with garlic sauce. Top score. Crispy and the sauce has a little bit of blackbean which we loved. The Szechuan tofu is also a big hit for us. The sauce is not authentic but it's good American Chinese food. The only thing about this place is that I fell they nickle and dime you for everything. Cucumber extra. Pancake skins, extra. For $38 I wish they can give us complimentary skins and cucumber. Damage: $22 per person. Worthed especially with the chance of taking pictures with the Bush (well to be very accurate, taking pictures with the pictures of Bush). I would come back for my next visit.
(4)
Thao N.

Service was phenomenal here. I was very surprised and realized that this wasn't your everyday Chinese restaurant. Our main server was very friendly and attentive. A whole duck is presented to you and sliced in front of you (you don't get skimped on duck meats!) which is nice. When he served the roasted duck skin to me, he even added, "good for baby" which made me chuckle. After he wrapped the first piece of duck for me, I thought that was going to be it, kind of like an introductory, "so this is how you eat peking duck... see ya!" Nope. He continued to serve us... from the moment we sat down, right to when we left. He wrapped the peking duck and garnishes for us, scooped us rice whenever our plates were emptied.. oh man. I wasn't used to this kind of service at all. Quality of the duck? It was fresh and yummy, not drenched in oil at all. I enjoyed the meal here, don't get me wrong, but I don't think I'd be able to eat this everyday
(4)
Carolyn S.

Nope. Don't waste your time. Hubby and I are Chinese-food fans, and have been looking for a good Chinese restaurant. Tried this place for take-out based on the many Yelp reviews... definitely disappointed. It may have been decent years ago, but it's not anymore. We were hoping for General Tso chicken, but all they had was Orange Chicken. Had an overly acrid and fake orange flavor; very unpleasant. Chicken had lots of gristle and fat pockets as well. The Vegetable Lo Mein was nothing short of awful. Thick, tasteless noodles with soggy vegetables. Weird flavor to the whole dish. And the Crab Wontons we ordered - also soggy, filled with a cream-cheese mixture that definitely tasted "off". Don't be fooled by the hundreds of reviews given to this place-- it's not worth it.
(1)
LanChi N.

I totally would love to give this place a 5 however...its kind of a toss up when i go...since sometimes they will be on point and others...well not so much. I've been going here since...well forever because my parents love this place. It is like THE PLACE to get Peking duck..its the REAL DEAL...its always crowded unless its during a lunch hour even then sometimes it gets crowded so..make a reservation if you plan on going... Things we usually order.. are the Peking Duck and Jeo Yan Shrimp just because they are just really good staples there. Things that have been ordered that are slightly mediocre Chinese Broccoli w/ oyster Sauce- Review: decent Peking Gourmet chicken- Review:Definitely not crispy, but you can taste the garlic Vegetable Fried Rice- Review: nothing exciting Orange beef-Review:Too sweet Gourmet chinese eggplant-Review: Basically sweet and mushy eggplant Szechuan cabbage- Review: a sweet pickling more sugary then salty Peking celery - Review: pickled celery with some sesame oil Gourmet Pan fried noodle- Review: not your typical pan fried noodle(not crispy), its sauteed in a pan i guess that makes it pan fried Peking Gourmet beef- Review: not as crispy as expect taste very batter like and fatty Garlic Sprouts sauteed with chicken- Review: slightly under salted Szechuan Beef Proper- Review: for a crispy beef its awesome, could i eat more then a few spoons probably not because its so sweet...its like candied beef but its really good. Yang Chow Fried Rice- Review: it wasn't bad your typical fried rice really.. and i'm pretty sure there have been other random dishes ordered throughout my 23 years of existance that we have ordered just to try but these are ones that i remember. Peking Duck the star attraction the only reason you really go to this place is truly amazing...the skin is crispy and if you get the right person carving your duck there is minimal fat on the skin, the meat is juicy and succulent.The pancake is thin so that it doesn't take away from the duck,shredded scallion and the sauce which to this day i have tried to figure out if its plum sauce or hoisin sauce...either way its still good. My mother and her side of the family like to add lemon juice and a few sugars to the sauce to make it taste less salty and a bit sweeter. But to me why fix what is not broken. Overall this place is somewhere you want to visit atleast once just for the experience of proper peking duck and not the imitations you find a your typical chinese american restaurant
(4)
Linh H.

The Peking Duck itself deserves 5 stars. The duck cutter also gets 5 stars. There is a technique to it that I'm sure took a large amount of training to perfect. I'm sure if I decided to order something else besides Peking Duck it would go below 5, but I'm going to stick with the duck. Make reservations if you are going on a weekend. It gets packed.
(5)
Gus L.

I have been going here since I was a kid and they have really stepped up their game recently. The duck is stellar and everything else is excellent. The location of the restaurant is pretty random and the atmosphere is relatively casual. No frills just good food (something for the DC yuppies who are going to Falls Church VA expecting Mr. Chow to keep in mind). .
(5)
James M.

This is one of the better Chinese restaurants in the area known for their Peking Duck by most. It has a certain dated feeling when you walk in, all of the waiters/waitresses have outdated/faded uniforms. At first glance it appears to be a Chinese restaurant, but much much busier. Though not technically required, you have to make a reservation at least a handful of days in advance as they are always packed out. We go for birthdays and special events and typically have to make the reservation a week or so in advance. The food I would say is good, though I wouldn't call it great (exception duck and young chau fried rice). They have all the standard soups and dishes you would expect. The menu is quite large which I'm not terribly fond of: Why have a giant menu of stuff that's good/okay when you could have a small menu of very good-great? I figure this is because a lot of the people who eat here expect for the old standards to be available i.e. broccoli with *insert meat here*. The noodle dishes are good, though at times have seemed quite bland. The meat is served in your typical cornstarch/soy sauce. I think the rice dishes are by far the best and the duck is what really got me to give this place 4 stars. For the price I was ready to give 3 but when you find what they do great on their massive menu you understand why this place has been so popular for the decades it has been around.
(4)
Howie C.

"Presidents eat here..." That was the selling point my friend made when throwing this up as a suggestion on where to eat. My counter was, "When I went to Shanghai, the tour group also took us a restaurant that President Clinton had eaten at..." After leaving your party number at the reservation booth, you turn around and there's Bush, Jr staring you right between the eyes. Then you look up and see Bush, Sr. staring down at you. Then you get seated and generals and colonels are on the walls, watching you eat. It was like Joe DiMaggio and Sophia Loren all over Buca di Beppo, except this was West Point and Pentagon all in your face. You come here for the duck, and that's where it earns it's stars. $38 for a full Peking Duck carved at your table. The duck is expertly carved as first the skin is removed with the least amount of fat possible, then the fat layer is removed from the duck, then prime, thinly sliced, tender duck meat slices are placed alongside the skin. Served with 12 tortilla like wraps, sliced cucumber, sliced scallions, and hoisin sauce. It's a simple combination, but they do it right. I was especially impressed because I didn't have to exert any extra effort removing any fat from the duck skin or meat. In addition to the duck, we also ordered the house special fried shrimp dish. Deep fried, breaded jumbo shrimp served with a ginger-garlic pepper salt. Also very good, but pricey at $25. Dishes in general are a little on the pricey side. About $13-16 for chicken and beef dishes. Once again, the duck is as good as you'd find in any LA, SF or NY Chinatown. Highly recommended and well worth the 25 minute drive out of DC and into Falls Church. I damn well deserve to eat as well as the Bushes. Now where was that Clinton picture?
(5)
J D.

I annotate these comments with the following footnote: the meal we enjoyed was a group banquet selection - a relative bargain when compared to ordering the dishes available on the banquet menu individually. The kitchen prepared scaled up portions of some dishes to fit the size of our group. Although generally tasty, the flavors of some dishes came across as unbalanced. Peking Gourmet Inn is best known for the Peking Duck. Carved table side, the attendant carefully strips the duck of its skin, scrapes away the fat and carves the meat beneath. The meat and skin are then plated after which, for the first helping, a server assembles the skin and meat on a thin Chinese pancake with hoisin/ plum sauce and strips of scallions and cucumber: a delightful tidbit! The duck at the meal was excellent and enough was there for each member of the group to have 3 or so servings. The other dishes on the banquet menu were inconsistent. Each member of the group got a dumpling and spring roll. The accompanying sauces and condiments brightened otherwise muted flavors. The Schezuan Beef Proper was texturally interesting and tasty; however, the coating on the strips of beef came across as pandering to diners with a sweet palate. The four seasons string beans were good - somewhat more salty than I prefer - and some beans suffered from uneven sautÃ©ing. The bits of diced garlic were pleasant taste surprises (you have to like garlic to enjoy this dish) amongst the beans. I savored each bite. The Jeo Yan shrimp were excellent - the shrimp were nicely seasoned and the batter coating each shrimp was light. This dish is listed as a chef speciality for good reason. However, it is not a dish that should sit - eat it immediately - it will suffer if taken home for later consumption or if ordered as a takeaway selection. The fried rice had a lot of ingredients ( meat, shrimp, veggies all tossed in) but came across as bland. One thing for home chefs: ask the restaurant to wrap up the carved duck carcass to take home. It will make excellent soup stock for use later. As the footnote suggests, some dishes would likely have fared better if the chef was preparing a normal serving instead of scaling up the serving size to fit large groups. It was, in the end, a nice meal. The Peking duck makes it all taste better.
(4)
Cat D.

Wow - this is seriously the best peking duck I have ever had. Usually peking duck is with the thicker pancakes, and it's either the really dark meat or the really dry meat - the only way to make it really tender is to add a lot of sauce. Duck is good and all, but until you've had it here, you have not actually had peking duck. When you drive there for the first time, it's located next to an Asian market [one of those "there's everything here" kind of places] and a small mattress store, and it looks really small from the outside. But looks are deceiving - it's really spacious on the inside, and if you ask for it ahead of time, there are private rooms, or tables you can get in a quieter back area. It will be a little loud on the inside, so it's not the best place for a quiet dinner, but rather a social one. The walls are lined with framed photographs - they're all pictures of people that ate at the restaurant! If you look for them, a lot of famous people (both celebrity and political) have dined there. It's supposed to be a Bush family favorite! If you're here, come for the duck. Order that first, just to start with that because it's delicious. Because you order duck by the duck, be prepared to share! A single duck can feed a family of four fairly well (though you may want to order another dish as well), though I know with just one more person added to my family, we can eat two ducks plus another dish. They deliver you the pancakes first (here the pancakes are much thinner and more similar to a tortilla, making it easier to wrap the duck), along with a plate of scallions (they grow and harvest it themselves!) and cucumbers (the cucumbers are extra, but I'd recommend them because they really do add to the duck). They also give you a bowl of their sauce, which is absolutely fantastic. The duck comes out as a whole duck, and the server cuts slices of the duck right by your tableside - it's really cool to watch, and they're always very efficient. There's also hardly any fat on the pieces they cut! (even on the skin - that's nice and crunchy) If there's another dish you should order (if you're still hungry or want to try a specialty), try the crispy shrimp (or the lamb if you're feeling adventurous - no one in my family seems to like this like I do...) and when they ask you for rice on the side, ask for their fried rice instead of the white rice! The shrimp is really crispy and flavorful, and there's always a good amount served. The service here is also really good, though if you're not good with accents, you may have to repeat yourself multiple times to be clear. Sometimes (and by sometimes I mean usually), there will be a man coming around to check how you're enjoying your duck, and he'll also start serving you by putting the ingredients on your pancake and wrapping it for you, before politely saying "enjoy!" This is definitely a place to try if you haven't already. Tips though! Call ahead for a table first - they'll give you a time to come if your preferred time seems busy. Order the duck first thing before looking at other stuff on the menu. Don't splurge on drinks - you're here to eat the duck. Also, if you ever use bones in your cooking, ask your server to package the duck bones for you to take home - my family uses it for duck rice porridge. Enjoy!
(5)
Sarah S.

Oh god, the duck. The duck is life-changing. Everytime I come here, I forget how good the duck is until I take the first bite, and I am launched into a duck-eating frenzy. I'm pretty sure I could take down a duck on my own, but just to be safe, you should come with at least one other person. I'd say you could safely do 3 people to a duck, but any more than that, and you'll probably regret it. The duck is pretty pricey, but to me it's worth it. Apparently you can request to take the duck carcass home, which I haven't done yet, but next time I will because I'm sure I could gnaw some more delicious duck meat off of those bones. It's worth noting that the duck is also great as leftovers, in case you were thinking about stealing your roommate's leftover duck... (Not recommended if you want to remain roommates) We usually come here on Sunday morning, right when the restaurant opens, but if you come at any other time, it can get pretty busy, so reservations are ideal. Be careful when you ask the server for recommendations because some of them won't hesitate to recommend a dish that happens to be the most expensive (sneaky, sneaky). Another dish we regularly get in the Jeo-Yan shrimp. The dish is pretty expensive for what you get, but the flavor keeps us coming back for more. The shrimp is well-fried, with the perfect balance of saltiness with the other spices in the batter. Everytime we had gone previously, we tried to order the garlic sprouts, only to find that they were sold out. This last time I went on Christmas Eve, and they actually had garlic sprouts! We ordered the garlic sprouts with chicken, and while they chicken was tender, I was pretty underwhelmed by the dish. I thought it would be mostly sprouts, but it ended up being mostly made up of chicken strips with some garlic shoots mixed in. Oh duck...
(5)
William B.

I promise you it does not get better then Peking Gourmet Inn. GUARANTEE. My family eats here every time for a birthday just to have the excuse to eat here! My family is full of quality cooks and love this place. Their peking duck is unmatched in the quality or flavor, as well as the price compared to any other duck place, it is totally worth paying the extra 10 or so bucks compared to another duck place because each duck is extremely tender, tasty, and to die for. Their other dishes also are amazing, the many people photos hanging on the walls shows you that this place is one of the best restaurant not only in the DMV but in the East coast. The only bad thing about this place is there poorly mannered waiters. All chinese workers who some have a hard time processing what you said to them. As our family is half viet and half chinese, I am not un-rightfully badgering them as I hate to discredit any fellow asian workers who work hard, but for the 5-star restaurant they are known for, they need to upgrade their waiters/waitresses, give them a weekly english or etiquette lesson because they truly need it. Been going here for 5+ years now, saw Roy Hibbert, center for the Indiana Pacers here when he played at Georgetown! Overall, amazing place that really puts a mark on great quality foods in the DMV and chinese food.
(5)
Johnny C.

I haven't been to Peking Gourmet for years because there was always some other place to go for Peking Duck. Our regular place had a kitchen fire and we were craving Peking Duck so we decided to give Peking Gourmet another try on Saturday night. We had six people in the group and were pleasantly surprised. The duck was bigger, leaner, and tastier compared to what we normally get. I always ask for both the scallions and cucumber with the duck. However, the restaurant will charge you extra for both. In addition to the duck, we ordered Garlic Sprouts with Pork, Steak Northern Style, Sea Bass, and Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms with Chinese Baby Greens. All the dishes were good and the server highly recommended the mushroom dish which we really liked. Everything was served quickly and efficiently. We were also served cucumber juice at the end which was palate pleasing. Overall, it was good but the price was a little on the high side. I'm glad we were able to try Peking Gourmet again after all those years and it's good have another place to go when we have Peking Duck cravings.
(4)
Lisa J.

The duck is wonderful. Pretty self explanatory. However, one of my greatest restaurant pet peeves is when servers suggest small additions to your dinner, leading you to believe these are complimentary to your already pricey meal (if I wanted the extra _ _ _ _ when I scanned the menu, wouldn't I have ordered it myself? unless the server was nice enough to offer it to me for "free")..... and then you receive your check and see that there was an extra $6.00 tacked onto your meal that you could have spent on the tip. It's all too minuscule to bring up but leaves you feeling cheated out of a couple bucks. Maybe I'm just too frugal. So on that note: * The server will always ask you if you want cucumbers with your duck. If you say yes, be aware that they do charge you for them. * Also upon ordering, they ask you if you want hot tea. There's a charge for this as well - another thing they don't disclose unless you ask **** After the first round of pancakes they bring out, if you request more, you have to pay $0.25 for each additional pancake. No thank you, I'll just gnaw on some duck bones and take the rest of it home.
(4)
Collin C.

The kind of meal you would want to eat before walking the green mile. THE best Chinese food in the DC, MD, and VA area, and some of the best Northern Chinese cuisine in the country. The duck is a given, but I cannot pass on the "Szechuan Beef Proper." The beef is thinly shredded, soaking with flavor, with an undeniably sweet crunchy finish. The portions of the beef are large, and The American boy in me will eat these left over babies for breakfast on Christmas morning, cold! I've been coming here for over 20 years and my taste for this place only grows stronger. Since moving to California I have often longed about returning to VA for that hot spicy mustard and have even woken from a dream foaming at the mouth only to the rude awakening of my cotton pillowcase. Make a reservation. This place is packed. If a fire were to break out you might as well just finish your meal, because there is no room to move, but that's ok by me, it's last supper worthy.
(5)
Cassandra S.

This review is ONLY on the customer service: Mother's Day disaster! Arrived promptly on time for a 1 PM reservation. Was told by the host that our reservation was cancelled. Funny thing - I was the person that made the reservation. I even called earlier that day to confirm out reservation. The place was packed. No standing room. The host firmly asked us to wait outside. I explained that if we were outside none of us would hear our name being called. They did not have pagers or loudspeaker to announce ready reservations. We shuffled our way through the crowd and waited outside. About 25 minutes later I went back inside to see the status of our table. The host ignored me several times until I was about five inches from her face asking her about our table. She said she gave our table away because she had called for us. I calmly explained that she told us to wait outside and we did exactly as we were told. Quickly losing her patience my Mother finally decided to get involved. The manager quickly took us to our table. At this point it was 2:07 PM. We waited...and waited...and waited some more. About 15 minutes after being seated a server came by with ice water. We asked if we could put in our order but he told us he wasn't "our" server and promptly walked away. I begged one of the bus boys in Spanish to please bring us a server as we were very hungry and ready to order. Another 5 minutes went by and a server finally came and took our order. No apologies for our wait or anything from management. I completely understand how difficult it is to work in the food industry especially on holidays, but this was absolutely unacceptable. We felt like we were a total inconvenience being there.
(1)
Florence K.

Duck, duck, duck, duck. Order the duck and you won't go wrong. I don't think I have be redundant and express my opinions of the crispy goodness Peking Gourmet Inn brings... fellow Yelpers have done that for me already. I can add that their Bok choy and shittake mushroom dish is delicious as well! The Bok choys are arranged like green clouds with the meaty mushrooms on top... I loved it! Read the 500+ reviews and get the duck. Service is great too! Fast, friendly and efficient. Will be back after I level my cholesterol to a healthy range.
(4)
Peter M.

Tried four dishes for takeout recently: Peking Gourmet Chicken (slightly dry chicken but complex sauce of ginger and garlic, really tasty); Garlic Chicken (not for date night - big slices of garlic); Ma Po Tofu (as advertised, not overly spicy) and Bean Curd Home Style (also mild). Since I like spicier dishes, I would probably skip the tofu next time (it was good, I would just get more variety next time - like duck and garlic sprouts or garlic sprouts and duck. Forgot they have outstanding garlic sprouts...but anything with garlic is good here). Previously, I've also tried the Pork with Plum Sauce and Szechuan Beef Proper. Liked them both. Overall, 4 stars. Yes, everything is expensive here, especially the signature Peking Duck, specials and seafood. I treat this as a special occasion place rather than a regular stop.
(4)
Elizabeth W.

Love the Peking duck! They carve the duck table side. Probably the best service I've seen at a Chinese restaurant. The other dishes are just ok. Stick with the duck, it's what they do best.
(4)
Gaz H.

Old School classy Chinese place. VIP pictures are serious and plentiful. You could take anyone here and be safe. Duck was very good and nicely presented. Other dishes were perfectly fine. I wasn't blown away by anything but enjoyed a nice meal.
(3)
Steven S.

I have been here several times for a variety of family occasions. We are usually in a large party and service was excellent. I suppose some of my family members are regulars. In all honesty, I do not remember anything specific that we ate, you know, just your staples like fried rice, some meat dish, shrimp, vegetables, etc. Anyway, what I do remember is that I always enjoy eating at this restaurant not only for the company, but for the food. I always enjoy everything that is served at the table and I happily take any leftovers with me. Pleasant staff and good food! A lot of pictures and plenty to look at. Eat here.
(4)
Cameron B.

I've been coming here as long as I remember. My grandfather grew up in China and when my Dad took him here many years ago he said it was the best Chinese restaurant that he's ever been to in the United States. Ever wonder why there are so many things on the menu you've never heard of? It's because it's authentic Chinese food, not Americanized. Of cource the duck is AMAZING, you don't need me to tell you that. When we go we also always get the beef proper which is thin stips of beef that are fried with sweet sauce and sprinkles with sesame seeds. Also, we always get these amazing Chinese shrimp. I forget the name but just ask the waiter, they are very popular. They are jumbo sized fried tempura style with the best seasoning on them. I recommend going in a big group, getting 2 ducks and sharing a few other dishes. Not only do you get to experience different tastes this way, but you get to have stand offs for the last piece of duck with the lazy susan. If you also want a strong drink I suggest the suffering bastard, but dont' get more than 1 if you're planning on driving. No seriously you WILL get drunk. It's like a long island iced tea garnished with a cucumber. Oh and notice there are like 10 picture of GW Bush on the wall. He came here a lot while he was president and they took a picture like every single time.
(5)
Agnes C.

I'm giving them one star because the customer service sucked ! Place is a typical dirty stinky Chinese food joint, only difference is they've managed to place pictures of every somewhat important ( in their opinion) person that visited that place. I must say the duck is good and the jeo yeon shrimp. That's it... Everything else is typical fast food Chinese cuisine. Expect a LONG wait for everything. Not worth the wait... Sorry, people have a life in this city... No time to wait for glorified greasy Chinese food!
(1)
Joan K.

If you hate waiting, DO NOT EAT HERE! That way, it's less time I have to spend waiting. You circle around looking for parking, you wait a good half hour (min) to get seated, you order your peking duck, garlic sprouts, jeo-yan shrimp and szechuan beef, and you eat it. Don't order your standard chinese-take-out and expect something amazing. That's just not what this restaurant is for. And while they're super-famous for the peking duck, my actual favorite part of this restaurant is the stir-fried garlic sprouts. You'll have nasty nasty breath afterwards, but I don't know of anywhere else to get it.
(5)
Jeff S.

This restaurant is surpassingly gluten free. We go here for jewish christmas every year and this time my new wife came along who is a glutard. I emailed the restaurant beforehand and they informed me that a majority of their food can be prepared gluten free (they have special soy sauce they can use). Some items are not GF because they are not made to order (like big batches of soups or appetizers). When I arrived at the restaurant we informed the host of our allergy. They were super helpful and again reiterated they have special soy sauce they can use and to alert our waiter. If our waiter was having difficulty understanding we should contact the manager and they gave us his name. The food is excellent but this is the first time my wife has been to chinese food in about 7 years since she first found out her allergy. The food was excellent, and it was an awesome experience because they were so glutard helpful.
(5)
Ling D.

While this was my first time eating here, it was actually my second visit. My first visit was a year ago, when I'd attempted to go for dinner, but due to a miscommunication with the hostess, I did not have a reservation. They were incredibly rude during this exchange, so much so that I left immediately and ate somewhere else. However, much to my dismay, a friend chose this place for his birthday dinner so I had to go back this past weekend. Long story short: - Terrible food, including the duck....Especially the duck! Meat was dry. Skin was not crispy at all. Duck was not fresh. - Food is not authentic or flavorful. Everything is americanized and lacks any real chinese flavor or style of cooking. - Very expensive....although even if it was dirt cheap, I still would not choose to eat there again. Overall, it's not worth the time or the money, and I do not plan on going back.
(1)
Francisbro S.

Hands down the best Chinese food I have had outside of China. The food is amazing. They hand carve the Peking duck and serve it to you with scallions, cucumbers, hoysin and pancakes, the same way that they do in Beijing, and it is just as good. My favorite dish besides the duck is the Peking Gourmet Chicken - chicken in a ginger glaze-sauce, but the fried pork dumplings and egg rolls are also exceptional, you really cant go wrong though. I like to douse everything in their "garlic sauce" a delicious, thick, sweet, yellow sauce. The ambiance at this place is great too, the walls are literally covered with photos of famous patrons. If you are looking for really good sit-down Chinese in the DC area this place is it.
(5)
E L.

Peking Duck - 5 stars Garlic spouts w/shrimp - 4 stars Stir fry sting beans - 5 stars Service - 4 stars Best peking duck in the NOVA areas.
(5)
Koichi E.

A surprisingly delectable and a bit more upscale than what the facade would suggest. I visited the Peking Gourmet Inn twice now for lunch since this is minutes away from my new office and happy to say, Eureka!, a really good Chinese restaraunt!! Looks like the duck is the thing but at lunch, the prix fixe meal for six has the savory looking fowl. Much to my dismay, I can't get five co-workers to come with me for this! I suppose I can spring for the $30 price but considering I used to get duck in Chinatown for a fraction of the price, it is hard to justify. My favorite hole in the wall in Chinatown closed down inexplicably (Kamsun Seafood on 7th and H) so this may be my closest option. Wait, there's Mark's Duck house too not too far from here! Lunch combos are pretty reasonable with soup, egg roll, rice and main course for around $9. I think that there are "tells" for Chinese restaraunts and one of them is how well they do Hot and Sour soup. If I see white mushrooms instead of the black fungus mushrooms, I'm inclined to say no thank you for coming back. I've had some bad soup with black pepper as their hot spice for this soup and I can tell that they are amateurs. Chinese red pepper can't be substituted. The fried rice that comes with the combos probably should be a pass though since it's quite lacking in ingredients. This is a mystery to me about passing off rice sauteed in soy sauce and oil for combo plates rather than going ahead and serving a small portion of something like Young Chow style fried rice, which would just make the dishes from OK to almost great. We regard fried rice sort of like, 'hey, what's going bad in the fridge' and tossing it with some cold leftover rice. Hey, it's good stuff but not really a royal dish, if you know what I mean. That's why if I go to a restaraunt, I want a little more effort than what I can toss together at home. I could do without the celebrity wall of fame though. Rich and famous people gotta eat too and if their politics are anything like their taste in food, they wouldn't be a great indicator of the quality of the food there!
(4)
Ellen W.

I don't eat duck but this is the place to go for excellent Peking duck. It's a bit pricey but the duck is suppose to be the best. As you can see from other reviews, many celebrities have been here. There are loads of pictures on the wall to prove it. It's pretty much typical Chinese food but you're paying for the restaurant reputation and since the duck is expensive, it's justifiable to charge more for the other stuff too. I loved the jiao yen shrimp (spell?), Chilean sea bass in black bean sauce and spinach with garlic. Service was ok. When we finally got our waiter's attention, he was very helpful but he was so busy that he never came back to check on us. We would have to flag him down whenever we needed something. I didn't give it 5 stars because I thought the food was a little over priced and the wait was ridiculous. We had reservations and for some reason they pushed it back 45 minutes without contacting anyone in our party. Then it took forever to get seated. The waiting area is a nightmare because there is no waiting area. People are trying to come in and out of the restaurant in this very narrow path to the door. I would go back again but maybe not on a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)
James T. W.

I recently went to Peking Gourmet Inn for the first time this weekend. It. Was. Wonderful. Our party of four arrived for a 7:30 reservation and were cheerfully seated at an oversized table (for 6, likely) no later than 7:45. It was a gleefully opportune time to recycle Seinfeld's "So you can *take* the reservation" diatribe, but due to the sheer size of the crowd the wait felt mitigated. It was standing room only through every stretch of the pre-dining-area parts of the restaurant and the parking lot was at capacity. We promptly ordered the Crab Rangoon and two bottles of wine (room temperature Malbec and chilled Reisling) to start. The appetizer was good, but the true treat was that it was the first introduction of half our party to how dinner is served at PGI: table service. The apps were brought out on a serving plate and then individually served to each of our diners. This small, personal, touch was repeated when the Peking Duck (every rave review you have read is true) was carved tableside in a mesmerizing fashion. They were unfortunately out of the Pork Ginger Sprouts, and in what was later called our largest mistake of the evening we did not replace with a second Peking Duck entrÃ©e. Instead we rounded out our meal with Shrimp Jeo-Yan, Pork Chung King, and what I personally found to be an unmemorable beef dish served with a glut of ginger. If Peking Duck did not call for spring onions, the dish would not have had to been chewed. The meat was truly very tender and succulent. The skin was perfectly roasted and meticulously thin. The Shrimp was fried, peppered, and made three of us ridiculously happy when our fourth demurred to partake. The Chung King, for being a last second substitution, was delightful (with a generous helping of Plum sauce leftover from the original Peking serving). The beef was... who am I kidding, I can't even recall the name of this dish. Rating: 5.5 / 5 Food Rating: 5/5 Table service? +.5 bonus points Note on serving size: A party of four will be well fed with one appetizer and three family style entrÃ©e selections. Feel free to order four plates, as my party did, but make sure you bring three other good eaters. You'll need a table of Clean Plate Club in order to finish the wonderful meal you're presented. Note on serving selection: If you pass on the Peking Duck, you're dead to me.
(5)
Steve T.

Its rare that I give a place 5 stars, but its close. Let me start off by saying that in my experience all chinese food has been the same. Meaning, I've never experienced terrible chinese food and I've never experienced anything extraordinary. Its like they all come from the exact same cook. This place however is different. We ordered the pepper beef, the peking chicken (excellent flavor), the peppered asparagus (delicous) and the chow mein. When I asked for chicken chow mein, the waiter looked at me like Im from another world and proceed to mutter something in changlish. I couldnt figure out what he was saying, so I just asked for the one with noodles... It came out right. The duck looked out of this world, which everyone was ordering, but we didnt try it. Oh, make sure to get reservations.. this place was PACKED on a monday night!
(4)
Timothy T.

The Peking Duck is a must have here. I've tried their other dishes, but I wasn't really impressed. So, stick to the duck! Be sure to make reservations since this place gets very busy. FYI - It can get very cramped in the waiting area. All part of the experience. Anyways, when you order the duck, they carve it table side. The skin is crispy and the meat is juicy. The duck is not too fatty. It's prepared just right. The duck is served with a tortilla-like wrapper. Be sure to order the scallions and cucumbers too. Place the duck, cucumber, scallions, and some hoisin sauce in the wrapper and enjoy the experience!
(4)
Mike M.

Amazing food! They are famous for the roasted duck but also try the lamb chops and fried jumbo shrimp. Definitely make reservation or you will wait forever. I wish they would update the inside of the restaurant because it is very out dated. For the amount of customers and cash rolling threw this place it's needed
(5)
Ani P.

Oh I don't like duck. It's so gamey. Duck is nasty fatty. I can't deal with the blubber layer between the skin and meat. If you've been wronged by nasty duck in the past (like the above), have no fear, Peking Gourmet Inn is here to stuff your belly with ducky goodness. The duck is moist. Succulent. The skin is crispy like a kettle-cooked potato chip. The other Chinese food kinda sucked. Go for the duck. All of the servers were hella nice. They found a perfect corner for my shorites. They oohed and aahed at the twins. Friendly vibe.
(5)
Jim B.

Peking Gourmet is a frequent choice for our family, and we have never taken anyone there who didn't love it. The Peking Duck is the best we've ever had anywhere. Yes, you can get cheaper in Eden Center or Chinatown, but it won't compare. Some do not seem to appreciate the other fare, we think primarily because they are accustomed to "Americanese" dishes like orange chicken, but many of the dishes here are about as close to what you will actually find in parts of China as anything in DC Metro. If the garlic shoots are available, they are not to be missed. Likewise the ginger shrimp. The Szechuan beef proper is syrupy sweet, but very good and, again, precisely what you will find in Southern China. This is a great restaurant! Fair warning, though: scores of others agree. Unless you are early on a Monday or Tuesday evening, make a reservation, even for lunch, and prepare even then to wait a few minutes.
(5)
Ha T.

As a tourist, it's worth one visit to satisfy my curiosity and say "Hey, I ate at the same restaurant as [insert famous Republican or military leaders here]." Their famous duck was very tasty - maybe because I was practically starving from the long wait. The meat was both moist and tender, although the skin wasn't crispy or salty enough for my taste. The wrap and dipping sauce that accompanied the duck were nothing special. It wasn't the best Peking duck meal I ever had, but still a nice experience. I like it that they carved away the bones for us, which is different than most Chinese restaurant. My aunt wanted to take the duck bones home to make broth, but they snatched it away before we could even ask. Oh why must they begrudge a few scraps? For the price we paid we should own every single feather on that duck.
(3)
Takiyah D.

It was a suprise birthday spot for me. I knew the spot from way back in my teens and had never tried it. So the hubster made it happen and with a bunch of friends and family to boot. Well, we ordered from the group menu and stayed open to trying dishes we would not normally order. So the courses were hit and miss for us all. Didn't matter. The staff was attentive, about business and most of all funny. The food was good and although I can't say I would get Peking duck again the skin was crispy and I rather enjoyed the servers tutorial on making a chinense taco. The food was abundant, we felt like kings and queens with the spread. The group menu doesn't play around, dishes just kept coming. All fresh, hot and tastey. I have not returned because it is a bit out of the way for me, but I would definetly go back if I'm doing business in the area or have another group celebration planned.
(4)
Lindsay D.

The best egg rolls in Northern Virginia. Other dishes are hit or miss. All are pricey. (But the egg rolls are reasonable.) So now we order 10 or 12 egg rolls, and my husband picks them up, and we nosh on them for a few days. Two egg rolls are enough for a meal for me. The sweet garlic sauce that comes with them is amazing, too!
(3)
Lucy X.

A much anticipated restaurant... The duck here really speaks for itself (the sole reason I give this place 4 instead of 2/3 stars). It is SO GOOD. But as for everything else, meh. Honestly, if I could sum it up in one word: overpriced. Two small bowls (literally smaller than your average Chinese restaurant rice bowl) of soup I could get at any old Chinese restaurant for 10 bucks?! The waiter looked at us funny, but didn't even tell us why, when we obliviously called for one order, for seven people...yea. The jeo-yan shrimp was good, but for $26 a pop, I dunno. It just wasn't amazing enough. Beef proper...was unexpected and interesting. Sweet crunchy beefy things, almost tasted like a snack food. But the portion was pretty good, and had plenty leftovers. Hmm other than that nothing else really stood out to me. Overall, a very Americanized Chinese restaurant to my surprise (and dismay). Except for the duck!! If anything, just come here and get two orders of duck and call it a meal, which is probably what I'm gonna do when I come again.
(4)
Stephanie R.

Well. I went here for the first time last night after hearing about it for a long time. I went with a large group and we ordered a LOT of food. I'm not going to go into the details of what was what, but I'll give you my humble opinion on what was spot on and what was just not worth ordering. Obviously, the duck. The duck was to die for delicious. The crispiness of the skin, the meat was perfectly moist...it was so delicious. I may or may not have eaten 4 pancakes. The sauce was decent although I wish the cucumbers came for free....I mean at $38 for a duck, i think they should throw in some cucumbers for free. Jus sayin... The rest of the food we had was good. Nothing out of this world. The shrimp with garlic sprouts was pretty delicious, and the vegetables we ordered were pretty much what I would expect for a typical Chinese restaurant. I didn't like the spinach because i felt that it was too heavy on the roasted garlic making it almost too bitter for me. We also had the Szechuan Beef proper, which I found to be quite hard to eat. The beef was so crispy that it became almost un-chewable. I liked the flavor though. Everyone else at the table seemed to enjoy their dishes, but I found the majority of the stuff (with the exception of the duck) to be just mediocre.
(3)
Judy C.

I really like Peking Gourmet Inn. It's in a nondescript shopping center...definitely not a place that you would think that presidents and politicians dine at. You really shouldn't go to Peking Gourmet Inn unless you are going to have the Peking Duck...that's their specialty. A carver comes to your table and carves the duck, which is served with pancakes, hoisin sauce, and scallions (which the restaurant grows itself). You can add cucumbers for a fee. It's one of the most expensive places (if not the most) to get Peking duck in the DC area, but I think it's worth it. If you are a cook, ask for the bones - they are great to make soup or even just to nibble on the scraps of meat left on the bone the day after your meal. I like this restaurant best when going with a large group. The group menu is reasonably priced. The last time I was there, my group of six paid about $14 each for 5 courses...Not bad at all. When going with only two people, the bill comes out to a lot more per person, because the duck is almost $40 dollars.
(4)
shawn g.

The duck here is pretty good, but we had a mediocre experience here on christmas. Of course it's open, and totally packed. We called the day before to pick up a duck. They told us it would be ready by noon the next day. We showed up around 12:30pm and our duck was nowhere to be found, with no record of our name or phone number. It wasn't a huge issue, they just grabbed someone else's and gave it to us, but at $40 each, you'll need at least two to feed six people. If we had more Chinese butchers around here, you could get the same quality for half the price. Nice for special occasions, but not on the regular list by any means.
(3)
Kim-Son T.

When I got there there the waiting area had about a dozen people in line. Luckily, I was the last in my group to arrive so all I had to do was head to our table. This place gets busy around 6:00 PM on a Saturday night. By the time we left, everyone had to suck in their filled stomach just to squeeze through the mass of bodies gathered at the front door waiting to be seated. Get a reservation if you plan on going here. I think the dining area to the left of the entrance is the most private if you are not in the mood to sit amongst a loud murmuring crowd. The Peking duck was superb with its crispy skin. The staff was friendly and very accommodating promptly bringing us julienne cucumbers when we requested some for our duck. Once the lazy susan in the center of the table was filled with our orders it was spinning non-stop. Everybody wanted to sample the dishes ordered. We had things from Orange Beef, a couple of shrimp dishes, and some of vegetable dishes. Everything was scrumptious. The mango ice cream at the end of the meal provided for a great palate cleanser. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Chris H.

Best Chinese restaurant anywhere I've been in over 50 years. We love it.
(5)
sarah s.

Awesome Chinese! I can't believe all the years I've lived here and missed out on this place. I'm picky about my cuts of meat and most cuts at Chinese places scare me. I hate to say it, I love me some PF Changs. I had pretty much given up on any other Chinese food in the area, but a friend told me I had to come here. Hearing it was Bush 41's favorite place, I had written it off that it must be old and outlived it's prime. Nope. I've been here twice now, and it's great. The duck is AWESOME! I've also tried the szechuan beef proper (very good), singapore noodles (yum!), pork with peppers (tasty!), and peking chicken gourmet (delish! Ask for the white meat version if you're picky like me). In fact I was so impressed after our first visit that I had to come back a few days later, I was craving it! I love that they have old-fashioned egg rolls, too. The pork dumplings were awesome, too. Perhaps the funnest thing is their bar- they have these old-school drinks in old-school glasses that are fun and actually taste good. Service was good, too. This is my new go-to for Chinese. Authentic Chinese, I've been waiting for you- PF Chang's be gone!
(4)
E E.

This place is a mad house. I don't know if everyone comes here because of the political highbrows, but I don't think it's for the food. Even with a reservation, we waited 30 mins for a table. We then waited 30 mins for the server to come by to take our drink order. The server wanted to bring us our drinks prior to taking our dinner order so we waited another 15 mins for order. The cripsy duck skin is amazing but you really can't mess up duck skin with a Peking duck. That is just the essence of the Peking Duck. It's like bacon. You have to be an awful chef to mess up something so fatty and luscious. The best part of the meal for me was... asking the server to give me the rest of the duck after being carved so I can take it home and make some duck soup for my pups.
(3)
Steve L.

I've been visiting Peking Gourmet Inn for many years for one reason, the Peking Duck. It's delicious. There are several parts to the dish: the duck meat, skin, pancake, and hoisen sauce. The duck is brought to your table as a whole and then is carved in front of you. The carver does an excellent job of removing fat and slicing down the meat to small strips. The duck is tasty and juicy, and when combined with the hoisen sauce, skin, and pancake, the combination forms a tangy and crispy taste. I've ate several of the other dishes on the menu. They're uniformly good, but nothing that particularly stands out. The food is Americanized but I've had one bad dish. Without the duck, I would view Peking Gourmet Inn as a very good but overpriced Chinese restaurant. The duck is the main attraction here and I'm basing my rating around that dish.
(5)
Daniel S.

I've been coming to Peking Gourmet Inn for close to 25 years now. Hand's down, one of the best places for Peking Duck in the country (I've looked!). Yet, I feel like the restaurant missed an opportunity over the years (many opportunities really) to expand beyond such a signature dish and offer a truly notable menu. It's not that their other dishes are bad; most are pretty good. It's just that when you have heads of state visiting your restaurant consistently over the decades, you would think that they would consistently strive to become a better restaurant. So let's focus on the good. Peking Duck, Peking Duck, Peking Duck! At $38/bird, it's a pricey indulgence. But most of the time, the ducks are succulent, the pancakes hot, the spring onions fresh, and the plum sauce just the perfect blend of sweet/sour. Over the years, we've been served the occasional "bad" bird (too bony or dry, etc.). But for the most part, it's hard to go wrong ordering the Peking Duck here (don't forget to ask for your duck's carcass if you're into making homemade soup the next day). The Jeo-Yan Shrimp are also particularly good here so I highly recommend them as well. Other dishes that we always seem to order (but aren't particularly memorable) are the Kung Pao chicken, snow peas and water chestnuts (chestnuts taste canned), and the beef fried rice (beef is usually a bit too greasy). Anyone who's been to Peking Gourmet Inn before knows that the restaurant is located in a somewhat run-down strip mall next to a Post Office. This place definitely won't win any stars for ambiance or decor (although you'll never forget the sound of their staff singing you "Happy Birthday"). But despite the less-than-ideal location and somewhat high prices for Annandale, Peking Gourmet Inn is always jam-packed on a Friday and Saturday night. If you stick to the duck, you'll drive home full and happy!
(4)
A R.

I've had it. I've been a customer of this place for years only because there are no other significant Chinese restaurants here. The worst part about this place is the end. The waiters are so rude about the tip. They force you to sign it in front of them and then they come back and look to see what you give them, this happens each and every time. Today, I had exceptionally poor service, and the food is not as good as it used to be, so I gave them %12 that he didn't deserve. When I was having end of dinner conversations, the guy aggressively came to the table...by that I mean his crouch penetrated my triceps. He paused to look at the tip, apparently wasn't happy, and walked off. Every time I come here I have a problem with them at the end. I will only pick up so I don't have to deal with this. RUDE!
(1)
Lillian C.

Peking duck is over-rated. If you weren't crazy for peking duck to begin with, this won't make you like it anymore. If I were to rate service alone, 5 stars. For a crowded restaurant its nice to know that the waiters/waitresses still give great service and prepare your meal in front of you. The food is good, don't get me wrong, but I'm not eager to wait in line for peking duck personally. I think if I had the choice, I would have just gone to a Chinese store to get a roast duck from the window. This is totally one of those Chinese restaurants from the 60's and 70's meant to introduce chinese food to an American clientele. American chinese dishes, and then ... peking duck. I feel like peking duck is one of those over-glorified Chinese dishes that are thought to be more integral to chinese cooking than it actually is. Give me a good dim sum place or tiny hole in the wall chinese restaurants in Chinatown (what's left of them) or Brooklyn with secret menus any day. Snails with black bean sauce, braised tripe, even tomato with beef- why is authentic chinese food in the DMV a rarity?
(4)
Andrew U.

Hands down, this is the best place to get Chinese food in the Washington DC area. It is no wonder that the place has been frequented by dignitaries, and is ALWAYS busy. Good luck getting in without an RSVP! Parking can be a bit of a bear, and it is sort of hidden in a strip mall of sorts, but make the effort and find it! You'll be glad you did. The Peking Duck is a thing of beauty - presentation and taste are out of this world. There isn't a single thing on the menu that isn't delicious. The ginger shrimp and orange chicken are other personal favs. The food is pricey, but well worth it. My family always looks forward to a visit to Peking Gourmet, and will always be back for more! Do yourself a favor and dine here if you want a real treat.
(5)
Theresa C.

4.5 stars! Having had real Peking Duck in Beijing China, this duck is definitely comparable. I give it 4.5 because cucumbers are not free. you have to pay for it. Definitely get the duck if you eat there, or else you are missing the point. they also had some other good dishes like shrimp and eggplants. Overall I had a pleasant experience. The place gets really packed on the weekend, so be patient with the wait. Going again this weekend
(4)
Alan N.

This place does two things really good, the Peking duck and the garlic sprouts. Both were delicious and honestly I preferred the garlic sprouts over the Peking duck. The service is definitely attentive and my glass was never empty for too long while I was eating. The pancakes used to wrap the peking ducks can be a bit floury for my taste so I generally just eat the duck with rice and the veggies while dipping it into the plum sauce they supply your table with.
(4)
Mila S.

I've been going to this restaurant for the past 16 years or so, long time right? I loveeee the Peking duck, the skin is so crispy and the meat is tender, it's not dry at all. It's unfortunate that the price for Peking duck has gone up though, I remember it being cheaper when I was a kid. But even though the price is somewhat high, I always order the duck anyway. For an appetizer, I get the fried dumplings, which I enjoy because they're crispy and semi-juicy on the inside. If you're looking to order other entrees besides duck, try the jeo-yan shrimp (it's pricey) or the stir fried garlic sprouts with pork. This place is good for large parties, but just make sure you make a reservation! The restaurant always seems to be packed, especially on the weekends. So if you don't have a reservation, you can expect to be waiting for close to an hour or longer for a table.
(5)
Bryan P.

Actual Chinese waiters in red Tuxedo jackets! Lacquered ornaments! White tablecloths! Sticky white rice! Man does this place take me back to the old days in New York. These folks do it old school! How refreshing... Now on to the food... The BEST Peking Duck around! That's really all you need to know. Oh, and try the bananas in caramel for dessert. Did I mention they have the best Peking Duck around? By the way, it's a mob scene trying to get in on a Friday or Saturday evening (a party of two is easier).
(5)
Jennifer C.

I've been going here for the past 15 years with my family. The service is great. The food is sooo delicious everytime I go. It's my favorite restaurant and I recommend it to everyone.
(5)
Genelee P.

I came for my nephew's 1st Birthday (Happy Birthday Gavie!!!) party last Sunday and was VERY happy with the service. I remembered seeing this on "Best Thing I Ever Ate" and eventually made my way over to see what this was about... HANDS DOWN. PEKING DUCK is sooooooo money!!! I could eat this for breakfast, lunch, dinner & snacktime. I'm a sucka for Hoisin sauce.
(4)
Akshay S.

Good food. I didn't actually try the duck which most people seem to rave about. Service is exceptional which unfortunately is a real rarity these days. Liked: Pork dumplings, Kung pao chicken
(3)
Robin S.

Wow, what a great place! Be prepared for how expensive it is. But the service is attentive, and the food is just so fresh. Yes, the food is Americanized. For me, that's a pro, but I recognize that will not be the case for everyone. So know what you are getting into before you go. If you are looking for authentic Chinese, it's not the place for you. But if you are looking for Americanized dishes that are many, many steps above the typical takeout joint, come here. It's the best in the area.
(5)
Mickey L.

I give Peking Gourmet Inn 5-Stars solely based on its truly defining, unrivaled signature dish: the exquisitely prepared and carved Beijing Cao Ya--the best by far I have ever experienced. While their other dishes are okay, their duck is the reason why I go to PGI. The ambiance could use an update from the 70's-style red brocade decor, but the service is warm and personal--plus, the table-side duck carving by Mr. Wu is truly masterful and a sight to appreciate. Well, here is what my dining companion and I order every time: - Hot tea (cleanses the palate before/after eating duck) - Hong Kong Wonton Soup w/ Red Chili Oil - Whole Duck w/ Steamed Rice and side of Green Chilis (marinated in soy sauce) The soup is a thin-wrapper roundish shrimp dumpling in a lightly sweet broth that gets just a little punch of heat from the chili oil. This just whets the appetite, perfect for truly savoring the duck. When the duck arrives, Mr. "Lao" Wu (or a younger Chinese gentleman who is also good at carving but whose name I cannot remember at the moment) greets us with a smile and begins the ceremony of shaving off the crispy skin, trimming off the fat layer, carving off the breast meat, and sectioning off the legs and wings. Watching Mr. Wu is like watching a master calligrapher meditatively work his craft with awareness and calm focus--poetry in motion. While others may carve off the skin then scrape residual fat off with the cleaver, Mr. Wu shows his skill by deftly shaving the skin off without the unnecessary second step. How to eat the duck: I usually assemlbe one or two wraps of the flour pancake (when piping hot), scallions, light dab of Hoisin sauce, strip of duck skin and meat. Then, I eat the rest of the meal with rice instead of the pancake. Enjoying the duck is an experience of assembling, crispy-tender textures, and subtle-strong flavors. The duck skin is the best part: beautifully glistening, unbelievably crisp, and melting with flavor. Complementing it is the breast meat (tender and wonderfully moist), Hoisin (just a little sweetness), and the scallion (nasal heat). While the red chili oil may add a little jab of heat for the soup, my dining companion likes green chili to give a Dragon Punch of an accompaniment to her main meal. I love to eat spicy foods, all the way up to Jamaican Jerk Chicken made with Scotch Bonnets. However, for some reason, this specific type of marinated chili (not that tongue-searingly hot) is like "Swiper, no swiping"--stops me dead cold in my tracks after the third bite like Dora and Boots block the kleptomaniac fox from stealing their stuff upon a third utterance. It does taste good, but my body just does not like it... "Oh, mannn!" All in all, the Peking Duck experience is so good that it is one of the first things (restaurants or tourist stops) to consider when hosting out-of-town relatives or friends. When they return to the DC-area, going to PGI is the first thing that comes to their minds. The duck is not cheap, but considering the unmatched taste, experience, and portion size for two, it is certainly a good value. Speaking of the portion--we usually save the pancakes, green chilies, and duck legs for leftovers. Also, making a reservation is smart in general, but Saturday late afternoons have been pretty easy to get a table. Bottom line, PGI prepares duck so well (better than at any fancy French or American restaurant) I rarely order the bird at any other restaurant regardless of cuisine or price-range.
(5)
Graham E.

This is my favorite place for Peking Duck.... the rest of the menu is good...but the duck is devine...
(4)
Rob M.

You're coming here for one of two reasons -- to say you dined at the same Chinese restaurant the Bushes ate at, or to enjoy some Peking duck. This review will focus on the duck. Is there anything better than crispy duck skin? I submit that there is not! Peking Gourmet Inn does duck very well, with a delicious golden-brown skin and moist, juicy meat, carved tableside by a razor-sharp knife wielding duck master. Wrapping those flavorful pieces of skin and flesh within a thin pancake along with spring onions, fresh cucumber, and duck sauce, Peking duck is a Chinese delicacy that one must experience. So why only 3 stars? Well you don't get a lot of duck. The primo breast meat is sliced thin for you, and the "second-tier" meat is carved up and served also, but after that, say goodbye, duck carcass. It just seems like a lot of meat was left on and taken away, when I could have picked through it and enjoyed those morsels as well. Or at least chop up what's left and stir fry it with some vegetables for me. Oh, and its not cheap either. A single bird will run you $38, which is kinda pricey considering the actual amount of duck you get. Overall though, Peking Gourmet Inn is definitely worth a try if you're a fan of duck or looking to experience it for the first time.
(3)
Mickey C.

A fun, good Chinese food place. Go with another couple and get the feast for four! Reservations recommended as it is usually packed. The Duck is to die for!
(5)
Andrew L.

While visiting DC, we were recommended this place by a friend. And, of course we had to try the peking duck! It's cool how the waiter carves the duck's meat right there @ the table for you. In addition, we ordered the baby bok-choy with mushrooms and the house special egg noodles. Every was DELICIOUS! The wait staff was very nice & attentive, which is rare for a chinese restaurant! ;-P Will definitely recommend this restaurant! :-)
(5)
Hannah C.

i must've had duck more than a decade ago, so i can't really compare the duck here to another restaurant. but man, the duck here was so good. definitely a go-to place whenever i visit md/va.
(5)
Matt R.

Two words, Peking duck. Three more words? Szechuan beef proper. This place I'd great. Fantastic food and service. A must try
(5)
Andrew G.

Probably my favorite chinese restaurant in the world! If it's good enough for every President all the way back to Richard Nixon, I suppose it's good enough for me! This place is well known for having the tastiest roasted duck in the DMV, but I highly recommend the Jeo Yen Shrimp. Words cannot describe this dish and I have put on dozens of my friends and co-workers, and all are amazed at how delicious this dish is. Make sure you call ahead reservations for dinner, as this place is slammed every night and is well worth the wait.
(5)
Karen S.

My picture should be on the wall for how many times I've visited this hidden gem in Falls Church. Tucked in a small strip mall on Leesburg Pike (route 7), this restaurant has truly delicious food and a staff that is awesome and entertaining. Servers are all Chinese and they wear maroon suit jackets with name tags. Some speak just a few words of English but their name is "Charlie" or "Eddie." Watching 95 year old Eddie carve my Peking duck into delicate, juicy slices was quite engaging. The skill of the duck carvers is exhibited throughout this bustling restaurant whose walls are adorned with pictures of famous politicians and celebrities. President George Bush Senior really likes this place and frequently dines here. It's best to make reservations. The food is so fresh and authentic and their homemade garlic sauce is addictive! I order the spring rolls and dunk them in the garlic sauce. The egg drop soup is fantastic, served with crispy noodles and the complimentary hot tea refreshingly bold. The Szechuan Beef is a delight with generous portions of shredded, tender beef which is so harmonious with the sweet flavors and the carrots. I have never tried a better Kung Pao chicken than the one they serve here - so delicious and spicy! And the tender, flavorful Moo Shi Pork comes with warm homemade pancakes, a perfect plum sauce and fresh scallions. THE REASON WHY I VISIT THIS PLACE: SHRIMP WITH FRESH HOT PEPPERS - this is such a fresh, tasty dish with huge, perfectly cooked pieces of shrimp with organic hot peppers straight from their own farm. This is a dish everyone should try - it is simply a wonderland of flavors. This place is so fun to people watch and admire all the photographs on every wall of the restaurant. If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of a gorgeous porcelain-skinned, breathtakingly beautiful cheekboned Chinese lady and believe me - you'll marvel at that vision. She has surprising, dainty freckles on each cheekbone; she's always wearing custom made suits, a perfect short coiffe, red lipstick, a sparkling gorgeous broach and fantastic jewelry. THAT is Lily, the co-owner of the restaurant who is probably one of the classiest people I've ever met. She is so kind to customers and is completely dedicated to Peking Gourmet which is clearly her pride and joy. I like patronizing places where one can feel the spirit of excellence in every single thing that goes on. I'm so lucky that I literally live a minute away from here!! Great, great Chinese food and it's been around since 1978!!
(4)
Fat T.

Best Peking Duck compared to 3 restaurants I've tried in busy ny chinatown restuarants and 3 in baltimore. It's the very best. I've had it at least 10 times in the past 12 months and it never disappoints. My routine generally consists of Peking Duck Szechuan Beef Proper Double Pan Fried Seafood Noodle White rice...whatever is in there... it's so freakin delicious.
(5)
S6 5.

ok, you come here mainly for one reason - the DUCK hands down best duck in the area; cant be beat, dont go anywhere else other dishes i love - jao yen shrimp and the beef proper. service is also great - the waiters know multiple languages which makes it interesting i love this place
(5)
Chuck W.

Solid place for peking duck - and as people have said, a must try if you have never had it before. It is $38 for a duck which will comfortably feed 2-3, and it is carved tableside, with careful consideration to remove the fat and separate out the skin and the meat. Comes with 12 wrappers, green onions, and delicious hoisin sauce. Cucumbers are an option and cost additional - personally, didn't feel like they added a lot to the dish, so I would probably decline it. A lot of people also seemed to get the fried? shrimp - it looked mouthwatering, so I'll be sure to order that the next time. The meal was great - and they package it up really nicely for your leftover. However, tip for all you leftover eaters - duck skin reheated, not so much. Especially when it drips in your oven. Great way to start flames.
(4)
Pat O.

I love Peking Gourmet Inn. Yes, the place is pretentious and the service is not the best in the world but the food, especially the duck, is absolutely delicious! It really isn't a come alone and eat a single dish kind of a place...you've got to come in a group and try the dishes family style. Yum!
(5)
Havar E.

Best duck west of Chengdu ! This is my go to place for Peking Duck :D
(5)
John K.

One of the best Chinese restaurants in the DC area. You must try their duck if you haven't. I work about 2 miles from here and I don't understand why I don't come here more often. My parents rarely go out to eat. They prefer to just eat Korean food at home. But when I tell them that I will treat them to Peking Gourmet Inn, I've never seen them put on their shoes so quickly. The duck's crispy skin, tender meat, comes with Chinese pancakes with hoisson sauce, spring onions, and peppers soaked in soy sauce. Mmmmmm. Mmmmmm. Their lunch specials are quite filling as well. Choice of soup, egg roll (filled with meat), and rice with your entree. Definitely fills you up.
(5)
Phu V.

4.5 stars out of 5 I have been here several times and am pleased with the food. My favorite dishes are the Peking Duck, Spring Chicken, and Black Pepper Jumbo Shrimp. I have also had scallops with garlic sauce and chicken with spring onion. Fried rice is pretty good. However I am not a fan of their beef dishes tried 2 or 3 of them and do not recommend them. Stick to what I wrote about and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Mia C.

This is another of those places where I don't get the attraction. Again, the food was ok, but only if you have a very mild palate. Service was good, and the food was ok, but nothing that made me go 'wow, that is fabulous!' -- especially given the price. There was no line and we were able to sit down and eat immediately. I guess the place that makes this place a big attraction is the 'coolness'. lots of colors to look at in the bar area and they bring the duck to the table and carve it in front of you, but 'coolness' did not equal great food. ok, not great.
(3)
paul v.

it's the best Chinese restaurant in the entire area...and everyone knows it. It's a bit of a hike from DC but well worth it. The Peking Duck is beyond compare.
(4)
Joseph K.

What can I say about my family's favorite restaurant? It feels weird even looking them up on Yelp considering we've been going there for over 20 years. But really, if you're looking for delicious duck and some other great dishes, you can't do better than this place. There's a reason why this restaurant is adorned with photographs taken with numerous presidents and other big shots. They know this is the place to go for the best authentic experience. It is an institution filled with tradition. Some people might not like some of their regular Chinese food dishes. Personally, I don't know why you'd make the trip to a place like this, only to order run-of-the-mill stuff that you can get at any local delivery. But if you do, you might notice a higher, cleaner quality...but slightly more bland taste. Nothing here is over-salted or coated with flavor additives to suit the American palette. I'd pass on this stuff anyway. The real attraction, of course, is the Peking duck. If it's your first time trying it, you might not see what the hoopla is about, but it really is one of the best foods anywhere. No one makes it like Peking Gourmet Inn--whether you travel to New York, Cali, etc. (from what I hear). They have some kind of secret formula here, and it's miles above the next-best place. I couldn't believe my eyes when I read some people reviewing Mark's Duck as the better duck place. Something has to be wrong with their tongues...but then again, some people prefer McDonald's to a real burger, so go figure. The ambiance is nothing to get excited about. It's often crowded and noisy--tons of people, lots of servers. If you try going at a peak hour on a Friday or Saturday night, you may end up waiting an hour even with a reservation (that's right, they tend to overbook). The decor hasn't changed for decades from what I've noticed, though they did expand some. But that adds to its authenticity and charm, in my opinion. Then again, I would never consider those things a plus anywhere else. Bottom line, there is no place like this. It is a one-of-a-kind gem in the middle of a sketchy area...a diamond in the rough. You will not be disappointed with the food if you order the right things (i.e., duck, Jeo-Yeon Shrimp, black pepper shrimp/scallop, couple others). If you're looking for a trendy, hip place to impress your date, look elsewhere.
(5)
Matt O.

This is hands down the best Chinese food I have ever had. We went here the other night to try a little bit of everything and I can honestly say I loved everything. We started with the egg rolls and crab rangoon that are served with the garlic sauce. Both were amazing and the crab was definitely different from any other Chinese restaurant I had been to (no cream cheese). We also had the pan fried dumplings which were great with their dumpling sauce. For main courses, we had the obligatory Peking duck and also tried shrimp with garlic sprouts Peking gourmet beef. Each slice of that duck was a little slice of Heaven. Watching the waiter carve it table side was also a treat. It was served with pancakes, hoisin, julienne cucumber, soy pickled peppers, and sliced green onion. Putting those all together was so much better than I thought it would be considering I usually hate cucumbers. The rest of the night is hazy as I blacked out from all of the deliciousness but I can tell you the other two dishes were excellent as well. The service here is impeccable. Everything is served to you tableside a la Russe (or maybe was for us because we had too much food for the size of our table). I can't express enough how much I believe you should go here if you're trying to decide. It is well worth the price and you will leave happy.
(5)
mark j.

I can't understand why so many people rave about the duck or this place in general, its really nothing special (according to my taste buds) and super over priced. The line/wait is always absolutely atrocious often times with people literally packing the entrance like sardines so that you are touching no less than 3 strangers at all times. In a nutshell: Super over-priced food, atrocious line/wait even with reservations, good parking situation with a big lot right out front, food is good but I would eat a PF Changs over this place any day of the week, service was good but again nothing better than your typical PF Changs, your check comes in Chinese so if you want to have any hope of reading it, I hope you bring your Rosetta stone - I suppose it would be simply too "transparent" to transcribe the bill into English so that the people paying could have a snowball's chance in hell of understanding what the hell they're paying for. I can't see any compelling reason why I would ever come back to this place.
(2)
Judy Y.

This place is a little pricey but the food is good without sending you into that "whoa I ate too much" food coma. I have to say something first: when you go to a Chinese restaurant with Chinese people, you really should share. Why do you think they have the spinny tops on the tables? I am still stumped when I go and there are people who just want to keep their food to themselves. Also when it comes to sharing, socialism works!! I went with 5 people. Three of us shared, three were individualists. I am happy to say the shared group had a lower bill, got to eat some really awesome duck, and had greater variety. What is not to love about sharing? Three people can happily share a $38.00 roasted duck. I appreciate how they skillfully separate the crispy skin from the lean meat. The skin is also not very fatty. Cucumbers are an extra $3.00 but are worth it and adds a nice cool crunch to the delicious wrapped duck burritos (for a lack of a better term). Quality duck! Share!
(4)
Susan H.

4 1/2 Stars (I'll get to that in a moment...) My aunt lives in the neighborhood. We paid her a visit and treated her to dinner. Beforehand, we gave her a choice---Chinese, Thai or Vietnamese. She chose Chinese because she hadn't had any Chinese food in quite a while. So...Peking Gourmet it was! My husband and I hadn't been here in years. The one thing I was so looking forward to having was Chicken with Garlic Sprouts. This dish appears to be unique to Peking Gourmet and the last couple of times we were here, it was what I had ordered and it was so good. So, we perused the menu and decided what we all were going to order. Along came the waiter for the dinner order --- 2 hot and sour soups, 1 order of egg rolls, scallops with garlic sauce, lemon chicken and chicken with garlic sprouts. "We don't have garlic sprouts today!" This is one of their signature dishes, in fact on the menu half a page is devoted to this item (you can also get it with beef or shrimp) with the other half of the same page devoted to Peking duck --- and no garlic sprouts! Was I disappointed! We don't live close by and, as mentioned previously, go years between visits. So...honestly, that's why I can't give them 5 stars. If it's a signature item, then be sure to keep it in stock, IMO. Ok, moving on --- As for the service, it was excellent! Shortly after we were seated and looking at the menu, the waiter appeared and asked what we wanted to drink. We opted for a pot of tea and some water---all which quickly came to our table. Also, throughout the meal, when we were done with a food item, the plates were quickly removed. When we were done looking at the menu, the waiter was there promptly and then the ordering saga previously mentioned in the above paragraph began. No garlic sprouts, so the waiter suggested chicken with garlic sauce, ok, I'll try it --- and it was a good choice. IMO, this was some of the best garlic chicken I've ever had! It had lean, tender pieces of white meat chicken, pea pods, hot peppers, plenty of sauce and big whole garlic cloves. The garlic cloves were the same consistency of roasted ones and gave the chicken a truly garlicky flavor. The last time I found such good garlic chicken was in a place in Gaithersburg, which I suspect is now long-gone. My husband also liked his scallops in garlic sauce. He said that the scallops were good quality and properly cooked. My aunt's mouth dropped open when she saw the portion size of her lemon chicken --- it was huge! I did get to taste it. The menu said it was sweet and tangy --- more like just sweet (though not sickenly so) with a nice lemon flavor. What was impressive was that despite the sauce, the chicken pieces retained their crispiness. My husband and I had the hot and sour soup which was a good way to start off the meal. It had plenty of stock in it although it was heavy on the mushrooms. Also, it had egg and meat---the meat was lean and tender. My aunt ordered the egg rolls---you get 2 per order. She could only eat one of them, so my husband and I split the other one. It had a nice, crispy shell and held together well when cut. The filler was done very well without one ingredient overpowering another. We liked the white rice that came with the meal --- it had peas in it which we all thought was a nice touch. In total it cost just over $63 before the tip. Just a note --- the place seems to be even more popular that it had been in years past. Although we arrived just before 5:30 on a Saturday night, there were already several tables taken and we had to wait to be seated until the staff seated a large party ahead of us. The hostess asked if we had a reservation, we said "no". I turned to my husband and said, "We never had to make a reservation before." The hostess overheard us and said a reservation should be made for weekend dining. So---if you do plan to dine here on the weekend and plan to come around 6 p.m. or later, IMO, it's a good idea to make a reservation. By the time we were ready to leave, every table was taken and there were a lot of people waiting for tables. Plus people were circling the parking lot looking for spots.
(4)
Steph W.

This is the "go-to" place to go when my family and I have special occasions. Today: my brother's graduation. I always salivate thinking about the peking duck and plum sauce in a wrapper. It becomes obvious that cutting the duck is an art form and it always looks aesthetically pleasing when they place it on the plate. I have always had exceptional service when I have gone here. Most of the waiters and waitresses are friendly and enjoy joking with you. The experience is always extremely enjoyable when you order the Fuji Volcano, which is on fire in the middle (151). It is a huge communal drink. Other favorites include a) crispy beef and b) string beans. One recommendation would be to make a reservation prior to going to the restaurant. On the weekends, you can potentially wait for up to one hour for a table; Bigger groups obviously, longer. We've made reservations every visit, and you still have to wait about 15 minutes so just imagine if you don't have one! If you want a fine dining Chinese experience this would be the place.
(4)
Karla A.

Until last night, I absolutely HATED duck. I'm not a picky eater at all so I couldn't come to terms with the idea of not liking something and had given duck many chances to prove itself but I always regretted it. It came up in conversation recently with a friend and he insisted that I'd change my mind after a Peking Gourmet experience so I agreed to give it yet another shot. We didn't make reservations because we figured it wouldn't be insanely packed on a Monday, plus there was a Giants game on and there aren't any TVs at the place. We got there around 7PM and it was pretty busy but they seated us right away. It took a while for our waiter to come but after we ordered drinks and our food, the service was immaculate. Everyone was very attentive and friendly; in fact, I think we had about four people servicing our table throughout the night. I got a Mango Martini and my friend got a Scorpion (we didn't know what it was but it sounded dangerous and manly). The Mango Martini was really good and after two, I was super sloshed. The Scorpion on the other hand (also very good) was not manly at all; it came out with a cherry and a pineapple and was orange-juice based but it was really strong. They definitely use rail liquor but who cares, it does the job. Ok, on to the best part: the duck. It was seriously ridonculous and we ate it all, except the marrow but we damn near came close to it. The best part though was the skin, it was like candy! This place is a must- try whether you're a fan of duck or not; it certainly converted me into one. You know, Bush was a smart man after all. Who knew?
(5)
Nina T.

Best peking duck EVER! From the crispy skin, moist meat, perfect thickness pancakes, peppers in soy sauce...everything about the duck is great!! Watching the waiter/waitress carve the duck is a show in itself. When we dine there we're always served by Fanny and she's great, but I'm sure the other servers are just as great. Their salt and pepper prawns are tasty and the beef schewanbenwan(sp) proper was OK. Some people swear on the beef, but it seemed over cooked and different for my taste. Honestly, I can't really remember what else I've eaten aside from those three things. I'm usually drunk on duck when I go there, so everything else is pretty much forgotten!
(5)
Helen J.

If I were back in the dc-metro area, I'd totally hit up this spot. It is a trek from Rockville, MD... but well worth it. The duck. Oh, the duck is SOOOO good. I could see the framed celebrity pics on the wall drooling as they watched me eat.
(4)
Clay B.

Best chinese place in NOVA. Go with at least 6 people and you'll have the time of your life. Order a suffering bastard from the bar (a little sweet but its a great way to kick off the night), flash fried leek dumplings, peking duck (this is most important), beef proper, garlic shrimp, szichuan green beans. You can die happy after this meal. If you're lucky you'll run into one of many politicos that dont seem to mind the hike from DC for the fare served at this wonderful restaurant.
(5)
v o.

The peking duck at this restaurant is the gold standard for which all other ducks are compared to. I have eaten at a lot of other Chinese restaurants and I feel that this place is still tops. Great peking duck, incredible peking gourmet beef, enjoyable old school vibe. Great lunches as well. The parking lot can get crowded and there can be a wait, but the delay is worth it!
(5)
amanda l.

hunted down this place because of all the great ratings and yup...never did a duck before. Just as described and we were LUCKY for sure! Crappy strip mall - not easy to get parking - we thought we'd try just "walking in" at 4pm on a Sunday and maybe get lucky cause there was only 2 of us and it was early. Tiny tiny lobby area - 5 people standing waiting for tables - 3 different staff asked us if we had reservations - when told "no" they said they'd check...and wandered off to quickly return and regroup....and..... We soooo lucked out - we were seated right away in a PRIVATE room that was being set up for 3 banquet parties that weren't starting til 5pm - they gave us a table for 2 all alone in this room....all ALONE!!!!!..quiet/intimate/nice break from crazy crowd in lobby thing....way cool. I got up to wash my hands - and had to walk through a MOB scene of 2 rooms filled to the rafters w/wait staff in red coats and tables filled with families/friends/kids/and lots of ducks being carved up. I could NOT believe our good fortune! yup - we had a private room all to ourselves! I made the boyfriend get up and wash his hands just so he could realize how lucky we were to get a private/quiet room. and then we met WONG.....this man was grace/friendliness/advice/and charm all rolled up into a custom service for 2 clueless folks just wanting to try something new. we did the duck (of course) - he recommended adding cucumber slices to it (great idea!) and then he also explained how the garlic sprouts were harvested done up also. so we ordered those w/it also. only complaint I had - we ordered shrimp w/the garlic sprouts....shrimp was kinda mushy overdone/none remarkable shrimp - but really - who cares? - the garlic sprouts were freakin awesome...just pick out the shrimp....mix it up w/the rice ...yummmmmm! but I skipped ahead. anyhow - first - the Duck arrived - carefully sliced in front of us - fat removed (icky yet fascinating to watch) - we passed on taking the carcass home (8 hr drive back to rochester w/duck in trunk? no thanks) - - WONG (king of waiters) - showed us how to do up the "duck taco" (my name - not his) and we devoured. Garlic sprouts arrived near end of duck - nice and crispy and loooved to belch them up later - don't care - you like me - you like garlic or you ain't my friend. as I was finishing off my 2nd glass of pinot grigio - the banquet parties started to arrive....our timing was perfect. tipped the heck out of the most wonderful /patient waiter in the entire world - loved our intimate dinner together (how we lucked out on that one I'll never know) and I've now done the "duck".... good luck getting the one on one service in a private room w/WONG (Duck God) but if you are lucky enough - be sure to tip that man well! amanda
(5)
Laura P.

The Peking Duck is really good as good it gets and the garlic spouts dishes. I also like the bok choy dish too. The service is typically on point and the front of the house is very friendly. Expect to wait up to 30 minutes even if you do have a reservation! This is a popular place! I would recommend going here with a big group to really have a great experience. Went here on Xmas eve with the family and it was a hit! I love this place.
(5)
Azeezaly J.

Simply the BEST! You will not have a better meal or Peking Duck anywhere in the world! George, Lilly, Bobby, Raymon, Mr. Wan are the greatest!!!!!
(5)
Priya N.

Are you kidding me? I can't believe this place gets such good reviews. I have lost all faith in Zagat after trusting their #1 Chinese restaurant rating. On the plus side, yes the duck is fantastic, and that's what gives this place 3 stars. It was nearly as good as the Peking duck I had in Beijing. But aside from that, the rest of the food is seriously mediocre at best. We went for the Group C dinner which was not a good call. Too many of the dishes were either greasy or fried. The food was no better than Panda Express. Our waiter was QUITE a character. Somewhat amusing, but we had to ask three times for our drinks and they literally did not come out until the 5th course of food. When he was preparing the dessert at the table, he dropped something by mistake and then just picked it up and put it back in the bowl even though my aunt tried to stop him REALLY? I'm not that anal typically, but if he's doing that in front of us, I can only imagine what is happening back in the kitchen. Regardless, the food is just subpar. I do not get the hype for this place. If you must go, just get the duck and the check.
(3)
Remy K.

Great chinese food. While there go with a group and get the pre planned meal my favorite one is Meal B. It comes with massive amounts of all of their best food. Their cabbage is great and so are there green beans. Great service. While it looks like a door next to a phone store and a mattress store, once inside it is expansive and ornately decorated.
(5)
Kim N.

I've been here a couple of times with a group of friends and each time, we opt for one of the group dinners. On separate occasions, we've done group dinner b and c. You definitely get a lot more food with option c. The jeo-yen shrimp is fantastic, though outside of that shrimp dish, I like group b's offerings better. The star of both dinners is the peking duck, which is carved tableside. The duck is moist and the skin is crunchy. Wrap those up in the crepes along with cucumbers, scallions, and hoisin sauce, and you have yourself a tasty bite (or two). The toffee peaches for dessert are yummy too. The peaches are sweet (methinks it comes from a can) but then they're flambeed and instantly cooled in water. Definitely come hungry, because the group dinner comes with a LOT of food! From the outside, the restaurant looks a little small, but once inside, it's quite big and almost has an old world feel to it. Be prepared to see a lot of red. Walls, carpet, tablecloth, red. Adorning the walls are photos of famous people who have eaten here.
(5)
Minger M.

China born Chinese friend invited us to go there for dinner to celebrate the New Year with Peking duck. She caught the celebrity bug about this place like too many other people. What the heck, I went. What did I find? The famed Peking duck was okay. Everything else tasted like Americanized Chinese food. If you like Americanized Chinese food, this is your place.
(2)
Chris R.

I have been coming here since I got my first job at the State Department in 1991. It's the best Chinese food in the world. Look at the pictures on the wall. The duck is a must order, but more as an appetizer with a group. Mentionable are Kung Pao *, Szechuan Beef, and anything with garlic shoots. They have a very nice green chili pepper which is great on anything if you are a pepperhead.
(5)
S M L.

They need to change the name of this place to "Chinese Food for White People," or better yet, "Chinese Food for White People Who Don't Know Better." People who give this place 5 stars must be on crack because this place is not good. I am Asian and I grew up in CA (both southern and northern) so I feel pretty comfortable judging Chinese restaurants. I have eaten many many many Peking ducks in my day and I just don't understand how people think that this place is good. First, it is ridiculously expensive. Why? I can't figure it out. Their famous patron is an old white guy former president from CT. Seriously? $40 for Peking Duck is outrageous. Sure, the duck was ok, but it was not worth $40. In addition to the duck, we ordered some noodles and green vegetables with mushrooms. The noodles were $25! $25, people!!! The vegetables were not quite that much but definitely overpriced. Second, the food was generally bland. The duck was ok but the noodles and vegetables didn't taste like anything. That's a lot of money to pay for bland food. This place reminds me of what Chinese food must have tasted like when first introduced to "white America" because the food was just blah and boring and seemed so behind the times, which I guess is fitting considering that they pride themselves on being stuck in time. Is it because this area is so starved for quality Chinese food that an overpriced place like this will continue to succeed while resting on its laurels?
(1)
Steve K.

The THING here is Peking Duck and this is one of the best in the country. The golden bird is brought to your table and carved right there. The crispy skin, the fresh cucumber and onions (get both) , the entire experience is one of luxury. I recommend one duck for every two persons, assuming you don't load up on the other, less interesting entrees. Honorable mentions are the shrimp with garlic sprouts (the ducks and sprouts are raised on their suburban farm), vegetarian dumplings. Do make a reservation as the lines are long, and the overall experience is one of eating in a 1960s-era Chinese restaurant. But the duck; that makes it all worth it.
(5)
Arya B.

Look. I am not really a fan of Peiking Duck. BUT, if you are to get a Peiking Duck, this is the place. That bastard was delicious. Let's make a list of the things you get when you come here. 1. Crispy disgusting friend skin - CHECK 2. Fatty ass meat - CHECK 3. Watching chinese wushu master use his blade of +10 duck carving skills to slice and dice your bird? - CHECK This was a fun experience. I don't think I would get the Peiking Duck again if I went back. Not because it wasn't good, but it was more of a novelty experience for me. I think everyone should try this place once.
(4)
Cathy D.

Parking here can be tough, but it's so worth the effort. They take reservations. Call ahead if you can. Best Peking duck in this area. Must try! The other dishes are forgettable, so I cannot make recommendations.
(5)
Shy J.

I went here last Friday for lunch with a coworker. It was our first time here but I had heard a lot about the place. Everything they say about this place is right on the money. For about 10 dollars, I got soup, an egg roll and the main course plus a drink. I don't think you can beat this deal, the great and attentive service plus yummy food! I was impressed! I recommend this place and plan to visit again with friends soon! :)
(5)
Karen Y.

I really don't like this place. If you're looking for a good authentic Chinese restaurant who is generous with their portions and ingredients at reasonable prices, don't come here. There are many reasons why not many older Chinese people come to eat here anymore. IMO, you're paying more for the celebrities who have been there rather than the quality of food. And what's the point of a reservation if you still have to wait an hour before you're seated? Why this place is so popular really boggles my mind. I absolutely LOVE peking duck, just not quite here. Yes, this place does the "magnificent carving" act in front of you. Quite honestly, the peking duck here isn't THAT good to be nearly double the price of some other restaurants. But I did give this place an extra star for somewhat satisfying my craving for peking duck. If you want to get more value out of your duck-eating experience, ask for the duck bones and make soup out of it. Unfortunately, this restaurant will rip you off again if you ask them to make it for you, unlike other restaurants who include it as part of the duck order. Our waiter had also recommended getting the snow peas and scallops. When the dish came out, it looked like a good mixture of white and green. Upon further analysis, to my disgust, there were only 3-4 measly scallops on the entire plate - the rest were water chestnuts. So basically you're paying $20 for a plate of veggies and one scallop for each person.
(2)
Tina C.

This place is amazing! Their peking duck is amazing!! They give you the whole duck, carve up for you there and give you a soft taco like structure wuth an amazing sauce that goes with it..and the skin omg is so crispy and delicious!!!! Meat is so tender and good!! Man, this is so damn delicious!!! Wontop soup is so good too but when you go here you must get the duck. So worth and the price is really a steal with how much you get!!! LOVE this place so much!!!!
(5)
Ginger H.

I met with a friend while in town for business and I was pleasantly surprised. I say that because Peking Gourmet Inn is located in a somewhat shady looking strip mall that you would drive right by if you did not know it was there. Once I got in, it was clear that everyone knows about this place (including former presidents) and they are all there for the Peking duck. Let me say, I was a bit put off by the $38 price tag but it was well worth the money. The server carves an entire duck (cooked to perfection) table side and serves with the most amazing sauce I've ever had. You wrap the duck with some cucumber and green onion in these little pancakes and it is heaven in your mouth. Even the skin of the duck just melted in my mouth. YUMMY!!! We ordered another dish (shrimp with vegetables) but nothing can stand up against the Peking duck. We went on the Thursday night and the place was packed. We were lucky enough not to have a wait, but my friend said he's waited as long at 2.5 hours!! In other words, if you have more than 2 people in your party you better have a reservation!
(5)
jazzy l.

FOUR STARS I give 4 stars for the Service and Peking Duck Delight ($38) served with thinly sliced tortilla, scallions, cucumbers and hoisan sauce. However, I prefer if they give patrons the option of having the "thin" tortilla or "mantao/fluffy white bun" with the peking duck . TWO STARS I give two stars the exorbitant prices for each entree. Salt and Pepper Shrimp (Jeo Yen) $25.95; Ginger Beef (around $20), Garlic Sprouts with Chicken $16.75. Typically, chinese food should not cost this much but I guess they can charge this price b/c of the well known politicians and celebrities that dine here. HENCE THREE STARS Make reservations or else you'll have to wait a long time
(3)
J. K.

Best authentic Chinese food I've found. Duck, beef proper, etc. I could never tire of these dishes! I've been coming here for over 25 years and I hope you disrespect this review so that it will be easier to get a table!
(5)
Darren G.

The only place in America where I've had Chinese food that even resembles what it was like in China. The staff whisks you away to tables in ornate dining rooms and treat you like royalty. On the walls are autographed pictures of all the big wigs who used to frequent the place: among them former president George H. W. Bush- if the former ambassador to China approves that's got to count for something. !
(5)
lori T.

the best all time - every time!!!!!! - been going for years - no one can hold a candle to them. duck perfect - dumpling so delicate, like little presents - you will thank me later!
(5)
Terry C.

Law of averages apply for this rating... 5 stars for the duck and lettuce wraps; 3 stars for the service. I have to admit that I was a little concerned while waiting for our table. On the walls were photos of the famous people who have eaten there. I counted 7 different photos with George Bush Sr; 2 with Barbara Bush; and 1 with George Bush Jr. Other republicans were featured on the walls. The initial concern quickly melted away as we were led to our table and were greeted with the succulent smells of roast duck, hoisin sauce, and other great fried dishes wafting through the dining room. There were 10 in our group all gathered to celebrate MDEH's birthday. The restaurant serves family style and lucky for us our table was big enough for a 2ft lazy Suzanne (read as "EASY FOOD PASSING")! Among the spring rolls, Peking duck, steamed dumplings, orange chicken and beef, chicken with garlic shoots, and shrimp and scallops was some amazing house rice! They put peas and onions in their rice! LOVED IT! We sang happy birthday, ate until we were content, and laughed about a variety of topics... It was the discussion about "herps" that almost made me spit out my tea in a burst of laughter!
(4)
Julia S.

I can only comment on the Peking Duck, but it is fabulous. It is your standard presentation with hoisin sauce, etc, but it is extremely juicy and flavorful. The only negative is the location. However, I am willing to make the trek from downtown DC because it is that good, and I have yet to find any decent Chinese food within the city.
(5)
Joey L.

Went here for my pops birthday, called for a reservation. Came a few minutes early and waited maybe an extra 10-15 minutes but we didn't mind. They were just so busy. We ordered the Peking duck ($39) and worth every penny. We also ordered sea bass in black bean sauce, yang chow fried rice and four season green beans. Duck was the best I've had, I can see why US presidents and celebrities have been here which the entire restaurant is lined up with pictures. Duck came with pancake type of dough along with very good hoison sauce and end root onion cuts. Both of my parents, former chefs, were very impressed. Other dishes we ordered were also very good. The duck and it's pancake filled us up, we ended up doggy bagging most of the food. They also serve a nice menu of alcohol but we skipped that. Our bill and tip were just a tad over a Hundo bill. If you go with four people I suggest you do the group dinner that comes with the duck, a few dishes, and desert for $30 a person. We didn't do it because we had just 3 people that day. Will repeat for lunch next time just for the duck.
(5)
Evelyn L.

I generally have a hard time eating restaurant Chinese food because I'm highly allergic to MSG. On top of that, since moving to VA from Los Angeles a year ago, it's been a struggle to find something remotely similar to the gourmet Chinese food a la San Gabriel or Alhambra (read: not fast-food Americanized stuff that you can purchase by the pound). Peking Gourmet Inn hits the spot (and is sensitive to my MSG allergy) when I'm missing complex flavors and fresh vegetable dishes, when i finish the semester, when I'm having a bad day, when I miss the California sun... basically whenever things aren't right, I turn to Peking Gourmet Inn for the flavors my momma used to make. Favorite dishes? I've got a handy list on my phone of basics that always hit the spot: * Jeo Yan fried shrimp - some serious high class fried shrimp * szechwan beef - sweet but intensely satisfying with a bite of rice * Garlic onion chicken - the sauce with is fab over rice * four season string bean - yum, this is how veggies should be eaten * the Inn's home grown garlic sprouts - double yum, did i mention that i love sauteed veges? The peking duck's not bad either but I've lived in Hong Kong before and it honestly doesn't compare but for everything else, Peking Gourmet Inn is my "food home" away from "food home."
(5)
Earl M.

Excellent Peking Duck. A must go to place when visiting Washington DC. This place is a must add to your foodie bucket list. The duck is a little pricey but well worth it. Call to make reservations. The duck is prepared on the table side. Excellent presentation and food. Will visit here every time I go to DC.
(5)
CL J.

Awesome. Food is great and the atmosphere is cool and very busy. The pictures of all the celebrities, politicians and Generals is very interesting. Not a standard Chi-merican restaurant General Tso is not even on the menu. You will not regret coming, make sure to vet a reservation on the weekend.
(5)
Munzer M.

Peking Gourmet Inn is as Kitschy in a good way as it gets. If you've ever seen "A Christmas Story" or been to any Chinatown restaurant you know what I mean. The place looks as if it's been stuck in pause since the 1970's with it's drop ceiling, Chinese lanterns and partitions, and waitstaff in burgundy tuxedo jackets; I wouldn't have it any other way. The food, on the other hand, is another story all together! The menu features the typical array of Kung Pao's, General Tsao's, and Orange-you-decides. The specialty here is duck though, and judging by all the happy faces framed throughout the place it's clearly evident that they do it really well! The meat is succulent, and the skin is perfectly crispy! They bring your duck whole and carve it table-side. It's served with pancakes, plum sauce, onions and cucumbers. The duck is not the only thing they do well however; The fried dumplings are great with their porky filling seasoned just right, the salt and pepper shrimp are crispy and outstanding, and the garlic sprouts with chicken are light and delicious. I've been coming to Peking Gourmet off and on for the past 25 years or so. Lately though, it seems I've become a semi-regular and whenever I get a hankering for good Chinese, I always find it here!
(4)
Daniel S.

This is one of those places where everything they serve you is going to be fantastic. The Peking Duck is the best around and the table-side carving is neat to watch. They have a huge menu of traditional Chinese dishes and some excellent surprises. The best is the lamb chops, which is unusual for such a place, but the will blow you away. On popular evenings, make reservations or plan to wait for a very long time! The place is always packed and for good reason. You'll find a good majority of them to be Asian patrons.
(5)
Michele S.

I love this restaurant. Always good. My Dad is so hard to please and hates waiting in lines, but he gladly joins us when my family goes here. My 4 year old waited an hour for a table on Christmas Day because he loves their Peking Duck! I always call ahead and try to get a reservation. Many evenings are crazy crowded (try to avoid Friday nights, Saturday nights, and even Sunday nights...or at least get a reservation). But if you love Chinese food... just go. LOVE this place!
(5)
Mike H.

This is one of my favorite restaurants! I have been going for years ever since I was first introduced while working for the Fed. Service is always prompt - but your wait to sit may be long on most weekends. Order the Fresh Garlic Chicken and the Jen-Yen shrimp for a real treat! Also take time to look at all the photos for a fun look at Washington Military and Political power past and present.
(5)
worawan s.

Peking Duck is great and I love it even though the vegetable with oyster sauce's suck!!
(5)
Kyle E.

By far the best Chinese food in the entire DC area, and the fact that every high-ranking Chinese official that's visited this town has a picture on the wall seems to confirm my perspective. Believe it or not, I'm not a fan of any duck, have never ordered it on any of my trips to Peking Gourmet, and still find every other dish I've had there to be spectacular. One word of warning, because of it's popularity I would strongly advise getting a reservation if you wish to bring a group there.
(5)
Dan L.

My search for good Chinese food in NOVA will continue. I decided to try this place given the hype from a neighbor and the YELP comments. While my family of four did not experience the 30+ minute extra wait time beyond our reservation time, it was clear that others were. I heard one party of 12 get told that their 630 reservation was now for 700. The crowds in and out of the place as well as the aisle space makes it very difficult to get around the restaurant. I was looking for Fairfax County fire marshall photos on the wall to see if they maybe overlook this potential hazard. As far as food goes, our spring rolls were good, dumplings were nothing special and crab rangoon was nasty (tasted like salmon rangoon). My son was quite disappointed since this is usually one of his favorites. The Jao-Yen Shrimp was the highlight of the meal and the orange chicken was nothing special. The fried rice was simply white rice with a bunch of oil mixed in. Not sure what else they put in the food, but it sure made all of us very thirsty. Overall, I don't think I will have to go back here.
(2)
B L.

i went with a large group of people that were mostly non-asians, but still fairly knowledgeable foodies and restauranteurs. we all felt pretty much the same. i felt that our dinner of approximately 8 different dishes was pretty standard american-ish quality throughout (read: american people will never know the difference) and absolutely disappointing as chinese food goes, especially for the expense. the soup had no flavor at all. the batter fried jumbo shrimp was nicely seasoned, but was too hard on the outside due to the batter itself (too much cornstarch?). though fairly well cooked, even the duck itself did not actually have much flavor once i tried it without the sauce, as compared to many others ive had. the walls are covered in photos of celebs, and one waitstaff even referred to "George Bush" on more than one occasion... i suppose to act as some sort of justification or bizarre barometer of food quality. the sheer numbers of wait staff positioned to serve our meal to each individual in the end seemed more to act as smoke and mirrors to hide the lackluster food. actually, despite the service being extremely attentive and earnestly super friendly and nice, they were a little bit forced and even unknowingly bumped into my head on more than one occasion and spilling beer a bit as they attended me. some of my friends also noticed this as well. definitely NOT worth the inflated prices or dining experience though. i felt bad that my friend paid for such lame food. if you must go, DO NOT let anyone convince you to order off any preset menu. total ripoff. i have NO idea why the place gets any good ratings or any hype. i will not be returning.
(2)
Stephanie T.

heaven. pure and simple.
(5)
Nicole J.

This is the BEST chinese restaurant I have ever been to. Every dish I have tried here tastes good but no matter what I always order the duck. It is expensive but worth every penny.
(5)
Karen F.

It's a little pricey and I don't plan on making the trek out to Falls Church for the sole purpose of hitting up this restaurant, but the peking duck did in fact live up to the hype - DELICIOUS! The service was really great too.
(4)
Kelsi G.

This place probably doesn't need another review saying how good the duck is, but I'll write one anyway. I've never had any of their other dishes, but the Peking Duck is AMAZING. What makes this place better than other Chinese restaurants that offer it is that they scrape the fat off the underside of the skin, and they provide cucumbers! It's rare you find that in other places, and for that I will continue to come back. BUT...make sure you make a reservation here. Without one, trying to get a table is a nightmare. And if you can, come here on a weeknight. It's worth it to avoid the Friday/Saturday madness.
(5)
Evonne L.

LOVE IT! Haven't been to this place in years and finally went for a friends birthday, and it was so good. We got the family style meal including: Szechuan Cabbage & Peking Celery Hot and Sour Soup Peking Duck Black Pepper Beef Ginger Shrimp with Asparagus Four Season String Beans Yang Chow Fried Rice Mango Ice Cream or Toffee Peaches There were 8 of us and they cut one duck for 2 people, and then you do your thing using the wrap, putting the sauce on, adding in the duck and skin, scallions, cucumbers, and you are in peking duck heaven. The other dishes we had were honestly not as great, I would go to Vinh Kee or XO Taste instead, but hey- I'm Chinese, I have high standards. It was definitely good though and well worth the $30!
(4)
Kenyetta A.

I've been a fan of Peking for years!!! You know the food is good when you crave the white rice. Lol. We always get the cashew shrimpor cashew chicken or broccoli & chicken or sooooo many other options and we've never been let down.
(5)
Susan R.

Best Chinese food of my life. Best service too! There are so many friendly happy staff here. Get the Peking duck if you are in a group. It is delectable. Get anything else on the menu and you will not be disappointed. Best Chinese food outside of China- that I have ever experienced anyway.
(5)
Food L.

This place is rich with history and a must for everyone. I'm not a huge fan of Chinese food, but the experience you have here is worth the meal. All of the servers love what they do and it shows. You will feel like you went to a different country the moment you walk into this place. It's really cool. I don't want to ruin any surprises, but definitely order a duck and definitely call ahead to make a reservation. There's a red drink they serve too called a zombie I believe - just do it. Bottom Line - cool and unique dining experience you won't get anywhere else.
(5)
Narissa H.

The first time I tried this place I had fried rice (tasted dirty) and egg rolls (flavorless). It was tragic to say the least. The bf hated his past experience here too (both desperate) We decided to walk out in the snow storm, and this was the only place open so we gave it another shot. I must say their Kung pao chicken and shrimp combo was very tasty, we would return for that and maybe to try the famous duck.
(3)
John J.

This is our family's favorite place. Food is always amazing, service is excellent every time. This must be what Chinese food tastes like in heaven. The tables are good size to allow for perfect eating and talking experience. Ake sure to make reservation, earlier is better. Allow two hours to eat.
(5)
Mike B.

It has been years since I first visited this place, back in the early 80s. Thank goodness they've held true to their standard: a great menu, a Sino-kitschy decor high-lighted by a VIP rouges gallery of government, private industry and show biz celebs. The duck is a worthy choice expertly prepared and served, at table side. Enjoy a DC landmark and be sure to ALWAYS get reservations, at least a week or two in advance.
(4)
Young Farm R.

Delightful service excellent and authentic duck. Crowded on a Friday night, but to be expected. Worth a fairly steep price given the location and cuisine
(4)
Tony C.

I just had to add another review of this restaurant. Yes, the duck is awesome, I got that. After reading through a lot of reviews, no one has talked about Jeo-Yan Shrimp. It's great and it'll make one salivate!!! For reals... It's jumbo shrimp lightly battered and fried to a crisp golden brown, topped off with a mix of spices. It's shrimp to die for!!! I cant give it 5 stars because even with reservations, you still have to wait for your table.
(4)
Michael L.

I just think this place has pretty plain old chinese food. Nothing super or anything. The place is usually packed but not too hard to get a table. Then again usually 1 member of my party or one of my family members are in cahoots with one of the managers. I hate the gimmicky pictures/signatures on the wall. Its just a starvation for attention and attempt to materialize success. "Look at all these famous people we got to eat here where we probably comped all their bills!" Personally I would only come here for the duck. They are quacks when it comes to everything else.
(3)
Margaret N.

Very friendly and welcoming staff and very delicious food! Love the Peking duck and just about everything on their menu!
(5)
Daniel N.

Great duck. That's about it, the rest are just your typical dishes that u can get any where else. Nothing special. The damn restaurant's wall is full of pictures of White people. I guess the message is clear that this restaurant only make chinese food for white people. First time I walked in, I didn't know how to react when I saw their entire walls FULL of pictures of white people. I seriously don't know how other reviews hasn't mentioned this fact.
(1)
Table K.

Was told about this place by a friend and decided to check it out today. It is what it is, and by that I mean more for the experience. Although they do have some succulent duck! The staff is very friendly and we were able to get a table fairly quickly. If you make it for rush hour be prepared to wait a bit for the table as this place is a go-to historical restaurant in Northern VA. We ordered spring rolls and wonton soup as an appetizer. Spring rolls were crisp, crunchy, and met with a fantastic garlic sweet sauce. The sauce is the boss at Peking! If it's your first time and you're looking to dine with a little bit of royalty, make sure to order the duck. The rich taste of the duck meat and accessories for your wrap make you feel like a king in this restaurant. Especially because they bring another staff member over to slice the duck into thing pieces for your wraps! You definitely end up eating and being greeted as if you are just as important as the thousands of celebrities, presidents, or military generals that have eaten here. Thanks for the amazing experience Peking
(4)
Real V.

If you look through other comments, it is obvious,, Ducks is really good!!! Chopped into pieces and wrapped in front of you, is good entertainment. What make this restaurant exceptional is that other food is also great. The waitress is all hard worker, above average. Will give you child seat if needed. Our friend took us to this restaurant 5 years ago. We couldn't forget the tasty Duck we ate,, took us quite a while for us to figure out this place. It is hard to notice because the location is so normal with 7-Eleven nearby, and very small entrance but you could notice the amount of cars parked in front of the restaurant in the evening. Reservation will be needed since it is always crowded. Especially the weekends, it is hard to get reservation on same day.
(5)
Eduardo A.

Best peking duck nationwide! A must try! The rest of the food is just average chinese food.
(4)
Lyn W.

While the Peking Duck here is delicious and a fun experience to bring guests, their service or LACK thereof is unforgiving. Made my reservation AND confirmed it, arrived, got seated and was scolded by the hostess that I didnt have a reservation because THEY failed to record it thinking it was the same as another reservation with similar name and party size. This is NO way to treat your customers, and they apparently were not taught that the customer is always right. These people are too arrogant because they are a full house on most evenings so they don't care to even show a little hospitality. They are extremely overpriced for simple Chinese food that you can get for 1/3 of the price elsewhere. Will take my biz elsewhere to people who know how to value their customers.
(1)
Lisa S.

Absolutely the best Chinese food you can get anywhere. They have dinner/lunch specials for large groups, which is a great deal. I highly recommend getting the duck every time you visit!
(5)
Thi T.

We (4 of us ... 2 couples) went here for Valentine's Day. Made our reservation about a month in advance since we suspected that it would be very crowded. Being from Philly, I've had my shares of peking duck. And despite all the raves about the duck here, I don't see it as being anything spectacular. The only dif is they carved the duck in front of you. But to me, that is not worth the $38 price tag they put on the duck. Our favorite dish was the garlic sprout with shrimp bc we never had garlic sprouts before. But besides that, everything else was ehh ... ok. And if you are going to get extra pancakes to eat with your duck, it's 4 for $1 FYI.
(3)
Long P.

This has been my family's go to restaurant on any special occasion, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Graduations, etc. My personal favorite place to eat, the duck can't be beat.
(5)
Matthew C.

Best Chinese I've found in the DC area since Mr. K's closed downtown.
(5)
L K.

One of our favorites. The best Peking duck outside of Peking. The meticulously scrape the fat from the skin. Try dipping the skin in a little bit of white surgar. It's amazing. We learned that trick in Beijing. I wish there is a good Peking duck place closer to where we live.
(5)
Amanda G.

This place is awesome, as far as I can tell authentic, and quite delicious. I love the owner's taste for self-portraits with people. Looks like Obama hasn't visited this restaurant yet, but the Bush's have, various times. Besides that, I had the best waiter - Chao - He speaks spanish. It's hilarious fun. Service was really quick. Go here, and you will get a huge serving of delectable Chinese food. Of course, the duck is the #1 ordered entree, and you can make cool tacos out of them.
(5)
Melanie Y.

Ok, Yes the duck was phenomenal but man do they really charge you for the price of it! We took my fiance's dad here but really we could've taken him anymore and he'd be just as happy. It was a fun experience going to a place where lots of presidents have gone before but I'm really not sure what the hype was. The only thing I can think of is that you are paying for the service of watching them carve the duck in front of you so we probably wouldn't go here again. If you want the experience though, then definitely go. It was fun overall.
(3)
Virginia C.

Great food and service. This place gets 5 stars because of its GARLIC SAUCE (that comes with the spring rolls). Amazing stuff!
(5)
Min Sae C.

PEKING DUCK, PEKING DUCK, PEKING DUCK, PEKING DUCK Get the message?? This place was hyped up for a few years to me and I was still blown away by their PEKING DUCK!!!! You have never had PEKING DUCK until you have it here. Obviously, it is a bit more expensive than some crappy version at any old Chinese restaurant but it is well worth the few extra bucks. Saw this place on the Food Network and was very proud to have eaten at this establishment.
(5)
Rob E.

Peking duck was great. Seafood asparagus soup = horrible Eggrolls = horrible Guess i should of listened to people when they said "just order the duck". I didnt really think they could mess up eggrolls and soups tho! =(
(4)
Sean R.

Peking Gourmet offers hands down the finest Chinese cuisine experience I have ever had. You will never have better Peking Duck, General Tsao's chicken, Orange Chicken, or the amazing Traditional Szechuan Beef! (Just to name a few). The portions are generous, and the presentation is superb. This is five star dining at very reasonable prices. The only reason not to visit Peking Gourmet is this: every other Chinese restaurant will pale drearily in comparison forever after, forcing you to return to Peking Gourmet or be unsatisfied with any alternatives. (We're fortunate to live within walking distance.)
(5)
Hubert C.

A little bit about myself: I'm Chinese and I have eaten at numerous Peking Duck establishments overtime. From Taiwan to Singapore; Hong Kong to Chinatown SF; I've even been to Beijing and ate at the the famous Peking Duck place that Nixon and Castro were treated at. Peking Gourmet Inn is definitely a great place to have the duck. Reasonably priced .. i think it was $37. Also get the Spring Garlic Pork. The rest of the dishes aren't worth mentioning. I know Lucky Karmz L. wasnt too happy about it not being an authentic Chinese restaurant, but the Peking duck was too damn good to be rated anything below 4 stars.
(4)
James S.

Damn good duck. Great service. Food came out quick even though the house was packed. I highly recommend eating here if you don't mind paying quite a bit for the food. ^_^
(4)
Meng W.

Background: Born in Beijing, raised in US, has visited hundreds of times, most of my family still resides there, so my standards are probably too high, however, I know Peking Duck. Food was OKAY - 3 stars. Everything else was 1 star. Averages out to 2. If you've never visited Beijing or aren't planning on it, your experience will be a world's different (literally) than that of a traveler or native Chinese. Not speaking on just quality of food, but of service, honor of culture, and etiquette. Because who would ever say that a savory, slow-roasted duck eaten fajitas style tastes bad? It goes much deeper than that. And if you have traveled to China and think this is authentic, you're definitely not going to the right places - there is good and bad duck there too, and this place would be an Applebees in the shadow of real 5-star restaurants. Honestly. I am so disappointed. I guess I just expected a lot more - there is WAY too much hype about this place. As soon as I walked in, I felt like the family in A Christmas Story when they had duck at the Chinese restaurant. It just has that fake, forced feel. Three of the servers/hostesses were gathered at the podium, literally talking through all the bad Yelp reviews the one girl had read. She recited in English exactly what one said, and they were just giggling and reenacting what customers said about them in a mocking manner. Huge turn-off. I've had my stints in the service industry and of COURSE we all talk about the customers, but don't do it a foot away from their faces, especially if they understand your language. Actually, I hope they see this and take it as a lesson of how bad they made the establishment look. Tea and rice cost money. To us, that's literally like charging for water. It's just not right. It's completely unheard of in Chinese culture, and most respectable and authentic restaurants in the US offer them for free. I KNEW the server knew that we didn't appreciate the extra charges on our bill when we got it because I guarantee you that they don't expect it either when they go out to eat with their own family. They're probably making some decent extra cash off of American customers but to us it's a huge rip-off and feels very wrong. We asked for the duck bone soup from a waiter and it never came. When we asked what happened, he condescendingly said "Well you have to ORDER that first, it's $12.50" - REALLY? That comes free at EVERY duck house ever, and you KNOW it - stop playing. You pay for it as a part of your meal. We got the pan-friend noodles, which was just fried udon, also done wrong. The "garlic sprouts" which is a fancy way of saying Chinese chives with shrimp was a whopping $23, way too overpriced - just go to the Great Wall Supermarket nearby, get the same amount for $2 and make it yourself. I really think this place is a novelty restaurant of what Chinese culture USED to be in America - not very well understood, unauthentic, only puppets to entertain an ignorant population. We have moved far beyond that in 2014. I respect it for being around for so long a having a history, but there definitely needs to be some updating because it's going to fall behind the better restaurants that are popping up. If you want authentic Peking Duck that has real history, go travel, go see Beijing for yourself, you'll get a lot more out of it than a meal. Otherwise, there are plenty of amazing restaurants that serve REAL Chinese food in the area.
(2)
Rawlin J.

One of the best and well known restaurants in Bailey's Crossroads. I've never had a disappointment when I've gone; the food and service is always spectacular. I highly recommend the duck! They also have a very good egg drop soup. Drink prices aren't that bad and they're delicious. Good for family outings or business lunches.
(5)
Betty L.

Redemption! Our last meal at PGI was not the best, but last night more than made up for it. We got a booth toward the front of the restaurant which was a thousand time better than the tables. Our server, Jack, was an old Asian man of little words in the beginning but he ended up being super sweet as the meal progressed. Our party of four ordered the duck, yeo shrimp, beef with hot peppers, and combination fried rice. The ducks was sublime and I think we should have ordered 2 ducks between the four of us instead of the shrimp. The beef and hot peppers were pretty weak as far as spice level and the dish itself was unremarkable. The fried rice was delicious and I would recommend ordering that and doubling down on the duck. They ran out of garlic sprouts because we went after Mother's Day weekend and moms love garlic I am guessing. Jack told us that they served 1,700 people that day if you can believe it. Overall, the meal was delicious and we were all disgusting full after our meal. Some of the items on the menu are a tad overpriced but there are plenty of options. Jack also packed up the duck bones for me to bring home, so I guess I will be boiling some bones this weekend. I want to try the set menu next time.
(4)
Bobby R.

You know that advertisement that's out there for breakfast sandwiches or feminine pads or whatever that has two women talking about stuff they didn't know they would miss until they discovered it, like breakfast sandwiches or feminine pads or whatever? And they list off yoga and smoothies and smart phones and breakfast sandwiches and feminine pads and whatever? And they wonder how they ever could have possibly survived on the planet Earth without it/them? I had that experience today. I have been coming here once every couple of weeks for YEARS and I always love it. Today I decided to mix it up a little and get the Peking Wings as an appetizer in addition to the lunch special because wings are good and Chinese food is good and why wouldn't they be good together? Well, they are. They are really good together. And now I am severely whacked on Lithium to counter the depression that comes with the knowledge that I could have been eating these things all along. Also, this haze has me thinking I should try some breakfast sandwiches or feminine pads or whatever...I mean, what have I been MISSING?
(5)
Anthony L.

This is the only place that I have found Chinese food that both my wife and I can agree on. It is a bit pricey but we usually get 3+ meals per entree. Egg rolls are outstanding. Most egg rolls I have eaten are packed with less than shredded veggies which pull all of the guts out on the first bite but this place has well minced ingredients which make it a real pleasure! We always get carry-out because it is so packed but are looking forward to eating in the restaurant soon.
(5)
Mesa M.

Unless you enjoy chewing on tough pork with lots of fat, do NOT order the sweet n sour pork...so bad.
(2)
Julie V.

If you don't have a reservation try showing up right when the place opens and you will definitely get in. Order the duck special. It may seem a little pricy at first but it is definitely worth it. The other lunch specials are also good if you don't want duck. They are definitely well priced and portions are large enough to share.
(4)
Rebecca M.

Ooooh the DUCK!!!!! I've been to Chinatown in virtually every big city across the US, but rarely have I ever experienced better food. Excellent service, brightly painted and gold-leafed decor, and supremely delicious special fare make this the place to eat--especially with a big group. Make reservations in advance!! I work for the government so often I've tagged along on VIP dinners and always get the group Special C. Jeo yen shrimp are out of this world, as is the duck! This menu is amazing! Duck was carved table side and served with spring onions, julienne cucumbers, and his in rolled into a crepe. Savory meets crisp, sweet, succulent, and tang in each mouthful. And the jeo yen prawns are absolutely succulent under a light shroud of crispy tempura-ish batter and dipped in the special garlic sauce. My water glass was never more than half empty and never did I need to ask for a cocktail or a glass of wine, it was always anticipated by the servers. I even mentioned that I was interested in the fat scraped off the duck breast and the owner brought me a plastic container of the liquid gold I used in my kitchen the following week. Omg everything is better with a little duck fat!!
(5)
Yujin M.

I had the unfortunate childhood of being raised by a mother who couldn't eat duck. I still remember the sense of betrayal I felt when I experienced my first taste of duck, and my resentment at my mother for having kept such flavors from me for so many years. So even the nervousness of dining with the boyfriend's whole family was overshadowed by my giddiness when I heard that peking duck was on the menu for dinner. And Peking Gourmet Inn did not disappoint. The humble exterior betrays the cavernous interior that extends into a long dining hall past the tiny waiting area. All the walls--and I mean ALL the walls-- are covered--and I mean COVERED--with framed pictures of celebrities and influential characters that have dined here. Jokes were passed around that PGI had to expand their small family business into this back-end cave to house the growing number of photos; and that this was certainly not the place to have a discreet meal, as your picture will be taken and hung on a wall for the world to see. When the copious amount of food we ordered came out, all hope of playing the demure Asian girl was gone. Now, again, I did not grow up with duck, so I can't really compare--but boy was it good. I found myself reaching and grabbing for the succulent pieces of duck, oblivious to the mess I was creating on my hands from the sticky hoisin sauce that escaped from my duck-hugging pancake. We also had the fried shrimp, which was a little thick on the batter, but topped with spices that added a kick to the normal fried shrimp experience. I wasn't a huge fan of what I believe to be the special noodles--to be fair, I was quite full by then, and it would have taken something very much out of the ordinary to impress me at that point. As for the garlic sprouts with pork, I can only attest that they were quite tasty heated in the microwave two days later. I don't think this is the kind of meal where you'd go to share a duck between friends, so I'm just waiting for my parents to come visit so I can take them here. My mom will have to eat something other than the duck, but she'll sure be missing out.
(5)
David M.

I don't like the food. Everything tastes like shit. However service was nice! I just wish they had good food
(2)
Kimberly S.

Go here for the duck! Even though they scraped off the fat (...a good thing...a bad thing...not quite sure) it was still one of the best tasting ducks I've had in awhile. We ordered a LOT of other dishes to fill our meal out and I was not overly impressed. 1. Crispy Sichuan Beef - Tasted like and had the consistency of rock candy. Crispy beef is one of my favorite dishes so I was really sad about this. 2. Garlic Shrimp with Asparagus - I want to know what type of radiation affected waters these came from because these skrimps were GIGANTIC! This was actually pretty good but they didn't cut off the woody parts of the asparagus which was extra hard and stringy. 3. Pan Fried Noodles - This came out on a Thanksgiving turkey sized platter which made up for the $30 price tag. The noodles were super thick and not crispy like I was used to but this tasted fine. 4. Peking Style Sea Bass - The fish was drowning in sauce so I didn't really taste anything. Everyone at my table said it was too garlicky. 5. Crab meat and asparagus soup - This was okay but needed more seasoning. Service was great and it was very crowded on a Sunday night. I should also mention that my mom and dad went here for dinner on Valentine's day and got to meet George Bush (senior)!
(4)
Chet M.

All you gwhy lohs must try the duck if you've never had it. They do a good job. But for you veterans at Chinese cuisine, look out. They do not give you the wings, they do not make a stir fry dish with the duck carcass meat, and they do not make a duck soup with the bones. Most authetic joints do this when you order Peking duck. So at $39, it's one expensive dish! And don't get the pickled cucumber garnish. They charge you $6 for it. The fresh hot peppers in soy sauce was a nice touch!
(3)
Gene I.

Had high hopes after reading great reviews. Ordered kung pao chicken and chicken fried rice. Take out, quantity was huge but not so great taste. Don't think I will try again. May be its just the day and the dishes I ordered. I can't give more than 2 for my experience.
(2)
Aki Yaqi Z.

Just had a very unpleasant dinning experience here. We ordered a walnut shrimp. The shrimp tastes like being washed by bleach. But the manager insisted the shrimps tasted " as fresh as they just came out of sea." I was very disappointed at either the food or the service at this restaurant. I WON'T COME BACK HERE AGAIN!!!
(1)
Andrew K.

This place was truly excellent/the best thing that has happened to metro DC. The waiter spoke Spanish and the peking duck was WOW, i.e. the best I've had. $37 of crispy, fresh, sweet, Long Island duck yum. I wonder what happened to the rest of the duck. I will bring family here and they will be impressed.
(5)
Han V.

I always try to come here during off times because I have yet to wait more than 10 minutes for a table when I visit around 2-4pm. Any other time though and this place is packed to the brim. When coming here, everyone must get the duck which is a given. They have raised their prices for the duck from $30 to $40. When you order the duck, you are presented the whole duck and your server slices it table side ever so carefully. The skin is outstanding and the meat is incredibly tender. I actually stopped eating the duck with the sauce since I just wanted to savor all the goodness of the duck alone. Ask your server to wrap up the rest of the duck because there is plenty of tender meat left on it. Until 3pm, they have lunch specials for $10 where they offer your choice of soup, egg roll, and fried rice. This is the only time I think it is really worth it to get anything else besides the duck. Their other dishes compared to the quality of the duck are only mediocre at best and they can be quite expensive during dinner time [$20 for beef and green peppers is quite outrageous]. During lunch, service is attentive and quick. They will even take the time to prepare the first roll for us. I came here once for dinner and though we did make reservations, it still took a while for them to seat us. Since it gets so crowded the servers can only work so quickly around the tables and the experience just isn't as intimate during peak times. Tip: Come during lunch hours and you will receive much better service and better deals on the food! Food: 4 Value: 3 Service: 4 Overall: 4
(4)
Steve G.

I'm giving 2-stars for the pictures of distinguished people, not the mediocre food or service. First, they were slow at food delivery and follow up requests. Second, we ordered a half-duck. After the rude carver (who wasn't wearing latex gloves as most classy duck restaurants do) only gave us maybe a quarter duck, but she was so slow that the duck was cold by the time she was done cutting and serving the duck. In the end, the duck wasn't that special. We requested to keep the remainder of the duck because it didn't seem like a half duck; however, they said no?? If you've had duck in Chinatown (New York or Philadelphia or anywhere known for duck for that matter) then you would know good duck when you eat it. So I'm convinced that 1) if you rave about Peking Gourmet then your experience with Chinese duck is limited and you're accepting this subpar place due to the lack of Chinese duck in the region or 2) you eat there knowing Chuck Hagel, George Bush, and Jean Claude Van Damme did too. Well, this didn't and shouldn't alter your true food experience here, which is just bad!! Seriously, branch out and try duck in any Chinatown north of Baltimore. Listen to the many of us on yelp who are trying to explain that Peking Gourmet is overrated, not as classy as they portray themselves, and lacking consistency. This was my second time here and last.
(2)
Edward M.

My partner and I went last night for the first time. He had the chicken with garlic sprouts and it was absolutely delicious! I chose the orange chicken as it's always my favorite at almost any Chinese restaurant. I thought I'd try the orange chicken here. Don't know if it was an anomaly, but the chicken was extremely bland, almost tasteless. I will go back, but I'll stay away from the orange chicken. If you get the chance to have Wendy for your server, you'll have a fantastic time!! I couldn't believe the amount of staff on-hand, but it was a rather slow Thursday night.
(4)
Daniel T.

As the current Duke here, I feel a responsibility to update my review :) This place has the best Peking Duck around - but you already knew that. For me, it's the best I've ever had. They cut the duck tableside and roll the first roll for you. Note: cucumber slices cost extra. The duck has gone up in recent years, currently at $42. The duck speaks for itself, no wonder this is George Bush's favorite Chinese restaurant. My other favorite dish is the lamb chops. They are cooked to perfection - crispy outside and tender inside. The price has also gone up in recent years to $42. This place can get pricey, but they do have group options for lunch and dinner that give you a variety of dishes for a fixed price per person. Soups, veggies, proteins, and even ice cream are included. If you have never had Peking Duck, this is THE place to go. They don't use Opentable so call ahead to make reservations, especially for dinner, groups and weekends. This place has the best service out of any Chinese establishment I've been to by far. Not to sound rude or racist, don't worry - I'm Chinese, but all the employees here speak good English in addition to a majority of them speaking multiple languages - Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Spanish.
(5)
Ken L.

Craving a ducky nibble on my way to DC, yelped up a Peking duck location and hit the jackpot with Peking Gourmet Inn. While I enjoyed the Peking duck and the excellent service, the duck isn't the best I have had. The duck skin was not a crispy as it could be and the duck meat needed more moisture. The option for them to use a house made "tortilla" wrap in lieu of the soft buns stood out as a choice to be different but either method would have sufficed. If you haven't ever tried Peking duck before, you could easily rate 5 stars as the duck is quite good. $39 isn't a big value either but the experience of having a personal carver at your table makes it that much more "worth it". A multitude of famous people have been here and is apparent the moment you step in the door, just check out the walls filled with pictures.
(4)
Keith P.

It's ok...peking duck is definitely good but all the other foods are just like any other chinese restaurant offers. Besides good foods I certainly do not understand the crazy long line even when you've made a reservation. Yea lots of famous people with photos all over the walls in this restaurant but is it that great and the greatest? I think it's a little over-rated over-hyped...just a little. Anyway, servers and employees are very professional and polite. The owner must be doing something right here.
(4)
ray f.

Best version of Peking Duck that I've had in the MDW. Their trick is slicing the duck tableside into paper thin slices. Turns the usually gamey meat into a "melt in your mouth" experience. All the standards that we've had here are above average IMO but the duck does stand out as a unique experience.
(4)
J. C.

They don't really need to prove that they're an established institution with their collage of celebrity's faces on the wall. I mean, it's real Chinese people cooking your food and based on the decor, they've obviously been doing it for a while. I do have to take a star away for any Chinese restaurant that has Moo Goo Gai Pan on their menu though. It's tantamount to pandering. Duck is what you go for and if you order nothing else, you're not missing much. You have to order the cucumbers and scallions separate which is kind of like having to order the hoisin or blinis separate. Honestly, it's not the best duck I've ever had but it's a legit place to go for it. Note to host: I know you're trying to squeeze every penny out of every square foot of space you got but some PERSONAL space is strongly suggested and a table big enough to place my food so I don't have to hold it as I'm eating it would be one less annoyance. And however impressive your old school way of managing reservations is to a spectator, I can guarantee your patrons would appreciate it more if you invested in a reservation SYSTEM. Thanks for your consideration.
(2)
Karisa D.

My family and I have been going to Peking Gourmet for years. Our favorite dish (mine included) is the duck. It is definitely worth ordering. The duck does cost about $40 and 1 can feed a lot of people. It comes with scallions, hoison sauce, and pancakes and you can fill the pancakes with as much duck as you like. I recommend putting the duck meat and the skin in your duck-pancake sandwich. The skin is crunchy and delicious! But probably my favorite part of ordering the duck is watching the staff carve the duck by your table. If you are really lucky, you may get their best carver, an elderly gentleman who has worked there for years. His carving skills are pretty great!
(5)
S. O.

People come here for the peking duck. No doubt they have the best peking duck in the area. The waitress comes to the table with the whole duck and proceeds to carve it right then and there. Other items on the menu are just like any other Chinese food. Pretty typical in taste but pricier than other restaurants.
(4)
Frank W.

Great fried duck! Don't order anything else.
(4)
Richard C.

Amazing Chinese food! The peking duck was on point!! Need to come here if you like food or like to eat in general.
(5)
Jessica L.

My family and I come here for many of our get-togethers and we are 99% of the time extremely satisfied. The only cons to this place is that it can get pretty crowded (make reservations), and when it does service can get a little slow and the waiters start to be less attentive. We usually order anywhere from 2 to 4 ducks depending on how much family we have with us (2 if it's just the 6 of us, 4 if it's all 15 of us), the Jeo-Yan shrimp (so crispy, garlicky, and delicious), the Lamb Chop Peking Style, and the Jade or Fresh Garlic Chicken. Their spring rolls are also pretty good, as well as all their ice creams! They offer Lychee, Coconut, Green Tea, and Mango flavors. My personal favorites are the Coconut and Green Tea, but all four are delicious :) This place is definitely one that everyone should try! Don't miss out on the deliciousness!
(4)
Will C.

I went again last Friday night It was a fright when I saw the long line But waited it out by the Asian market No two words about it, the wait was well worth it Ordered the duck again It wasn't a question when to dig in It was just as good as I remember But, the same waiter, as inattentive as ever This time there were no attractive women at other tables to distract him Just the one seated across from me and I still can't finish my dinner.
(4)
Chontelle M.

My mouth is still salivating from the delicious food I touched to my mouth. It is obvious to anyone who goes here that duck is their specialty. It is cooked so moistly and cut perfectly. There is never enough duck. I also sampled a lot of other items that they had. I loved their lamb chops. They are the best lamb chops I have ever had in my life (and I do be eating some lamb chops) I stayed away from things like orange chicken and lo mein and kept it real with pepper beef, steamed dumplings, and more. I went with a party of about 20 people and we were fed well for $35 per person. Although I have a strong strong hatred for anything in or from Virginia, this place makes me marinate on getting in my car and driving with the lunatics to get a great meal. Definitely make a reservation if you go here. When people say it is packed, it is packed.
(5)
Jeff S.

Best Duck in the DMV area period. So good make you want to smack your mama. =) Also their seafood shrimp was amazing!!! Amazing I SAY!!!
(5)
Jeffrey C.

Food was definitely good. Probably one of the best Peking ducks I've had in a long time. However, I was expecting a Chinese Chinese restaurant, and instead this was an Americanized Chinese restaurant. Unfortunately, I just can explain what I mean by "chinese chinese restaurant" but let's just say after going to many chinese restaurant in my lifetime, there are certain things that you expect from them, certain teas, certain desserts, certain appetizers, etc. that we just didn't get there. The peking duck was $40/duck, pretty pricey considering they don't give you all the meat off the duck either. Service was good.
(3)
Andrew H.

i feel bad giving this place only 3-stars after reading everyone else's reviews. yes...the duck is well made, with nicely crisped skin and still juicy meat, served with hoisin sauce and green onions, wrapped in a thin pancake. and it would be a shame to come to peking gourmet and not order a duck...at least once. i've traveled a bit around china and have had peking duck in beijing, and i wasn't disappointed with what i saw. but what really got me down was the quality of the rest of the food...really nothing special at all. we had a large party, so we filled the table with other dishes...mapo tofu, garlic sprouts with chicken, black pepper beef, fried whole rock fish, and broccoli and mushrooms. nothing wrong with any of the dishes, some were a bit more bland than others, but disappointing considering this is one of the better asian places around. all that being said...since it is one of the better asian places around, i'll probably be back for another round. figure another they've at least won me over enough to have me come back and give it one more try.
(3)
Charlotte B.

GIVE IT UP FOR THE DUCK. What else you gonna order, tofu? It's just as good as everyone says. My only regret is that I didn't know about this place ten years ago. Their house-made noodles are also verrrrry good. Fresh, tender, delicious. Creepy photos of former bigwigs line the walls and allow you the chance to reflect on the uniqueness that is Washington. See if you can decide which politico's family looks the least happy to be dragged out to pose for a photo when they just wanted some #$*#$# Chinese food.
(5)
Anthony L.

We usually come here when we want a great, albeit expensive meal, but without a pretentious atmosphere. The walls are laden with framed photographs of diplomats, military personnel, and politicians. The atmosphere is generic Chinese restaurant, but boy does the food and service put away the doubts. We've always came on a weekday, or off-peak hour, so there has never been a wait for a party of two. :) Items we regularly order are the duck (obviously) with all the fixin's (cucumbers, pepper, etc), Jeo-Yan shrimp, and finally an item which we have a craving for. The star of the show, the duck, is carved table-side and fanned out on two plates along with the crispy skins and pairs of leg/wings. They make the first wraps for you so you know what to do. It may seem like a trivial or meaningless thing to do, but it really is an experience. The hoisin sauce, with the peppers and cucumbers round out the wrap and make it a delicious treat. The Jeo-Yan shrimp is absolutely wonderful; we get it every time. Battered and fried shrimp, seasoned with (I think) salt, pepper, ginger, and other spices. It could use a little more salt, but it's tasty nonetheless. Lo mein is average, but one time the chicken had some sort of weird aftertaste to it. Kind of like plastic. It was odd, and we'll probably never order it again. At first we tried to order chow fun, but our server said we should have the lo mein instead, for reasons I don't know why (maybe they ran out of chow fun noodles). Beef with broccoli is good here. You don't get a grease pool like with the take-out restaurants. The rice you receive on the side has egg and peas mixed in. Overall, the food is good to great, but the duck and the service that accompanies the duck is superb! The prices are ridiculous, and I'm sure there are cheaper options out there that may be just as good, but until we find those places, Peking Gourmet Inn is an annual treat we will gladly partake in.
(4)
Minh N.

I saw this place was featured on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" for their peking duck so I had to try it and I'm SO glad I did! I love peking duck but it's usually so fatty and I feel very bloated afterwards. At this place, the pancakes are super thin and they slice the duck in front of you. The best part is that they slice off ALL the fat and I was so amazed at what a difference it made! I give this a 4 star instead of 5 because I don't think there's anything truly special about the recipe of the duck, just how it was prepared for us but it was definitely the best peking duck I've ever had.
(4)
Sinni L.

I saw this on the show, "The Best Thing I Ever Ate-Peking Duck" and I had to try. I was not impressed with the Peking duck at all. The duck it was crispy (a plus) but it did not have the red color that Peking duck usually has. The bread/bao that the duck was served with was a flour tortilla. I flew all the way from San Diego to try deep friend duck wrapped with a flour tortilla. The duck was a disappointment. But one a good note the vegetables where good and so was the shrimp. I based this review off of what I was waiting to try (which was the duck).
(2)
John O.

This is the best Chinese food I have ever eaten. I usually get the peking duck, hot and sour soup and a small side. That's enought for three to four people. Make sure to get a reservation because it gets busy and wait is crazy. Also, don't worry about the look from the outside. It's nothing like the inside. I love to see the look on my friends faces when they see a mattress for sale right next to the entrance.
(5)
Kelvin F.

There's a reason this place has celebrity visitation pictures framed all over the wall - it serves the best Peking duck in the DC metro area. Peking Gourmet Inn is a bit of a drive from my place - about 45 minutes - but every mile marker I pass brings me that much closer to Peking duck perfection. Seriously the duck here is on par with what you'd find in Beijing. Once you order, the veteran chefs bring a piping hot Peking duck to your table and expertly carve the poultry onto small plates. Thin and crispy slices of skin are plated on top of thick and juicy cuts of meat. Grab a wrap, stuff it with skin and meat, and top it off with the hoisin sauce and green onions - try not to let the juices spill as you sink your teeth into perfection (a beginner mistake). On the quest for Peking duck in the States, I really haven't found a place that even comes close. The duck itself should be enough to keep you coming back, but I guess they say variety is the spice of life. Luckily, the other Beijing inspired dishes here don't disappoint. The decor is your standard Chinese banquet style stuff with the addition of pictures of famous people hanging off the walls. The service is fast and friendly but expect a wait if you don't have a reservation. Also, you get what you pay for so don't be surprised at the $45/duck price tag - it's worth it for the ultimate stateside Peking duck.
(5)
Steve L.

Here's the thing. The duck is 5 stars. Everything else is a 1 or a 2. So I warn you: Go only for the duck. You can't get anything else like it around here. For everything else, there's better and so much more down the street.
(2)
Erin H.

Originally, we were supposed to eat somewhere else, but little did we know about the business hours on Sundays, we had to shift to plan B. On the highway, thinking about what other restaurants we could go to, my cousin's husband ecstatically brought up Peking Gourmet Inn. The way he animatedly described and raved about the duck made it sound intriguing. I decided to give my dislike towards dark meat another chance, and I'm glad I did. You would think of it as a hole-in-a-wall family restaurant establishment, but it has become a pretty famous spot since several prominent members (i.e. George "Dub-ya" Bush, John Trovolta, etc.) have dropped by. There were some people in the waiting area waiting to be seated, but good thing my cousin called about 15 minutes ahead as we were driving to the restaurant. We were seated in less than five minutes. Very crowded ambiance, but it has the homey, family feel to it, which I like. For a party of four, we had two ducks (with extra pepper garnishes! Koreans love the heat and pain ;)), tempura-like shrimp with garlic bits on top, steamed Chinese broccoli, and fried rice. Everything was cooked light and did not leave a heavy, oily feeling after a few bites. The duck was thinly sliced right in front of us and my mouth was salivating. It was fun putting together the meat, veggies, hoisin sauce, and few slices of peppers all wrapped inside the thin flour wrap. My cousin's husband was in the zone during the nom nom period. It's hard to find a Chinese restaurant that doesn't leave you feeling sick with all the grease. This place is a gem! For a place that changed my perception about dark meat and Chinese cuisine in general, this scores BIG from a picky eater. Everything deserve another chance!
(4)
Alan M.

The reason I give it two stars is because my very first Peking Duck experience was at this establishment many, many years ago. I had a great time, and it deserves the credit for paving the way. Throughout time, this place has become a disappointment. Although the walls are littered with US Presidents, celebrities, and Flag / General grade officers - the establishment itself has not maintained the reputation it once was. Many of the chief complaints listed on this review and on Washington Post are facts from my opinion of this place. Of course, there are many people that work at this restaurant, and everybody's experience is different. One thing that people agree on is the Peking Duck. But at $40.00 a duck it is not worth the value. It is a truly good duck as I remember correctly, the green onions are specifically grown at a farm for the purpose of flavoring the duck in the wrap. There is a solution to everybody's problem. Chef Wong one of the reasons Peking Gourmet Inn has developed its reputation is offering a $28.00 Peking Duck at China Wok in Mclean, VA. Keep in mind, I am suggesting the Duck, and not the other dishes. Dine at your own risk. As many people experienced at Peking Gourmet, the service, and food is lacking. You will find the same experience at China Wok. The focus is the Duck, not the ambiance. As always, competition promotes good business, and the consumer gains confidence in the establishments. Perhaps looking forward we may benefit from higher quality foods and standards.
(2)
Alan C.

Best place in town for some peking duck. From the outside it looks like a small dinky little chinese restaurant. Don't let that fool you. Its kind of like a tardis, its bigger on the inside. The food is great and the wait staff is good about making sure you've got all you need and making suggestions if you're not sure what you want. Go there, Go Hungry, go with your wallet (not the cheapest in town, but well worth it)
(4)
I Q.

Perhaps one of the best Chinese in DC metro. Great ambience and amazing food. You can tell by the clientelle and pictures on the wall...they've been around for a while! Garlic Sprout Chicken - However, last 5 times, I 've gone there, they were "out". Not nice! That's why the 4 stars.
(4)
A A.

Love this gem tucked in the middle of Sketchville, Falls Church. I've been living down the street from here now going on four years and I'm embarrassed to say we just tried it for the first time. Did I just write that out loud?! The restaurant is surprisingly bigger than it appears. Upon arriving during a clustered dinner rush during Lover's day, it took a few minutes to find our table because when I was asked what the reservation was under, I said my last name and couldn't find it. Silly me, first name! When I took a peek at their reservation list, they had about 10 "Johns", 5 "Mike's", 12 "Joes" etc. Anyhow, we got seated immediately after the confusion. Our waiter Hong, was great. We let him make most of our dinner choices and we ended up with fried dumplings, half of the Peking duck, and the Jeo-Yan Shrimp which was excellent. The duck stole the show. It walked down the runway on to our table as we admired it's beautiful physique. I wondered if he too was raised on the owner's farm alongside all their vegetables. Hong's assistant's assistant cut all the fat off our duck at our table prior to our feast. My Valentine was hard pressed to find out what goodness was going to be cooked in that duck fat back in the kitchen. Just as we were deciding if we should order desert, we were in for a treat. We saw a few secret service dudes looking around for suspiciousness and then all of a sudden there was a buzz in the restaurant. And in minutes, for just a minute, there he was, the man responsible for W, George Bush Senior. So, pretty cool to say George and I dined on Valentine's Day at Peking Gourmet Inn. But not together. But still. Overall we had a wonderful experience. It was so wonderful, that a few days after we returned for carry out but it jut wasn't the same. So I recommend going there for the full dine in experience. Parking is a show down so go early!
(4)
Eddie W.

I came with moderate expectations, and left disappointed and a little ticked off. A large group of us (18 in total) made reservations, and came for a friend's going away dinner. We were sat in a room with three different tables, 30 minutes later the staff insisted we all get up so they could move the tables together. At this point, we were the only customers in the room, and we insisted that we were all fine remaining seated as we were. Some in our party ordered certain dishes, but were told "you don't want that", "that's a granny dish", "order something else". After all orders were placed, we enjoyed cocktails and conversation, followed by appetizers. Many orders for duck were placed, and about 30 minutes later they arrived. The staff carved the duck (table side) and served it. We were then told to wait for the other dishes as it's "policy that the duck be served first". A little confused by this, we waited. It took 30 minutes for the other dishes to arrive, with a lot of confusion. Our server, Wong brought Kung Pao chicken to our table, yet nobody ordered it. He insisted that somebody must have ordered it. Yet, we continued to inform him that nobody ordered that dish. He then exclaimed that I must have ordered it. yet I'm a vegetarian, I certainly did NOT order it. Frustrated and argumentative, he then accused the person next to me (my fiancÃ©) of ordering it. Of course he did not order it either. He ordered the Garlic Chicken, and we all heard him order the Garlic Chicken, as we all teased him for it after ordering. Approximately 10-15 minutes later, my fiancÃ© received his correct order. From the moment the first duck was brought into the room, to the final entree being placed on the table, it totaled upwards of 45+ minutes. The menu was beyond expensive, and the quality was slightly better than a "hole in the wall" Chinese delivery eatery. Shrimp with cashews was $18.50, and was made with the most pathetically small shrimp imaginable, half of which was not deveined. The atmosphere was dingy, outdated, and tacky - lacking any charm whatsoever. The handwritten check arrived (half in Chinese and half in English). As we were reviewing the bill, and calculating one another's costs, Wong kept telling us how he's been shorted on bills before. How diners have cut him short $100 in the past and have not bothered to tip him. At this point, many of us felt awkward and in all honesty, insulted. I do not understand the fascination with this restaurant at all. Certainly several head shots of celebrities and political figures adorrning their stained walls, could not be that luring to a customer. As a California native, I try not to judge East-Coast Chinese cuisine at the same standards as I would in California, as it would be unfair and biased. Instead I look at the basics, the meal in Itself (quality, flavor, temperature), service, dining atmosphere, and value. If I could give Peking Gourmet Inn 1.5 stars, I would. However, 1 star is too low, so I reluctantly give them 2 stars.
(2)
Jim L.

I know most people say to get the duck and that's probably true although i've been here many times and never got the duck. Always, and I mean always get the crispy spring rolls with extra garlic sauce. I would bathe in this sauce if i could it so delicious. I also recommend the kung pao chicken which is the best I've ever had, ever. My wife always gets pork chun king or pork, hunan style. HAve I mentioned the spring rolls and garlic sauce??? Baby Jesus is it good!
(4)
Miriam W.

My DCBFF's baby just passed the 100 day mark so we gathered at Peking Gourmet Inn for a big celebration on Sunday. The walls of the place are covered in photos of famous and famous-for-DC folk. The most interesting to me was one of a DARPA head honcho. In his note to the restaurateur, dated sometime in the early 1990's, he wrote "in the future people will read about your restaurant on the Internet." If you're reading this review, you're officially part of the future that DARPA dude knew would some day come about! About 50 of us gathered for the celebration on Sunday, which included many courses of food: the most outstanding of which was definitely the Peking duck. Our party had many little kids in it but even as they raced beneath the feet of our gracious servers, the food kept coming at a perfect pace. And what each table didn't finish was wrapped up and given to the guests to take home. This is definitely an excellent spot for a large group lunch or dinner. Service is top notch and the Peking duck is worth the drive from DC to Falls Church.
(4)
Tony M.

There are 300+ review so mine won't make a difference, but it's objective. I'm new to the area but was raised in NY Chinatown & Upper East Side (20+ years), Silicon Valley (7 years) and now in McLean. Went here for my birthday as a choice between this place and Mark's Duck House. Was persuaded that the peking duck here was better than Mark's. Well, ordered it and 1 other dish, plus 3 sodas and tip and tab was about $78. Next time, I'm doing take-out at Cafe China in McLean rather than drive here and pay this money for 2 dishes. (1) Peking Duck -- $39, very good, but NY Chinatown restaurants do it better than here. A bit dry, but you get great presentation and a person dressed in chef's clothing carves it in front of you. (2) Seafood combination - it was a pound of pea pods mixed with a few scallops, shrimp, etc. for about $18. Quite a good pea pod dish (good wok hay), but the menu said it was supposed to be seafood. Excellent, attentive waiter service, but just couldn't overcome my issue that the prices are high. Lot's of connected people come here, but no need to clean off your pants seat. I needed to try it and now can check the box and move on, and delete the address from my car GPS. Overrated, based on price/value basis.
(3)
Kelly K.

We ordered Yang Chow fried rice, shrimp with garlic sprouts, and a beef, chicken, shrimp and veggie stir fry at lunch time. Food was blah and seemed heavy on the MSG. Veggies in the dishes was fresh. The meat and shrimp was so so. Food came out super fast. The hostess tried to sit us at an undesirable location despite plenty of available seating. I was disappointed. Should have read Steve L.'s review below that states only go here for the duck.
(2)
Toan N.

We recently introduced a Bulgarian-American friend to Peking Duck. I knew he liked it when his eyes turned into saucers filled with Hoisin sauce. I don't think he was exaggerating when he said it was one of the best dishes he's ever had. This place has the best Peking Duck ever! I have family who live in Asia, and they rave about this place. That's how good it is.
(5)
Niran A.

It's not that often that you find a Chinese restaurant that can boast such diners as presidents, former presidents, politicians, military generals, and a slew of other famous people. The Peking Gourmet Inn, located in Falls Church (VA), does just that. From the exterior, this gem of a restaurant won't entice a second look. The restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside and actually looks moderately small. When you walk in you will be fooled on both accounts. The restaurant is quite large, with every wall being decked out with photos of the owner with famous people. I dined at the Peking Gourmet Inn on a Monday for lunch. The restaurant was slammed for a Monday, so you know this place is good. There was a short line, in which I was standing behind the former Secretary of Defense for Ronald Reagan. The seating hostess informed me he was a regular. As you look around the restaurant you will notice the photos on every wall, and the fact that every table (literally) ordered the peking duck. The peking duck is the staple dish of the restaurant. Being priced at $38, you might think twice about the entrÃ©e, don't! When you order the duck, within a few minutes you get the plate of homemade Chinese pancakes, the thinly shaved spring onions (which are grown on premises by the way), and a bowl of the homemade hoisin sauce. A few minutes later the whole crispy duck arrives with a skilled carver ready to carve the duck tableside for you. The carver skillfully cuts off all the crispy, golden brown skin and lays it on a plate. After scraping off the additional fat, they then carve off the flesh of the duck. Within 5 minutes your duck is completely broken down and ready to be enjoyed. The server then places the pancake on your plate, coats in with the tantalizing hoisin sauce, sprinkles some of the shaved scallions, lays down some of the duck breast, and then tops it with the duck crispy cracklin. These four ingredients comprised arguably the best thing I have ever eaten! Each ingredient has been selected/grown/made in a way to perfectly compliment the other. The freshness of the pancake, with the crunch and bite of the scallions, and then the moist crispy duck, are like a symphony in your mouth. We also ordered the spicy Szechuan cabbage, which was also extremely fresh and delicious. Most importantly the cabbage wasn't drenched in overly sweet brine. Just in case the duck wasn't enough, we also ordered the Kung Pao Chicken. The kung pao chicken has a very authentic thin sauce which has a smoky note to it and nice spice. After eating the duck though, nothing else on the table compared. This restaurant is one of the most interesting restaurants you will eat at. From it's rich history and eclectic dÃ©cor, this restaurant is a must go to. The duck is the most expensive item on the menu but is definitely worth it. All other entrÃ©e are very reasonably price and offer exceptional quality and taste.
(5)
Roo N.

You come here for 2 things.... Peking duck and their fried shrimp! Enough said.... 3,000 calorie dinner what? who cares...life's good once a month here if I could!
(5)
Thar H.

Decent Food (Duck was good). Good waitstaff. HORRIBLE MANAGEMENT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE AT HOSTESS STAND. It was my sister's birthday party of 20 people. The tables were reserved three weeks ago. We waited ONE HOUR until we could be seated. Their response: "We're a restaurant and it's Father's Day". Really? Shocker. You're a restaurant? How is that news? It's Father's Day? How is that news? You did not know this special day occurs every year? They were not at all accommodating. 30 minutes to wait (which you shouldn't even have to wait for a party) would have been reasonable. But one hour? We didn't eat until 9:45PM and the kitchen closed at 10:30PM. Tell me that's not bleeping bleeping up! The only good thing was the duck. I could have made the rest of the food - even better. I felt bad for my sister on her special day. Even my mother started cursing them out in another language and she doesn't do that at all! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. Go to Dynasty House on Telegraph road instead! Apparently this has happened before to other people with the same female owner. See below from Tom Sietsema's Post Review. washingtonpost.com/gog/râ€¦ I couldn't agree more... Posted by megapoo | May 17, 2011 | Mark as Inappropriate The Lady owner was very rude. Our party was 27 people and she was expecting us to finish dinner in two hours, and trying to kick us out because they OVERBOOKED. REALLY?!?!? She came into the room with an attitude and did not apologize. All of us were so shocked the way we were being treated by the owner. We were not there to eat for free and certainly not there to be treated like. She obviously did not care about her customers and certainly did not have any skills in customer service. The place is always like a fire hazards; overbook; even if you call in advance you still have to wait for hours to be seated. We never comback to peking duck!!!
(2)
Francisco M.

The very best Chinese food I've ever had. Black pepper beef, orange chicken, lemon chicken, peking duck and crab rangoon are all absolutely fantastic. The white rice is nothing to write home about. The green tea ice cream and coconut ice cream are a bit pricey ($7 for one scoop) but it tastes so good that I wouldn't be surprised if they made it on site. I will not eat Chinese food anywhere else. Make sure you call to make a reservation and verify that they write it down; I've been here 4 times and twice my reservation has not been written down (in their defense, I got a table immediately anyway).
(5)
The Silver Fox I.

When you pull up to this place you'll think you're in the wrong spot. Average looking strip mall, with a plain looking entrance. Hard to believe its a place Presidents would visit, but George W knows his duck. I don't go often so I haven't tried many menu items. But when you go, you have to get the duck, the plum sauce, the crispy skin, the pancakes. The whole deal. Good stuff. The Joy Yen shrimp should be on you're list also. I agree with one of the posters below. This place has A Christmas Story feel.
(4)
Anna W.

The place is well known for their duck. I don't like duck. I thought if I tried it here that I would enjoy eating the duck, but No. I ended up still not liking the duck. The duck still had that weird duck taste to it. The taste would not go away, and it also smells weird. But I do enjoy eating the pancake with the hoison sauce and green onion itself, together. I also got their KungPao chicken and I have to say that it is the WORST KungPao chicken I ever tasted! I was very bland and not tasty. Their friend rice does not taste like friend rice. Again, it was bland. I also tried their egg roll, and it was gross. My boyfriend and I just took one bite from it and could not eat it anymore. It has that weird pork taste to it. I thought I was honestly gonna throw up. The only good thing here to get that I thought was the best is the tea. I asked them what kind of tea it was but they didn't even know. I'm gonna guess that it is Jasmine. Also parking sucks! I would not go back there again.
(2)
Nancy H.

I feel like it's always a treat when I get to eat Peking duck, it's definitely not something I'd eat everyday. It's pretty fatty. I was super excited to try this place and get some Chinese food. After dining here, I'd say this place isn't the place to go for authentic Chinese food, it's very Americanized, but the Peking duck lived up to the hype. I only wished it came out with the sweet fluffy white buns instead of the thin pancakes. I'd recommend this place for larger groups. My roommate and I were kind of alarmed when the only option on the menu was a whole duck. When we asked the waiter if it came in a smaller portion he said no, but then said he could get us a half duck. Huh??? Didn't we just ask that? That was the other thing, our waiter looked pissed off the whole time, I didn't see him crack a smiler ever.
(3)
Mira V.

I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars. I've eaten here before and the food was pretty good. Last night we ordered take out and it seemed only mediocre. The Orange Beef has good flavor but their pieces are way to large, you dont get the full taste because your trying to tear apart a whole steak. It should be eaten with chopsticks... not a steak knife and fork. The shrimp fried rice was good, def not the typical greasy fried rice you get at most resturants. Shrimp were good in size and fresh not that soggy frozen taste you sometimes get. Bean curd Schezuan style is more in a soup form, a lot of it and very spicy. I love spicy food so I dont mind but it had me gasping for water a few times. It wasn't bad, but to my taste I probably wont order it again. Spring rolls come in 4 about the length of your pinkie. Those were pretty good I love spring rolls with noodles inside, though i wish it had come with some sweet and chili sauce, instead of just plain duck sauce. Over all better than most chinese places, but for the price of the food it was so-so.
(4)
Kazim R.

The standard Chinese entrees here are nothing to write home about. That said, the duck is definitely very good and comes recommended.
(3)
Caroline B.

Most amazing Chinese food in the nation! The Peking duck with home-grown garlic sprouts is superb (and I don't eve like duck). Everything is delicious. My husband didn't understand why I was making such a fuss about this restaurant, then he came with me on a visit - NOW he gets it! Make a reservation, though - they are always packed.
(5)
Holly S.

This has been a family favorite for years. My kids figured out that this place is much better than Chuck E Cheese for birthday celebrations. Don't bother with take out. You must eat there. If you are lucky enough to be in this restaurant, you MUST order the duck. I don't care if you don't eat duck, you will after this experience. The best Peking Duck ever. Another favorite is the Jeo Yan Shrimp. Jumbo shrimp fried in this delectably light crispy batter, topped with a mix of lightly fried garlic, ginger, scallions, etc...It is out of this world. The garlic sprouts come from the restaurant's farm in rural Virginia. They smell much stronger then they taste and are fabulous with chicken. Szechuan Beef Proper is another staple for our table. Just crispy strips of beef, piled high on the platter. Not the easiest thing to chew, but good none the less. This place is popular, so depending on the day, you may need reservations. If you have a party of 9 or more, make sure they place you at a large enough table. Sometimes, they try to squeeze you in at a table for 8. Your experience will be better if you have plenty of room. WINNER!!!!
(5)
Erik W.

Letter to Peking Gourmet Management Let's face it... we all know in the Chinese community that your Chinese dishes are overpriced and not even close on being authentic. However you do such a good job with the duck that the rest is overlooked. We pay $38 a duck, about twice the amount that other Chinese restaurants in the area for a Peking Duck because of the quality. That said, I could not have been more disappointed with my last several visits here. Your management fail to realize that no matter how good of a duck you cook in the kitchen it's all wasted, unless you can complete the delivery by carving the duck "properly" table side. Please look into fixing the following problems with your carvers, if you are dedicated to do your best. 1. The carver's skill level are not identical. Which means the quality of the end result is never consistent. There are way more bad carvers than good. Not sufficient training! 2. The carver doesn't try to carve out large pieces of skin and by stacking the skin on the serving plate they quickly get soggy on the plate if not eaten immediately. 3. The carver doesn't try to take off as much meat as they can off the duck. The duck I had last night had more meat left on the bone than there were on my plate. For $38, please serve me the duck I ordered. 4. The carver doesn't try to carve out large pieces of breast meat. The ideal proportion in each pancake wrap is a piece of meat coupled by a piece of skin. Only your carver can create the correct experience. Most pieces I had last night were round and no bigger than the size of a quarter. 10-20 years ago, the carving job might be acceptable, but as your diners become more sophisticated and have the opportunity to try the "authentic" ducks in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong they will realize the poor job you are doing carving these ducks. Please do your duck justice by carving them properly.
(4)
Lance W.

Welcome to the most overrated Chinese restaurant in the country. Peking Gourmet Inn has been ripping people off for over 20 years ever since George H.W. Bush declared how much he loved this place. Bush's infatuation towards Peking Gourmet is as misguided as his promise of no new taxes. As a warrior against review inflation, it is my civic duty to inform my fellow yelpers of this abomination. Let's start off with the duck, which is why everyone is here right? First off, you pay $38 for a duck when every other restaurants charges around $25. Yet every single duck they roll out is completely emaciated, devoid of any significant meat. Just look at the yelp picture of the whole duck before it's about to be sliced. It appears as if each duck came from a refugee camp before it mercifully slaughtered for our meal. If you want to see a real peking duck, go visit Chef Wang, a local DC legend (he's currently at China Wok). You pay a whole lot less and his ducks are worthy of human consumption. But Lance, what about the other food like jeo yan shrimp and Szechuan beef proper (two of their most popular dishes)? The answer is overpriced and overrated. $28 for fried shrimp. Every Cantonese restaurant in this area cooks that dish better at significantly lower cost. And you're not supposed to have a heavy batter on the shrimp. This is supposedly a Chinese restaurant, not a Long John Silvers. Peking Gourmet then calls their Szechuan beef proper an authentic Szechuan recipe of sautÃ©ed beef. Yet, it's fried and tastes like nothing that came from the Szechuan promise. And for $20, you'd better be getting a sizable steak instead of strings of beef and served with copious amounts of MSG. So come to the Peking Gourmet Inn if you want to pretend to be a connoisseur of Chinese food and throw your money away. I know I'll be laughing my ass off from route 7 at the lines of patrons waiting to grab a seat. If you need any further advice, "Read my lips. Don't go here!"
(2)
Colin C.

I've been to Peking Gourmet Inn four or five times now and have never had a bad experience. Forget about the rest of the menu (mostly forgettable) and stick with the Peking Duck. It is far and away the best Peking Duck I have had since leaving San Francisco and, truth be told, it beats any duck I ever had in the Bay Area. The skin is crispy and delicious (and the person carving the duck by your table makes a little pile of it on the plate). The duck is perfectly cooked and plentiful (one duck easily feeds two people with some leftovers). Make sure to get the scallions and sliced cucumbers to go with it. I REPEAT: do not order anything other than the Peking Duck. Everything else I've had has been mediocre to good, but ultimately unsatisfying. If you are a fan of Peking Duck, you will absolutely not be disappointed.
(5)
Mark W.

Great food. Great atmosphere and tremendous help. A diamond in a junky strip mall.
(5)
Irene A.

When I visit from out of town, I love to eat at local places. As we were driving around trying to figure out where we should eat at, he asked me if I like duck. Normally when I think of places to eat, duck is not on the lists, but that night I was feeling adventurous. My friend took me to the Peking Gourmet Inn. He told me that the Bushs like going there, among other dignitaries and politicians. I figured if it's good for the Bushs, it's good for me. The area around the restaurant seemed a bit "shady" and if you don't look for it, you can definitely pass it up on the road. We arrived at dinner time and there was a 45 minute wait. I figured the restaurant had to be good because of the wait. We ordered duck, crab rangoon and an orange beef dish. Our meal was awesome. The service was ok. I think our waiter seemed a bit frazzled. Nonetheless, the meal was well worth our wait. I would love to go back the next time I'm in DC.
(4)
vinnie t.

great place for some Peking duck. the Chinese food is authentic here. pretty pricey here. place isn't in the greatest area considering a lot of famous people come here.
(3)
Queen W.

If you are after authentic Peking Duck, this is the place to go. They cut and trim the duck in front of you. Though it is pretty pricey, the duck is excellent. Having experienced some really NASTY duck, paying for quality is worth it. The pork and chive dumplings are also excellent and traditional Peking dumplings. The dumplings you get in other restaurants have big hard tasteless balls of meat. I took my family there once when they were visiting. My dad (from Peking) was satisfied with the duck. It was not as good as REAL PEKING duck from Peking but one of the best in the US. Other dishes aren't anything special. I come here mainly for the duck.
(4)
s w.

Most of the food here is average for area-chinese food. the duck, however, rates the place an extra star - that combined with the great, over-the-top ambiance. If you are in the area and hungry for chinese, this place is definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Iced V.

Great place to impress friends and family from out of town. Duck and Jao Shrimp(Deep friend shrimp) is great but everything else is on par with a typical chinese restaurant and I've been here for over 18 years(i'm 25 now).
(3)
kevin k.

what a find it was. thanks to yelper. ever since the peking duck in chinatown, ny, i have been hooked on the duck. the peking duck that is. as one of yelper wrote, i am not a fan of white meat AT ALL. no taste in my opinion. but the p. duck was different . anywayz. this place took some endeavour on my part. not only it was friday night. it rained. taking 50 than the intersection. this is my 2nd time driving this way to find restaurant but it has been drag so far. i always get wrong turn. but i enjoyed driving down 50 seeing different ethnic shops and bunch. it seems this avenue has the good bunch of joints. enough of it. love the duck. corny deco. so may waiting staff. mostly guys. i havent seen that at chiniese restraurant. red lantern, i never seen that. the wall can be decorated differently but hey when you got so much to boast with famous faces, why bother? back to ages when have's decorated the wall of room with painting. the food. the food. i didnt like the guy slicing duck next to me. i prefer what i saw in nyc where the chef slice the duck in my sight but distant for me to see the detail. the texture of the duck, the taste of duck, they were all good. the handmade paste to roll that duck was good as well. i could easily said excellent but that would been too much typing. love this place. i am spreading the word for this place among md people. love this yelp 2.
(4)
Arturo C.

I love this place. P.F. Chang is your regular take out place compared to PGI. First time I was here, it was an experienced I've never had before, food smelled good, food looked delicious, food tasted so good. I had the Peking duck, but never had it this way, I've had it before back in my country (where the cooks didn't speak nothing but their native language) but it wasn't carved in front of us, nevertheless it was also great. Anyhow, the preparation they have in front, at your table is pretty cool, and the duck tasted so good. Also, the fried dumplings? They're the best I've had so far. You go in here and while the decor is outdated and not fancy, the place is clean but most important of all, the place does not smell like you just went in a "take out place", you know that smell (and to me, that's how P.F. Chang smelled like the first time I was there...so I turn around and left), you see the placed is packed, food everywhere, people eating all kinds of......if it wasn't so far away from Woodbridge, I'd be coming here at least once a month. But I'm going there this coming Sunday, for sure, it's worth the drive, worth it!!! Before I forget.....the service is excellent and the people are so friendly....this is where you leave at least a 25% tip.
(5)
Quynh B.

I tried this place during my work trip in DC based on my friend's recommendation and it was pretty good, but not amazing. I really wanted to try the Peking duck, but it's not something you can order by yourself. Although, I noticed that it came with pancakes instead of steamed buns so that deterred me from trying it on my own as well. Anyways, I ordered the Peking wings and combination lo mein. The wings were REALLY GOOD and BIG! I was really impressed!! The Lo Mein was good too and the portions was pretty big, but nothing about it stood out. Overall, the prices at this restaurant is pretty expensive so you sort of need to go with a group or else you'll be stuck eating one or two things off the menu. It's definitely better than anything you'd find in Chinatown though!
(4)
Jimmy G.

Came here to try out the Peking Duck; if you didn't know it's what they're known for ;) The duck was pretty amazing and they cut it in front of you. They also clean off a lot of the fat from the duck skin so that all you get is the crispy exterior layer. The crispy skin is then rolled up in a home made chinese flour pancake along with the lean duck meat, scallions and the hoisin sauce. The result is a delicious savory and sweet duck wrap that you really can't find anywhere else in the area. Hold-on, I need to get me some peking duck.... Alright back. The staff was super friendly and there was no wait when I arrived for lunch on a Saturday. The restaurant did quickly fill up while after I was already seated, so I guess I was lucky. The waitress was also kind enough to give suggestions on side dishes and cold appetizers to eat along with the duck. The overall experience was positive and PGI is definitely somewhere you should visit if you're in the area.
(4)
Carolina M.

Like most Yelpers have said, this place doesn't look like much from the outside, but when you enter, you're kind of blown away by the fancy decor and uniforms. I know I was. The Peking Duck itself was done pretty well. I mean, it's kind of hard to go wrong, but I think their duck is elevated with the option of having sliced cucumbers. The duck is fairly generous and I appreciate the "show" of how it's sliced in front of you, not only on one plate, but on two while a waiter makes your first Peking duck wrap. Onion Stems with Chicken: Ordinarily, I don't like onion stems, but this was ok. I'd say the texture is a lot like eating sliced cucumbers or chayote. It's not a strong onion-flavor either. I'd get this again. Firecracker Scallop: This was on their specials list and it was really good. This might have been my favorite dish of the night. Scallops are battered and fried, but tossed with some chili peppers. It's not as spicy as it looks either. Green beans: A teeny bit on the greasy side, but it's flavorful and good with the rice. It's not a must-order item, but if you want some kind of vegetable dish to balance things out, this is good. Not sure if it's vegetarian though. Honestly, what really stands out about this restaurant is service. Normally, I don't really care about service at a Chinese restaurant because it's virtually nonexistent. The wait staff here was really attentive about taking away dishes and refilling water glasses. Maybe it's the uniforms, but to be waited on here makes you feel like a queen (or king). That being said, service is great, but it's not something I'd come back for since I care more about food. The food is decent, but I feel like there are other places that might have more variety or more interesting Chinese fare.
(4)
Stella A.

Been coming here since I was a little child. Moved out of town, still NEED to stop whenever I come home. This is my usual order, it makes me really really happy: crab Rangoon (the garlic honey sauce served with this can be drizzled on anything!!) hot and sour soup (it's made from the duck they serve) jeo yan shrimp, crispy Peking duck in the pancakes, green beans. Mind you, they have a farm nearby where they grow all their own garlic sprouts, scallions...the chrysanthemum tea is my favorite choice while eating at Peking. Happy place.
(5)
Cat L.

If you didn't know this by now, come here for the PEKING DUCK! Anything else you order from the menu will likely be okay, but it's nothing you can't get at other Chinese restaurants for cheaper and about the same quality. This is a well-known establishment that has been around the area for a long time. They are pretty pricey for Chinese, and since the ducks are one of the priciest things on the menu, you probably want order a few of those and then get other dishes to fill you up. Definitely try and make a reservation beforehand, especially for the weekend rush times. 11 of us made a reservation for a Saturday night and were seated a within a few minutes (though it seemed longer because the lobby was absolutely packed with other waiting parties). We ordered 4 ducks and 4 other dishes (fried rice, pan-fried noodles, crispy beef, and pork with garlic sprouts) for the 11 of us. The ducks came out first, and boy were they delicious. They come with pancakes, green onions, cucumbers, and a thick paste so you can assemble your own mini roll. There was a surprising amount of meat on the ducks - we probably could have gotten away with ordering 1 or 2 extra dishes instead of the 4 that came afterwards (we had a ton of leftovers). I wasn't a huge fan of any of them besides the fried rice, which you can't really mess up. Consistent with its reputation, this restaurant has well-trained staff who are polite and very adept at servicing customers despite the masses of people moving around inside. The staff will come around and sing "Happy Birthday" to those celebrating, and boy, there are a lot of those groups.
(4)
Sharon K.

You are already looking this place up on Yelp... so do yourself and everyone you're with a favor and GO RIGHT NOW! I have been coming here for years with my family, boyfriend, friends, etc. even though it looks like absolute trash on the outside, the inside isn't bad and the food is to die for. I honestly think they might start asking my family for rent money soon since we are there all the time. Absolutely make a reservation. Even if you make a reservation you are still waiting 5-10 minutes within arriving because this place is that busy during any/all days of the week. The servers are all experienced and efficient though. Don't worry -- it's worth the wait! Absolutely get the Peking Duck (one duck is enough for 2-3 people depending on appetite. If you are in a family setting, get at least two). Ask for the cucumbers too. Once you pile the skin, duck meat, spring onions, cucumbers, hoisin sauce, and hot peppers into that perfect pancake, take a big bite and get ready to be a changed woman or man. They have their ducks at their own farm in Purcelville, VA, which is also where they grow their own spring onions! My routine is this: enter, order water (and sometimes wine), hot tea, egg drop soup, duck, duck, more duck, Jeo Yan (sp?) Shrimp with rice, sometimes Beef Proper depending on who I'm with), eat until I am sick, wash down with hot tea, fortune cookie, leave happy. This place is a NoVA/DC favorite. The Bush family used to go here all the time and once you walk into the restaurant, you'll see plenty of framed pictures of the owner with celebrities and military + political figures (John Travolta, Clinton, Colin Powell, the list goes on) so you know it's legit.
(5)
William L.

Great service, great decor. good duck. I've been to momofuku's in nyc... so it's a bad comparison. Really did not like the flat bread they used. And the skin isn't as fatty as I'm used to. But the duck is definitely good and the service is what made the place! The outside looks worse than the inside!
(3)
Robin F.

I have to thank Yelp mobile for a good lunch find on our afternoon of errands. It was between Peking Gourmet or a nearby Thai restaurant. We chose Peking Gourmet and were definitely impressed by the decor, but have to say we were a little underwhelmed by the food. Maybe our mistake was not getting the Duck because that did look amazing when they carved it at the table behind us. The wonton soup was really good, but my beef with broccoli and my boyfriend's szechuan beef were just ok, a little lacking in flavor - especially the fried rice and egg roll. If I lived close by I would probably get wonton soup to go, but that would be about it.
(3)
Grace P.

You've shown the worst side of Chinese behavior - the tendency sell something as genuine that is not. I think it's important to point out that I am half Chinese and raised in both Asia and the US. For context, my Chinese mother was also present at this dinner at which we were blatantly misled. My parents had flown in from Germany and we wanted some good Chinese food. We went to Peking Gourmet. The wait staff was not only unhelpful, but curt and impatient. As soon as we began speaking Chinese, the service noticeably deteriorated. The ad for the "garlic sprouts" which covered about a page in the menu claimed that "germinated from fresh cloves of garlic" was a blatant lie. We were served spring onions and pork. Onions. For $18. Way to get one over on the unknowing Americans, Peking Gourmet.
(2)
Kruella D.

the duck is fantastic, but I was a bit freaked out when the woman who sliced the duck in front of us was not using gloves. She was definitely TOUCHING the duck. But I ate it and it was great. My other dishes were fantastic too. The place gets packed, so plan to wait even if you have reservations. Tables are crammed together and it's crowded. But it's worth it. In a slightly shady area of Falls Church, so just be careful b/c there are sometimes lurking dayworkers. Dayworkers are fine, but just be aware.
(4)
dan b.

While the Duck is amazing--I've been to Beijing and this stuff compares--I actually reccomend the PORK PRODUCTION they get from their farm in purcellville. As the waiter told us--only the "freshest ingredients" here--and its true. I don't know what to make of all the repbulicans on the walls except for they probably started going here because of Nixon. One of my favourite places in the DC area--and I always take people from out of town here because I know we'll have a good time.
(5)
Homan I.

Great Chinese restaurant and a staple in the area. When you walk in the walls are covered in pictures of the owners and staff with celebrities, politicians and Presidents who have dined there. They even named George H. Bush's favorite dish after him. The white house gets carry-out from here and the president occasionally dines here in one of their many private dining rooms. High quality fresh food and some chief's specials that you won't find anywhere else.
(5)
David C.

i've been going to this restaurant for over 27 years. I just went last week and i was appalled! i won't bore you with the details. suffice it to say that the owners were not managing and the service was unprofessional and downright disgusting. if it weren't for all of the VIP pics on the wall, i wouldn't have recognized this place. the service is unprofessional, unless you like a non-english speaking person taking your plate before you are done. the food was just ok, not as special as it was when robert walked the floor. let me also say that my night was capped off when i was standing in the men's room and a waiter walked in and released a very loud gob of something from deep within his throat. disgusting but indicative of the kind of people working here and acting the way i experienced because the boss was no where to be found. i'm done - from now on i will go to XO Tastee for my chinese food.
(1)
D. K.

Came back to Peking Inn to try the duck and it was ok. Duck is cooked to perfection, juicy, moist but flavorless. The skin is a crispy delight with all the fat carved off. I'm not a fan of the flour wrappers (I'm used to eating Peking duck w/ steamed buns...like the bread surrounded by steamed chau siu bao). We also ordered the Peking Beef, Chilean Sea Bass w/ Black Bean Sauce, and String Beans. These dishes were very good and I would come back to try more of their dishes on the regular menu. Not sure if I would order the duck again...but would make the exception if this is the only place to fulfill my duck fix. *Recommend eating here in large groups **Watch out for the servers..they do a good job of recommending all their expensive dishes
(3)
kevin k.

Been coming here for years now. What can I say about this place other than get the "DUCK". A bit pricey but well worth it. I never had duck before here and probably, never will other than here. That should speak by itself, maybe. The other dished are very good too. Their Jeo-Yan Shrimp is also pricey and just as good as the duck. Also recommended are the string beans, schezuan beef, and seafood pan fried noodles. Just make sure to make reservations for dinner since it can get pretty crowded waiting for a table. Also, don't come expecting regular chinese carry-out prices cause it's going to cost you.
(5)
Christina A.

Best dumplings ever but prices are a little high. I would come back for dumplings.
(4)
adam s.

My experience was in a large group during my birthday celebration (we had 16 people around 1 round table!) I would recommend keeping it to around 12-14 people to not feel so scrunched. On to the meal. As the title of the restaurant beckons, this place servers stellar Peking Duck. The duck is carved tableside, and they serve it with small tortillas and their homemade hoisan sauce. Just throw some everything they give you on there and wrap it up. You won't be disappointed. Friends chose other items to eat, and I got a chance to sample some interesting platters. I do not recall everything that was ordered, but all were above par for a run-of-the-mill Chinese restaurant, though not up to the same level as the duck. In conclusion, and as I would imagine the most interesting man in the world would comment, "I don't eat duck often, but when I do, I choose Peking Gourmet"
(5)
Chris S.

Most delightful duck experience in VA. In a raggity strip mall, you will find this cute peking duck gem. When you first walk in, it kinda has a hotel feel. You will then see a jubliee of famous patron portraits including former secretaries of state, arnold, yes ARNNNNOLDD, and my favorite Connie Chung. Once we sat down, water was poured immediately and we were ready to order. We got the seafood noodle, garlic bok choy, jumbo shrimp, and of course the duck. The other food besides the duck is ok. I remember it being better back in the day. The duck is my favorite because they get a waiter to slice it in front of you with plenty of condiments to help accompany the roasted awesomeness. Plenty of duck pancakes hoisin sauce, and scallions to go round. They split the cripsy skin, meat and bones all on separate plates. My mom usually ask for the duck bones in a to-go bag to cook duck soup later on... Our duck server's name was Jim and he said to ask for him if you ever want the bigger ducks in the back. This place has some of the best duck around.
(5)
David C.

This place serves the best Peking duck bar none. My mother commented that the duck here was better than in Beijing itself, when she visited. The pancakes are crepe thin, not like the fluffy half-moon buns I'm used to getting in the US. We also liked the garlic sprout and meat dishes, either pork or chicken. It is also a house specialty. While pricey, this is a must include on any list of dine-to-impress restaurants, especially since the wall decor is of Washington bigwigs eating the same food as you. Also, our server staff is always very courteous and polite, equally so in English or Mandarin, which is somewhat unusual for a Chinese restaurant. :) I second the recommendation for the carmelized diced apple dessert... have not seen that outside of China, and it is worth the extra order. Because of the preparation at the table (won't spoil with details), it is as showy as the duck carving and makes for a good theatrical bookend to your meal (since the duck is required, c'mon). Ask for your duck carcass as well, it makes for good midnight snacking (for you or the cat), or if you collect enough you can make stock out of 'em.
(5)
Lisa T.

This is by far the best Chinese I have ever had! I'm so in love with this place! It is a little pricey but absolutely worth every last cent! Going without having the duck somehow seems like a sin. And I can no longer order other dishes I have ordered there from other Chinese restaurants because Peking makes such good food all other places are a disappointment. I have promised myself if I win the lotto I am going to Peking every week for life! I'm not joking.
(5)
Teresa H.

3.5 stars. Been here 3-4 times before and thought the food was...different. Good in general, but overpriced in my opinion. I think they said it's northern Chinese style? I always get the Peking duck, which is their signature dish. I've eaten Peking duck since I was a wee lil toddler and I LOVE me some Peking duck. Mmm mmm mmm. On a scale to 5, I would rate their duck here at 3.5. Presentation is great. I love how they carve it at the table. BUT, here are my criteria for great duck, they meet some, but not all. - Meat must be juicy - check - Skin must be crispy - check - Very little to no fat on the skin - lacking...there was a significant amount of fat the last time I came here :-\ - Tortilla pancake must be paper thin w/the right amount of chewiness- check - Served w/slivers of green onions and cucumber - 1/2 check...you have to order the cucumber separately here :-\ - Plentiful hoisin sauce - check Some places I've been to where I order Peking duck, they make it a 3 course meal where they use all of the duck. This as a appetizer, fried rice or stir fry with the remaining meat on the duck, and a soup with the duck bones. I don't remember them doing that here, which I think is a waste. We also ordered stir-fried garlic stems with beef. That was a very interesting dish and was quite tasty. The other stuff we ordered were decent, but not good enough for me to remember what they were. With this mediocre review, why have I come here from MD so many times? The atmosphere is great and I like that they carve the duck in front of you. They try to be upscaley to cater more to the 'famous' people like politicians and movie stars who you will find their pictures are plastered all over the walls in this place. I would definitely come here again, but only if there are guest in town and you want to wow them with great service and a great atmosphere...and decent food.
(4)
Jay P.

I love their garlic sprouts
(3)
Teddy k.

In Northern Virginia (and most of the U.S. as well), when you want "street cred," you go to the hole in the wall, authentic Chinese places that only foodies talk about. Peking Gourmet Inn sure isn't that kind of place. It's the kind of place that gets hate because it doesn't care whether the food is authentic or not, it just should taste good. And that's fine by me. Obviously the draw here is the peking duck. Crisp skin, tender meat, and fresh spring onions are wrapped in a flour crepe with sauce and eaten. Other entrees can be equally delicious. Orange beef consists of large slices of beef deep fried and covered in a sweet sauce. Scallops and roasted garlic are delicious and actually has a fair amount of scallop in it. Jeo-Yen Shrimp are whole seasoned fried shrimp which are tasty when hot, a little heavy when cold. Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce is reliably good and simple. The soups, especially when you branch out from egg drop or hot and sour soup, are soothing and satisfying. The problem with Peking Gourmet is that sometimes, dishes end up being too heavyhanded. Szechuan Beef Proper, for instance, are deep fried strips of beef covered in an overly sweet sauce. At first it was enjoyable, but as I ate more of the dish, it became tiresome to eat as the heaviness of the dish set in. A deep fried eggplant dish was similarly greasy, heavy, and was lacking flavor. The service at Peking Gourmet has always been polite, and the atmosphere is similar to American Chinese places that Hollywood movies portray: formal, white tablecloth, and waiters in red jackets. Peking Gourmet has gotten more expensive over the years, and the rising price of the duck reflects the rising prices of the overall check. Don't expect to eat like an emperor on duck and pay like a pauper! Peking Gourmet has been in Northern Virginia as far back as I can remember, and it's always been reliably good for certain dishes. While you may never get props or street cred from foodies for eating here, you can sure have a good meal.
(4)
Mitch R.

This place is special, you know that immediately upon entering. There are pictures of famous people who have eaten there on every wall that you can see, and the line is usually crazy so be sure to make reservations. The food here is out of control good. If you go, you MUST order the duck which is hand carved at your table. It is a bit expensive so be prepared for that as well. The duck is juicy and delicious and is more than enough food for two people. All of their other dishes are spectacular as well, their fried rice is the best I have ever had. I have been eating here for over 20 years, and I will be eating there for 20 more years to come.
(5)
Alex N.

I usually don't crave Peking Duck. I just follow my crazy girlfriend on insane missions to fulfill her cravings. Boyfriend duties, you can call it. On Christmas Day, 2009, this place was packed to the max. Other than the fire hazard true to Chinese-style over occupancy...this restaurant was awesome. We got way more food than expected, and yes...you MUST try the duck. Like the others, I highly suggest that you RSVP at least a day ahead.
(4)
Nicole D.

My dad and stepmom live outside of DC and have both heard so much about this restaurant but have never actually gone. My appropriately timed visit this weekend was a perfect excuse for them to give it a go so off we went to Falls Church after spending the day in DC. I was a little leery upon first glance because the outside of this place looks a little shoddy. It's right off a main thoroughfare in Falls Church and its grotesque red and yellow faux Chinese gate on its exterior along with limited windows makes it appear a bit dingy. BUT once inside, it opens up into a vast open restaurant that is ornately decorated with various Oriental fixtures and whose walls are lined with pictures of various dignitaries, past presidents and decorated military officers who have dined at the restaurant. We ordered way too much food but every bit of it was delicious! YOU MUST TRY THE PEKING DUCK! It is carved for you at your table and is accompanied with some flour flatbread, cucumbers, daikon and hoisin sauce. Since it was our first time visiting, our gracious although sometimes abrupt server showed us how to assemble. We then followed with eggplant with garlic sauce (my most favorite Chinese dish and here it was incredible!); fried noodles with bok choy, mushrooms, shrimp and chicken; and garlic string beans. All were delicious. After our dinner, one of the owners, who is in all the aforementioned pictures that line the walls , came over to our table and talked to us for a good five minutes. She was incredibly humble and honored about all the amazing people she has met over the 30-some years this restaurant has been open. And no, Obama has not visited yet but his sister has. I was sure to ask. I'm sure it's only a matter of time since the food is amazing!
(4)
Steven W.

I have been coming here since the early '90's and it is by far the best Chinese restaurant in the WDC area. Great food, atmosphere and service--always. Very old school and still has a cloak room with a woman behind the counter (kind of reminds me of the Chinese restaurant in Glenn Gary Glenn Ross). The generous cocktails and Chinese beer (Tsingtao and Harbin) are great too. I also like the local history of the place as you see it is adorned with photos of the who's who in WDC. President Bush 41 was a regular here from his time as Envoy to China in the early '70's and could still be seen eating here until just a couple of years ago. One MUST have the Peking ducking when visiting (suggested if there are 2 or more of you eating given the size). It's PGI's speciality and I've not had better even overseas. Their other dishes are never a disappointment either. Portions are large so be mindful when ordering or just take some home after. You cannot go wrong with PGI, however, I would always recommend a reservation especially during dinnertime as this is a very popular place and gets very crowded. It's also great for special events/private parties as they can accommodate--with advance notice--such events and they do it well. I have hosted quite a few and they never disappoint.
(5)
Kristi S.

The service at the restaurant is excellent and the dishes are the type of Chinese cuisine you do not typically find in restaurants outside of "northern" China. I feel like there is a lot of hype to go with this place, and perhaps rightfully so, but scarcity of competition does not make a good restaurant. In terms of the quality of the food, it is tasty, although not particularly fresh. Look for slightly Americanized slants on the Beijing cuisine of Nixonite fame. They may have had zhajiang and other Beijing staples on the menu, but I did not have the opportunity to try them. My caveat is that I personally prefer Cantonese style roasted duck to Beijing style. The duck here was passable, but the real thing is worth the trip to China. All that having been said, Peking Gourmet gets extra props for being one of the few restaurants I have ever seen outside of Beijing to serve "ba-si" for dessert. These are caramelized fruit that are cooked in oil before being brought to your table and served onto plates before your eyes. I am told there is a Korean version of this, but I've always been a sucker for Chines ba-si. It will make your heart melt...
(3)
teddy m.

Walking into the restaurant, a huge stream of customers was overflowing around the besieged ladies at the front desk. We waited about 40 minutes in a crowed foyer decorated with pictures of the most unappetizing previous guest list you can imagine (all the Bushes, James Baker, Norman Schwarzkopf and his lookalike kids). The wait, however, was worth it. And my appetite arrived just in time for the delivery of the exquisitely prepared Peking Duck - the signature dish (of course!). It was definitely pricey for a duck ($38), but it had the benefit of being perfectly golden crisp, layered with delicious fat, and followed by delicate, garlic and ginger infused fried shrimp. Highly recommended (unless you're a duck, like my Yelp avatar), but be prepared for a wait!
(4)
Win R.

Hard to match consistency, quality and value anywhere from here to Peking. Our family favorite since 1981!
(5)
Jordan B.

I gave it one star because the hostess was too good to call a waiter to get some water. I asked her to get a waiter, but she replied "That's not my job, but I'll see if I can call one." The dude never came, I had to grab our own pitcher and serve.
(1)
Will L.

Finally checked this place out on Chinese New Year's Eve after reading a lot of good reviews here and having driven past the Culmore Center many times thinking "I bet there's some good places to eat in there." (Yep, I think with my stomach.) We got the Peking Duck of course and our duck preparer ("Zhu" I think) was excellent at getting us the crispy skin and meat while shedding the fat (though personally I've always had Peking Duck with the fat inclus and never minded). It tasted as good as it smelled and the prime meat was nicely laid out on the plates (the legs etc were just piled onto a plate which we duly attacked with our hands). I felt sorry for a table nearby when I glanced over to see they'd received a different duck preparer (who happened to be a non-Asian lady) - her technique for removing the fat differed, and while it may or may not have been as effective, it didn't do anything for the visual appeal of their bird. Service ("Paul" was our main dude) was very good - excellent even, for a Chinese place and a server was kind enough to fasten the booster to the chair for our infant son. There was also a guiltily entertaining moment when a birthday chorus started up for a lady at a table behind us - mostly because it's not easy for some native Chinese speakers to sing the word "birthday". Ok back to food - to whet our appetities we ordered the steamed dumplings which were delicious and the best I've had in a while (you could tell the "skins" were freshly made, although I imagine some diners might actually prefer the more familiar texture of premade skins). Next time I'd order more of them because although you get eight in a serving, they're small. We also tried the Orange Beef which was downright disappointing. The beef itself wasn't tender but flavourless, and the sweet sauce hardly had any spiciness and only a bit of "orange" taste. The included chillies were hot but you had to chow one down with each hunk of somewhat-chewy meat. Still, I'd be game enough to try a different selection from the Chef's Specialties menu next time we're back. And we will be back. Note: There is no changing table in either bathroom!
(4)
Tony P.

This place has the best duck in the area. The skin is crunchy with just the right amount of fat to give it that succulent flavor. The duck meat is moist and juicy. Best of all, it's been consistent for many years. This was a regular spot for any company event when I was working down by MTMC. I would go here every year on my mom's and my own birthdays. My mom would request to take the duck bones home so she could make soup from it. This place has no equal in the area for their roasted duck.
(5)
Jim O.

This place is an institution that has flourished over the years. Our first meal there was easily 30 years ago, when it was a hole in the wall. If you want to see an entire room covered with photos of military hot-shots in dress uniforms covered with medals you'll not be disappointed. If you want old-style attentive service by kow-towing asian staff, you won't be disappointed. If you love peking duck carved at your table with all the flourishes, you won't be disappointed. I realize I am in the minority here, but aside from the duck, I find the rest of the food boring and bland. So two stars is the best I can manage. And its NOT cheap.
(2)
Sam R.

If you've got a craving for Peking duck, look no further. Don't fall for the tourist trap of going into D.C.'s "China Town" thinking you're gonna find yourself a bird worthy of five stars. Nope. But this place -- it does one thing and it does it well. And that's serve up the best duck in the area. It's hard to ignore the walls plastered with more lobbyists and politicos then a West Wing episode, with the occasional celebrity and Skins player thrown in for good measure. If it's good enough for them, it's gonna be good enough for the likes of you! So why is the duck so damn good it would make Donald blush? The skin. That crispy, golden brown, airy, melt in your mouth morsel of avian goodness. The meat isn't far behind. Juicy, flavor, always cooked to perfection. Throw some on a pancake, add a dab of plum sauce, a little green onion and bite into heaven. And the other stuff on the menu? Not bad, but decidedly underwhelming. The crispy beef is fairly popular, but be prepared to chew... and chew. Stick with the duck, and you'll leave happy.
(4)
Jeff C.

From the outside, it looked like a small Chinese place until you noticed the difficult parking situation matched the packed doorway. Then you step in, and realize the small entrance lead to large halls. You look at the pictures on the wall, and realize this is the real deal, an institution frequented by the powers to be in this political town. We waited a little and were seated. The service was very professional. The waiter took a bit of time as the place was packed (and probably like this all the time). We ordered the duck soup, which was delicate and filled us up. The duck was okay, and I suggest you have it "Hong Kong style" so they have slices of skin, juicy flaovorful fat and the meat all in one slice. Peking style with fat trimmed out is just not the same. The duck was pretty good, worth the money, but not the best I've tried. The garlic shoot pork was excellent with delicate flavor. Now I have tried their duck, and realize the excellent quality of the rest of the food, I will be ordering the other foods next time. My best advice, try at least some of the duck slices "Hong Kong style."
(5)
Richard J.

Okay, I want to begin the review with the fact that I am incredibly interested in giving Peking Gourmet another shot. I felt like tonight we didn't get the full experience, yet we did dine there. Specifically, I need to give the Peking duck a chance. Anyway, as for tonight, we ordered two dishes and for the most part, the staff were really friendly. Our waiter wasn't so lively and it felt like he forgot about us at one point (we were just two people though, and as a waiter, I know that happens sometimes). He was really cool in that he went along with my trying to order/ask for things in Mandarin. As for the food, it was not... very palatable. We both ordered two dishes we'd never had (Peking-Style Pork and Peking-Style Chicken) and were sadly disappointed. It was good in that I'd never encountered either dish before, but we found the chicken to be lacking in flavor and being far overpowered by the garlic. The pork was okay, at best, but it also definitely was lacking in flavor. I ended up asking for some hoisin to go along with out dishes. We weren't really excited about the atmosphere at Peking Gourmet. It's kind of boring and very uptight. The seemingly endless amount of pictures are interesting to look at but don't put off too well of an aura. The one thing that makes me want to come back is the Peking Duck. Seeing so many people order it, I felt like I was missing out. However, neither of us were interested in it before we saw it.
(3)
Nat W.

Confirmed! Peking Duck at this place is out of this world! At 11.50 USD + tax + tips person for the party lunch menu, you cannot do better anywhere else! Group A - $11.50/person (min. 6) 1. *Hot and Sour Soup: usually, I do not care about soup, but this is pretty good. 2. Peking Duck: writing about this Peking Duck makes me hungry! 3. *Szechuan Beef: strip of beef glazed with sweet/salty sauce, the second best highlight of this course. 4. Fresh Garlic Chicken: The chicken was a bit tasteless, but soy sauce and hot oil fixed that. 5. Vegetable Saute: Crunchy mix of vegetables, not bad. 6. Yang Chow Fried Rice: my cousin loves it. This is not a typical fried rice at your local Chinese joint. 7. Jasmine Tea & Fortune Cookies: This Jasmine Tea has a hint of something that I cannot pin point, either ginger or galanga. Whatever it is, it's great. This place got 5 stars for the Peking Duck. For everything else, I would say ~3.5.
(5)
Rin S.

Very reasonable Peking duck Good service
(4)
Jessica R.

Came here for Christmas Dinner. We were a party of four with a reservation at 8:00pm. When we arrived at 7:30, there were about 75 people waiting. Wait was over an hour and a half but SO WORTH IT!!! If you go for Christmas, I would suggest a reservation on the later side. Here was what we ate and my impression: Appetizer - Peking Duck (On the expensive side, but pancakes were fresh, duck carved table side right before your eyes, vegetables and sauce to top were fresh) Entree 1 - Lemon Chicken (Perfect breaded amount of lemon zest not TOO lemony like many lemon chicken dishes are - amazing flavor) Entree 2 - Orange Beef (We wanted to stick with the fruit inspired meal. This was amazing. The infused orange flavor was definitely apparent, but perfectly subtle. Great amount as well) Entree 3 - Vegetable Lo Mein (Homemade thick noodles are deliciously cooked and perfectly seasoned. Mixed nicely with beef and chicken.) Dessert - Are you kidding? We were way too full. ENJOY!!
(5)
Christy H.

We've eaten here numerous times and at least get carry out of Schezwan beef proper whenever we are in the area. We call that dish "crack" because we can't get enough of it. The duck is also delicious.
(5)
Lewynn K.

This place is awesome. A friend of ours was visiting from Utah and so we decided to try it. Don't be put off the packed entryway/ gauntlet, just make sure you make reservations before you go. The Peking duck was well worth the $38 they charged. The Peking beef, young chow fried rice, and pan fried chow mein all delivered on it's promise. After lamenting the lack of good Chinese food in NOVA, I am thrilled to have found this place.
(4)
J. W.

The duck is the best in Northern Virginia. We get the duck then split an order of Walnut Chicken. No matter what dish we have ordered, it is always excellent. And yes, if you don't get there early (around 4:30 or 5 pm) you will have to wait in line. If you don't want duck, try the Jeo-Yen shrimp and ask for some of the garlic puree on the side to dip the shrimp in.
(5)
Christine P.

I've been going to this place over 5 years now. I wished I could have written this review when I first went there, it would've received 5 stars. It seems that more their popularity grows less service they are dishing out. Who cares if one customer is not satisfied? There is 10 more dying to come in. Since I've been there occasionally for last five years, I knew to make a reservation since without it, it is an hour wait. So I make the reservation. I get there. Give Helen (hostess) my name. She crosses out my name from the book. I step aside. 20 minutes later... I'm still standing. I see all these people who came after me passing by. I think to myself, she's probably waiting for a small (you know table for two) one to open up. Then I glance at the wait list and I'M not on it! I point this out and get seated eventually. So, my dinner is not off to a good start. Then everything started to bother me. The SLOW freaken service. I know Bush has been there. Apparently so did a lot of so called important people. I get that they have so many people coming that my being there or not doesn't matter. What does matter is however, that I'm forking over $38 dollars for the bird and by golly, I want to be served. Can I PLEASE have some more water? Can I PLEASE have some more sauce. I mean, the damn duck is here without any sauce, pepper and green onions. Let's face it guys. ONLY thing that is better in this restaurant versus any other is the Peking duck and even then only thing that is out of ordinary is the pepper in soy sauce. Without the pepper, the duck is just a duck guys, let's not kid ourselves. You know what they were fast with? Giving me my check.
(2)
Daniel A.

I've been to this place a number of times (at least a half dozen) but this is the first review. It's by far the best duck I've ever had and the pancakes, hoison and onion maintains the same consistent quality time and time again. Other dishes our group usually orders includes Szechuan Beef Proper, Chicken Pan-Fried Noodles, Fried Rice and Four Seasons String Beans. The other dishes are really good and solid but not worthy of making a trip there. Only downside was that they took the spice rack from our table while we were still eating. I'm not sure if the don't have enough or didn't think we were using it but it was annoying as some of us waited for them to bring it back before continuing our meal. The pictures of people on the wall is a little annoying, especially since they are hit and miss with names identifying who is in the pictures. In my opinion it makes for a sports bar atmosphere. Not my thing...but i guess it provides validation of the history and quality of this place. Thankfully, they have remained consistent in the kitchen and with service. I look forward to my next visit which will likely be a couple months...(no need to over-indulge in a good thing).
(4)
Jennifer S.

From the outside this place seems really unassuming, and based on its neighbors in the strip mall, you may think that it's a mistake to eat here. Not so, it's a mistake NOT to eat here. You are about to read about a tiny treasure hidden away in Falls Church --- NOT Chinatown. Every dish I've ever eaten has been very good (not as fatty as other Chinese restaurants I've tried); however I primarily come here for my guests' sake (the ones that like Peking Duck because that is what this restaurant is known for --- the chef even grows his own green onions so they are bigger than those he can buy and makes his own pancakes and plum sauce). I've never heard a single complaint, not about the food or the service. I'm not alone in recommending this restaurant --- just check out the HUGE amount of celebrity (of all sorts) photos adorning the walls. Now many may not think much of this little fact, but this restaurant is also a favorite of the Bush Presidents. If duck carved tableside isn't your thing (like me), may I suggest: *Fried Leek Dumplings *Snow Crab Wonton Soup --- which is an order meant to be shared *Lemon Chicken --- not that it's better here than other places, I just love the sauce though. *Walnut Chicken --- sweet and spicy and the same time - the walnuts are candied! (my favorite) Enjoy!
(4)
Tu Anh H.

Just thought of this place make my mouth water. The shrimp dish has shrimp the size of your hand and the peking duck....best I've ever had in my life. And worth every penny. This place is a frequent haunt of George Bush, Sr, and if you look carefully at framed letters on the wall, you will see his. Service here is hospitable like all other chinese restuarants, but they do pay a little extra attention to you. You are always greeted with a smile here. The crowd is a regular mix of families and corporate types in tailored suits. It's a gem in the area since the surrounding stores/shops do not really match with the quality of what Peking Gourmet offers. It almost stands out like a sore thumb. Seating is close to one another and there it is always someone's birthday.
(5)
Lala I.

Went there with my lovely bf for dinner. I really dun wanna comment on their duck because I am from Beijing where beijing duck is originated, but for VA standard and white people who don't know better, the Beijing duck is ok. Food is too Americanized and over-priced, so maybe thats why there were almostly white people dined there. A dish of chinese broccoli was about $16 where it would cost about $7 at other chinese resturants? The service was good, but I think the waiter was trying to rip us off. he suggested the chinese broccoli to us and it was not on the menu. I didn't think a dish of pure veggie would cost that much so I didn't ask about the price. Then, I saw all other tables ordered it too and I don't remember seeing a $16 of veggie dish on the menu so I dun believe it's how much it would normally cost in that restaurant. I suggest do NOT order anything that's not on the menu. I would probably go try other Beijing duck places in VA first before I go back to this one.
(3)
Ron M.

Good quality food with prices to match, along with mixed service. I've eaten here twice in the last few months, and the place is impressive. It's hard to ignore the fact that it's busy during dinner, and there's tons of what Washington DC passes for celebrities (military bigwigs, smug politicians) draped all over the walls. Newbies can't help but turn to look at the $38 Peking Ducks, which are brought out, and carved at the table. When taking our order for Peking Duck, the server recommended strongly that we add on cucumber. We politely declined. Personally, I just like the simple mix of the textured pancake, sweetness of the hoisin sauce, flavor of the duck, and the sharpness of the scallions. To me, cucumber's watery flavorlessness would just muddy the taste of the dish. Our server was clearly disappointed by this - in fact, she took it upon herself to later when the duck was served to try to rub it in that the duck would have been better with the cucumber in a sad attempt at a guilt trip. Rather than making me feel guilty, it made me incredibly annoyed that they would be very rude about our not accepting her upsell of shredded cucumber at $2 (a nice little markup). When they trotted out the duck, they efficiently sliced it in front of us, then made a duck pancake for each of us which is always a little fun to watch, and of course, better to eat. The skin is deliciously crispy, and the duck flavorful. Now, they slice about two large plates worth of meat for you - the interesting thing is that they then cart away the carcass, which I think is interesting. You've paid for a $38 duck, and they get keep the carcass (maybe used for making the restaurant's broth or other purposes). I could be just paranoid, but I figure if you've paid for such an expensive piece of meat, you have a right to it. I have no idea how they'd react if I'd asked to keep the carcass, but if their reaction to my insolence in refusing their cucumber is any indication, I don't have high hopes of the request being treated well. My fellow diners had also ordered hot and sour soup, and egg rolls. They were generally pleased with them, but didn't indicate they were anything special. The dining room is large (actually bifurcated into two large dining rooms), but the tables seem pretty close together - so if you're shooting for a romantic, private dining experience, I wouldn't hold my breath. Decor and cleanliness is slightly above average for a restaurant of this type in this area. Overall, this is a good restaurant, though you won't get much of a bargain here, unlike some other Asian restaurants. The Peking Duck is of pretty high quality, but the overall dining experience and aspects of the service don't quite match the tastiness of the duck. To me, this would be a five star restaurant if the food was less expensive and the servers lost the attitude.
(3)
Julie W.

You owe it to yourself to try the Szechuan Beef Proper. It is so, so, so good - you'll never find anything else like it anywhere else.
(5)
Louis K.

DUCK! DUCK! DUCK! This place is the best for Duck! I've been eating here with my family since I was in 6th grade. We actually sat a couple of times on the other side of the Bush Family eating when GW was VP...How different times are now! If it's your first time there and you are with a group, order the Bush Menu. This is not a time for politics, impress everyone with you by ordering the Bush Menu, it's a combination of some of their best items. If you have never had this duck then you are a sad sad sad sad sad sad person...I can't fathom not having tasted that moist juicy duck in mouth, tempered with a little sweat sauce, and crunchy piece of skin. It's like the perfect Chinese burrito. They have special green onions that are cross pollination bread by one of the owners, and have pancakes for the duck that are like tortillas, and a sauce that is often imitated but never matched. Make sure you TIP the carver you cheap bastards...We tip at least $5.00 per duck...Ask for Mr. Woo, he's like a human Ginsu meat cutter, the thinner the duck is cut the better it tastes. I have a couple of more secrets that I won't post, because I don't want you all cramping my style when I go there with my peoples... Don't be surprised to see more Korean people than Chinese, we love that stuff...Tip your server well...most of them have been at the restaurant for multiple years, and they remember you whether you tip well or don't...I feel like Yao-Ming when I walk into that place, all the waiters are so happy to see me, and always say "Long time no see...". They take care of you...it's the type of place you can build a relationship with the people who work there and own it...so that one time you have to show off to your prospective in-laws, or show off to your college buddy you haven't seen for years...this will be your place, if you tip 30%+. The reason I say that is everyone has such a good time eating the duck, that tips less than 20% rarely occur. Even the Korean people (who are my peoples) tip well!!!!!
(5)
Meghan G.

Regardless of being a self-proclaimed foodie, I have never developed the taste for duck. Throw practically anything my way and I will eat it....just not duck. So when I found out the Prez of the company where I just started working was taking us newbies to a Chinese restaurant for Peking duck as a welcome aboard meal. I'm thinking, eh...Chinese....i used to work in Chinatown...and DUCK? Give me a break!! I am a trooper and will pretty much eat anything. When we pull into the place I am extremely saddened by what I see, a questionable looking strip mall with a very average looking Chinese restaurant. BOO!!! However, that frown was turned upside down when I walked inside and noticed that practically every single inch of wall space is occupied by a blowup glossy of presidents, celebrities, dignitaries...you name it... it's kind of impressive. The place was packed, even for mid-week lunch! Once we are seated the mean begins, I still hesitant but hopeful about the duck. They bring out two golden, glistening ducks and begin peeling back the crispy skin and shaving off the meat, plating it.along side their home-grown scallions, fresh made pancakes and house hoisen sauce. The super friendly server shows us how to assemble these little taco-like rolls of duck...I insert into mouth...pause....and immediately begin devouring it. Heavenly. Not too greasy, not too gamey....just right. So I have been converted. You really MUST come here for the duck, while the other food we had was all very good, the duck blew my mind and I will absolutely be back for more soon.
(5)
Sabrina S.

So, I have been going to Peking Gourmet since I was a wee little one. Though this is still my top Chinese Restaurant, there seems to be a decline in it's greatness. The last two times I have been there, the service has been atrocious. Both of these times I was only with one other person, so I think the larger parties get the bulk of the attention. Tonight I went with a friend, and the server didn't bring our drinks until after we got the entree (and we had already eaten the appetizers). In addition, he seemed bothered when we did ask for our drinks, and when we had just sat down and weren't ready to order. All that aside, I must say that the duck really is delicious, and I am not a big duck person. My favorite dishes are the Chicken with Garlic Sprouts, Kung Pao Chicken, and Szechuan Beef Proper (Crispy Sesame Beef). This is a great place for large parties, as they have round tables with lazy susans. If you are feeling saucy, they have these huge Mai Tai drinks for two or four, which are basically troughs with straws in them. In short, definitely a Chinese restaurant to try. Be prepared too wait though, even if you have a reservation. It is usually a fight just to get in the door. I still highly suggest making reservations. If nothing else, the pictures of famous people are fascinating. And yes, the Bush's were known to frequent here since the days of Bush senior. Don't let that discourage you, however. Even with the bad service, I will continue to eat here.
(4)
Casey C.

Food and service great but on the whole it was overpriced for the experience. Also, they do not warn you that the portions are gigantic when you order. We had a group of 8 and everyone came away with leftovers.
(3)
Go K.

Date Attended: Sunday, 06/21/09 Came here for Father's Day. There was a line around 7 pm so it has to be good right? Had the following: Dumplings: Yummy Peking Duck: Yummy Crispy Beef: Yummy Orange Chicken: Ok Scallops: Yummy Waitress was great, food was delicious. Gotta come for the Peking Duck. Mmmm... I'll be back.
(4)
Joe S.

Great duck, but only go on a weeknight and with reservations. The wait is ridiculous on weekends and usually 45min-1hr behind schedule.
(4)
Annie C.

Yesterday I Went to the restaurant based on other people's recommendations, and I am not disappointed. They have the best peking duck I had in a long long time. I also ordered the lamp chop, which has A-1 sauce and have a western style taste to it. The restauant service was excellent, waiter stopped by often to check on how I was doing.. Next time when I want to have peking duck again this restaurant is definitely the place to go.
(5)
Lisa K.

The Peking duck was amazing! The drinks were strong and the appetizers good too
(5)
John N.

Everytime I am in the area, I have to stop by for the best Peking duck.
(5)
Ji-In L.

Seriously wonderful. Ask for Hong Kong style. They will keep the fat on when they carve up the duck. And fat is good! Went back with four people and got one duck and an entree (garlic sprouts!) and it was plenty for us.
(5)
Jonas F.

A delicious but pricy Peking duck with pancakes, hoisin sauce, scallions, and cucumbers (cukes were three bucks extra). It was great and the service was extremely attentive. The leek dumpling was nom nom. I loved it. I could've eaten 10 of them. I put the hot chili sauce on the dumpling and wow, so good. The spareribs (my kids favorite) were crisp and juicy. I enjoyed those as well.
(4)
Kevin C.

First 2 words Peking Duck! 2nd Two words Hoisin Sauce! Hoisin Sauce at Peking Gourmet Inn is fantastic with the Peking duck but other things on the Menu are very much worth Trying from their Seszhuan Beef Proper to their Onion Dumplings I do not come here much cause of the price but when I do it is worth every penny!!!! I love this place fantastic Stuff!
(5)
Daniel Y.

If you are either living here in the DC area, or just visiting and haven't been to this place, you've got to try it. Their peking duck is even better than the one I've tasted in a well known duck place in Hong Kong. Another dish I love: Orange Beef. If you haven't tried it yet, YOU MUST.
(5)
Andrew M.

This is probably the most conflicted 3 stars I've given for a review of anywhere. But I like this place, I really do. There's just some issues I have with Peking Gourmet Inn that I'll address below. Let's start with the good: *Unbelievable service and ambiance - probably the biggest departure from your standard expectation of civil and businesslike from most other Chinese restaurants out there. The waitstaff are exceptional, well-trained, well-informed, attentive, and communicate well. Between the Peking Duck tableside slicing clinic and your waiter/waitress offering up little tidbits of history, insight, etc, you can tell very quickly that this is their bread and butter. This goes hand-in-hand with the personal and historic-feeling ambiance, making you feel comfortable in your dining experience. Clearly PGI's core strength, indicated by the typically full house and mostly Western patrons. As far as I'm aware of and have experienced, when it comes to Chinese dining in the DC/MD/VA area, nobody really comes close when it comes to service. *Food made with fresh, quality ingredients, and prepared relatively healthy - some of my Chinese brethren have complained that PGI's offerings are bland. I'm a little on the fence about that. The flavors are clearly without MSG and less salted (and perhaps seasoned) than you'd get at other Chinese restaurants. This ranges from being less than desirable to great, depending on the dish. There seems to be a conscious effort from PGI to let the natural flavors of the dish components to speak for themselves. I can get behind that. Everything I've had here so far has been very well prepared, very solid and textbook, and on occasion with some nuance (like a custom dipping sauce for example). Of course the thing to get here is Peking Duck, but I've also had a good experience with the fried dumplings, spring rolls, and Szechuan Beef Proper. Now the bad: *EXORBITANT prices - I mean I know it's all fancy and high quality, but even so, this is gouge-level. This is probably the most irreconcilable aspect of PGI. $42 for a whole Peking Duck?! That's more than double compared to a far superior Peking Duck that can be gotten from NYC Chinatown. OK, so NYC is a bit of a drive for good Long Island Peking Duck, but comparable or better duck can be had for significantly less, at a handful of hanging-in-window-display joints within a 15 mile radius of PGI. Basically here you're paying for the demonstration and wall-to-wall display of famous people who've eaten here. Other entrees average around $20, which is about $7-8 more than you'd get elsewhere, without much discernable difference in portion size. *Limited menu - save from a handful of staples, PGI is very westernized and not somewhere you'd wanna go if you want an authentic Chinese dining experience beyond Peking Duck. Bottom line: Decent place to try if you've never been, fancy dining experience to take clients or non-Asian friends to, but not ideal if you seek a reasonably priced authentic Chinese eating experience.
(3)
Harrison O.

Since I am not ethnic Chinese and I haven't been to Beijing, I will say that this is the best Peking Duck I have eaten in my life. I've been coming here once every few months for the past 5 years and the only other dish besides the duck I have tried is their fried rice which is very good for fried rice. Service is always good despite being jammed pack every time I visit and I like the ambiance and setting of the restaurant. Like others have mentioned, make a reservation during peak hours and weekends. As I left yesterday at 8:45pm, there were over 50 people waiting to be seated in the hallway and outside the restaurant. Will be back to try to break my personal best of 11 pancake duck rolls I set yesterday night.
(5)
Hj W.

A glorious engagement with a Peking Duck that can't be beat this part of the Eastern Seaboard. The location is kind of awful and it's a smidgen dated in terms of the interior, but it gets busy quick, and you can definitely tell why. The food is spectacular. Chinese Winter Squash and Sea Scallop Soup was pretty good. It was less about flavors and more about textures. Well done but not entirely a favorite must-have here. The duck is incredible. The skin can be a little crispier but the meat is juicy and succulent, the portions are good, and the presentation is entertainment in itself. Our waiter Chou was stand out, highly attentive, and upended the typical stereotype that ethnic restaurants have bad service. I look forward to trying more from here in the future, especially the other entrees.
(5)
Juliette X.

Just personal opinion, Nothing wrong with celebrity advocacy, good marketing, however the way the restaurant process food, design menu , table setting and the fundamental, cooking do not reflect any respect to the people they're serving, and not respect the food at all. Dirty floor, crack plates, microwaved soup, overly cooked Peking duck (poor duck); and greasy "four season bean", the service is not bad, but definitely has a great deal of room to improve
(1)
Xtine C.

Just straight to the point - FREAKING GOOD PEKING DUCK!!! I mean they cut it in front of you with their swift knife skills! IF you have to get other dishes, I would recommend the chilean sea bass or the JD? shrimp (jumbo fried with pork shavings). That's ALLLLL you need to order. Everything else is just good and not as great as the duck.
(5)
Benjamin D.

Hang around here long enough and you will see someone famous! Positives: Delicious Duck! (Try Jee Yun Shrimp and the Crispy Beef as well!) Great Service Negatives(kinda): They really pack you in to your seats, some would say that is part of the charm though.
(4)
Anthony N.

I'm from California and my friend took me here when I went to visit her out in VA. I have never had peking duck this good......EVER!! I love how they carve the duck in front of you. It's an art how skillfully they carve the duck. The duck is juicy and flavorful. It's like eating a piece of heaven. When I came back to Cali I searched high and low for a duck place as good as Peking Gourmet Inn. No luck, no luck at all. Recently I came back to VA after 4 years of not having Peking Gourmet Inn and it tasted just as I remembered.....heavenly. This is a must go to when in VA. If you haven't tried this...you must....it'll change your life!!
(5)
Steven K.

They grow their own scallions, but they don't have enough bite/acidity to them. Table side carving is great and they'll wrap the first ones for you. Overall, fine, but nowhere near as good as the Peking Duck places in LA, which I give four stars and the places in Beijing which I give 5.
(3)
Mary C.

This just goes to prove that you cannot trust the rumors about there being no good Chinese food in the DC area, because this place is excellent. We of course had the namesake dish, the Peking Duck, which was excellent. However, the real standout food-wise was one of their specials. It was a spiced scallop dish that was just perfectly seasoned. We didn't get to try any of their garlic sprouts, which I'm told are also excellent. This place is also great for entertainment value. We went here on Chinese New Year and the place was packed. However, the owner personally knew just about every other person who walked through the door. She was also super friendly to those she was just meeting, entertaining you with stories about how long they had been preparing for the day.
(5)
Rory J.

Well, I love this place. 50% for food, 50% for people watching. Getting a reservation on a weekend night is not easy, so call in advance - -maybe a day or two. Last time I went on Tuesday at 7 and it does business on a Tuesday that most places dream of for Fridays. I went with a girlfriend and we had reservations so we were seated quickly. They pack absolutely as many people as they can into the dining room, so don't think it's going to be intimate. Not only can you see what other people are eating, but you can practically taste it. The place is decorated with headshots of celebs ,politicians, etc - anyone of any note that has visited the restaurant in the last 20 years. Now onto the food. My friend and I split the lettuce wraps as an appetizer. They were okay, pretty fresh, but in need of some sort of sauce. The hot and sour soup was REALLY good. I happen to be a soup connoisseur, so this my recommendation is legit y'all. Of course we had the Peking Duck, it's about $40 but totally worth it. The tableside presentation of the duck is awesome and so is every bite of it. The waiter shows you the perfectly cooked, brown duck before breaking it down, shaving off pieces of meat and skin and putting them on individual platters. Then you make little duck tacos out of the pancakes, cucumber, scallion and sauce that they provide. Absolutely delish. We also ordered to garlic green beans, they were very good, but for two people that was entirely too much food. We brought home half a duck and about 90% of the green beans. The bill for a bottle of wine, the app, soup, duck and green beans was $100 and we could have eaten for a week off of that meal. Seriously.
(5)
Trish J.

The peking duck is the reason to come here. It is amazing. Great for large groups as well. They are attentive, easy going, and fun. The regular dishes weren't anything amazing, but the specialties are well worth it.
(4)
Heather M.

After wanting to try this place for 5 yrs, I was so excited to go last night. Sadly, I was insanely disappointed. I think the Washington Post food critic was right, this place must have been good at one time, but has since gone way downhill. I typically love duck, but the off flavor of last night's $42 duck makes me never want to try duck again. I still have a weird taste in my mouth. And the hoisin sauce they use for the pancakes tastes like no hoisin sauce I've ever tasted. Tasted more like a super thick brown berry sauce to me. Nothing sweet/savory about that. And don't even get me started on the "speciality" $30 Szechuan Beef Proper, which was listed as the "most authentic" dish they serve. That thing was straight up 8lbs of Cinnamon Toast Crunch coated fried beef. You'd think if you spend $90 for 2 dishes, they would throw in some rice or vegetables, but they don't. Luckily we opted to pay $6 for 50 cents worth of half a cucumber sliced to put in our duck pancake. That was the only non-meat item we got for our nearly $100 meal.
(2)
John N.

Its been a solid 5 hours since I left the restaurant and when I fart it smells like Peking Duck!! Is that normal? Im not sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing. Woo Hoo!! Lunar New Year = Great food with the fam. What better way to celebrate New Years than with 4 Peking Ducks, Fried Rockfish, and Sea Scallops. Rockfish was one of the best Fried Rockfish that I have had in a long time. Literally comes on a silver platter all crispy and delicious looking. Got these red cherry looking eyes staring at you like, damn it I cant believe I was stupid enough to get caught and now im on this damn platter. Duck was amazing too. Perfectly cooked and carved table side. One of the best peking ducks I have ever had. Definitely recommend this place to anyone that wants great food. A little pricey for Duck and fried fish, but then again it was New Years. Just beware of the lingering Peking Duck farts...they are pretty ripe!!
(5)
Gretchen P.

What can I really say that hasn't already been said? This place is famous throughout the DC Metro region (perhaps even the WORLD! Dun dun dun!) for good reason. They do Peking duck and they do it RIGHT. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Peking duck, it's a particular style of duck that makes it so that the meat is tender and moist, the skin is crispy, and it's served with little pancakes, spring onions, hoisin sauce, and sometime cucumbers to make wraps with! Or, as my friends often call them "duck tacos." The ducks are cooked whole, so they slice and serve the meat right at the table. Dinner and a show! It's always absolutely delicious. I swear, I could probably eat an entire duck by myself. It gets pricey, but it's soooo worth it. When I go with my family, my mom always orders a few other dishes for dinner as well, but frankly, I can never even remember anything about what else we eat (except the Singapore Noodles, because I always love them). The duck is just that good. It literally causes food amnesia for anything that is NOT duck. Of note: This place is craaaaazy popular so good luck going on a Friday or Saturday night without a reservation. Also, even with the little strip mall parking lot, parking can be nutso.
(5)
Robin S.

Sad. Had lunch: Szechuan beef, advertised as spicy. Not at all it turns out. When I told the server, she asked it I wanted to put on hot sauce. No taste. No more lunches for me.
(2)
Jillarae R.

I'm losing count, but I've been here a handful of times with my family. Luckily, I show up with natives of the area so I let them do the ordering. They cover all bases. My favorite (besides the duck, of course) is the garlic fried shrimp. This is an absolute must coming here, especially since I don't eat beef or pork. They're not your basic shrimp size either, imagine jumbo pieces of shrimp deep fried in a crispy garlic flavor. SOOOO good!!! and it comes with broccoli?? I don't feel so bad ordering something fried when it comes with broccoli. The bok choy and green beans are a must order, too. I can eat an entire plate of the green beans, alone... but I mean, I like my veggies! The flavors here for everything is so distinct that it's hard not to pick something good here. I know this is a popular tourist spot, so I suggest calling ahead and making a reservation.
(4)
Samuel S.

not all that i expected it to be. probably popular because of Bush frequently eating there but i really didnt know what the fuss was all about. Duck was not bad but for the price, i dont think it is worth it. we also ordered garlic sprouts with pork, which they told me they ran out of garlic sprouts?!?!, some shrimp but its nothing but deep fried shrimp and some mad sweet beef that made me throw up. if you go there, just order the duck, which is not the best duck i ate also. also make reservation bc it gets really busy
(2)
John O.

Peking Duck was solid and appropriately crispy. The skin was like eating candy. The duck came out quick, service is fast. I also tried the signature garlic dish with shrimp which was delicious. Prices are on the higher side but worth it. Lots of pictures of famous people on the walls.
(4)
Chrissy C.

Believe it or not, I've been coming here since I was 6 yrs old with my family. it just gets better and better every year :) I recommend getting reservations ahead of time, specially with a big group. It's located in the, not so nice part of Alexandria... lol. It was worse back then. Hence, the reason why the glass is said to be bullet proof. Pres. George Bush, Sr. started coming here back in the day and sometimes even took his Generals here... That said, the parking situation is sometimes frustrating. You always have the option on parking to the CVS next door, a bit of a walk wearing heels but, it's doable. Their forever specialty is the peking duck. In addition, I recommend the garlic shrimp and crispy beef (known as Bush Sr.' favorite). The servers/staff are very friendly. Some have a bit of a thick accent but, you can still understand them. Overall, it's a great chinese restaurant to go to. Not the typical greasy chinese restaurants that you can go to around the corner.
(4)
Brian L.

I come here once a year, usually around Christmas time to eat with my parents as more of a tradition. Having said that... The Peking Duck is superb! I think most people that dine here come for the duck and it never disappoints. They have it down to a science. But, the rest of the food is excellent as well. After having cooked on my own for a number of years, there are extremely few Chinese places I actually wholly enjoy the food anymore... but this place still blows every other Chinese place I've had out of the water. Starting to get a little pricy though... and though dining there is an experience in itself, the crowds are a little much sometimes.
(5)
Julie H.

The restaurant is very clean and the service is outstanding. A very classy and sophisticated restaurant that has top of the line service. I liked all the picture frames around the restaurant to see who visited this place before. Service: very quick service that caters to your needs. The staff here are very Friendly and pay attention to detail. The food came out quickly. The staff were really nice and they knew what we were going to ask even before we asked. Food: Peking duck. If you're going to this restaurant for the first time, you have to get the pecking duck because it's what this place is known for. All of the ingredients are really fresh and the Peking duck is spiced right by your table, you also have the option to keep the duck carcass. The skin of the Peking duck is crispy as it should be and the Peking duck itself is what Peking duck is. The pancake, cucumbers, chive, sauce, and hot peppers compliment the duck very well. The hot peppers aren't that spicy so I have to put a lot to get that kick. The only downside with the Peking duck is that it is priced at $42. I don't understand why this is priced the way it is because roast duck is about $25. Understandably, you are paying for the service of the duck being sliced. However, that is still pretty expensive because the slicing is not that much labor and takes less than ten minutes. Even at $10 for 10 minutes, that would mean they are collecting at least $60 an hour.... Time how many ducks being carved in that hour. I ought to quit my corporate job and work here if I could make that much carving duck. Anyways, I find no reason for the Peking duck to cost that much. Gourmet pan fried noodles: fresh made noodles in house. FOR $25 I really love this dish and think it's worth the price because the portion is huge! Enough for at least three people to share it. There is a lot of chicken and beef, even shrimp on this dish. However, it is a bit too bland. I wish they would add more salt or something to the dish and use less flour in the sauce. The salt is a quick fix, just add some soy sauce and you will be good to go. For the Peking duck, I might not come back and get it except for once in a while. I will definitely be back for other dishes and to try the lunch combination. THERe were a few things I saw on the menu that I really want to try. If you haven't had Peking duck before or want to try the best Peking duck. Go to Peking Gourmet Inn !
(4)
Jennifer M.

it's aiiiiightttt. Honestly, I feel like Peking Gourmet Inn is much overrated... I think I'll stick with my normal non-presidential-level venues. Duck is comparable to other locations. I didnt think the skin was as crispy as at China Wok. $42/duck here and they don't offer half ducks. What if I wanted 1.5? Duck does not keep well. The specialty lamb (6 chops) was pretty good since it was fried, but nothing special in the sauce. Definitely not worth the $30. Other sides are not authentic and kind of (::cringe::) suck. The 'crispy' noodle dish was nowhere near crispy, which you get from lightly frying the noodles (yes, frying). It consisted of what they claim to be homemade noodles that look like giant flour udon, not the thin egg noodles typical of the dish. Unlike other Chinese places, they don't have many fresh veggies. For some reason she kept pushing the green beans... so we got them. They were older stringy string beans and just ick. Some redeeming factors: I like that you can get cucumber with your duck, or yummy soy sauce hot peppers. Our server Wendy was super peppy, very nice, and very eager to please (though at times it sounded like she was talking to elementary schoolers).
(2)
Mark R.

$39.99 for a whole duck is a great deal; the decor and the ambiance is that of truly 1970's chinese restaurants (no windows, LOTS of photos on the wall and waiters dressed in uniforms). - Duck quality was good and especially when they removed the fat from the skin so that you can enjoy that crispy bite with your wrap - Great sauce and sliced cucumber but the scallions were not prepared well; it was just chopped scallions and not cut thin at all - There is no bar and no professional bartenders either; just stick with simple drinks like I did like my waiter who thought it was funny to speak to me in broken Korean and I'm sure he is a relic that worked there for last 20 years. I did enjoy my experience there but not sure if I'll repeat.
(3)
Yuyu S.

My heart feels heavy writing this review because I absolutely love Peking duck. I will devour that thing one little pancake at a time with plum sauce drizzled on it with cucumbers and thinly slivered spring onion. The Peking duck here is very lean and delicious, it has an authentic stamp of approval. What bothers me so much about it is the price! At $42 a duck, one can only feed about 2 people. Each duck doesn't come with much meat and I don't think they do a very efficient job of carving it. We received two carcasses to go so we could make soup - there was so much meat left on it they hadn't cut off and served! With such a reputable name, you would expect them to provide as much as possible off the duck. We also ordered the jumbo shrimp which were huge! They had a light garlicky pepper dry seasoning on it that was delightful. After trying many Peking duck establishments including the original in Beijing, Peking gourmet just falls short of my expectations.
(3)
AL K.

This visit has earned another star up from my last visit in 2009. Our server speaks ok english and was attentive to our needs. We came just for the $40 ducks and nothing more. The decor remains the same. I lost count of all the photos up on the wall. The experience includes table side carving and our waiter making the initial wrap in front of us. ITs the sauce, the spring onions/cucumber,skin,meat after which you roll then take a bite. The cucumber is extra and they charge $2.50 The carving ladies must have carved 50++ a day easily so if you will notice they sometimes pull on the skin instead of slicing it which is not right. Anyway, I don't think anybody else notices.
(4)
D S.

Love this place. Every time we come to DC we come here for Peking Duck. Delicious! The staff is polite and knowledgeable. The mai tais were nummy and are creepers - so pace yourself. We has the lettuce wraps, duck and baby greens with shiitake mushrooms. We left happy as always.
(5)
Johnny A.

Good food but the service is fantastic and quick! Not a big fan of duck, but orange chicken was good and so was the shrimp dish.
(3)
Matt G.

If you haven't had the peking duck at this gem then you are missing out. The fried duck presentation is fun.. 1 duck for 2 hungry dudes is the correct proportion. Throw women into the calculations and everything goes to hell. You'll know you're near the restaurant when you lock your car doors as you drive through the area.
(4)
Sofia L.

I am not the hugest fan of duck, or rather a fan of it at all but I put on my 'big girl panties' and sucked it up for some close friends visiting from FL. Despite being in business for a seemingly long while now, this restaurant is still teaming with customers--reservations are a must on weekends. The service here was surprisingly wonderful; our server, Sam, spared no expenses to make sure we were comfortable and attended to. Flipping through the menu, there was nothing especially different other than the Seafood Asparagus Soup (which is very reminiscent of the Vietnamese dish: Sup Mang Cua), the duck (obviously) and rockfish. We all settled on two orders of Peking Duck, Walnut Shrimp, Beef Szechuan Proper and Shrimp Garlic Chives. As they bought out two lovely tanned ducks, I did feel a bit of apprehension as I despise the gamey flavor of duck but to my pleasant surprise once more, the gamey taste was fairly muted and the skin was deliciously crisp. Sam made us our first wraps and then left us to enjoy our meal. While the beef and walnut shrimp weren't much to speak about, the garlic chives rivaled the duck in terms of popularity at our table. A wonderful relief from the heaviness of our other meals. Although we enjoyed ourselves, everything did seem a bit overpriced for what it was--expect $25 and up even for your simpler dishes like "Orange Chicken/Beef." IMHO, come for just the duck and Sam for exceptional service!
(4)
Alida H.

So I just paid another visit to this place and I'm in love all over again! Therefore, I decided to write a more elaborate review than my last. The duck is just as amazing as I remember it being here during my last visit 2 years ago. The wait can be very excruciating and long, but its a good thing that we made a reservation a week ahead of time! The duck took a bit longer to come to the table than I remember because it was such a busy Tuesday night, but it was well worth the wait (we heard the birthday song sung 3 times during our visit). I guess it also helped that I was ridiculously excited since my last visit had been ages ago and I have been craving the duck here ever since. ;) When the duck arrived next to the table, my mouth was already watering. Watching the server carve the duck so skillfully was making me hungrier by the minute! She did a great job carving the duck, as well as getting rid of the excess fat. The other server was just as skillful in creating and rolling our first wraps for us. The duck itself was juicy and succulent, and the skin was perfectly crispy. The sauce for the duck was also the perfect blend of ingredients; Not too salty, a bit tangy, and a bit sweet all at the same time. My girlfriend and I ordered 1 duck to share, and it was the perfect amount food, if not a little more food than we needed. The only downside is that its relatively expensive as I mentioned in my last review. It costs $40 for a duck, and we ended up paying $45.15 for our meal after tax and of course added tip in later. At the end of our meal, a server brought us each shots of cucumber juice. It was a good way to end the meal, but not something I'd drink on the daily. It reminded me of how the vegetable juice diet tastes.
(5)
Julia P.

If you're looking for a place with a rich history and extraordinarily authentic Chinese food, Peking Gourmet Inn is the place to be in the DC Metro Region. This particular restaurant has served individuals ranging from President Bush to Psy, and one can easily see all the famous customers the restaurant has drawn over the years proudly plastered on its walls. Keep in mind, though, everyone in the DC area yearns to have Peking Gourmet's infamous Peking duck, so make sure to make reservations beforehand (particularly on Fridays and the weekends). The wait can be hours long if you don't plan ahead. As for the menu, the Peking duck is obviously a must, but everything on the menu is worth a try. You will not be disappointed! Specifically regarding the Peking duck, if it's something you've never tried before and don't know how to eat, fret not! Designated individuals will precisely and expertly cut the duck by separating the meat from the crispy skin and waiters will help make your first "pancake". Make sure to ask to keep the bones, as they can be delicious components to soups! All in all, a wonderful Chinese restaurant with a loving atmosphere--a must-go-to in our area for Chinese food lovers and general food lovers alike!
(5)
Ken C.

The picture of many powerful general, politician and person with influence on the wall are amazing experience. However, I am only tasting average peking duck. It is American style of Chinese food. The service is OK and they shall renew their interior design a little.
(3)
Margaret D.

Verdict: OK but not great. Chinese people will go to great lengths in search of even greater food. I grew up in Michigan and my parents would drive an hour or two to cross the border into Canada and satiate our Authentic Chinese food cravings in Windsor, a land where Asians grew aplentiful. I've also had my fair share of trips back to the mother land - what I'm trying to say is, I've been around the block more than a couple times. So even though Peking Gourmet Inn has all the celebrity endorsements from the President to Psy, I just couldn't find food that lived up to all the hype. The Peking duck was certainly better than average, but our duck in particular (we ordered 2) were a bit overdone and tough in places where it should be tender, juicy, flavorful. The wraps, duck sauce, and veggies were good. End of the day, this is likely your best choice in terms of Peking duck in the DC area, and it's certainly passable, but don't let it become your pedestal. Wait until you travel to NYC, Chicago, California, or better yet, China! The other dishes we ordered were average yet overpriced: the lamb was good but fried, the walnut shrimp felt soggy, the bokchoy lacked flavor, fried rice needed more depth, garlic shoots were a tad salty. But if you're going to order dishes other than Peking duck, the garlic shoots and lamb seem to be their specialty. I'll let you know if I find a better Peking duck around here, but this place is a solid starting point for now! Don't neglect to make a reservation; it gets jam packed and has built quite the reputation.
(3)
Kimmy L.

I have been here many times in my day. Sometimes it is a 5 and sometimes it is a 3 so I am averaging it out to a 4 star rating. Their Duck & Crispy Beef are always amazing!!!!!! I could seriously eat a whole duck by myself. Whenever I stray from this order (i.e. when I come with a big group and we each pick something different) I always kick myself for not sticking to what I know... -Seafood pan-fried noodles were bland -Chicken sprouts were bland -Fried lamb chops were decent but I think everything tastes good when it is fried. -Green beans were fresh but tasted like the same thing we could get ordering delivery My friends have told me about a free cucumber drink that they get at the end of their meal here. I have yet to been offered this :( Maybe it is a myth. *Tip* Highly recommend making reservations unless you want to wait 2+ hours on a busy night *Tip* Try to come during lunch/off peak hours for less of a crowd *Tip* Make sure to ask for a side of cucumber and jalapenos to go with your duck
(4)
Betty H.

Heard that this was a really popular Chinese restaurant. They have pictures of presidents who have eaten here. From the outside, the restaurant looks small, but it's actually quite large inside. The peking duck is good here. Really good. Flavorful and yummy. That's the only saving grace about this restaurant. Ordered several other dishes here and sad to say that it was all really gross. Definitely not authentic Chinese food. The flavoring and taste is completely off. It tasted like Americanized versions of Chinese dishes. Only get the peking duck here, trust me.
(2)
Heather B.

Never a bad experience here. We had set a reservation for four but got there early. We needed a bigger table. They gladly changed our table and sat us right away. We started off with a drink called the volcano, I didnt have any but it looked really neat. It came in a giant punch bowl in the middle was a small little cup section that had a shot of 151 which was lit on fire. It came with really long straws so everyone could share it. We also ordered something called a zombie which they made stronger for the guys. My boyfriend set the reservation because he wanted to take his cowrkers out to dinner and one of them had never had duck. We ordered two ducks to start. They actually came out pretty quick. Needless to say she loved it. We also ordered the jeo yan shrimp and 2 orderes of combination fried rice minus the pork because one of his cowrkers cant eat pork. Our server Chao was very accommodating even with all the requests being thrown at him. And he would stand around and joke with them when he wasnt busy taking orders for the surrounding tables. The boyfriend and I have come here on many occasions but for his coworkers this was thier first experience and they loved it.
(5)
Aaron W.

Best Chinese I have ever eaten. That is all I need to say about that. The place was packed and we had 5pm reservations. We had the dinner for 4. 9 courses best duck I have ever eaten they carved it beautifully at the table. All the other dishes we know on any Chinese menus but just done exceptionally.
(5)
Terry C.

I love this place. Service is great and the food is delicious. The waiting isn't too long during the time I went, of course I placed reservations. Parking is crazy though, so good luck on that. But sucks their price of the duck went up =( I'll still come back and devour the duck though =)
(4)
Nick L.

The Duck is as good as everyone says. It's pricey though at $42 each. Someone brings it out from the kitchen and slices it up into neat little pieces table side and plates it. Our server, Wang, fixed us each our first little roll up and he did a great job. They start with the Chinese tortilla things and place the duck meat on it, then a few pieces of the crispy skin, add some green onions, cucumber and the best plum sauce you've ever had and boom! Duck time! We had 5 guys and we each had at least 3 of the little duck roll ups they prepare for you. I felt like that was worth it for the amount of food that we received. We also ordered 5 other dishes and had a couple of beers. The other plates we ordered were not as special an experience as the duck. The garlic chicken dish we ordered was quite good and you could see all the cloves they included. Other then that, explore the menu, it's one step above the Chinese food that you're used to getting takeout from.
(5)
Alex S.

Wow. Amazing food. I got the course B and even though I'm not a fan of seafood, everything was well-prepared. We has reservations and were seated immediately. The peking duck was as good as people say, with them serving it with these tortilla things instead of the buns I'm accustomed to. My favorite course besides the duck was this peppery chicken that was served. It was hot and crispy. My only sad thought is the price. A pang went through my heart when I saw the bill.
(5)
Zara K.

Only for the duck This place is crazy ! Soooo many people, and it has this old timey feel to it I felt like I was in a ship! People usually come here in groups but we were lucky we hadn't cos we got a table for two very quickly while tons of people were still waiting(yay)! I got bottled water for 6 bux but they gave Evian so that was awesome! Service is actually really good they all seem to be coherent despite the rush and have plenty of servers. I peaked around at other peoples tables the food doesn't look too good at all only the salt and pepper fried foods look good! The rest look very Americanized! Back to the duck, that duck is good !! I haven't been able to find Peking duck in the dmv which sucks because in England it was my go to dish Always! However the duck here is still less crispy and they really don't mind if their pancakes are oblong , have holes in them , are rectangles or the shape of a number so that's one star off ! I had my hoisin sauce dripping out of these random holes ! Their hoisin sauce was fantastic and that might just be their plus over other establishments that serve duck.They give u the fat if u ask for it but there is really no need! I don't know why u have to pay for the cucumbers it's common knowledge to eat this with cucumber why charge for a rather inexpensive cucumber? I dunno u ask them I can't wait to try the Peking duck at Hong Kong palace since the rest of the food their is good! Can't wait to have my secret spot while u guys wait for hours in line teeheeee (Totally cool experience though!)
(4)
Heather E.

Amazing!!!! The egg rolls were like nothing I have ever had before. Better Chinese food than what we had in China!!!
(5)
Kenny C.

As someone who was practically raise in Chinatown in Manhattan NYC I would say that the food is pretty authentic. It is expensive compared to the prices in manhattan. We got the b platter which had a soup, shrimp dumpling, crab Rangoon, peking duck, fried rice, orange beef, black pepper shrimp, gourmet chicken (battery fried chicken in a black pepper sauce), bok choy and mushrooms, and mango ice cream. The meal cost about 200 for 4 adults and 3 kids (under 3). In manhattan this would probably run you about 120-150. Food was good but not the best I've had. Good place to go if your not familiar with the menu since you can get the set course menu where they pick for you. And also the service is pretty good. The waiter very friendly .
(4)
Vicky T.

Before i begin my rant, I just wanted to mention the superb service we recieved from silvano despite the food. This place is so freaking overpriced for the quality of food they are serving you. They charge you $30 for something hat should be normally $10 everywhere else. It is honestly really mediocre food so don't be fooled by the attractive presentation. All these celebrities on their walls must have massively inflated their ego. The food wasn't disgusting, but for this kind of money you had better be serving it on a gold platter. Also, for the group dinners they charge per person. It is really stupid because it is a scam to get more money out of you without giving you more food. Example: If you order the group dinner for more than four people and you have 10 people in your group, they don't change the portions accordingly and you end up paying something around $350 for very little food. So if you absolutely have to eat here, don't get the group dinners and order your plates individually.
(2)
Justine Tony C.

A pleasant experience, besides the reservations being pushed back due to it being so busy, we got seated accordingly and the service was decent. The food was great best Chinese around the DMV area, but I wouldn't say the most "authentic" the celebrities and famous faces plastered on the walls seems to help the bust and flow of this business! But def give great cred to the food itself! Call ahead and make reservations!
(4)
Bennett P.

I had my wallet stolen at the restaurant. Please refrain from having your coat checked and if you do, please do not leave anything of value in your pockets.
(1)
Stacey C.

Decor - 4 Service - 5 Presentation - 5 Taste - 5 This was my second back and it was just as I remembered it. The wait was long, but that's anticipated knowing the quality of food you will get. We went intentionally for the Peking duck and it was delish~ The servers were very attentive and helped us find dishes we were describing but didn't know the name of. If you like spicy condiments, I highly recommend you ask for the spicy sauce with fresh chile peppers, it goes well with any dish there.
(5)
John H.

I don't understand why the Peking duck is so famous here. I must say it is not bad but it's not that special either. The duck itself is quite tasteless, so one has to just mix it with the sauce. We ordered also the lamb with onion and it is actually not bad.
(2)
Meredith X.

I mourn the lack of quality Chinese restaurants around the DC metro area. This place was highly recommended by a few Chinese individuals so decided to check it out with a group of friends. Table for 6, res at 730, wasn't seated until around 815-820. Whatever, business is good, I don't usually expect Chinese restaurants to honor reservations. Started with dumplings, entrees the duck, eggplant, lamb with scallions, and Peking style crispy noodles. Dumplings were mediocre, skins were gummy and overcooked, filling fell apart easily and was dry. Few pieces of lamb, primarily a scallion dish, noodles were only lightly pan fried, was expecting more crispy noodles to balance the thick sauce. The two standout dishes were the duck (not surprising) and eggplant. Carved table side, skin was thin and crispy, succulent meat, take a pancake, two slices of meat and skin, some cucumbers and scallions with a drizzle of hoisin sauce, disappointment experienced once finished. The eggplant was tender, dressed with a soy sauce, rock sugar sauce, simple but satiating. I'm a very particular about Chinese food since NYC spoils me. While this place is decent in a Chinese food lacking area, I don't find it especially memorable. Not bad but over hyped, would only return for duck and eggplant.
(3)
John K.

This is my favorite chinese restaurant. Their ducks are so crispy and tender and prices are good too...need to make reservation since it is always crowded.
(5)
Robert B.

I used to love this place when I was living in DC. However, on my last trip out I received perhaps the WORST service I've ever had in a Chinese restaurant. We came on a weekend, so we had to make reservations for a group of 5. The reservation was for 7:00pm -- we arrived at 6:30pm... we weren't seated until 7:45pm. We weren't able to order until 8:30... despite repeated (polite) reminders to the staff that we hadn't even received our tea. We finally get our order in and the food comes back wrong... TWICE... not just a small mix-up either... entirely different dishes. The noodles were mushy, the duck was good but cold and the beef was "meh" -- The end of the meal comes, and again we need to wait (20 minutes this time) for the check. We HATE the service, but tip 10% because... hey... stuff happens. Then our waiter takes the receipt , shakes his head, then starts showing it to his fellow servers, who all start shaking their heads and laughing. Really? If you want decent Chinese, but prefer NOT to be ridiculed try some of the restaurants AROUND Peking Gourmet. -- Mark Ducks has good Peking duck, and Full Kee down the road has everything else done better... and less expensively than PG.
(1)
Lily Z.

Probably my favorite Chinese restaurant. I always love everything we order. The servers are really good at suggesting dishes, if you tell them what you like. But you of course you have to order the duck!! Or matter where you go you will not find a better duck. The skin is so crispy and there is very little fat on the duck. They also cut the duck in front of you which is pretty cool to watch. As well as making you first pancake roll. Absolutely delicious! Addition things you have to try are the garlic sprouts, you will never find this at another restaurant. Be sure to go on Friday and Saturday to make sure they have it. It so yummy it goes very fast! This dish also comes with a house fried rice. And the newest addition to the menu, the calamari! Made with a light weight batter that is still super crispy when you get it and good quality squid that isn't rubbery at all. I'm not a big fan of the sauce it comes with as its a little week for my taste but the calamari is so good you don't really need a sauce. As far as desserts you have to try the toffee apples and the lychee ice cream! The toffee apple takes such skill and precise and it's delicious. Not too sweet, a dessert everyone will love. I've never had lychee ice cream before so I had to try this. It's very light and refreshing! Definitely taste homemade. This is a must try restaurant! I recommend making reservations in advance. Walk-ins are will accepted, I believe.
(5)
WILLIAM P.

Had one of our best Peking Duck experiences while celebrating or niece's birthday! The Peking Duck was fabulous as usual! Always add the hot peppers and soy, scallions and cucumber! The Garlic Sprouts, a specialty, were available and to die for! The Long life noodles with Shrimp and Broccoli were toothsome and delicious! The other shrimp dish was extraordinary. The service for our group of 22 was flawless as usual! Enjoyed hearing Happy Birthday sung in Chinese, Mandarin I assume, for the celebrant! Not cheap, but well worth it!
(5)
Bernadette A.

This place is a must try. Everything on the menu is your typical Americanized Chinese food order, for the exception of their house speciality- the Peking duck. I don't usually eat meat or chicken, I am trying to live a pescatarian diet, but I did try a bite of the Peking duck for experience. The duck is served with hoisin sauce, green onions, and sliced cucumbers with "pancakes" or simply just soft tortillas. They present the cooked duck and slice the bird I front of you then procede to assemble the first plate for you. They take a "pancake" and add the hoisin sauce, some green onion and cucumbers, then add slices of duck and slices of duck skin, and roll it up. Frankly I thought they were going to feed us it too. I didn't try the duck this way. I just took a small piece of the meat and the skin to taste the flavoring. The duck meat was okay. It was juicy but a little over cooked. The skin was tasty but it was not as crunchy as I would have liked. But everyone else at the table loves it. I ordered the king pao shrimp and that was okay. The sauce was great, the shrimp itself was great, but the breaking over the shrimp was very soggy. Overall, I would come back here again. Duck isn't my thing, but if anyone from out of town wanted to try I would be willing to come back and try something new on their menu. I will say that the staff is exceptionally sweet and accommodating.
(3)
Theresa C.

We were a party of 9 for my birthday dinner and while the duck and shrimp were amazing our service was not so great. First, we were seated and we orders tea and water. We then quickly place our dinner order, 4 Peking ducks with cucumber, Jow Yen shrimp, and the mama tofu. Our food came out before our drinks did and we had to flag down the busboy to ask for waters. Now onto the food, the duck was amazing, I love how the extra fat is scraped off the skin before it's even put on the plate. The duck is so tender and the skin is perfectly crisp. The spring onions were not sliced as thin as they normally are, they were butchered and many large pieces were thrown on the plate. When I pick up a piece of spring onion it should be a gently sprig these were whole pieces of spring onion just cut shorter. The plum sauce is made in house and so good! Dont forget to ask for the green peppers, they give the Peking duck wrap that zing! The pancakes were perfectly steamed and didn't split on me when I stuffed it with my duck and crispy skin. The sides of cucumber is a must have, it add a perfect crunch to the wrap. The Jow yen shrimp is huge and the batter on it is not to thick but just right. I like that it's served with some steamed broccoli. The grandma tofu was just the right amount of spice and seasoning, mixed with the rice it makes the perfect addition to the entire meal. Over all the food was great, the duck price has gone up but worth every penny. The server we had was ok and we should have requested May May. She is our favorite server and would have been the deciding factor in that extra star in this review.
(4)
Tami S.

I've been here a handful of times and I have never been disappointed. Make sure that you make a reservation; the place can get really packed and you could be waiting for quite some time! This is the first place that I've ever tried Peking Duck & the ONLY place that I'll ever eat Peking Duck. The food is very authentic. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My favorite dish is the Jeo-Yan Shrimp!
(5)
Arsalan M.

This place is a classic. Complete with the walls covered with pictures of local celebrities and important people. They do all the Peking classics very well. The garlic sprouts are a special treat as is the sechuan specialties including the beef proper. All the normal chinese fare is done well with high quality ingredients
(4)
Arjay U.

Best Roasted Duck Ever ! Staff is awesome, quick service, friendly and very authentic Def will come back for more...
(5)
Bob B.

Peking gourmet Inn has the best I've ever had. Finally got around to posting a review about this place even though I've been here about 50 times. There are no bad choices here and have never been disappointed. If you don't know what to get I highly recommend getting the duck. It is moist and tender and the skin is crispy without having any kind of gamey taste. I highly recommend making a reservation because the place is always packed.
(5)
Justine S.

If you haven't experienced the greatness that is peking duck from this establishment, Lord have mercy on your deprived soul. First off, if you plan on coming here on the weekend MAKE A RESERVATION. If you plan on coming in a big group on the weekend, plan on waiting for a bit....even with a reservation, there is additional wait time--it is just that good. Weekdays are typically up in the air and less busy so it may be safer to do walk-ins then. Honestly, I have never been a fan of duck in any way, shape, or form. But after trying their crispy, golden duck skin and succulent, juicy meat- I am a believer! Eating it in "pancake wrap" form just adds to the experience because the wrap, cucumbers, scallions, hoisin, and chili oil just work together into one delicious amalgamation that is the peking duck taco. I also love the jeo-yan shrimp- crispy breaded jumbo shrimp with tasty bits of fried garlic on top and served with a side of fried rice. So delicious! Their sauteed vegetables are also done right. Spinach, garlic sprouts, green beans, and even their saucy mushroom and bokchoy are some of the biggest hits. They serve other traditional Chinese dishes, but honestly I only go here for the duck and jeo-yan shrimp. The service is fast, attentive, and friendly. There is wait staff almost everywhere you turn so that you never have to wait for anything for too long. They slice the duck right in front of you so you have a mini pre-dinner show. You also have the option to take home the bones and yes, you can do carry-out. I always look forward to dining here!!
(5)
Megan H.

I struggle to think of any other restaurant in the area that dishes up Peking duck as good as Peking Gourmet Inn. After enjoying plenty of family dinners here, the duck has always been consistently delicious - and with good reason - they've been getting their ducks from the same farm for the past 30 years. The wrappers have a slightly sweet taste to them and when you roll it up with a spoonful of hoisin sauce, julienned scallions, duck meat, and duck skin, you've got yourself a killer combo. Other mainstays on our dinner table include the Salt and Pepper Fried Shrimp (listed as Jeo-Yen Shrimp on the menu) and Garlic Sprouts stir fried with pork (not always available). I recommend calling a couple days ahead to make reservations if you're planning to come on a weekend night so you can shuffle past the massive crowd of people packed next to the host stand. And trust, there is pretty much always a wait. By the end of your meal, I can almost guarantee that you will know how to sing "Happy Birthday" in Chinese.
(5)
Tina T.

Been here a few times but finally writing a review! Dined here in both large groups and just with the bf. They accommodate well to all parties. Peking Duck! If you're going to dine here, you have to try the duck. They bring out a whole duck and carve it right next to your table, they also show you how to wrap it the first time. It's a great experience if you've never had Peking duck. They also serve appetizers and other dishes. However, I'm completely satisfied coming here just for the duck. But in large groups - they have a special menu for parties of 4+ which gives you a taste of different dishes to share. Will return when I crave some duck!
(5)
Janet L.

The beijing duck was okay - I was hoping for it to be a little more flavorful, crispy, and fresh feeling. The duck was a little dry, and in addition, there was not a lot of meat that came on one duck. However, with the hoison sauce and the onions included, it ended up tasting just fine. It's always a great feeling to create your own little wrap! It was a little strange when one of the servers came to our table to tell us how Beijing and Mainland China doesn't know how to make Peking Duck and that they're restaurant is where it's the best. Plenty of parking outside, overall staff was nice, clean restaurant environment. If you're in the mood for Peking Duck, this is a solid/decent spot to come!
(3)
Barb B.

Food was good - duck, spring rolls & Szechuan shrimp were all tasty. While good, it hardly soothed the sore of a wait. Despite a 7:30 reservation we were not seated until after 8:15. Our poor handicapped grandmother was left to be bumped, shoved, & tired waiting for a table while they continued to promise only 5 more minutes. Would have preferred that they had told us to make our reservation later once we had called to make it, rather than provide an empty promise in a 7:30 reservation. Disappointing.
(2)
Monica B.

The hubs and I recently came here for lunch. We were excited to come for the duck! The food was good, but unfortunately for the price, it's just not worth it. They carved the duck right in front of us which was cool, but I feel like they left a lot of meat on the bone which we were not served. It only fed two people and I was still hungry. So if you have money to burn, sure, eat here. Food 3.5/5 Service 5/5 (Outstanding!) Atmosphere/decor 2.5/5 Price 1/5
(3)
Will C.

Peking Gourmet Inn is the golden choice for a celebratory event for my gf's family; however I don't truly understand the hype of this place. They made a reservation for 12 people at 4 P.M. on a Sunday evening. Upon getting there the restaurant was already packed. The waiter's were very attentive to our table-- I think a huge part of that has to do with the ample amount of times they have dined in at Peking Gourmet Inn and the familiarity of the waiter's with her family. The table ordered 7 ducks, fried rice, peking style seabass and garlic scallop. They are well known for their duck and I honestly can't say it is anything impressive. You get the pancake, put some hoisin sauce on it, add the duck, the skin and some onions. Having done all that I expect a delicious flavorful bite; instead I think it's pretty bland and a bit nauseating due to the pancake. Something that made it a bit more edible was adding a pepper into the roll. Another issue I have is the duck meat is a bit on the dry side however a nice dousing of the hoisin sauce will alleviate that issue. The garlic scallop was in my opinion the best dish.The seabass was also decent, a tad bit on the saltier side and the portion size was a bit small. Now with that being said I think Peking Gourmet Inn is a place that everyone should try at least once. I mean this place is frequently visited by famous people however I wouldn't visit Peking Gourmet Inn on any other occasion unless it was a for a celebratory event for my gf's family. If you do intend on coming I would HIGHLY recommend making a reservation. This place gets crowded very quickly. Once again take my word make a reservation!
(3)
Chris C.

It's fun to bring out of town guests to Peking Gourmet Inn. From the outside, the place looks like a shithole. Next to "Dollar Tren"(not to be mistaken for Dollar Tree) and a 711. As soon as you step inside, you realize it's not a shithole. It's packed full of people, and although a bit cheesy the overwhelming amount of celebrity pictures on the wall attest to how good and popular the restaurant is. Peking Gourmet Inn is truly a diamond in the rough. The service at Peking Gourmet Inn is top notch. Most authentic Asian restaurants have terrible service especially on busy nights. At Peking Gourmet Inn, EVERY night is busy. Their staff runs like a well oiled machine even if the line is out the door and EVERY single table is filled. Servers are always quick to fulfill every request, drinks are quickly refilled without even asking, and food always is served within a reasonable time frame. I have never complained about food taking a long time to come out. ALL the food is good. Everything is made with high quality fresh ingredients. The signature items are the Peking Duck and the Garlic Sprouts which you MUST try. My other favorite dish is the pan fried noodles. A hidden gem on the menu is the toffee peaches dessert. They coat the peaches in toffee syrup then complete the preparation tableside by dropping the peaches in ice water which hardens the toffee. If you have out of town guests, and you want to impress them, take them to Peking Gourmet Inn.
(5)
Paul D.

OUTSTANDING! The best Chinese food in Northern VA. The only better Chinese that I've had in the DC area is the original Meiwah in DC. But, who wants to drive into DC and pay the 10% food tax? That said I've only been here once, so far. I'll be back for sure. I happened to stop in at 8pm on a Friday and there was no parking and groups of people crowded the small lobby waiting to be seated. This place is really busy. Thankfully they have a counter for Carryout only. So I was able to quickly place my order. It was ready in under 20 minutes and I could feel the jealousy of those still waiting for a table. As a side note: While I was waiting for my food I witnessed two large groups being served The $38 Peking Duck, which is carved table side. All I can say is, it looked impressive! I got the basic Kung Pao Chicken and Combo Lo-Mein because I feel that if they can do these staples well, then I will come back and order more complicated dishes. I was pleased with both the portions and taste. Their White Rice is the best I've had at any Chinese restaurant, and it doesn't get more basic than that. So, if their rice is outstanding then you know the rest of the food is legit. Now for the negative: Their prices are high, considering their location. They are about as expensive as PF Changs with much bigger portions and only a slightly lower quality of meats This I consider a trade off for their authenticity. The Kung Pao is $14 and big enough for two. However, I made the mistake of ordering Crab Rangoon, which is 4 tiny pieces, cost $6.50, and totally not worth it. Their Chef's Specials prices range from $15-30. Overall, This Place is Real Deal (Americanized) Chinese Food. The throngs of white-middle-class-families waiting outside in the crowded ghetto strip mall, don't lie. I'm going to order from here whenever I'm craving Chinese.
(4)
Ling X.

The duck: we enjoyed a lot. The food came out quick and the waitress was pretty good with the drink refills. But the potential 5 stars went down 2 because of the awkward atmosphere the waitress caused. She was the epitome of the stereotypical "Chinese" service. Very, very pushy about trying to get us to order more food. My friend and I ordered a half peking duck and a small vegetable appetizer. But the waitress kept asking us if we weren't hungry and that we should order more. Very pushy about ordering more and told us that one duck is for two, but half duck is for one. We had to keep politely saying no as she continued to ask us if we weren't hungry and that we should order more. But the duck itself was good! I had a glass of wine which was typically priced, not overly expensive. The place was packed, too. A lot of people ordered the duck and the crispy beef thing. I forgot the exact name. I think it's crispy beef szechuan, an awesome Chinese/American dish for those who really like sweet food. Anywho, I don't think I'll be going back. Yes, the duck was good. But not worth dealing with the over agressive waitress.
(3)
Richard L.

I heard from my friends that the food here was good. So our family came to try it out. When the server came to order, his name is Tony, he had the worst attitude ever. Since it was our first time here we thought we would order a duck (we had 7 people), then the server said, "one?!? That's not enough" he sounded he was mocking us. His attitude didn't get any better after there. When he came back with the onions and the sauce, he then asked us if we wanted some cucumber, but before we answered he answered no for us. Isn't that rude? Worst service I have seen in years!
(1)
Jennifer M.

The only place (fingers crossed) you'll see our former Bush presidents next to Psy and John Travolta. If you had any doubt whether this place is good enough to attract the most famous of us, that will be dispelled as you see the walls (the place is big, too) plastered in framed photos of the rich and famous (if you look hard enough, you may see me there as well). AMBIANCE / SERVICE: Located in a random shopping center (next to "Dollar Train", if that gives you an image), you will walk into duck dynasty (pun not intended). I suggest coming during off-hours unless you want to wait 1+ hours (yes, even if you have "reservations"). Interior decor is of a traditional Chinese restaurant with high ceilings and round tables. Never have I been served by old Chinese men that were so entertaining and cute at the same time. Service is very friendly and wonderful - something that is very rare to find in a Chinese restaurant. FOOD: I don't think there's a question of what you should order here. In addition to the duck, however, I suggest the garlic bean sprouts (add any meat to it), which were flavorful and a nice 'side' to wash down the 10 platters of duck you will be consuming. We ordered 2 ducks for 3 people; a bit over-ambitious (...said no one ever about duck) but glad we did because 1 would not have fed us to our heart's content. They carve the roasted duck in front of you - one of the best duck carving I've seen (seriously). What makes a good peking duck is the level / amount of fat that is left after the preparing / cooking between the layer of skin and the meat itself. The duck meat was flavorful and lean (I suggest the fattier pieces if you don't like it too lean); and the best part was the skin - crispy, light, and with the perfect amount of chewiness to it. But wait there's more. They use the wraps for the duck (instead of the white buns which are also popular), which are homemade - which you can tell by the texture and freshness of the wrap. Encompassing some oyster sauce, onion, cucumber, duck meat, and duck skin - welcome to duck heaven. I was skeptical at first, but this place definitely lives up the the hype. I didn't think anything could beat the duck experiences I had in Chicago in Argyle, but this is comparable, if not better. Also - I hear they have their own duck farm somewhere (and thus starts my quest to find it).
(5)
Danielle L.

The food was great - it is served family style. However, the service we had was probably some of the worst I have ever had. Ridiculiously long waits for the served to come to our table, messed up our order, handling cups and dishes in an unsanitary way (ex: carried our water cups with his fingers on the inside of the cup and touching the water). I think we would give it another try because the food and the overall atmosphere was fun - the service just left much to be desired!
(3)
Toan V.

Amazing service, amazing food, amazing ducks can't get enough of it, make sure to call to make reservations otherwise you will have to wait hours to get a table
(5)
daniel k.

When I first visited my sister in VA nearly ten years ago, she brought me to Peking Gourmet. She said that "You had to try it." She probably thought PG was the restaurant in the NOVA area I wouldn't be able to find elsewhere. She was right! Their duck, beef proper, their rolls, moutai(no more), and almost everything else was very delicious and memorable. I enjoyed their meals immensely and think about the sweet sauce, crispy duck skin, and sipping the fragrant moutai. Just delectable!!!! The service was good. This would be the "one" place where I wouldn't care how good or bad the service is because the food is, oh so good- Hello! if you find yourself in the entranceway waiting for a table, the wait can get pretty crowded, uncomfortable and noisy. But just remember....the duck! The food will redeem this unpleasant part :) One more thing....As a Virginian now, I bring my friends here when they come to visit me.
(4)
D H.

I have been coming here since I was a little girl and the ducks were around $20! By far the most amazing dish there is the duck. In fact, I'm not too fond of anything else. Except maybe the green beans and lamb chops (on a good day). But honestly, the duck is enough for me. I have already gone 3 times this month - and I'm still not ducked out! A few years back we actually saw Bill and Hillary Clinton stop by for dinner!
(5)
Tony N.

Great place! Great service! Great food! Peking Duck was my favorite! I will definitely return to this place on my next visit. If you are planning to have a large group, I recommend calling first to make a reservation.
(5)
K G.

The greatest Chinese on the planet. If I was rich, I would offer anyone a free meal that didn't like this place based on my review. But I'm not, so I will accept any free invitations for a good meal. While reading some of these other (negative) reviews I start to think the people most have smoked crack prior to eating here or were born without taste-buds. Like any restaurant, they have their special dishes and no, every dish on the menu is not the best but there are a few that make this "The greatest Chinese on the planet." I am so obsessed with this place that whenever I fly home, I try to fly into Regan National and my family knows, without question, we are going directly there. In any 3-day weekend I may eat there 2-3 times. When I was in college, I worked as a waiter at TGIF down the street and after the lunch shift, I would always head over and get some food. What to get: Hot n' Sour Soup: This is amazingly fresh tasting. Not to spicy, not too sour, filed with veggies, tofu and some meat. Make sure you drop a handful of the crispy thingies they put on the table because those add to the flavor. This HnS soup is not for beginners though. It's a lot of flavors that hit you at the same time and I would not be insulted if you got one of the other delicious soups. Dumplings: My god. I actually went to therapy about these suckers. You can get regular pan fried or leek pan fried. The leek ones have a little bit of meet in them. Step 1. Take some of the hot red chili paste and put it on your plate. Step 2. Add some of the house made dipping sauce (It's a soy, vinegar, ginger mix). Step 3. Add 2-12 dumplings on your plate, cut them up and enjoy. I love getting one order of regular, one of leek and mixing them up on my plate. The other appetizers are good... standard Chinese fare. Nothing bad, nothing beyond amazing. Next... The Peking Duck: What they do that makes it so amazing is the way they cook, prepare and cut it. A duck is a duck (for the most part) but they drop the thing in ice cold water which makes the skin tight and then put it in the deep fryer. That makes it crispy, crispy. From there, when served, (Mr. Wu is the King of duck cutting and is semi-retired so you are lucky if you get him). With that said, the guys a stud... He has to be over 200 years old and still cutting these suckers as if the Ming Dynasty was just celebrating their conquest of Canada. Once they cut off the skin they take the knife and cut off all the fat from the skin. That makes it one delicious piece of crispy. They then wipe all the fat off the duck and thinly slice the meat. If you have never had duck.... Take one of the handmade pancakes, at a line of hoisin sauce, put some duck down, a couple pieces of crispy skin, a green onion strip or two, wrap it up and see if you can inhale it in one bite. *children, do not try this without parental supervision Almost every dish on their menu is better than the next place but two that really stand out, that have made this place famous is the Beef Proper and the Joy Yen Shrimp. Beef Proper: This is the only dish they serve that is inconsistent (but always great). It is very crispy strips of beef that are almost candy glazed and peppery at the same time. EVERYONE that eats this seems to enjoy it and it's not too sweet, not spicy and super unique. The inconsistent part of it is that one day it might be sweeter, more crispy, etc. Still always great. If you don't love it, which you are crazy if you don't, you will at least walk away feeling more worldly with your pallet. Joy Yen Shrimp: Holy shit. BIG PRAWNS. Cooked with a magical seasoning sprinkled on top which is basically chopped garlic, ginger, salt, pepper and something else that makes this equivalent to ferry dust. Yes, that stuff the ferry sprinkles on top of you and amazing things happen? This is at the Peking Gourmet. Order those things and you will be happy. As for the set up and management. You are going to a likely packed (make a reservation) huge, 3 room restaurant that looks like a hole-in-the-wall from the outside. The walls are lined with hundreds of photos of famous dignitaries, actors, etc. Like the Hollywood walk of fame, I am waiting for the day they will put my photo on the wall. (Rumor has it that the glass on the front of the place is bullet/bomb proof because of all the US presidents that roll through here.) For the most part, all of the waiters/waitresses are Chinese. If they can understand you, don't hesitate to ask for what you want if you need something made special, they will accommodate. ENYOY! P.S. The prices are steep for a Chinese place, but again, it's Chinese so you can easily get out of there for the same price your meal at the next spot would have been.
(5)
J. J.

Duck, duck, duck. The best peking duck place in the area. The duck bone soup is awesome if you don't want to take the bone home and make it by your own. Other than the duck, food is so-so. Definitely get a reservation, especially at weekends, or the line is going to be crazy.
(5)
Alan W.

For the VA, I was very surprised by the quality of the food here. This is a very popular place for government people, Bush Sr. being one of their regulars. From the outside, this place looks like a hole in a wall place, but it's actually very nice inside. They are known for their peking duck, which is pretty good, not the best that I've had, but very good. They actually cut the duck in front of you which is a great experience for newbies to chinese peking duck.
(4)
Kim S.

Have been to this restaurant for many many years now and have never been disappointed with their Peking Duck ($40 each)... absolutely the best - crispy skin, juicy. Other dishes to consider include Crispy Szechuan Beef and deep fried jumbo shrimps. Highly recommend for folks to make a reservation because this place is so very packed all the time. And this is one of the places where you are just there for the food, not so much for the ambiance or service. Stay away from their cocktails.
(5)
Reviewer V.

Ahh, Peking duck. Your crisp skin and moist, tender meat make a cold Sunday night so much easier to manage. And what better place to order Peking duck than Eddie Tsui's Peking Gourmet Inn? A staple in Falls Church since 1978, PGI is a favorite among Northern Virginians - one glance at the always-packed waiting room reinforces this fact. PGI makes a point of telling its customers that "store-bought ingredients were not adequate to generate the authentic taste" of Peking duck, so the place grows its own jumbo spring onions on a Virginia farm, sources its ducks from Long Island, and handcrafts its hoisin sauce and pancakes. And damn, do they do duck well. The glistening Peking duck ($38) comes out on a white cloth in the server's hand. The server uses a flat blade to pare slices of crisped skin from the underlying layer of duck fat. Once the skin has been removed and arranged carefully on the platter, the server scrapes away the fat and proceeds to carve slices of meat onto the platter. The server finishes up by carving the legs and adding them to the heap of meat and crispy skin. The duck is accompanied by the famous housemade pancakes (12 count) and hoisin sauce, along with slivers of potent spring onion and spears of cucumber. To enjoy Peking duck to the fullest, pick up a pancake and lay it open across your hand. Add in a slice or two of crispy skin, some duck meat, cucumber spears, a spare amount of spring onion (warning: they are potent!), and a dollop of hoisin sauce. Roll up the pancake and take a big bite. The duck skin melts on the tongue, perfectly complementing the duck meat and refreshing cucumber. It's phenomenal. No other PGI dishes have stood out in my memory as well as the Peking duck. I've had the hot and sour soup, which is warm and entertaining but not particularly spicy. Temperature hot - yes; spicy hot - no. The egg rolls served to another table looked appetizing, but not worth the calorie commitment. If you go, be sure to make reservations and then save your calorie allotment and cash for the Peking duck. This review was published on spoonandforkdc.com
(4)
Chris S.

OK, this is the third time this year that I've gotten take-out here and when I got home, found that the order was botched. Missing or wrong items. It's not an unusual occurance, it's their new SUB-standard way of operating. This week's adventure: Peking Duck, but upon opening the bag at home: none of their supposedly special onions, no sauce, no pancakes. (Also no dipping sauce for the potstickers.) Called them up to complain, they asked me to come back to the restaurant to pick those up. OK, so ANOTHER 20 minutes each way. Owners/management doesn't care. George and woman-owner-whose-name-I-forgot standing right there watching the entire transaction, not caring or lifting a finger to see what the trouble was. Finally got home, with my take-out now being nearly an hour and a half old. Gloppy ruined pancakes (no, they didn't even bother to make me new ones), cold duck. Ruined cold potstickers. Congealed tofu. This restaurant is living off its reputation and doesn't give a shit any more. Multiple bad experiences, with the owners standing 4 feet from me and not giving a shit, even though I have been a regular for years. I always am treated well when I am in the company of high ranking DOD officials who are known to the owners. Has anyone checked this restaurant for bugs lately?
(1)
Judy C.

The two must-try dishes here: Shrimp Imperial and their popular Peking Duck. To be honest, I've had peking duck at other Chinese restaurants before and this place is good but not all that much better (yet more expensive). I actually don't prefer the wraps as much here. For the duck cutting, try asking for Mr. Wu. He is the Bush family's favorite duck cutter. He's also the cutest little old man you'll ever see working in a restaurant. Otherwise, most of the cutters take the fat off nicely (which I prefer since duck by itself is so fatty). Mr. Wu might take awhile doing it, but watching his hands do what they've been doing for over a decade makes for a fun start to a meal. Great food but call ahead for reservations as this place is busy! I think it's more popular for being frequented by famous political and military patrons. Even with a reservation, expect a short wait on weekends. Great service! Overall, great food, but the value is not the best for what they offer in my opinion.
(4)
Ange M.

Went with my family on a busy Sunday night for my sister's birthday dinner. We had never been here before, but my mom heard from some people that this place is amazing. We made reservations for 7:30, and when we entered, we saw a ton of families waiting to be seated. We expected there would be a bit of a wait, but really we were seating in about 5 minutes. It was kinda cool because we got our own semi-private room for our party of 5 people. There was one other party in that room of 22 people! Right when you go in the restaurant, the room is as soon as you go through the hallway to your left, somewhat a way from all the hustle and bustle of the rest of the restaurant which was kinda nice. Our waiter was very nice and helpful, I think his name was Wong but I'm not sure. He was able to make really great recommendations for us and gave us a little history about the dishes and the restaurant itself. He told us the little room we were sitting in was the original entire restaurant back in the 70's. Connie Chung's picture was on the wall too! Upon his recommendations, we ordered the Lamb Chop Peking Style, Walnut Chicken, Peking Gourmet Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, and Vegetable Fried Rice. Yes, the Lamb Chops are pretty expensive at about $30, but OMG...they're amazing!!! I'm someone who really doesn't like lamb, I find the taste too pungent and rustic, if that makes sense. But this was something you have to try, even if you're not a lamb lover like me. They give you 8 chops (but I really think they gave us 10 or 11) and they're crispy and tender, cooked perfectly. I would come back and eat this any day. I ordered the Walnut Chicken, which was very, very yummy! It was very much like Orange Chicken, I think it had the glaze as that, but the walnut were what made the dish so good. They were crunchy and sweet in the glaze, the perfect combination. The Peking Gourmet Chicken was very good too! I thought it was a tad bit dry, but it was crispy and marinated the same way as the lamb and I would order it again. The Kung Pao Chicken and Vegetable Fried Rice were just okay. I find Kung Pao Chicken to be the same at most restaurants, this one did it a little bit better, but the Vegetable Fried Rice was not what we expected. It didn't seem to be fried at all, there was no soy sauce in it, and barely any vegetables. Just some peas and and onions, maybe a few pieces of mushroom and water chestnuts. I probably wouldn't order these again. Altogether, the meal was pretty fantastic. We're definitely going to come back again and order the Peking Duck, after reading all these reviews! :)
(4)
Anna P.

Yum! This place is so much fun, and so delicious!
(5)
CA A.

This is the best Chinese food in the D.C. area. It is the only restaurant in D.C. that reminds me of the classy old-school Chinese restaurants my Dad used to take me to in New York's Chinatown back in the day. These guys at Peking Gourmet Inn are pros: the service is attentive, the food is absolutely delicious (with tons of variety) and the ambience is unique (photos of former statesmen, generals and other notable Washingtonians line the walls). Our favorite is the Peking duck, of course, which is consistently amazing; crispy, flavorful skin served with duck meat and all the fixins. :) We like to go with friends and family as this place attends to groups of all sizes. I recommend eating a very light lunch if you plan to go for dinner so that you can try all of the delights at Peking Gourmet Inn!
(5)
Frank H.

Reading reviews makes me think I may have missed the boat on this one but my experience was not as heavenly as other reviews would suggest. I mean I don't know what good Peking duck is. I can't appreciate it. I never really liked duck so I can't say what's good or not. Service felt contrived to cater to westerners trying their hand at being adventurous. I went with my wife and didn't nearly get the service of the old money Caucasian gentlemen sitting next to us. It was ok. i was entertained by the Chinese lady cutting the duck and placing it on a plate in front of me. Not exactly memorable and maybe my palate isn't nuanced to detect the sophisticated variations in Peking duck. Maybe I need a calibration.
(3)
Carcel H.

I've never had duck... Let me change that... I've never wanted to try anything that even had the word DUCK in it.. This all changed last October, when a couple of my good friends decided to take me to their favorite duck place. I kept telling them "no, I'm not going to have any duck". That eventually changed to "fine, I'll try one piece, but that's it". That one piece turned into several pieces, and I think I ended up eating half a duck, if not more. I can now say I've had duck and Peking Gourmet Inn is definitely the place to have it at! It is a bit pricey, but definitely worth it. How the servers present the duck to your table is unforgettable. All I remember thinking was how good the skin looked, and how even better it tasted! I'm glad I listened to my friends, for once :)
(4)
Michel K.

This place is where you go for fresh Peking Duck in the DC area. Frequented by famous individuals, as evidenced by the the almost-kitchy myriad of portraits hung in nearly every free square inch of wall space, you know there's something special going on here. I suggest you go with a group of people, and for a special occasion. The pre-set dinner (with menus varying slightly, all including Peking duck) allows you to taste other vegetables (hot and cold), soups, and entrees that you might not have tried on your own: this is how I discovered the chilled marinated Szechuan cabbage; this is the single best way I've ever tasted cabbage. As alluded to above, the dÃ©cor leaves a bit to be desired, with crowded dining rooms, photographed celebrities watching you eat, and narrow aisles bustling with patrons, servers in matching maroon uniforms, and, of course carts of crispy, savoury ducks.
(4)
Larry B.

The new face of rascism in Northern Virginia. If you look oriental you will be served promptly, courteously, and frequently asked what else you would care for.... of you are the typical Caucasian - don't count on it... expect the rubbery chewy leathery shrimp and the chopped garlic sprouts instead of the fresh tender shrimp and the young single-piece garlic sprouts. Make your water last, and your drink, don't expect another one during the meal. If you go on a holiday, even mid-afternoon on Dec 31st, you shouldn't expect a table to yourself - instead you will be seated cafeteria style with similar service. If you have no reservation, forget it, go to the mall, you will have more room to eat and better service (self service). If you have been a customer for over 20 years, and ask for the owner, don't expect them to have time to come by and say hello. This place is under new management, notice the very young floor managers with the wires in their ears, all about efficiency and quickly getting people out the door. No tea offered, no consideration for the sizeable dinner price they charge. It's sad really, this used to be a nice place to go eat. Now, you probably won't be able to carry on a conversation with your dinner partner, because other people will be seated so close to you that tables have condiments on every other table. Highly efficient, but so is a cafeteria or drive-through. Worst meal ever at this place.
(1)
Cesar P.

Friendly staff, phenomenal service (Mr. Wan, you're the best)... Wonderful decor (though could we have a few less pictures of Bush the Elder?)... This place lived up to it's billing. I've heard wonderful things about this place thanks to The Mike O'Meara Show podcast ( mikeomearashow.com ) and I'd been wanting to try it for a long time... Living where I do though, it's a bit of a hike. But the wife managed to score us reservations (the night before we went! Amazing!) and we had to go. Only got three items... The Fuji Volcano (one of those fancy bowl-style drinks with a little faux volcano where they pour Sterno or something to make a flame... POTENT drink, they don't skimp... Knocked my ass down)... The crab Rangoon (best crab Rangoon ever, really tasted of crab, not cream cheese)... And of course the duck. Never had Peking Duck before, and I was blown away... Such a tasty treat. Best meal I've had in awhile. Can't wait to come back and try some of their other dishes (the lamb chops looked incredible)!
(5)
William B.

We got nothing but duck (naturally enough) and it was darn tasty, if not quite as mind-blowing as the hype had led me to expect. Two ducks for six people (with a round of dumplings beforehand) left us hungry; a third duck left us stuffed, and I am pretty sure I smelled like duck for a day afterward. Also, I didn't think the controversial cucumbers really added anything, and after my first pancake I replaced them with additional scallions; but I suppose they add a dose of pleasant blandness, if for some reason you wanted that. At any rate, I am glad I went, and if you want Peking Duck I don't know why you would go somewhere else, but next time I drive into the Virginia suburbs for Chinese food, it will be to go to Hong Kong Palace.
(3)
Mike A.

So, after several trips here on Friday/Saturday nights, I went back here on a Tuesday night and was delighted with the change in both service and atmosphere. On busy nights, the fact that a reservation means nothing and the minimum wait is 30-45 minutes and the incredibly slow service earns Peking two stars, despite the food being terrific. On this particular Tuesday night, however, the service was impeccable. We were seated almost immediately. Our waiter was friendly and prompt. And drinks were never empty for more than a minute or two. The duck, and other entrees, were just as good as previous visits, meaning they were all delicious. So, if this is going to be your first visit, make it on a weekday night and you will enjoy your dinner much more. Or, as I've said before, go for the duck and ignore everything else.
(4)
Ron U.

I'm always on the fence with this place. Ever have something that just seems to irk you about a spot but you can't quite put your finger on it? I'll get the obvious out of the way. Yes, their duck is really good. I had it pre-Yelp days just to try it because their rep for their duck has been strong for 30+ years. I will say that you should try it, even as not a fan of the dark meat, it was pretty damn good. Luckily, their other dishes are solid. The fact that they have "Schezwan Beef Proper" on their menu is spectacular. I'd say this is as strong as their duck. Super crispy, could stand to be a bit spicier, but great flavor. Even better, they don't load you down with a lot of rice when serving their dishes as the filler. The atmosphere is busier than ever as this place still packs them in, and literally. The table arrangements aren't the most comfortable as they use practically every inch in there for seating. Take a moment to admire the walls and the people that have been in there when you get a chance as well.
(4)
Lor B.

Hands down - the best Peking Duck ever! I always make the trek to this little gem when I travel to DC. Duck is done table side - and comes with little wraps and fixings that you eat along with it. Very very different from what you'd get in other restaurants. By looking at the pictures on the wall - tons of Washington movers and shakers here - including past presidents. Another top fave besides this is the Crispy Jumbo Shrimp "Jeo-Yen". I'd take a flight back to DC just to have these two dishes.
(5)
kris w.

The duck is the bomb ! It was soooo good , and the crispy lamb chop were amazing too! And the services were great ! If u want good Chinese food ... Def. try this place out , it's worth the price!
(5)
Zhenqian Z.

Super juicy duck wrap!They sratch the duck fat out so not greasy at all. Not cheap though. The duck bone soup uses only 10%of the bone from the duck you paid for.
(5)
Kimberly K.

If you're visiting Virginia and enjoy duck, I would highly recommend trying their Peking Duck at least once in your life. Service is good for the most part. Initially, our server was pushy but as time went by she did ease up a bit. The highlight of eating here is definitely the Peking Duck. One order is about $39. It comes with 12 homemade pancakes, hoisin sauce, and spring onions. Thinly sliced cucumbers are NOT included with the duck but it tastes great with it. They will charge you separately for this, which I find odd. Cucumbers should just come complimentary with an order of Peking Duck. The duck is cut table side. The skin and meat are thinly sliced and placed on one platter. Bones and other pieces of the duck were placed on another platter. There were 6 of us and so we decided to order 2 ducks. That worked out perfectly. Everyones duck craving was satisfied. If this is your first time eating Peking Duck the way I like to eat it is by first placing one pancake on my plate. Then, take a slice of duck skin and dip it into the hoisin sauce (it's the thick black sauce) and place it in the middle of the pancake. Note: You can also place the duck on the edge of the pancake. I usually like 2 slices (1 skin, 1 meat) on my pancake. Then take 1 or 2 slices of spring onions and cucumber and place it on top of the duck. If your chopstick skills are BOSS, then use them to fold your pancake. Otherwise, use your hands. The result should look like a duck "soft taco." Prior to making your "duck taco," you can also take a slice of duck skin and dip it lightly in sugar. The crisp and fatty skin works beautifully with a bit of sugar. The result is a flavor explosion in your mouth. I've been here once in the past and didn't really enjoy any of the other dishes on their menu. However, on a recent visit to Peking Gourmet Inn, a dish called the Szechuan Beef Proper stood out. It's slices of beef that are super crispy and sweet on the outside but soft, savory, and chewy within. The Peking Duck at this restaurant is memorable. The skin is slightly crisp and melts in your mouth and the meat is juicy. The thin pancakes are homemade and you can taste the difference. The savory duck, sweet sauce, cool cucumbers, and green onions come together beautifully inside the pancake. Now is the duck here better or even close to the one I had in Beijing? I wouldn't say better, but definitely worth trying when you're in VA.
(4)
Danielle S.

I tried just getting dumplings and wonton soup here...BIG MISTAKE! Since I know their Peking Duck is good, I thought their takeout would be good too. Well 6 dumplings cost me about $10!!! And they weren't even good. The wonton soup was nothing special, there were barely any wontons in it...My total was $16!! I got majorly ripped off and will never order takeout from here again.
(1)
Michael B.

This was mediocre at best. Service was horrible. Seems as though they don't know how to handle crowds. I ended up getting carryout, the order was wrong and took over an hour to get the food, which was not even warm. So many good reviews of this place, I was excited but sorry to say I won't go back
(2)
Ritzie C.

Go here for the Peking Duck and avoid every other entree. The duck is delicious and their homegrown garlic sprouts plus homemade hoisin are the perfect accompaniments to add to your pancake and shove in your mouth. The waiter or waitress will bring the duck out, present it, and carve it - while scraping fat off the skin and placing the meat and skin nicely on a plate in front of you. Sometimes they'll even assemble your first pancake for you. The Szechuan Beef Proper is horrible. However, I'll admit that our waitress hated us and therefore probably asked the kitchen to give us the crappiest form of the dish. It was crunchy and super sweet - almost like they candied the beef. Never touching that stuff again. Appetizers are standard but if you eat any or all of them with the yellow garlic sauce they give you, they'll be outstanding. That sauce is delicious in its own right so don't be afraid to put it on anything and everything. After your meal you may get a free shot of cucumber juice, which is very refreshing. Out of the times I've been, receiving it is inconsistent so maybe ask if they have any.
(3)
Meredith H.

Love the fact that the Peking Duck comes with cucumbers! EXCELLENT addition. The last time we went, we wanted hot peppers with the duck, but they never came...wish we could have tried those too! The only thing keeping PGI from 5 stars, for me, is the service (and a specific point about the service at that). I realize that the restaurant is extremely busy and crowded 90% of the time. I get this. I also understand the servers wanting to help the table with their dishes, their duck, and their food. However, every time I've come here, our waiter practically climbs on top of me to help serve the rest of the table. No matter how much I move over to allow him/her room, I'm always leaned on and have a jacket or a shoulder shoved in my face. It's not that I mind being touched - I mind having a waiter (or two) practically fall into my lap in their zeal to serve the rest of the table. I'm not sure how to remedy this, and I hate even bringing it up, because it happens out of a need to serve the table, but it makes me uncomfortable and anxious. That aside, the food is great, and this is a spectacular place to come for awesome duck! Definitely deserves all the hype.
(4)
Thomas P.

I wanted to check out why this chinese restaurant was so popularly rated. I have to admit, I didn't get the peking duck though. I ordered beef curry. This place didn't seem all that different than the typical chinese restaurants. The walls were populated with old framed pictures of the owner with i think famous people that has been there. Kind of tacky for a non-fast food restaurant. There were some good big chinese art though.
(2)
Jamie W.

I'm going to keep this simple. I'm not going to go on about the decor, atmosphere, menu variety, and so on. Get the duck. If you haven't been here, go here. Get the duck. If you're vegetarian, give it up for an hour and get the duck. If you think you might be hungry and might be in the area, stop here and get the duck. I don't care what is going on around the duck or you and your life, but if you truly enjoy food and/or you are looking for interesting food experiences, GET THE DAMN DUCK. I don't mean later. Now.
(5)
Robert W.

I've had a lot of peking duck in my day. I guess there is the original way (from China) and a slightly more Americanized version. Personally, i like a combination of both. I like putting some extra meat and really think the hoisin sauce makes it extra delicious. I've been to one of the originals in Beijing and this place does a similar job. Like others have said, the decor is straight out of the 70's but the service is efficient and friendly. There were 4 of us, and we ordered 2 ducks. In addition, we chose the garlic shoots with shrimp and the fried shrimp with fried garlic. Overall, everything tasted great. The peking duck- they scrape the fat away and serve the extra meat on the side. The skin is crispy and the meat is moist. I guess they home-make the tortillas which can result in some inconsistencies. I prefer the steamed bun preparation. The other two dishes were flavorful but not giant servings. If you're with a group of big eaters, order an extra duck or maybe try something else. I'll go back if I'm in the area. If you're craving authentic peking duck, this is spot on.
(4)
Blake F.

I first heard of the PGI in 2000 when visiting a college friend in DC. When we pulled up, I wasn't sure given the surrounding shops. Check cashing places, post office, and a Chinese restaurant. But once you walk in, you will be impressed. The walls are appointed with photos of Senators, Generals and former President Bush (both of those appointed guys). Big Republican and military theme going on the walls. So I'm not surprised Obama hasn't been-probably because the PGI is one of those "evil" companies that makes money. Seriously-our last table of 4 dropped $100 at lunch with no booze in an hour. There are HUNDREDS of tables in that place. Do the math. But I digress. The place is always busy and service is great. Whenever I'm in DC I make it a point to go. Honestly I've only had a couple of items here in at least 6-8 visits here. Always get the Duck. It is unlike any other dish...from the presentation to the little pancakes that come with it. Even a coworker on recent visit, who doesn't really like duck, said that it was great. Another dish is the Szechuan Beef Proper. Or just Proper. It is like no other beef dish I have eaten. It's outstanding and just as good leftover (cold). The soup is really good, as is the hot tea on a cold day. My college friend who introduced me to the PGI recently got married, so my wife and another couple went to the PGI on the way out of town. In a few years, we plan on taking my now young sons to DC, and we will not miss the chance to dine at the PGI. Bottom line is that you will not be disappointed. It is probably one of my favorite restaurants.
(5)
Pablo S.

The waiters were so polite. I thought the prices were too high but when they served your food you got your money's worth. There was nothing bad about this place but I think I got lucky because I got seated in less than 10 minutes and I didn't have a reservation. The food was delicious and full of flavor. A lot of celebrities like Psy and Bill Clinton came here to eat. This place is the best Chinese restaurant I have went to.
(5)
Jennifer C.

Slight disappointed. Heard my friends rave about this place so we dropped by. I think the duck is overpriced. The crispy skin was very well done but the rolls were tiny and I felt like the duck meat was overpowered by the sauce you put in the roll. The other dishes were just alright. The garlic sprouts deserve a four stars because it was very well stir fried and the spouts really stood out amongst the shrimps. The shrimps were also huge and delicious. The other dishes, like the chicken and four season green beans, were not so good. The sauce for the green beans was not salty enough and the chicken was just like the orange chicken you would get from Chinese fast food. Overall, disappointing but maybe I will try ordering other things next time.
(3)
Florence M.

Totally worth the price! The Peking duck is $43.00 but it's good for a group of 3-4 people. It was the best I have ever had! The skin was deliciously crispy and the meat was so moist and tasty. It was also not gamey or had no after taste. We also had the a szechuan beef proper and that was really good too. This place is going to be a regular stop for us from now on when we visit DC. I recommend making a reservation because we did and thank goodness because otherwise there would have been a long wait for a table. We were seated right away. Awesome! Definitely worth all the Presidential visits and grand reputation!
(5)
Yaka H.

Food was the same quality and delicious as my prior visits, but the experience really left a bad taste. Two stars due to the lack of service by Alex and Pang and in some ways felt like it was reverse racism. Pang went out of his way to serve all of the tables around us, but never served our table. Sure I was able to figure out how to use all of those extra serving spoons to serve our table, but my guests I purposely brought to Peking Gourmet Inn noticed the lack of service. Peking Gourmet Inn is probably one of the last dining establishments that have this kind of table-side service and staff wearing dining jackets in this area. I also was shorted out on the coin change when we paid our bill. Given this most recent experience, I'm not sure I'll come back. They also do take-out, but it's just too far for me to justify the trip. If you do decide to come, the peking duck and yang chow fried rice are the things to get. The salt and pepper shrimp and the garlic stem dish with your choice of meat are good dishes too.
(2)
Jenny L.

This is a great place to introduce friends to Peking duck. The celebrity photos on the walls never fail to impress. I just wish the Peking duck came with mantou (light, fluffy, pillowy steamed buns) instead of the flatter tortilla wraps.
(4)
Taffany H.

Peking duck, hand carved for you at table side. Yes it is delicious but the skin is on the soft side. Definitely ask for the chili pepper in soy sauce and cucumber. This is my 3rd time here and service is still great and attentive given that this is a Chinese Restaurant serving Politicians from the Capitol and DC/NoVA residents. Note to self: bean curd family style and shrimp and scallop Peking style are very tasty. Try real hard not to get too full from the duck at the beginning of the meal.
(4)
Don S.

Cheesecake Factory like service. That means it is exceptional for a Chinese restaurant. Peking duck is over rated: wrong skin color, poor carving, and the duck was not inflated during preparation and baking. The lack of inflation resulted in the skin not tented up. Carving skill is elementary with poor esthetic presentation and uneven pieces. The pancakes were a joke. Any chef worth his/her name should be able to make them similar in size. The pancakes are light dirty grey instead of white, wrong again. Most are half, with some 1/3, the size it should be. The green onion were cut and prep poorly too. No esthetic consideration. Chicken Peking Style: no idea what they are trying to cook here. If they were trying to do "Peking" style (äº¬é†¬ï¼‰they should have used Hoisin sauce. Instead, got this tasteless chicken dish that should be zero star. Fire Cracker Scallop was very good, 4 stars. Vege Fired Rice, any chef can do this with the eyes closed Singapore Noodles: 2 stars. Too dry and not enough curry/taste. Won't be back.
(2)
Mark S.

Came here for mother's day.. super crowded. staff was extremely friend and attentive. the food was okay, but seemed very americanized. the prices are extremely higher than other chinese restaurants. This place is hyped up due to the number of famous people that have come to the restaurant. The walls are filled with photos of famous visitors from movie stars, presidents, diplomats, etc. The peking duck is of course very good.. but everything else was just mediocre. Didn't live up to the hype in my opinion.
(3)
Mari K.

I have never liked duck in my life until I came to this restaurant. My husband's family introduced me to this place years ago and we now come here at least twice a year and order two peking ducks (we always have leftovers and end up taking it home). One duck is about $40. When you order the duck, they bring the whole duck out and cut it into thin slices right in front of you. I love the skin... so nice and crispy. We always order other Chinese dishes as well and everything that we have tried have been delicious. I recommend their Jeo-Yen Shrimp. Service is always good when we come here. All the servers are attentive and they will always make your first duck wrap for you. I would definitely recommend you make a reservation or call ahead for a table because it gets crowded really quickly during lunch and dinner hours.
(5)
Laura P.

This is overdue but just wanted to share that I *DID* return for New Year's day dinner at Peking this year, and Wendy was there again and service and food was great as always ;)
(5)
Natasha K.

Fantastic experience. The owners wander around the restaurants, truly entertaining guests. One of the owners suggested we order one of the family menus, which turned out to be an excellent suggestion. At $35 a person, we were blown away by the quantity and quality of food! DELICIOUS! Eat at this place. Be sure to make a reservation.
(5)
nikkie d.

I live close but never visted this place before last week. Also its the first time trying duck and I'm not sure I'm a duck fan. I think its a lil bland without the hosin sauce. I keep hearing bout how great this is so I had to try it out. Went with a party of 4. We had a little of a wait even with a reservation but that's to be expected. We had chicken fried rice which was decent but the added fried chicken was a little different. Other dishes shrimp (didn't eat) and another chicken dish (just ok). We added and spring rolls (very good) . Only complaint is that we had to ask for hot tea twice lol.
(3)
Donna B.

Best place for duck, bar none. Seriously.
(5)
Marissa C.

If you havent tried peking duck, u better try this one. Best ever! Outstanding service our waiter was funny too! Like others said, an order of peking duck will serve 2-3 people. Affordable!
(4)
Bryce A.

After going to Gretchen's Septemberfest event, everyone in the car was stuffed. But there's always room for dessert! In this case, duck dessert. Peking Gourmet Inn is famous for their Peking Duck, so we had to give it a try. The Peking Duck here is a little different from what I've had in other places - the skin is is almost crunchy (kind of like a deep fried pork rind) instead of crisp, and it's served with mini tortillas and cucumber slices (in addition to the usual plum sauce and onions). The presentation of the duck was really cool. Two servers brought it out whole and sliced it in front of us, then demonstrated how to properly make a duck taco. On our visit, 4 of us split a duck because we had already had a whole lot of food beforehand, but I think that under normal conditions, a duck could probably feed two people. On the whole, not bad. Prices seemed a bit on the high side and I think I might prefer steamed buns to the tortillas (though I guess it's good if you're looking for a low carb option?), but the delicious duck and outstanding service make Peking Gourmet Inn worth a try.
(4)
Kevin L.

It was a great first time experience at Peking gourmet inn. We were met with warm welcome as soon as we step in the door. The waiter had a great attitude and was very helpful with our dish selections. The wait for the food was a bit long but it was due to the number of customers. It was fully packed on a Thursday night. We ordered the whole Peking duck and it very crispy and juicy. It is by far the most authentic duck I have ever tasted since China. The price is a bit pricy but it is worth it. Make sure to ask for the left over whole duck to take home. Asian parents love to make soup with the left over duck bones.
(5)
Jay P.

Oh, please, enough with all of these idiotic reviews about the authenticity of the food: Yelp has proven without a doubt that no restaurant category attracts more posers than Chinese. This place is fantastic. I've been going there for lunch, monthly, for about six years. It's one of the few restaurants of any type in the DC metro area where there's actually a waiting line for lunch. Everything on the menu is superb and the service is attentive and old-school. If you haven't been there, do yourself a favor and go and ignore all of the ridiculous reviewers and their announcements about "real" Chinese food.
(5)
Jack L.

Worse and worse through last 3 years. We ordered Peking duck and they gave us a plate of gross onion like trash. Never go there again.
(1)
Joon S.

Everything here is extremely overpriced for mediocre tasting food. The duck was good but the sauce was way too sweet. Being from Los Angeles I probably have higher expectations for Chinese food and don't understand all the raves this place has gotten. The coolest part of this meal was them shaving the duck in front of you which was fun to watch. Other than that if much rather eat the $12 Peking duck back in Southern California then the $42 duck here. Thanks but no thanks. Also although the service here is more attentive than regular Chinese restaurants, it is done so with very little class. We were barely out of our seats before the waiter rushed in to grab the check and look at how much we tipped him right in front of us, it was so rude.
(2)
Taylor E.

I give the duck five stars. Best I've ever had (although I can't say I have too much comparison). I literally have made noises of joy while eating my first bite. The duck is I think $40 but can be split between 2-4 people, depending on if you get other entree items. Two people can easily share a duck without getting additional entrees. I've also tried the beef and fried prawns, which are good, but nothing to rave about. I take off a star just because it's very wham bam thank you ma'am service. Not friendly, but very to the point. You can be in and out within 40 minutes which some people may like, but I don't care to be rushed while out to dinner. They also pack you in like sardines, which certainly reflects on how popular they are. You should ALWAYS call ahead and make a reservation on a weekend. Overall, definitely worth a try for the duck. Definitely make a reservation. I will continue to go back for special occasions.
(4)
Norry H.

9 of us UnitÃ© Gourmands members had the famous Peking Duck here on a Friday night after a dinner at 2941. It was sort of like a dessert for us. Although we got to Peking Gourmet Inn at 10:32pm when most of their patrons had left or the last ones were leaving, the nice Chinese lady who probably was the owner very nicely welcomed our party and guided us to a large table in the back room. She told us that the kitchen was closing soon but once we ordered we would not have to hurry. How nice of her! Good hospitality. No wonder so many famous political figures and celebrities came to eat here. I told her that we had had dinner already somewhere else and we just came to taste the famous Peking Duck as our dessert for the night. (we are a strange group of people, I know.) She recommended that we would order two orders first and so we did. It was actually perfect. Other than the duck, we ordered some Lettuce Wrap that came with chopped chicken, green beans, and other veggies. It was quite good. One of us with a big stomach was anxious to try the MaPo Tofu (Peking style) so we ordered. It was not the Ma Po Tofu I know but it's okay as long as they do a good job with the duck here. The servers did a great job taking our group photos too. This is The place for Peking Duck!
(4)
Katie B.

The duck is great! The skin is thin and crispy and meat is not too fatty at all. The peppers are really good too. We also ordered a garlic pork and crispy garlic shrimp dish as well. Both were good but the duck is the best! Service is good and the restaurant is huge! Great for big groups or a birthday dinner.
(4)
Chris B.

Order the peking duck of course and the joo-yen shrimp. The service here is impeccable. Here's something different. After your meal, ask for the duck bones to take home to make soup with :')
(4)
Hideki K.

Peking Gourmet Inn's Peking Duck was Okay. After hearing good things about the Peking duck here, I went with a friend to try it in March 2009. I was pretty underwhelmed. My biggest complaint is that they stripped off the fat (the good part). Had I known they were going to do that, I would've stopped them. Peking Gourmet Inn is a very prestigious place. There are tons of pics of both President Bushes dining there. Obama has yet to make an appearance.
(3)
Lynn S.

For over twenty years I have visited this restaurant whenever I was in the area. It had a stellar reputation and its duck dishes were spectacularly crisp. Now, the shopping strip it is located in (facing Route 7) has deteriorated and so has the parking lot. The restaurant is dark and dim inside, not attractive at all. My Peking Gourmet Chicken failed on both taste and quality. I didn't think it had much flavor and the meat was fatty. Fortunately their hot and sour soup remains the same, delicious. The walls as usual are filled with pictures of tables filled with smiling notables (including the Bush family). It made me wonder what they served these obviously happy guests. This restaurant's quality has deteriorated, no longer living up to it's past reputation.
(3)
Chris V.

Oh wow. We went one mid-morning when we were actually able to get in (didn't have reservation and we'd been trying for a while). At first I thought almost $40 for the duck special was a little pricey but after eating it, no way. It was like little tasty bits of duck-heaven in my mouth. I mean it was quack-tastic (shut up, you know you're laughing). The others in my party ordered some other dishes (can't remember now) but they were much better than I've eaten at other Chinese places. If you go here and haven't had the Peking Duck you are doing yourself a serious disservice. Seriously, five quacks out of five (again, you know you're laughing).
(5)
Tim A.

I've had peking duck for years, but I never really enjoyed it the way I do now until I tried it at Peking Gourmet Inn. A friend brought me for my first time a couple years ago and I ended up going back two more times that same week. Now, I go back at least every month or two, and especially when guests are in town. It's a great place to take a visitor, as they have hundreds of pictures on the walls of politicians and celebrities, and it's fun to watch the carving of the duck if you've never seen it. Their window is also bulletproof if you're worried about getting shot at. (Security measure for all the politicians who frequent the restaurant.) This is one of those memorable spots that are truly unique to the DC metro area. Two cautions: 1. Always call ahead and make reservations, no matter what night of the week it is, and even if it's just an hour away. Their wait times (sometimes even with a reservation) get ridiculously long. 2. Stick with the duck and you'll be safe. I offer no other recommendations on any of their other food.
(5)
Erik F.

In the DC/Northern VA area there are lots of good peking duck houses. I can't remember all of them but Peking Gourmet Inn is a stand out. Perhaps the duck is popular because it is a banquet food near a political town that must have lots of dinner parties. Peking Gourmet Inn gained fame (notoriety?) as the favorite restaurant of the first Bush. Good damn duck and some unique house dishes. A bit more upscale. Five stars for the duck. Thanks to the ducks. Duck Duck Duck
(5)
Geee P.

I've read many reviews and heard good things about this place. True it's expensive for PEKING duck, but hey it's pretty good and it's famous for its well known celebrities and politicans. They cut off the fat so you don't feel gross after wards. The other food isn't that great. I do like the crispy shrimp though. It's nice the waiter tries to make your first PEKING DUCK "TACO" but I rather do it myself. Waiter puts TOO much Hosin sauce. (Can overwhelm the duck flavor) Our duck wasn't hot for some reason...maybe bc we came after 2pm... it might have been sitting out. My suggestion is.. DO TRY IT. You have to! Just make sure you go around a time when the duck is fresh. Service is very good.
(4)
J J.

Love this place! The best duck I've ever had! I also always order the jumbo friend shrimp (forget the name of it), combination fried rice, and the garlic sprouts with shrimp is also very yummy. I would recommend making reservations at this restaurant or else you will be waiting for a long time. The vegetables are all grown on their farm in Virginia so thats a plus. The staff is friendly and outgoing.
(5)
David W.

I've been here several times, usually just the wife and me, but we've never gotten the duck. But it's entirely possible to do well here without it. The feature that should stick out the most here is the garlic sprouts. They're mixed in with chicken, pork or shrimp, and this is absolutely worthwhile. The Schezuan Beef Proper is also another great pick. You can do well with just about anything here, but also consider the Chef Fon's Shrimp, Ginger Beef, and Lamb with Spring Onions. If you come at dinner time there will likely be a crowd so you might want reservations if you're coming before say 8:00. As you come in you'll see that this was George HW Bush's favorite place (we actually saw him the first time we were here), and you'll see a lot of photos of high profile people in politics, the military, etc here. If you come here for lunch there's less of a crowd, you get the lunch combo prices, and you'll still get leftovers. Their combos are pretty good, particularly the Schezuan Beef (though I don't think they have the Schezuan Beef Proper for lunch, at least not in the combo). They have a lot of lunch priced versions that aren't combos of the dinner specials too, though they don't come with the egg roll and soup. A couple things you wouldn't think stand out are good. My wife will order Pina Coladas here, and they'll serve them in this kind of totem pole parrot glass. If you get an egg roll, try the garlic sauce - it's sweet but much less so than say, honey. Also the rice is really good - it's not quite fried rice, or if it is it's very lightly fried, and it's very good. This is more expensive than your typical Chinese place - don't let the look of the Culmore Center fool you - but it's a very good white tablecloth (really) restaurant.
(5)
Annie K.

This place has the BEST Peking duck that I've ever had in North America. The skin is crispy, the duck is tender, the pancakes are soft, + the add-ons (scallions, cucumber, peppers, sauce) are always great. 5 stars for the food -- I always order the baby bok choy with shitake mushrooms and the jao-yun shrimp along with the duck. The service is usually awesome -- I've been here more times than I can remember and I only remember having bad service once out of all of those times. Even if you have reservations, you probably have to wait at least 15+ minutes because it gets crazy packed. One time, I had a party of 17 for my own birthday, and we had to wait 1.5 hours for our table... I was definitely livid but they made it up by giving us extra desserts, ordering the duck for us ahead of time, + letting 3 servers take care of us. I love this place and there's no place comparable when it comes to Peking duck.
(5)
Nancy T.

If you've never had Peking duck, you really must try it. It's absolutely delicious. This restaurant specializes in wonderfully moist, savory Peking duck. The hoisin sauce, the cucumber, the spring onions, the pancakes, everything is a stand-out. It's hard to find any fault with the dish. It's enough for two and you really don't need to order anything else, except maybe an appetizer if you are really hungry. The Schezuan beef proper is also really good, but it was too much food for two people and we ended up taking most of it home. The duck was filling enough. I also really enjoyed the chrysanthemum tea with rock sugar. Let it steep for a while before you pour it. The dining room is warm and lively with a cozy, but not cramped, feel. It's very much a family restaurant where everyone from babies to grandparents will feel welcome. It feels like a special occasion place, but you will be comfortable in either jeans or a dress. The only mild criticism I have with this place is that they didn't refill my drink or ask if I wanted another and I would have loved a little pre-moistened towel before and after eating the duck because it can be very sticky and messy with the hoisin sauce. This place is very popular and often packed so reservations are essential.
(4)
Chuq Y.

Last night, my parents were in town, so my sister and I took them here. My dad loves duck, and my sister and I had heard about this place, so she made a reservation. Good thing she did too! It was packed! The duck was excellent. It comes with crisp shredded spring onions, some pancakes, and a bowl of hoisin sauce. I think it should be called duck sauce since we're actually using it to flavor duck, but what do I know? As described in the other reviews here on yelp*, the place was packed and literally every server is running around with a crispy delicious duck! I though it was kinda funny. They shave off the skin, and then cut the meat with seemingly razor sharp knives. These pieces are arranged on 2 plates and then they take the drums and thighs off the duck and give them to you as well. I'm not sure what they do with the rest of the carcass. The other food though, I wasn't too impressed with. We had Chinese broccoli, (which was fine), and then some shrimp and scallop dish which I can't quite remember the name. The hot and sour soup was neither hot (spicy) or sour. it was the right temperature though. I'd definitely go back for the duck, and perhaps pick some of the dishes that other people recommend. Also worth noting, "What Chinese restaurant doesn't have complimentary tea?"
(3)
Elizabeth S.

Fantastic! Peking Gourmet Inn is an experience that you've gotta have if you're in the D.C. area. I would definitely call it an 'experience' - it's not somewhere I'd eat every single day - but it's an awesome one. Firstly, the service is awesome. Waiters wear those kitschy red and black tuxedos, which gives the place a real 1970's Bruce Lee flick feel. Unlike others, my party made a reservation and was seated immediately upon getting there a couple of minutes early. I think the reservation problem is an old issue that Peking has sorted out now, and no longer has trouble with. The menu is huge, unique and great. The lettuce wraps are all about a textural wonderland of crisp crunch, soft chew and nutty firmness. The crab rangoons come with a delicious sweet, subtle garlic sauce, and are much more 'crab' and far less cream cheesey than at other places. And of course, there's the duck. Ah, the duck. The carving ceremony is a bit of a gimmick, which is why I don't feel too bad about saying that this place is an experience. Watch as your delicious dinner is sliced up and prepared for consumption at your tableside. It is fantastic! Make a point of trying out your duck with all of the fixins - hoisin, scallion and cucumbers. Customize after that, but make sure you don't miss out. I got the vegetable sautee, which was delicious, perfectly spiced and very savory. My partner got a spicy tofu dish which certainly lived up to its name - if the menu at Peking indicates that the dish is hot, be assured that it is very, very hot. Another party member got the snowpeas and water chestnuts, which was a clean tasting and simple dish that went along well with some of the busier things going on at the table. Finish up with their fried apples. Don't go in expecting a ton of western style sweetness, but get ready to enjoy the little hint of crispy sugar along with your sour apple! Love this place. Definitely try it out.
(5)
Angela L.

The duck is delicious! One of the best I have had in the U.S. The skin was really crispy, which I really like. Unfortunately, that is where the meal peaked. The pancakes that were served with the duck did not give the duck proper justice. The rest of the food we ordered is not even worth mentioning, it was not stellar, but also not bad. The service was okay. We ordered drinks twice because the first one never showed and they also messed up our drink order. However, they were very busy. When we got the bill, I was surprised to see that they charged us10 dollars for the chrysanthemum tea. I don't know if they charged us per a person or per a refill. Either way, it seems a little ridiculous for chrysanthemum tea. All in all, it was okay. The duck is really the saving point.
(3)
Jennie L.

Best Peking Duck in DC. Everything else is just ok.
(5)
Dyah S.

Strictly to PEKING DUCK!!!! Their Peking duck is the best, crispy outside, soft an juicy inside.. If you haven't try this Peking duck, I'd say you should try it. It's a bit pricey but worth to try. Other dishes is 3.5/5 If you come during weekend the waiting time is 1 hour, except if you already make a reservation.
(5)
PauLine R.

I've never been a big fan of duck because I always imagine them picking out the "ugly duckling". It makes me sad to think that I'd be the "bad guy", killing the good guy (or duck) in a story. Well, not here! Peking Gourmet takes the BIGGEST, JUICIEST loudmouth in that pond and teaches it to be nice or get got!!!!!!! Okay, but seriously, Peking Gourmet cooks their duck perfectly: It's not dry and its skin is crisp. They carve the duck in front of you too! Their other dishes were good too. We had a large party (it was for my aunt's birthday) and had the opportunity to taste a variety of food. My favorite? Their sauteed string beans!!!!! MY only gripe is that I wish they'd timed bringing out all the entrees out at the same time.
(4)
Aileen S.

ok chinese food considering the location...peking duck was ok but would be better if served with steamed buns not chinese tortillas...fried rice was mushy and flavorless....pretty much everything was flavorless...but what can i say, it's the east coast... if i had a choice, i'd opt for panda express...just being honest....
(2)
Leon Y.

The duck is good, but not excellent. Mark's duck is equally as good for cheaper! So not sure what all the hype is about this place other than famous people have been there. Having said that, compare to my experience in Beijing, I have to say, the Beijing duck we have here is MUCH better than in China. I think we stole all the best chef out of China and now China doesn't have the authentic ones now. Anyhow, if you want equal quality Beijing duck for cheaper, head for marks' duck.
(3)
Michelle G.

Peking Duck lovers go no further. I've been coming here for about 7 years and members of my family have been going for over 10. There was recently a negative review in the Washington Post regarding this place but I for one, completely disagree. The same week this know nothing reviewer gave Peking Gourmet Inn a single star I took my boyfriend in to try it for the first time, he was floored by how tasty the Duck and Onions were as well as the consistency of EVERY single duck that came out. We also ordered the Shrimp with extra fried ginger seasoning on the side. Absolute heaven. We couldn't finish everything and I ended up heating up the left overs on a cookie sheet in the oven and it was happiness all over again. Fair warning: MAKE RESERVATIONS! and even if you do make reservations this place will probably still packed and you may end up waiting another 20 min or so. PS- Upon discussing the review with one of the wait staff members he shared with our table his story about taking his daughter to China and trying some peking duck at a popular market and finding out that it was no where near as good as what they have at Peking Gourmet Inn.
(5)
Daniel S.

I can't say a single bad thing about this place, the food and service is absolutely wonderful. The duck is amazing, the fried rice is amazing, the coconut ice cream is to die for. I would go here again, and again.
(5)
Shai C.

Love the duck there. I grew up in asia and i've had my share of peking ducks. This is seriously one of the most consistent places for duck. They separate the fat from the skin and they slice the meat super generously. They also give you the carcass for free and it's delicious if you make duck soup with it.
(5)
Alexis B.

Probably some of the best if not the best Chinese food I have ever had and I am from San Francisco - this place in phenomenal! I mean everything from the cocktails to the dessert is incredible! My only problem with this place is that there are not more of them and they are not on a metro line, otherwise it would be perfection. I can't even begin to convey how amazing everything it is. We started with this little pork appetizer paired with some sweet honey mustard sauce which is incredible. You have to get the duck that is always cooked to perfection; it's succulent yet crispy, done with a beautiful presentation and they must have some duck carving apprenticeship for the people as I have never seen a duck carved like that! Make sure you ask for extra of that "honey mustard sauce" or liquid magic to put in the duck wrap with some of their julienned vegetables they put in the wrap for you. I like starting the first 2 dishes with a Mai Thai because the sweetness of the drink pairs well with the pork and duck, then switch to the large tea pot full of hot sake to drink with the rest of the dishes as the sake really is wonderful and it seems to be the gift that keeps on giving. We had the lamb shank = mind blowing, fried shrimp - a must and everything comes with some delicious rice. Even though at the end of the feast it's a mystery on how to fit dessert in, but don't worry, just do it! The ice creams are incredible. Yes, here is a Chinese food place with amazing cocktails, wonderful service, great ambiance, delicious food, perfect timing (their expo deserves a gold medal or maybe a lamp shank) and incredible desserts. As the meal comes to an end I feel a few things: fullness, utter satisfaction, shock at how good everything was and then a sadness that meal is coming to an end. Until next time! The staff is incredible! Wendy was our server and she made us feel like we were her number one priority even though I know she has a ton of table. Bobby the manager also was so hospitable, friendly and just great to talk to! I cannot believe the customer service this place manages on top of everything else - I cannot wait to come back.
(5)
Kris H.

I'm not a big fan of peking duck because most restaurants in the States don't do a very good job with the ducks, usually resulting in soggy, greasy duck skin. However, Peking Gourmet Inn does an exceptional job with their ducks. The whole duck is cut at tableside. Servers first shave off the crispy layer of skin. The fatty layer is then wedged off the duck with the fatty oil cascading like a waterfall. (It's really beautiful and ghastly at the same time.) Lastly, the moist meat is intricately sliced and placed along side the duck skin. You are provided hoisin sauce, julienned scallions and cucumbers, and small "tortillas" to wrap the duck, not the customary bao's. It's definitely worth the $38. PGI has made me a BIG fan of peking ducks. And I would probably get my own duck next time. BTW, other dishes on the menu are tasty, but not as stellar as the duck. Service was quick and attentive. Reservations are recommended.
(5)
Don F.

I love this place!!!!! It is decorated like a Jackie Chan Movie. They have a coat check room. Who has those anymore? The waiters all are wearing red dinner jackets. The have a real bar, with real liquor no 27 vodka flavors. I got a mai tai. I damn near lost peripheral vision after the first one! I am gonna have another!!!! Omfg the Hong Kong Won ton soup has shrimp in it. The dumplings are hand made to perfection and melt in your mouth! They have homade extruded crunchies for the soup. They look like spatzle but taste like funyons. I bet they are made from homegrown scallions mentioned in the menu. These could seriously replace cheerios for breakfast. Besides they would go better with the Budweiser anyway? But I digress. The main event is the Peking duck. This is seriously the best meal I have had in years! The duck comes out. Perfectly bronzed and crisp. It is carved table side maximizing the skin yield through an ancient chinese secret (could not help myself!). It is like Silence of the Lamb table side, and seriously one could envision Igor in the back with the ducks, "More lotion for the skin, you will bronze so lovely!!" They have a "Wall of Heroes" of all of the Military leaders who have dined there. It is a nice ying to the sleazy congressmen's yang of Washinton. In fact they were preparing a separate room for a congress man when I was there. Presidents have eaten here, wonder how secret service likes hosting on a Jackie Chan set?
(5)
Ju L.

Pros: Popular so reservations are highly recommended, especially for large groups. Preset group meals are ideal for gatherings. Cons: Don't offer duck soup after the meal.
(4)
Steve S.

The first thing I have to say is....the duck the duck the duck..... The second thing I have to say is....that crispy duck skin, that crispy duck skin, that crispy duck skin..... You do not get this type of quality in Los Angeles!!!! I am ruined for food there! The big group of us also ordered black pepper shrimp, ginger shrimp and some sort of roast pork dish, accompnied by the Yang Chow fried rice. All of them were fantastic. I highly recommend this restaurant. Excellent waitstaff and good food abounds. Thank you!!!!
(5)
Samantha W.

I've been here many a time, but never thought to write a review. Because Peking Gourmet Inn is such a staple, I though that its reputation proceeded itself! The wonderful thing about Peking Gourmet is that even though it is a chiense restaurant, it caters to many different people! Sooo many people from different nationalities and cultures enjoy eating here. One tip to the wise, they take reservations! My boyfriend's family loves coming here and it we always walk right in with our reservation in hand. We came here at 7:45pm on a Friday and the line was out the door! The entrey-way can get quite crowded at times, so make a reservation next time and skip the wait! We usually order the same staples, peking duck, Jao Yun shrimp and chicken and garlic sprouts. The duck is worth the trip - crispy skin on the outside, tender meat on the inside. Its not famous for nothin'!
(4)
Dave T.

Last visit - July 11th. Food is the same. Service = Horrendous. We had a table of 8 adults and three children. I've never worked in the food/restaurant industry so I am not sure if there is more attention usually paid to smaller or larger tables but I would think larger just because the potential for tip would be greater. With that being said, there was no attention at all. Did not refill water once without asking. The three children had soda and only would refill one if asked to refill one, did not consider taking care of all the children at once and would seem to get annoyed at us for asking to fill another child's soda a little bit later. Not rude per se but definitely not friendly. I really believe it's a crap shoot of who you get as a waiter and waitress and whether they are nice or not.
(3)
Deebs B.

Lazy dark looking-for-something-new-to-do Sunday today... Good opportunity to try a new place! Found PGI on YELP. Thank you YELP! This is truly an old school Chinese establishment, including the well trained authentic educated servers. You would NEVER know this place was there. It's located in a crappo strip mall on Route 7 surrounded by down trodden store fronts and a large number of what seemed to be vagrants waiting for day-labor opportunities. Totally different story once you walk in the doors of Peking Gourmet Duck! Sunday at 3pm we were told there would be a 30 minute wait for two which ended up being more like 15. As we waited in the entry area tray after tray carrying perfectly golden crisp ducks passed us, carried high by the burgundy jacketed servers. We knew what we wanted...Yuan Bao, Peking Duck and the featured stir-fired garlic sprouts from their farm in Purcellville VA. I kicked it off with 2 Mai Tai's which were sweet and tasty. The Golden Yuan Bao appetizer looked interesting and delivered us four good sized light crispy fried pouches filled with roasted pork,water chestnut and green beans, slightly sweet sauce mixture - good stuff. Take Elisa's advice (our charming server) add a touch of the hot mustard but be careful not to blow your head off . The duck arrived promptly and was quietly carved a few feet from our table. Fresh large scallion strips, hand made pancakes and unbelievable hoisin sauce rounded out the dish. Stir-fried garlic sprouts with shrimp were brought out just at the right time - as we finished up our second Peking duck pancake. The garlic sprouts were stir-fried in the lightest, almost nonexistent sauce with excellent flavor. I was able to take home the duck carcass - great for soup! Plain and simple - this is GREAT Chinese food - the best i have had since i moved to the DC area from NYC 6 years ago. Full of flavor - clean food. Why did I wait so long to go to Peking Gourmet Inn?
(4)
Dave M.

This has been a favorite of my family for many years. Whenever I come to visit from Arizona we make a pilgrimage for one primary thing... their signature Peking Duck. Last week I came to town for my father's funeral. Sad week but as an homage to my father we once again had a family gathering at Peking Gourmet. We will miss you dad.
(4)
Jinho P.

They have good roast duck. The servers have some in-house trained knife cutting skill that allows them to cut this duck swiftly on your table in front of you while you watch. I appreciated the transparency because sometimes you have to wonder if the kitchen is going to give you less over some other customer or something. From my seat, while eating my roast duck, I spent most of my time observing the walls with all the politicians framed and pictured. Their bartending is not very good so just order wine or beer. I got a cocktail and it tasted like shit but it's okay, the duck was still awesome. I think some LA yuppies are not impressed with this place. I say, fuck them. I am from Seattle and this city is run by Indians and Chinese. We have roast duck that's comparable to LA Chinatown. Peking Gourmet still wins in my books. The servers have ninja knife skills and the duck is roasted well. Tourist or local, it's a must.
(4)
Tron D.

The Bottom Line: This is the best Chinese in D.C. and the best Peking Duck (Beijing Kaoya) I have had in the states to date. Also Wall Street Journal just mentioned Peking Gourmet Inn for having some of the best Peking Duck in the world (go read it and expand your mind). MAKE A RESERVATION. I used to live in Beijing, China and have had the best Peking Duck there is. I would say most duck I had in China was superb, but considering Washington D.C. is not China, this is great food. It does have a bit of an western flare to some of the dishes, but overall it is a well executed menu with superb service and great decor. Whenever I go in without a reservation, I speak Chinese to the waitresses and normally skip the big line. For those unable to speak Chinese, make a reservation or start watching kung-fu movies and reading fortune cookies to brush up on the new world language.
(5)
Rinaldi R.

In terms of Duck, the all-time Top 3 is probably Donald, Daffy and then a close third is Peking Gourmet's Peking Duck. Been coming to this restaurant for decades with the family, to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and when visitors from out of town come for visit. I've tried Peking Duck all over the world and truly believe this place is the best. Other dishes on the menu are delicious like their Kung Pao Chicken, Szechuan Beef and Jeo Yan Shrimp. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu and the waiters are personable and fast. If you haven't been go and if you have been keep on coming back. One of my favorite places growing up and still is as an adult.
(5)
Stephanie B.

I've been coming here for over 20 years. It is one of my favorite restaurants. The staff knows our family and are always very personable. The food is just amazing! Parking get get crazy, but we have never NOT found any. The food is worth it.
(5)
Buddy V.

Peking duck is featured item.....excellent. Garlic shoots with chicken...even better. Solid Chinese food. Can get busy especially on the weekends.
(5)
Charles H.

Another day another duck...we RSVP'd for 5pm. The staff was prepared and immediately sat us. Ordered steamed dumplings as an appetizer and came out 10 minutes later. Unfortunately it delayed the arrival of our duck as we waited 20 minutes to feast on it. They were busy but I felt like if we would've skipped the dumplings our duck would have came out much sooner. The shrimp lo mein was good but not as good as the duck. By the time we finished at 7pm the crowd was overflowing in the doorway and bar. A gentlemen was there to pick up an order and I instructed him to lead a path towards our exit. Fortunately he was tucked in his food like a football and lowered the shoulder down like Roy Helu breaking tackles to score a touchdown. We made it out of the restaurant without any fumbles or blindside hits.
(4)
Lhynette C. A.

i love duck. best chinese roasted duck ever in the DC metro area!!! Highly recommended for the experience and the excellent food. Service was also great!
(4)
Shawn I.

We have been here 3 times before, and every time seems better than the last. Although Peking Gourmet is located in a random strip mall on Leesburg Pike, it is a top notch establishment. The walls are adorned with countless pictures of celebrities, presidents, politicians, and high ranking military officials who have visited the restaurant. The owners of the restaurant are very involved with the daily operations, and seemed to go out of their way to make sure guests were well taken care of. Every visit, we're sure to order their signature Peking Duck dish. A chef comes to your table and carefully carves pieces of perfectly cooked skin and lays them on a plate. After the skin is carved, the chef starts to cut slices of the duck meat onto the plate as well. The dish is accompanied by three sides: a small flour pancake, a sweet dark sauce, sliced cucumbers, and spring onions. When combined, it is an incredible combination. For two of us, we usually order half a duck, a plate of lo mein, and another beef or chicken or seafood entree, depending on our mood. We always take home leftovers! I have tried the Imperial Seafood which had very large portions of scallops, crab, and shrimp. In fact, come to think about it, they are always very generous with their protein ingredient in their dishes. All of this comes out to about $50-$55, and we are stuffed. As with most Chinese restaurants, you won't be disappointed by the portions (something I'm very particular about). We also have made a reservation 2 out of the 3 times we've been there, and it seemed to be the best way to circumvent the long wait times they can experience on the weekends. Although location is not ideal and the waiting area is small, it is overshadowed by the top quality food, reasonable prices, and attentive staff. If you can find a convenient way to get to the restaurant, it is an absolute must for every DC/NoVa resident and visitor.
(5)
Sylvia C.

This place is delicious. Great duck.Their other entrees are good as well. I went for lunch for the first time and had a pork and pepper dish that was very tasty but was a bit too oily. I could feel it coating my mouth. The hot and sour soup is superb. The eggroll was not greasy and the fried skin was crispy and not that chewy skin you find on some eggrolls that are soaked with oil. Obviously they have their oil temperature correct. Service was also good.
(4)
Christine L.

As previously mentioned I'm a bit of a Chinese food snob which is why I rated this 3 stars, as their other dishes are a bit lack luster and they charge tea per pot. In reality I would rate it 3.5 stars, maybe even 3.75 stars to shake things up, but the Peking Duck gets a 5 star rating, hands down. If anything you should visit this restaurant for the duck. I've found no restaurant that does it as authentically as Peking Gourmet Inn and for a relatively reasonable price. The other food they served was mediocre but was completely muted by the flavorful fowl, which is tender and mouth-wateringly juicy, complimented with the traditional hoisin sauce, spring onions, and pancakes. If you go to this restaurant MAKE A RESERVATION. Even with a reservation we were packed like sardines into a small waiting area to be seated as waiters and hostesses bustled around us trying to clear tables as fast as they could. They charge per pot for their tea, be aware of this if you are used to Chinese restaurants having complimentary refills. Note you may not have great service, especially in their peak hours there is likelihood you will be ignored. Go to this restaurant for the duck, order it for a new experience if you've never tried it and maybe get some rice or something but definitely go for the duck.
(3)
Ebonie G.

Maybe I should have had the duck, because I was thoroughly underwhelmed by my meal. It was dry, tasteless and did I mention EXPENSIVE! take your taste buds elsewhere and save yourself the money.
(2)
Erin D.

I love this place! Twelve years ago on a vacation to DC, my cousin's aunt took us here to try the famed Peking Duck. While I thought the food was good, the tourist in me was more impressed with all the politicians, dignitaries and Washington-types that have eaten at Peking Gourmet Inn and whose pictures graced the walls. Fast forward nine years later, I'm a VA resident and I no longer notice the pictures on the wall at my go-to place for Chinese food. I've tried many many things here and just about everything is soooo good! My ABSOLUTE favorites are the barbecue pork ribs, fresh garlic chicken and beef with spring onions. The chicken and meat are always so tender and flavorful; vegetables so crisp! Prices are very reasonable and there is always plenty of leftovers to bring home. I would highly recommend making a reservation regardless of day and time because this place is always crowded. Advanced reservations aren't really necessary unless you have a big party; often times we've called to make reservations a couple hours before with no problems -- better to be safe than sorry!
(5)
Claire B.

This has become our special place to go have a nice dinner! We take our friends here when we can and will be back many times in the future. I'm not sure I have much to add from other reviewers. The duck is amazing! The drinks are strong, and maybe a bit heavy on the sweet and sour mixer, but still pretty good. It can get crowded here, make a reservation! We have enjoyed all the dishes we have ordered here and I'm not afraid to venture on the menu because everything we have tried has been outstanding! If you have not been here, it is an experience! From the parking lot to the food, it is an adventure and well worth the visit!
(5)
Vena V.

I love love love Peking duck and it is difficult to find a place that specializes in it. This is the place to go. The Peking duck and its tasty, crispy skin was perfect with the flat pancakes that I prefer (they do not serve the thicker spongey pancakes that I have seen elsewhere). They provided hoisin sauce, cucumber and scallions on the side. Perfect. We got the duck bone soup (with duck, thin rice noodles and cabbage) - loved it - and a huge order of string beans with garlic and onion - loved those, too. Got the pan fried dumplings. Have had better dumplings in CA, Boston and Hong Kong, but these were OK and I can't seem to find a reco for good dim sum around DC, so these will do. The decor is very 1960's and I just don't care. Had to drive through the 7 corners to get here - way too much traffic drama. Will return anyway as soon as I find the most threadbare excuse.
(5)
Alison L.

Having been to many Chinese restaurants in my lifetime, however only a few in the DC area, I can say I'm a fan. In addition, I've been to BJ numerous times and have had the legit BJ kao ya. Upon reading prior yelp reviews, we made reservations for two. Once arriving, we only waited another 5 minutes for the table. The Peking duck is way overpriced, but it's delicious. When there aren't a thousand choices for peking duck, I'm willing to pay more for quality. The pancakes, meh, only so so. They're fresh and from scratch (though flour and water... = scratch? sure) but a bit on the thick side. Hoisin sauce was delicious... however, i do wonder if there was MSG in there. I was not a fan of the lady who cut the duck, I thought she was a newby and messed up a few times, but ended up removing the fat from the skin on the side....However, I saw other "duck skinners" who were of higher proficiency. we also ordered the chicken with garlic sprouts. I was curious exactly what garlic sprouts were... and the dish was delicious. It was enough food to match the price of the dish. I forgot to mention, we started with an order of panfried potstickers. They were good... medium/thick skin with a good filling. The filling wasn't overly gingery (my complaint at some places). I'd love to return and try their other dishes... ie. Sea Bass with black bean sauce. I was very glad to find a somewhat authentic Chinese restaurant in the area.
(4)
Irena N.

Don't be fooled by the generic strip mall location and the slightly dingy outward appearance. The duck here is to die for. I've honestly never had better. Perfectly crispy skin, tender juicy meat full of incredible flavor. I keep trying other places and always end up disappointed in comparison. Don't limit yourself to the duck though - there are many wonderful things on the menu worth trying out. I myself am partial to the Jeo-Yen Shrimp, the Seafood Imperial, and the Orange Chicken.
(5)
Matt P.

I've had Peking duck in Peking (Beijing), and I can tell you with confidence that this is the best Peking duck in the world. These people know what they are doing, and they consistently do it very well. Let's start with the quality of the duck, which they raise on their own farm. These are healthy, well fed ducks. The meat is tender and delicious. Next, let's talk about preparation. The roasted duck is done to perfection. The skin is crispy, while the meat is, as noted above, tender and delicious. The presentation at Peking Gourmet has always been top notch, and this latest visit was no exception. The wait staff shaves the skin into bite-sized pieces, then removes the layer of fat between the skin and the duck meat. The waiter then carves the meat from the breast into medallions perfectly proportioned for insertion into a pancake. Now let's talk about the pancakes. In the wrong hands, these flour pancakes are stiff tortilla wannabes. Not here. The pancakes are tender and delicious, the perfect complement to the duck meat. Scallions, cucumber, and hoisin sauce round out the presentation. The result is sublime. The other highlights of course include the garlic shoots and Sichuan beef proper. I was used to ordering the garlic shoots with shrimp, but this time the shrimp were small and didn't match the fragrant beauty of the garlic shoots. I might try chicken next time. Still, it's a small quibble. The meal was spectacular.
(5)
Nicholas C.

As a DC expat, I remembered my dad mentioning several times having frequently visited this place to carry out duck when I was very young. When in DC this past weekend, I decided to check this place out. The outside of the restaurant is unassuming (in a strip mall) and it was hard to tell if the place was even open. The inside is quite plain as well but there are tons of pictures of government officials, celebrities, and even Presidents who have eaten at this restaurant. However, the food inside was excellent. While we only ordered duck, we were quite pleased with the food. I have had duck at a well-known Chinese restaurant outside of Philly and I enjoyed this more for a few reasons. First, the skin was sliced razor thin and actually included in the wraps. Second, you received virtually the entire duck, whereas I have typically only received enough meat for the wraps plus the drumsticks elsewhere. We did not order the cucumber, as it did not look like it was much of anything, but a gentleman (whom we assumed was the manager) gave us complimentary hot peppers, which added a welcome kick. My friend, who had never had duck before, thoroughly enjoyed it and had a good size bag of leftovers to take home. While the price ($40) might seem high, it is only a bit more than I have paid elsewhere, and we got a lot more food here (more than enough for two). I can definitely see why my parents liked this place and I will definitely look to return the next time I am in the area.
(5)
Will b.

I have tried Peking ducks from several Chinese restaurants around DC area. I admit that this place has the best Peking ducks in town. The skin of the Peking duck is golden and crispy. Its meat is moist and delicious. Other dishes that i would recommend are Jeo-Yan Shrimp and Lamb Chop Peking Style. They are marvelous as well. The place is normally quite crowded. I suggest a reservation be made in advance!!!
(4)
fxvafoodie f.

Located in the Culmore Shopping Center (between Seven Corners and Bailey's Crossroads - closer to Bailey's), Peking Gourmet Inn has been serving presidents, dignitaries, military officials and regular ol' folk, like me!, for years and years. little has changed since my first PGI visit - reservations are crucial, traffic getting to/from this place is a challenge and the small parking lot is an "adventure" just as consistent as those annoyances are - the food is similarly consistent (nothing super amazing, but good americanized chinese food, or maybe they secretly have a chinese menu ... i haven't found that in all my years - about once a year for the past 20 years - but doesn't mean it's not there ...) I think the price of the duck has gone up - as of November 2010 it was $38 for the duck - which comes with the little pancakes, shredded green onions and shredded cucumber. be sure to ask for the cucumber if they somehow forget - the cool, refreshing bite of cucumber adds that little extra yummy element to the wrap. if you have a small group (4-5 people), then i would recommend getting a bunch of appetizers and then the duck (the mini steamed dumplings have shrimp, while the fried dumplings have pork, i like their imperial soup). for larger groups, get a couple of the entree dishes to share - their fried rice portions are mountainous, so keep that in mind. you can also choose from their group menus, but I prefer my method - although I haven't done the math, so who knows ...
(3)
Tj G.

This place is amazing. Been coming here for years. Clearly you must get the Peking duck. The fried rice is fantastic as well. Was not the biggest fan of some of the other Chinese dishes here
(4)
Jen M.

This is the legendary spot frequented by past Presidents, Senators, Military Officials and all kinds of other dignitaries. It is almost always packed so make a reservation. Come early to deal with the parking situation - it's got a small, crowded lot in a little unassuming strip mall between Bailey's Crossroads and Seven Corners. There is only one reason you should come to Peking Gourmet Inn (well, two if you count the restaurant's reputation.) Have the Peking Duck. It's a great experience when they roll it over and carve it for you at the table and serve it to you. They are also known for their garlic sprouts so go ahead and order a dish with their famous sprouts in it. And that's pretty much all you should order. Anything else will be disappointing.
(4)
N J.

Like others here said, it's all about the peking duck. Over the weekends, the wait is long, the restaurant is crowded and waitstaff seemed overwhelmed at times. But this is the place to go for really really good peking duck. I had the chicken lettuce wrap, grilled jumbo shrimp, and two other dishes that escapes me. These dishes weren't bad, but weren't anything too exciting. I recommend going on a weekday. If you have to go on a weekend, make sure to get reservations and confirm them the day of.
(3)
J H.

If you like Peking duck, you need to go here. Good food with fast service.
(4)
Molica N.

Two words: Peking Duck. *Knocked off 1 star only because it gets SO packed that if they have to, you might be seated in front of people who are waiting for their turn on a table.
(4)
Kat L.

This place is INSANE. I went on Christmas to get my jew on, and it was a show... First of all on a busy night be prepared to wait over an hour for a table. We were lucky enough to have 'called ahead for a table for four'. And even with that we waited a good half hour. Lesson here RSVP RSVP RSVP. People love this place. There is a full bar with amazingly beautiful drinks that come out with little umbrellas in colours I've only seen in xanax induced dreams (hallucinations). I have video of the famous duck... seeing how I don't eat duck, I had the beef and broccoli, and vegetarian spring rolls. The duck was $38, and was a perfect portion for my two friends that split it. The presentation is a bit overwhelming though... 7 minutes and counting of video... Beef and broccoli was mediocre, but I suppose they are not famous for that. The spring rolls were perfect, super crispy- and yums. I dont see myself coming back as I dont eat duck, but it would be fun to go back with a group of people. If you can't get a table there is a pho restaurant 4 doors down...
(4)
Mai T.

I wished that my first experience at Peking Gourmet Inn, I wasn't tipsy and still stuffed from the Boozy Brunch with yelpers. On a Sunday night at 7pm the place is packed! RSVP's are a must! There's not much I need to say about Peking Gourmet that others have not already stated, I'm just here to confirm everyone's rave reviews =) If you come here, and don't order the duck.. bad bad!
(5)
Paul W.

I've probably been here over 100 times and I can't get enough of their duck. But a lot of their other food is money also. Stay away from the typical American dishes. Basically all the house specials are money. Seafood pan fried noodles also money. I've heard issues about their service, but I never have any issues. Go early or make reservations. This place gets slammed.
(4)
Thuy L.

The Peking duck deserves 5 stars on its own. Everything else is mediocre. The perfect meal there would be a FULL duck, a veggie dish and the fried rice looking steam rice that comes along with the veggie dish. Also, ask for a side of sliced green chili peppers. Ordering anything else will only disappoint you or give you a heart attack. Duck plus that crispy beef dish and crispy shrimp dish equal heart attack. Eat wisely. ** NOTE ** Have Mr. Woo carve your duck. He'll get rid of the extra fat and carve your duck down to the bone. I always tip him personally for this.
(5)
Jemmie W.

A friend recommended this place. It's fairly famous and is associated with the Bush family (I won't go into story). First, the restaurant's target audience are really caucasians. How do I know? 1) Menu is English only. More authentic Chinese restaurants always have a Chinese menu and/or bilingual Chinese & English menu. 2) The person who cut the Peking duck was very careful to scrape *ALL* of the fat off. For those who don't know, Peking duck is forced fed duck, so it can be extra fatty. Peking duck in Beijing (aka Peking), which I have had, is carved with the fat on. Otherwise, why bother fattening up the duck? It's like paying a premium for toro and delicately cutting the fat out. Or paying a premium for USDA prime ribeye and painstakingly cutting the well marbled fat out. Or ordering bacon and only eating the lean parts. So what probably happened is the place got a lot of publicity because of Bush Sr, a lot of white people started showing up, and many said, "WTF is all this fat in my Peking duck!?!?!?!" Silly white folk... And the staff starting scraping the fat off of the Peking duck. Just saying that brings a tear to my eye. 3) The duck is not forced-fed duck. It's just regular roast duck. I'm not a Peking duck expert (though it is on my bucket list), but the amount of fat scraped off is like the amount of fat on a regular roast duck and no more. All of this makes sense - why pay a premium for forced-fed duck if you are just going to scrape off the fat so the well-heeled white folk and ambassador class in DC don't ruin their figures? There is a reason why almost all of the authentic Chinese restaurants that serve regular roast duck don't call it "Peking duck" and just call it "roast duck" - because Peking duck is supposed to be forced-fed duck and the FOB Chinese people would say, "WTF? This duck isn't forced-fed!" 4) The Peking chicken are large pieces of chicken without skin or bone. Authentic Chinese restaurants simply don't serve chicken that way. They might for small pieces of chicken (e.g., kung pao chicken), but not for large pieces. Having said all of that, the food is not bad. The duck is tasty, but in a reduced fat, skim milk kind of way (and, frankly, duck is like bacon - it's very difficult to mess up). The Peking chicken is flavorful but there's something missing - probably the skin and bones! The garlic sprouts stir-fried with pork is quite good. I don't regret going but I don't need to go again. The place has sold out. I would too if I had waits out the door at almost 9pm. The Chinese people can go elsewhere.
(3)
Thuy H.

Ohh boo!! I had to bump you down a few stars. Duck was still delicious, but a lil on the overcooked side. It wasn't as moist as I remembered it to be. And, the rolls were beyond hard this time. UGH!! Also, we ordered other stuff this time around...lettuce wraps (so so so salty...give me a pitcher of water with this!!), chicken corn soup (it was pretty good, but I've had better), and beef fried rice (decent, but again, I had better) Service was still awesome! The one guy showed my neice a lil magic trick with a key he has which made her day!
(3)
Julia N.

Knowing that this place is notorious for its peking duck and seeing Duff from Ace of Cakes drool over it, I was super excited to try it myself. Plus, so many famous people have been here! Precaution: MAKE A RESERVATION. If you come early, you might be able to get a spot, but like I always say, it's better safe than sorry. When I left, there was a pretty dang long line of anxious eaters waiting to be seated. Another RANDOM PRECAUTION: When you follow your waiter/waitress to your table behind the "front desk" area, watch your step! There's an abrupt incline. I didn't notice and felt like I almost stepped through a portal into another galaxy and had a heart attack. You know that feeling? (you know.. when you think there's an extra step when you're walking up/down the stairs and reality has an odd way of proving you wrong) ANYWAYS.. The service is really good. They're friendly and will check up on you. Of course, you probably came here for one thing. The peking duck. And if you didn't, and never have before, then you need to reevaluate yourself. Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? Most likely. Besides the peking duck, we ordered the chilean sea bass and a lamb with spring onions dish (I believe that's what it was called..?). I am continuously disappointed by Chinese restaurants and their mediocre food. This place was able to make me believe a little again. The sea bass was seasoned well and was great with rice. The lamb was very tender and soft. I actually thought it was beef at first. I still question myself whether they really scammed us and used beef (good thing? bad thing?). You have to try this place at least once if you haven't already!
(5)
Nader A.

We had a party of 8. It was my first visit to this restaurant, but others in the party had been there before. The entrance was really crowded. Even though we arrived in time, we had to wait and pushed around in this narrow hallway by waiters who seemed to have no patience with us. It was a Sunday and our reservation was for 7pm. We were seated in a nice and quiet room with 3 large round tables and a small table for 2. We ordered their signature Peking Duck dish (3 of them for the 8 of us) plus Kung Pao Chicken, Szechuan Beef and a mushroom and baby Bok Choy vegetable dish. The duck dishes were prepared at the table and served on several serving dishes along with Chinese onions (looked like leek), cucumber and Hoisin sauce as well as a special wrap. It was very good. Apparently, they get their ducks from Long Island not Canada - if is supposed to be a better duck and more expensive. But it's not technically Peking duck in the sense that ducks don't have that much fat. I loved their Kung Pao but didn't enjoy their Szechuan Beef. Service was good. It started slow as one waiter and his assistant were serving the whole room. Prices were ok for the experience. I'd say ducks were on the expensive side, but one duck really serves 3-4 people. So it wasn't that bad. Lastly, pictures and memorabilia from famous politicians and celebrities were all over the place. Enjoy!
(4)
Donna Y.

I've always been a huge fan of chinese styled duck! We came here based on the high yelp reviews and I have to say, I was pretty disappointed. We made a reservation for two and we still had to wait 20 minutes before they could sit us. We ordered the Duck and it was the perfect amount for two people. It came with several taco shells, hoisin sauce, and sliced green onion. We ordered an extra side order of cucumber slices. I felt like the duck skin was crispy but the meat was dry and flavorless. This restaurant was a little overrated imo.
(3)
Talia S.

Well, I found out this place from Yelp that this restaurant has good review, and great ambience after I have been looking around for good Chinese restaurant to host my clients for dinner. I give 4 stars for best service from a Chinese restaurant, and Peking Duck, Firecracker Prawn and the wall pictures of those famous people that came eat here. Good presentation and waiter service ever. The only downfall is the end and make me feel uncomfortable about TIP. We have our clients pay for one of her bill and she wants to give 15% tip, the owner and waiters (Both of them) keeps telling her that generally Tipping is around 20% for good service. She is international traveler, and she didn't know that part, and think 15% is OK. So, when I pay for my table, I give 18% tip because of that conversation that I heard the waiter told me. I understand that part, but your food price is expensive, that's why you will get so much tip anyways for only 3 dishes we ordered.
(4)
Hee L.

Seriously not the hype. Really. I've read the reviews and was so excited about the duck. Now, I'm really not a duck fan, but with all the 5 star reviews I thought "hey why not. Let's try and see what this place is all about." I'm so jealous of all the 4-5 star experiences others have had. I want that too damnit! *sighs* Maybe one day if I return (which won't be for a while....or ever). Part of a "strip mall" the outside kind of looked shady. But whatevs. Upon entering, it has a nice layout. Impressed with the wall-o-"celebrity" or "important" people pics, I thought ok so if The president, politicians and celebrities eat here, then it must be good. Yeah I beg to differ, but genius marketing scheme if you ask me. The first time I went was with my family. Having parents who love to eat duck (I'm no duck condessiour (~~~yeah I just butchered the spelling there, but I'm a master at eating and drinking. Not grammar or spelling), my mom complained that the duck had a weird "smell" to it. I don't really know duck. I ate it. I thought the skin was delicious. The meat.....meh. I honestly think Duck Chang's in Annandale (hole in the wall looking place) has better duck. But that's just me. What do I know? I just like to eat and if it tastes good (or bad) I'll write about it. Maybe my frequent duck enjoyers can compare and let me know. Second time I went was with friends. Of course they got duck. Another friend ordered some lamb dish. I didn't want the duck. I ordered fried rice. Simple right? No. It was a big plate of mush that had no flavor and like maybe 4 small pieces of shrimp. Ok, how the heck does a chinese restaurant with this 5 star reputation mess up fried rice? Tried my friend's lamb dish. Ugh! Some deep fried lamb tossed in a thick coat of sauce. It was chewy, dry, and seriously tasted like really cheap beef. I know what lamb tastes like and that most certainly did not taste like lamb. Why would you deep fry perfectly good lamb? I mean yes everthing deep fried SHOULD taste good and better, but no. Not this "lamb". Do NOT get it!!! Lesson learned. Don't ever get a "lamb" dish at this place. Or the fried rice for that matter. The easiest thing to make in my opinion and still they mess it up. The duck this time lacked in flavor and the crispy skin. Skin was more chewy than crispy. Maybe I was having bad luck or came on off days? Third time I come again with some friends. We ordered the steamed dumplings to share. How does a chinese restaurant mess up on their signature items? I mean come on. Steamed dumplings. The outer skin was rubbery and there was barely any filling in the middle. The TINY amount of meat they had inside fell out and literally disappeared on the table. =( I ordered this time some chicken dish. It was so unmemorable that i forgot the name. It was this big oily mess with just chicken, some veggies, and a butt load of sauce. Of course for the third time I come, duck is ordered. Better than second visit. But this time, the green onions that come with the duck was not fresh. It looked like wilted green onions that have been sitting in the fridge for a week or two. No one could eat it. When e mentioned it to our server, he just glared at us and told us he would bring us fresh ones. We never got fresh ones. That jalapeno in soy sauce that comes with the duck also was not the usual fresh, crisp jalapenos we usually get. They were soggy and pretty much fell apart when we tried to spoon some out. Looked like the jalapenos have been "marinating" in that soy sauce for days. Our waiter pretty much scowled at us when we told him. I told him he didn't have to bring us a new one but instead he should know to tell the back of the house. The table next to ours also complained of "unfresh green onions and soggy jalapenos." Needless to say, the times I have come I have been unimpressed. I think I will stick to Duck Chang's in Annandale. Except for my bad "curry" episode, service and the food has always been consistent and pretty good over there. Including the duck.
(2)
Deniese L.

I've been coming here since I was a kid w/my parents in the 90s... And it's still standing! By far the best pecking duck I've ever had (and I've tried them all over NoVA and in CA). For $42, it feeds a family of 4. But don't waste the remnants after they cut the duck up. They can chop it up more in the back and you can pick off the bones or take it home.
(5)
Nadine F.

Great Peking duck and shrimp, OK everything else, questionable food safety practices. I came with a group of seven people, and we were all excited to try the Peking duck. We went with their Group B menu, which includes the following dishes for $38 per person: 1. MINI STEAM DUMPLING & CRAB RANGOON 2. SEAFOOD ASPARAGUS SOUP 3. PEKING DUCK 4. BLACK PEPPER SHRIMP 5. ORANGE BEEF 6. PEKING GOURMET CHICKEN 7. FRESH SHITAKE W/ CHINESE BABY GREEN 8. YANG CHOW FRIED RICE 9. MANGO ICE CREAM OR TOFFEE PEACHES I loved the Peking duck and the black pepper shrimp. Everything else tasted like the same stuff you can get at any old strip mall, but with better quality meat (or in the case of the fried rice, with worse quality meat). In short, nothing was bad, but most of it just wasn't worth the calories. Of course the presentation is the big draw here. They carve the duck up right in front of you, which would be fantastic if the restaurant weren't so crowded. People walking to and from their tables frequently brushed up against the ducks, so I personally would prefer it if they carved them up in the kitchen under cleaner conditions. If I came again, I would order the Peking duck (one duck is sufficient for 3-4 people), with some kind of vegetable dish and rice, which I think would have left me just as satisfied for way less money.
(3)
A N.

I went to visit the Baltimore/d.c. area with some friends so we decided to try out this restaurant. Well, let's just say that I had high expectations with all the waiting. There was a huge crowd; that seemed to bode well for it. We ordered the Peking duck, garlic shoots and pork, a generic beef dish, and some fried rice. Well, the Peking duck had excellent presentation and that is some justification for it being almost double the price of Sang Kee in Philadelphia. BUT! However prettily you slice and dice my duck, if the skin's not crispy, then it's not Peking duck, is it?! I was also not very impressed with the homemade styled wrap. The only interesting thing was the julienne of green apple. Unexpectedly, we found out that the restaurant was pretty famous for the use of garlic sprouts. Being garlic lovers, we had to order the garlic sprouts with pork. Interesting innovation, but failed execution. The garlic sprouts had a very light garlic flavor that was almost overwhelmed by the massive amount of pork. It was more of a pork dish with a hint of garlic. Please up the ratio of sprouts to meat or just add some garlic to the dish. Funnily enough, the 'generic' beef dish turned out to be the best. The Peking Gourmet Beef was probably the most unappetizing dish I've seen yet. However, I try not to judge a book by its cover. It really was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The flavor profile was just right (gingery!). So, one star for the service and one star for the beef.
(2)
Carrie L.

The best Chinese food in North Arlington! Always fresh. Love that when you order chicken you get white meat not nasty pieces of whatever the cook has around. The staff could not be friendlier making the service always outstanding. Only downside is they don't offer delivery. Food always ready for pickup in 15-20 minutes. So glad we found you!
(4)
Theresa K.

I've grown up coming to this restaurant for various special occasions with family and friends. Although since the original owner retired and his son took over food hasn't quite been the same but still delicious regardless! Whole ducks are about $35 each and can easily feed 2-3 people depending if you are eating is as an appetizer or meal! The server comes out with the freshly roasted duck and carves the meat out table side and sometimes if they aren't busy they will make your first pancake wrap for you. I've only tried their salt and pepper shrimp (sometimes TOO salty), crispy beef, seafood combo, and panfried noodles. I like to just come for the duck because I feel like the other entrees just don't taste as good as they used to. But still a great experience and you get to see all the famous people that have come to dine at the restaurant over the past decades! Must try restaurant! Definitely call to rsvp because this place can get crazy packed even on weekdays!
(4)
Arthur F.

Did not know what to expect walking in here, as it is in a kind of "divey" looking shopping center but was REALLY surprised. Inside it is surprisingly large and the walls are covered with the important people who have dined there, including a TON of military personnel and government officials (including the Bush family). Our waited Alex was very attentive and helpful in selecting our meals. Ou order included the following: Winter Squash and Sea Scallop soup - REALLY good Lettuce Wraps - Especially good Sezchaun Chicken - Basic, it was good but it was just basic Peking Style Beef Our server brought out the soup very quickly and the timed the rest of the meals perfectly one after the other. After we ate our appetizers the owner/manager Bobby came by to see how out meal was and what we ordered. When we told him the beef he said "That is good, but let me switch it out for the Northern Steak." What an amazing dish this was. I can't wait to go back and actually get the duck or some of their other specialties.
(5)
Monica W.

Maybe because of all these shiny photos and stories raised my expectation so high, I was slightly disappointed from the food (which is also the most important part I care about.) Overall, the food was not bad, but I had better before. After all, this is in the US, not in Asia. The dishes are authentic enough (for a foreigner.) :) Therefore, if you would like to try something exotic or in the mood for some real Chinese food, this place would be a great choice. Full review with more photos: wp.me/p5e05O-np
(3)
Heather P.

The food at Peking Gourmet Inn is killer. My boyfriend and I share a duck - it is so flavorful, crispy and fresh! The crab rangoons are full of crab, no cream cheese, and the sauce they are served with perfectly complements the rangoons. Normally, I come here and always get the duck but I would love to venture out and try more dishes. Everything the waiters bring by the table to other diners appears so fresh and delicious! Not to mention the waiters are very attentive and time the meal delivery expertly. This is definitely a DC-area staple. It is not your typical plaza Chinese joint. They are brilliant!
(5)
ML C.

This is not my first time to this place but is my first review. Came to this place on 4/2/15. I made reservations for 6:00 pm by 6:30 the place was crazy and this was a Thursday!!! Ordered the Peking Duck (surprise?) and the fried rice with all protein and seafood in it. First Impressions: If you blink...you miss it. From the outside seems small until you get inside. This place is clean, tables are clean and we'll put together. Manager/Owner came to the table to be sure we were ok with the meal. Order was taken quickly and delivery was perfect. Food; I don't need to repeat what the majority of my colleagues yelpers are saying...The duck was excellent!!! The carving and presentation was good. The rice flavors were on point, the protein and seafood pieces were big. Our server was so amazing she got 30% tip...no regrets. Her recomendations were on point and she was always was near by. She even took pictures for us, great experience. Excellent customer service Suggestions, -make reservation, no matter date or time. -parking is in a small street mall consider time. Highly recommended 5*+
(5)
Dan M.

This review is purely for the Peking Duck which is of course the reason we hit this joint up on a weekday night. We called ahead and made reservations to secure a spot so that nothing could get in between us and our delicious meal. This joint is literally in the middle of a large strip mall and does not look like much from the outside. Once you park and step in side, you are transported to a weird world. I was not used to a Chinese restaurant where the servers could speak English fairly well and even the way the bar is Americanized. I think this is a product of their customer environment as the walls are filled with pictures of famous people including Psy and various military generals. My guess is they have evolved to cater to the audience but it was refreshing. We were greeted promptly at the door and brought over to our table. Without hesitation we ordered the Peking Duck for $42, adding on the $3 cucumbers and two mcallans of course. I was a bit perplexed to be paying $3 for cucumbers as I thought it was a necessary veggie to have but for $3 it was not a big hit. The mcallans were a bit light on the pour for the first glass but the second glass was much more generous. The servers were also funny and very attentive to our needs which again was surprising as im not used to the most impeccable service at Chinese restaurants typically. Obviously this is not what you guys were looking for in this review so lets get right down to business. The servers brought out all the dishes including the wraps, hoisin sauce, cucumbers, etc. After the full array was placed in front of us the duck came out not too far behind. The folks are pros at slicing up their duck and they quickly dissected the duck with surgical precision. They did a few things here which seemed a bit unorthodox which included slicing the skin and the meat but not a big deal since you just roll it into a wrap. I did appreciate the fat being sliced away which was nice. I think the biggest surprise was that they carved meat away and then took the duck away. Typically I feel in an authentic place I see them do more with the remainder of the duck but perhaps this is just weird experiences from the past? Anyway, they wrap you the first piece giving you perfect portions of each ingredient. When you take that first bite, it is just delicious. We devoured the entire meal within a quick time frame. A delicious meal all in all and while maybe not the most authentic i am still a fan of this place. I will be making more visits to grab some more of this delicious duck
(4)
Amber F.

Definitely one of the better peking ducks I've had in the DMV area. This place is usually packed, so MAKE RESERVATION. Don't try to walk-in. Unless you like waiting in a small crammed area for a long time! I've only had their peking duck and mix veggie dish. The ducks are usually good - crispy skin, not too greasy, and cut fresh from the duck in front of you. Every once in a while you may get those overly greasy ducks. I love how they offer complimentary cucumbers to go along with the duck. I like to wrap cucumbers with my duck, it's refreshing! The veggie dish is nothing remarkable-just some greens to go along with the protein. The service I'd say it's better than most Chinese restaurants. They're busy, so it might be a bit slow, but definitely attentive. Half a duck should be enough for two people. Oh, and their peking duck comes with pancake. (Some restaurants' peking duck comes with plain buns. In case you're wondering like I was the first time I visited Peking Gourmet Inn.) If I crave peking duck, I'll be here.
(4)
Caleb Y.

Peking Duck was a phenomenal experience to have as it was my first time having it. Glad I had the opportunity to try it here at this famous restaurant. Pan fried noodles were also a big hit in my group. Big fan of the feeling it leaves you afterwards, full but not hurting.
(5)
Sua Y.

Peking duck: very good. 4 star. Crispy skin with all the fat trimmed off in front of you. Meats all shaved in front of you. Sides for peking duck: pancake deserves 2 star. Not thin. Not too thick either. Dry on the side. Doughy and some parts not fully cooked. Sauce very tasty. Green onions should be prepared thinner. Other beef, chicken and vegi dishes: it came with 6 people combo. don't order this combo. Vegi dish was fresh and good. Beef and chicken were not good. Beef too tough and rough. Chicken not much flavorful.
(3)
Merry M.

Been here twice, both times for lunch. The first time I was there, I thought it was decent, but overrated. Had the Peking duck, garlic sprouts with pork, hot and sour soup, and fried leek dumplings. It tasted like any decent Chinese restaurant and I didn't see the hype. My boyfriend has loved this place since he was a kid so I agreed to go a second time. We got the Peking duck, chicken Lo mein, wonton soup, and some pork dish with spicy plum sauce that was on the lunch specials. Yum. This time the duck had me in food heaven! The Lo mein was delicious and so was the soup. The pork dish however was basic and disappointing. All in all, I'll be back to explore other items on the menu. Still in search of a mind blowing Chinese place.
(4)
Navin K.

One of our favorites places to dine in Northern Virginia. Loved the ambience (once we got inside) but not the wait, especially on weekends. Can't go wrong with food choices, but we loved the namesake Peking duck (carved table side) with plum sauce and plum wine. And the occasional sighting of Washington "royalty" - the Bush family, for example - was always interesting!
(4)
Mary Kate M.

I recently dined at Peking Gourmet Inn with my friend from Memphis, David and his father. David's never lived in DC but has visited for years and makes sure to hit up Peking Gourmet as a special area treat. The space is super old school with Chinese decor combined with picture of celebrities like a NY Deli. The place was apparently a favorite of GW Bush back in the day which led to it's notoriety. I am not of fan of GW Bush, but I am a fan of Peking Gourmet! We started with Chinese dumplings with leek that comes from the restaurant's farm. We also had a bottle of plum wine which is a really fruity sweet wine which went well with the meal. David told me about the farm. We then had a Peking Duck course which was the best duck I've ever had. Moist and not over cooked. The ceremony of cutting and serving the duck was also quite cool. The waitress really got into wrapping little individual duck packets. She was nice and informative. We then had Szechuan Beef Proper aka Crispy Beef and Jeo Yen Shrimp. I thought the crispy beef was a little bit too crispy. David and his father really raved over it. I really liked the shrimp dish which was a dry fried shrimp with some spicy powder on top. The shrimp were genuinely large. David and his father both though it was fairly dry and could have used a sauce though I thought it was fine. Overall an excellent experience. We did ask for the waitress recommendations and got all chef's specialties. David said that getting more ordinary dishes can be a bit hit or miss. Sort of like they are just making them because it's expected. Also, the portions are huge. If you go with more than 3 people you could feed 4 with 3 entrees and don't need an entree a person. or plan for leftovers. I can't wait to return. This place is phenomenal and you can see why!
(5)
Amanda S.

Came here on our anniversary. When you walk in you immediately see pictures of celebrities and politicians who dined at Peking Gourmet covering their walls. Also, the space is surprising much larger than it appears from the outside. We decided we had to order the Peking duck. We also ordered a few sides, including winter squash soup, mushrooms, and bok choy. The soup was good, hearty and earthy. The mushrooms and bok choy were good too, but nothing we hadn't had before. We were trying to go light on the sides as we wanted to save room for the copious amounts of duck that were on the way. They bring out the piping hot duck on a rolling cart and slice it up right at your table. The duck is perfect: crispy skin, with juicy, flavorful meat. They also serve warm pancakes to roll it up in, with sides of fresh cucumber and spring onions to add in your pancake roll if you'd like, and delicious hoisin sauce for topping. This is a dish that will please just about anyone's taste buds. I've come on other occasions and ordered other dishes, but the reason to really come is for the dish that really shines, the Peking duck.
(4)
Ali H.

Peking duck was well cook. crispy and tender. sometimes the duck sauce gets little too sweet. service was attentive other dishes on the menu looks good , too will return to this place again
(4)
Anna G.

The Peking Duck was delicious!!! I'm not a big duck fan but this was very tasty. My group had the Black pepper shrimp and scallops which was flavorful and had a kick to it. The beef and chicken with vegetables were mediocre so I suggest go for something with more spice. Service was okay although I felt a little rushed by the wait staff to be done with dinner and leave.
(4)
Alexis K.

This is probably the most difficult review I've had to write. I'm not sure what to rate Peking Gourmet Inn because my only reason for not being a huge fan of the place is because I have become so sick of it! If Yelp existed when I was 9-years-old, I would be the check-in Duchess of Peking Gourmet Inn because I really think that I've dined at this establishment over 60 times. Every single birthday, holiday, family reunion, or anything celebration-worthy means my entire family - which consists of 20+ people - is gonna meet up at Peking Gourmet Inn for dinner. We've been there so much that the staff knows each member in my family on a first name basis; in fact, I think my family portrait belongs on their wall of famous people (jk). In short, I'm all ducked out. But that doesn't mean other folks won't enjoy the food here. If you've never experienced Peking duck, this is the best place to go. The only worthwhile thing to eat here is the duck. The duck is technically supposed to be an appetizer of sorts, but my family pretty much orders enough ducks to get everyone full. It's fun to watch the expert knife skills of the staff as they slice almost paper thin morsels of the duck skin and meat (Mr. Wu is the best!). I've tried dozens of their entrees, and they are just not consistent. For instance, I have had the Mandarin Fried Rice many, many times and it's either too bland, too salty, or the beef is harder to chew than taffy. This is the main reason why I'm impartial to Peking Gourmet Inn; I wish their entrees were more consistent in taste and flavor. The service, of course, is impeccable. My family gets treated really well (probably because we're such die-hard patrons), but there has never been a time that we've had an issue with the service. We normally have 3 staff members handle our huge parties of 20+people. There's definitely a lot of room for confusion there, but they communicate with each other effectively and everything flows seamlessly. I recommend Peking Gourmet Inn for those that want a more upscale Chinese dining experience. It's gonna get expensive, but go for more duck and avoid the entrees. As for me, I hope my family finds another restaurant to exhaust...
(3)
Leila L.

Delicious and authentic. The decor is pleasing and the staff are friendly and attentive. The garlic sprouts are a definite try. Will be going back!
(4)
Theresa L.

Best roasted duck in Northern Virginia. My only advice is if you have a big party you must make reservations. But expected to still be waiting for your table at least 30 minutes. Highly priced for their roasted duck but I think it's still worth the try. Other foods on their menu are OK.
(4)
Demetry P.

It's hit a wall - the prices have climbed and food quality and portions have diminished. Our family frequented this place at least 8 times a year and a couple of birthdays. No more. They slice the duck up but leave a lot of meat on the carcass and take it away for other cooking purposes -even when you ask them to Cut it for table. The drinks are weak and many dishes are just not that good. The service is just ok and frequently over up selling. Sorry to see this place go downhill.
(2)
Melinda M.

This establishment is known exactly for its namesake-Peking Duck! Ok, it's not really named Peking Duck, but it may as well change its name to that because that's what most people come for. I called to make reservations and to reserve two Peking ducks, however, I was told there's no need to reserve Peking ducks. When we got there, we realized why there was no need to reserve. When you step inside the restaurant the first thing you'll notice is the plethora of picture frames of people ranging from Presidents to actors. The entire restaurant's wall is covered with these picture frames. I get it. Famous people come here. Yelpers said to come here mainly for Peking duck since the other food is just ok and they were right. We ordered two Peking ducks and a couple of dishes. The only standout was the duck. It's like a factory assembly line. They bring out the duck to your table to show you how it looks then the duck is sliced tableside. It is served with the typical accompaniments-hoisin sauce, scallion and cucumber. I think I literally saw about a hundred ducks being brought out from the kitchen, but I think the quality and consistency suffers from such abundance. Some of the ducks looked pale and not the typical color of a crispy Peking duck. Luckily our's didn't suffer that fate. Unlike other places I've been, the duck skin and meat are served separately not together. I prefer mine served together with the texture of crispy skin and meat in one bite. The Peking duck was rather expensive compared to other places. It was about $42 for one duck. Service was efficient, but we kinda felt rushed. They were clearing tables just as fast they were seating. Would I return for the Peking duck? Maybe, but I wouldn't rush there or make a point of stopping there.
(4)
Lily H.

The one and only place I go to for peking duck. They do such a great job of cleaning the fat off the duck/skin while serving to you fresh at your table. We always get the sprouts, cucumber slices, and hot peppers to go along with the wrap. The wraps are also very good (not sure if house made?), but they are not too thick but don't taste like they came out of a box. The plum sauce is great, not too sweet. The service is quite good - servers are always very cordial, and know when to change your plates. Always see management standing around ensuring quality every time we visit - good thing! Only thing not a fan of is the rest of the food on the menu. We've tried several other dishes (vegetable and meat dishes), and all of them are just plain jane. The homestyle tofu is probably the only dish we consistently pick. We've tried the kung pao chicken (where's the spice?), lo mein (bland), seafood pan fried noodle (plain), and the list goes on. Go-to place for duck, but not quite on everything else.
(4)
Jake H.

Everyone that knows this area, knows about this place! Says it's the best around. My girlfriend and I were not that impressed. We couldn't finish the egg rolls and the won ton soup was all right. Nothing was really outstanding. It was busy and we just did carry out so maybe that what it was. We will try again, just with lower expectations.
(3)
Dawn O.

We love this place. Great to take family for a traditional Chinese dinner. We won't eat Peking duck anywhere else. Great for large groups, young and old. Excellent service. Very friendly staff.
(5)
Beverly Z.

I love this place! It so reminds me of a place our group of friends called the Red Peacock-the picture on the sign (Okinawa, Japan). I have always looked to duplicate this experience. I found this amazing experience right in my own neighborhood-Falls Church. A good friend of mine said, "I have a place I think you need to try." He was not kidding! The building from the outside provides the wrong impression. Walk-in and experience authentic dÃ©cor and a crowd of people, a large staff, displays of military challenge coins and celebrity pictures. The aroma is amazing! We split the garlic sprout Shrimp and Moo Shi Chicken. Both plates were beautifully displayed with colorful and fresh ingredients. The cooking method was stir-fry. Following, I made a group reservation for 15 in celebration of a farewell. Approximately 5 servers assisted our table. One server recommended the Group B menu. Eight of us committed. Everyone else ordered as they saw fit. Perfect! A great and varied sampling of what this place has to offer. Peking duck-carved at table side, mini steam dumpling & crab Rangoon, seafood asparagus soup, black pepper shrimp, orange beef, Peking gourmet chicken, fresh shitake w/Chinese baby greens, yang chow fried rice (mixed meat), and mango ice cream. Everything was served timely and at the proper temperature. Several servers gave all participants a class on how to prepare the pancake, plum sauce, and carved Peking duck with julienne onion. Appropriate sauces and peppers were on the large lazy Susans in the middle of the table-making sharing easy. All said, "It was an amazing dining experience to remember!"
(5)
Cat P.

Peking Gourmet Inn does duck well. My dining companions loved how the expert servers separated the duck fat from the the skin and flesh, giving you only crispy, golden skin and succulent, fatty duck meat. Oh, and you can take a duck carcass to-go, too. (Duck pho with the leftovers?) Five stars for lovers of duck. All other dishes are just okay and horrifically overpriced. A tastier and cheaper version of Peking's jeo-yen shrimp can be had at Full Kee down the street (or any other nearby Cantonese restaurant). Same goes for their famous garlic sprouts with the protein of your choice. Though they're sourced from Peking's farm in Purcellville, the garlic sprouts didn't taste particularly fresh or super flavorful. Good idea, but so-so execution.Three stars for everything else. Dated banquet space with plates and other serving ware that need replacing. Waiting even if you have a reservation. Despite the animated service and celebrity photos lining the walls, I think I'll pass on Peking Gourmet, unless I have a friend who desperately wants delicious duck, carved tableside and served with warm pancakes. 3.5 stars
(4)
David H.

The duuuck so good. Carve it for you at the table. This place is always packed, super busy, and for good reason. The food is great (maybe a tad expensive) but it's the best around
(5)
Jess C.

This is a place you bring guests from out of town or people who have never had "peking" duck before and want a fancier Chinese meal. It is definitely more catered to a Western clientele. Compared to your typical Chinese restaurant, this restaurant does a great job of keeping it very professional, the interior is well-decorated, the walls are adorned of pictures with famous people who have visited this restaurant in the past. I never would have imagined this traditional Asian interior from the outside of the old strip mall. As others mentioned, make reservations. It is easy and you have to call to make reservations. I called at 4pm on a Saturday about booking a table for two for 5pm. When I showed up there was already a line from those who did not reserve. So, I was very glad I made reservations. Within a few minutes, I was seated to my table. With the 99% of the employees were Chinese, the Chinese decorations, and the beautiful tender large ducks, I almost felt like I was back in Beijing. However, this is not real "Peking Duck." A real Peking Duck (such as the ones in QuanJuDe--the most famous Peking Duck place in Beijing) keeps the fat on the duck. The key to getting crisp skin on Peking duck is apparently to blow air in between the skin and flesh so as to separate them. Also, when you buy a "Peking Duck" in China, you get the entire duck! You get duck soup, and every piece. At Peking Gourmet Inn, the duck preparer came out, cut us ~20 pieces, and just took the rest of the duck away. We never saw the rest! For such a big duck, I thought it was a waste that it goes back to the kitchen. So for two people, 20 pieces, for $42 dollars --- it almost doesn't seem worth it f it weren't for the good service and nice interior. Even though it's not authentic Peking duck, I did appreciate them removing the fat. Also they charge an extra $3 for sliced cucumbers that goes with your wrap. Peking duck should always come with cucumbers, so I'm not sure why it is being charged extra here. To make up for it, they do give you a small shot of cucumber juice to finish your meal. Also, that local garlic sprouts people are raving about. It took up 1/2 of a page of the menu, so I thought wow-they must be really proud of this dish. I guess I'll order it. What a mistake--It is definitely one to avoid. It was $20 to get garlic sprouts sauteed with pork, and it was way too oily. The veggies and meat were drenched in oil, and there was no flavor to make up for it. Overall, for two people- come here and order the full $42 duck. Pay the extra $3 for the cucumber. Feel fancy. Make wraps. Go home happy. Don't get the garlic sprouts.
(4)
David H.

My friend and I decided to try this place after reading great reviews on here. He and I both agreed that the service is definitely 5 stars: attentive and the carving of Peking Duck is top-rated and professional. The Peking Duck, unfortunately, did not meet our expectation. We both would give it 3 stars at best. The duck is deep-fried with little flavor, which is not the traditional way of preparing Peking Duck (should be roasted.). Other food is tasty but to us is over-priced. We had high hopes for this restaurant, but unfortunately we don't think we will return again...
(3)
MD F.

I really like the Peking duck! They serve it in pancakes (not the breakfast kind;) with sauce and veggies. Many people have been there and the wait list is long, which suggests that this restaurant is popular.
(5)
Jennifer H.

The Peking duck here is amazing. If you're wondering, it's worth the trip to come out to this busted building in the middle of Falls Church to get your grub on. Something about that skin.... And I'm in love with their green onions. I know it's kind of strange--but unlike the stringy scallions you get from your local grocery store, these are crunchy and crisp! You can ask for the duck carcass to go... make yourself some duck soup with it. As for the other dishes... - Szechuan beef proper - I dunno, it just wasn't good. I felt it was lacking SOMEthing and that ours was over-fried. - Jeo Yen Shirmp Shrimp - Really tasty, very meaty shrimp. Get this. - Pan fried noodles - Skip it! This is supposed to be a Cantonese noodle dish made with THIN noodles. The noodles should've come out super crispy. Instead it was made with THICK noodle that were pan fried at some point, but retained no crispiness. While the portion was huge, the sauce lacked flavor and most importantly needed more salt. I'm still giving this place 4 stars b/c I'd come back again for the duck alone! Make your life easy and call in for a reservation.
(4)
Ann K.

Proud to say that I've dined where the Presidents have dined. If your looking for a great duck place in Washington Dc. Look no further. This place is infamous for their perfectly crispy but moist duck. The duck is enough to feed a group of 3-4. The duck comes with a wrap, cucumbers, hoisin sauce and also sides of chills in soy sauce which you eat all together. We love spicy so we asked for tons of the chills. It matches so well with the fattiness and richness of the duck. We also love the fact that duck is so gOod and healthy for you. We also ordered a shrimp dish which was delicious in itself but I came all the way from Cali and you can find good chinese dishes everywhere. The duck in itself is such a simple dish because they didn't really marinate it but strangely you will find yourself craving it.
(4)
Karli S.

Grabbed Carry Out at this place and it was definitely nothing special. Ordered the Kung Pao Chicken and Beef and Broccoli, and both were pretty bland and lacked flavor. I probably won't eat the leftovers, which is surprising for me! This place is significantly more expensive than my favorite Chinese spot and is not nearly as good. Maybe I didn't get the right thing (I guess you come here for the duck) but I feel like such simple dishes should still be done right and it was just not satisfying at all.
(2)
Jackie F.

Very popular place. Lots of photos with politicians and celebs on the walls. I had some kind of chicken with veggies. It was just okay. My daughter had the orange chicken. She said the orange chicken back home is better. I thought the same about my meal. Service was excellent though. Lots of energy. But, the food wasn't anything to write home about.
(3)
Bryan N.

I was highly recommended this restaurant by a friend so I had to try it out. We ordered the Peking duck, schezuan style bean curd, garlic chicken, pan fried dumplings, and the chicken corn soup. All which were really tasty. My first time having a real Peking duck and I must say it is delicious. This place is infamous for their Peking duck so don't go without ordering it. This restaurant is more on the pricier side but you get what you pay for.
(4)
Andrea R.

Love, love, love this place! My family and I go here at least once a year for their peking duck, it's the best I've ever had. The ambiance is great, pictures of celebrities who have dined there and the staff is so friendly. We always order a couple ducks, the combination fried rice and a vegetable. Everything is so tasty. They bring the ducks out and carve them right next to your table, then your waiter will make your first taco for you, if it's your first time! The crispy duck skin is something dreams are made of. We have been going here for years and have never once been disappointed! We were just there in December and I got to meet Daniel Dae Kim, pretty cool! I recommend this place to everyone for awesome peking duck. The parking situation is not great, usually it's packed and you have to do a few loops to find a good spot. Always make reservations, the wait can be very, very long and their lobby is tiny with no chairs.
(5)
Cima K.

LOL after all my friends rave reviews about this place I was soooo excited to try it out! I love love love the ambiance, the waiters, its a very cool restaurant, but im no fan of duck (gross). The food was meh-hence the low stars but the place was fun
(3)
Ni C.

If you are in the mood for Peking Duck, then this is the place to go. The duck skin is really crispy and tasty without being too oily. I love watching the staff slice up the duck right in front of your table. The pancake is fresh and the sliced cucumber is oh so delicious. The mix drinks are a little strong but to some I'm thinking it's a plus. It's really crowded, so it's in your best interest to make a reservation. The place have pictures of republican representatives hanging all over the wall. If you are a democrat, don't let that deter you from going and enjoying the taste of the best peking duck in the DC metropolitan area. My sister and I try to make it here every other weekend. The only negative thing I can say is you'll still have to wait a little even with a reservation.
(4)
Margaret W.

We came here for a friend's birthday with 20 people. We sat at two round tables in a separated room, which was really nice to be secluded especially since we were so loud and moving all over the place to chat. The server was incredibly friendly and although we were a difficult bunch (twenty of us), he was extremely accommodating. One thing is that besides the Peking duck and the Jeo-Yan Shrimp, I haven't really found much else to recommend. Don't get me wrong, the Peking duck is amazing and delicious. The Jeo-Yan Shrimp is crunchy, salty and tasty. But everything else is not that great. We ordered Shitake Mushrooms with the Baby Bok Choys, which I enjoyed but also not impressionable that we must order it the next time that we come. We also ordered a Seafood noodle dish, which was huge. The dish alone could probably feed three people. I did not like it at all. I had to eat some Mushrooms after I ate this dish to cover up the bad taste in my mouth. Overall, service was great especially for a party of our size. Get the Peking Duck definitely and the Jeo-Yan Shrimp if you like deep fried and salty food. Don't need to fill yourself up on the other dishes.
(4)
Krystal A.

I took my cousin here for her birthday on a Friday night, and it was packed, so I definitely recommend making a reservation for prime dining out days. If I could give this place 3.5 stars, I would. We ordered the Peking duck and garlic sprouts with pork. It was a small table, so they brought out the duck first. The duck is sliced table side. Though some people complain about the fat being cut out, I actually enjoy this because I like to take out the fat anyway, so that I'm left with crispy skin and slices of meat. The Peking duck is served with homemade pancake wrap, hoisin sauce, cucumbers, and scallions. I really love the texture of the pancake wrap-it has a nice chewy texture to it. The duck is $42 for the whole duck. They also allow you to take the duck carcass home (great for making congee) for a $3 charge, but did throw in another one for 'free'. I do think it's a little weird they charge to take the bone home, since I already payed for the whole duck. According to the menu, the business grows their own garlic sprouts. It was a dish and garlic sprouts stirfried with pork in a brown soy sauce type sauce. The dish was a little too greasy and salty for me.
(4)
Christina L.

My family enjoys coming here often for the peking duck :) The duck is really incredible - my favorite part is the skin, but it does taste better with the flour wrap, breast meat, cucumber, sweet sauce and peppers. My family of 4 usually gets 2 ducks and some appetizers and it's enough for the family :) We have leftovers to take home if we add any entree dishes to that. The ambiance is a bit dated, and the area can have difficult parking (big parking lot, but it shares with many other small The service here is great because the servers are quick to come to your table, and are always positive and enthusiastic (but not in a pushy way). I like that everyone really does have a smile on their face :) Over the years, it's become less crowded for lunch hour, and they take reservations, so it should be no problem to get a table on the weekend. Great for large groups, as well!
(4)
Fairouz F.

Maybe it was the two dishes that we picked, or maybe it was lost in translation from our waiter, but we ended up with two super fried dishes that we did not enjoy. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer and that was good with it's sauce. We ordered the spicy shrimp that was super fried and not spicy at all. And we ordered the Szechuan beef proper based on the many reviews on here. CAUTION: this is basically a sliver of beef heavily breaded fried and drenched in a super duper sugar sauce sprinkled with sesame seed. Felt like you were eating a candy apple- so technically it was almost like having a dessert. Maybe I needed to order it sautÃ©ed instead of fried. And I think the waiter was trying to explain that to us, but we were confused.
(2)
Kevin N.

A bit disappointed. The Peking duck was good. Service was good, all other dishes was bad. What kind of Chinese food were these
(2)
Peter H.

Always long wait in line...u must rsvp...Used to be good...but their duck price keeps going up $10 every year...why??
(3)
Walt B.

Slipping through the waiting throng, we were glad we had made reservations. But discerning Chinese food lovers should have reservations of a different kind about Peking Gourmet Inn. Their Peking duck ain't all it's quacked up to be. The thick pancakes overwhelmed the feeble taste of the barely seasoned duck and skin. (But kudos for offering a side dish of cucumber.) For a second dish we took the waiter's suggestion of Jeo Yen Shrimp, "One of our most popular and exotic Chinese dishes" according to the menu. Well, if thickly battered deep fried shrimp with a sprinkling of seasoning is your idea of "exotic" then you might like Peking Gourmet Inn. My wife and I have enjoyed Bejing duck many times in Beijing, and the best in the San Francisco Bay area (Great China in Berkeley). Peking Gourmet might be a good experience, and deserves credit for the table-side carving and for being willing to serve half a duck (not listed on the menu). But this westernized food won't impress anyone familiar with real Chinese cuisine.
(2)
Megan D.

Amazing peking duck. You must try it when you're here. However, pretty bad service. The staff weren't that friendly so it was pretty awkward for me to ask them for wifi.
(3)
R S N.

My most favorite Peking Duck restaurant ever. Every time we visit Virginia, we have to go here at least two times. It's always packed here so you know the food here is really good. Be sure to make reservations or else your wait time is Forever! Lol. There's 7 of us and we ordered 3 whole ducks, a beef dish, mushrooms with bokchoy, snow peas and fried rice. We devoured everything and most of us typically eat like birds but tonight we ate like pterodactyls lol. Can't wait to go back there on Sunday for Mother's Day.
(5)
Jeanne K.

I've been coming here for several years now having grown up in the DMV area, and this is really the only place you can get solid peking duck here. To be honest, all other dishes here are pretty good or just alright, but I just come for the duck. I can't give this place a 5 people I do have to say that the quality of the duck is inconsistent depending on the night. I've come and sometimes the duck meat will be as dry. Also, on weekend nights, this place is packed and crazy especially near the entrance. It really sucks to get a table near the entrance on those nights because it's loud and there's too much traffic nearby. I'd like to eat my duck in peace please! If you come on a weekend night, reservations are a must! Also, the price of one duck does not come at a cheap price, so be prepared. But other than a few minor cons, this place is pretty solid. Definitely recommend it if you haven't tried it yet
(4)
Benny A.

Pros: best peking duck in the world. Ive been to beijing china, where peking duck originates from, and it doesnt compare to this place. Their pancakes and hoison sauce is what makes me keep coming back to this place! Their gourmet pan fried noodle is also very good. Cons: the price of the duck keeps increasing every year! It was around $25 when i first came here and now its $42! Also the location is at a pretty shady place. The servers can be rude at times, but it really depends on who you get. Overall: whenever im feeling peking duck, i dont settle with any place other than this. Best place in the world hands down.
(4)
Kaoru M.

We were brought here by my sister's in-laws for the "best peking duck ever." Perhaps that lofty claim may have led to my expectations being too high... but I've definitely had better peking duck in China Towns in NYC, London, and Yokohama. It's good, but not the best ever. What does set this restaurant apart from all the other Chinese restaurants that I've been to in the past is the level of service. May was our main server and she was absolutely fantastic. The restaurant itself is crazy busy and rather cramped, but our host had reserved us a large private table in the back of the restaurant so that really helped. If we didn't have the private area, I may have been turned off by how cramped this restaurant is. I've been told that this restaurant was a favorite of both President Bush's, and as I sat underneath multiple photos of both President Bushes posing with the restaurant owner, I guess that's a fact. Aside from the peking duck, we had the hot & sour soup (excellent), pan fried dumplings (excellent), pork fried rice (excellent), chicken lo mein (good), ginger beef (excellent), sweet & sour pork (meh), jeo-shen shrimp (amazing), and sauteed bok choy & shiitake mushrooms (excellent). So actually, I liked almost everything else better than the peking duck. The problem with the peking duck here is that the meat itself is barely seasoned, and most of the flavor comes from the copious amount of hoisin sauce that they apply to each wrap. While some people might prefer it that way, I prefer my duck to be adequately seasoned where I can eat the meat without adding anything to it. On the other hand, the duck meat itself was perfectly cooked. In the end, while it wasn't the best peking duck ever like my host claimed, I still had a fantastic dinner experience. Next time I'll skip the duck and save more space for the shrimp and ginger beef!
(4)
An B.

5 stars for the peking duck, which is the best I've ever had! While their other dishes range from really good to just ok, you really shouldn't come here unless you're having at least some duck. It's a bit pricey but worth it, from the presentation (they carve it up in front of you into perfectly thin slices) to the taste (folded into "pancakes" with spring onions and delicious hoisin sauce that enhances the duck's flavor). A great place to bring out-of-town guests, just be sure to make a reservation, especially for large groups.
(5)
Ted D.

Some out of town guests insisted on taking us there for dinner. I ordered Chilean sea bass with mixed vegetables. The fish was very difficult to eat. Tasted like old fish. I poked my way through some of the vegetables and let the staff take it away. I didn't want to complain and possibly embarrass our guests. I wasn't impressed by what the others ordered as being great Chinese food. Maybe the duck is good, can't speak for it. The rest COSTCO warm overs. Nice service and white table cloths.
(2)
Jess M.

Yea, it's not in the greatest part of town. And yea, it's next to a discount mattress store..but once you walk through the door, you're now standing inside one of DC's greatest food institutions. The restaurant's interior is visually transformative: groups of eager diners waiting for their table, uniformed waiters buzzing across the dining areas with enormous plates of steaming dishes that will give you food envy before you've even been seated, walls lined with photos of Washington's past and present celebrities, and a huge menu that will make you glad you got the table with a "Lazy Susan." I've been here several times, but just recently came with a large group for an office lunch out. Reserving a table is key, I called in a week early for a table for 12 and was ecstatic when we got the special table which is separated from the rest of the dining room by a large decorative divider. We opted for the family style Group Lunch ($14/person), which comes with the famous Peking Duck, normally $45 if you order it separately. There was also schezuan beef, sauteed vegetables, fried rice, chicken and vegetables, and the hot and sour soup. The duck meat and fat is sliced thinly tableside, and served with thin pancakes, hoisin sauce, and garlic sprouts that all gets wrapped together. The waiter was great, he went around and made one for each person- I cannot describe to you the look of hungry desperation on everyone's face as we waited with courtesy until he finished with the last person before we all shoved the wraps into our faces. Glorious. Deliciously glorious. If you read this review, and then don't order the duck when you come here, then we just can't be friends. Everything else was great, but the things I always remember after each Peking Gourmet experience are the atmosphere, peking duck, the attentive waiter service, and how full I am walking out to my car. Maybe the mattress store is a strategic placement, they know I'm looking for somewhere to lay down after I eat! I'm giving 4 stars because I think the food is slightly overpriced. I've grown up eating a lot of family dinners in Chinese restaurants everywhere, and it's my judgement that they could stand to shave a few dollars off the entrees.
(4)
Chang Y.

This is a famous pecking duck restaurant but the servers (especially, people who serving duck) need be more professional. We ordered two ducks and then two waitress came to my table and then preparing the ducks. While they're preparing the ducks, they were talking each other and laughing each other. They are spitting while they are enjoying their talking. Simply, it's disgusting. I complained to the manager but the manager didn't even understand the issue. When you order duck, DO NOT order more than one duck. If you order two ducks, then you will see two servers and you will unnecessarily eat spitting ducks.
(1)
Wayne K.

The Chen brothers, of Youtube's "Off the Great Wall" channel, just posted a rave review of their visit here - see it at youtube.com/watch?v=-Hp4â€¦
(5)
Joannah Y.

We came here for my birthday and no I did not want a whole bunch of servers singing happy birthday in Chinese so I told my children not to say anything about it. The ambiance? Not so much because the wall was peppered with picture frames but we went therefore the duck and that you should. The duck is the bomb! we had ordered two other entrees, the lamb chops in Peking style and the Jeon (?) Shrimp. We also ordered chicken and corn soup as well as chicken fried rice. The lamb was a disappointment because it was sour but the chops were tender as hell. If that was how itreally tasted, it was a waste of $40. The shrimp was good but not spectacular. The one thing i liked was its crunchiness. We brought the other entrees home because we had two orders of duck! Parking is not a problem at all. Overall 6/10. Four stars because we haven't found a place that beats their duck yet. PM me if you have.
(4)
Sam L.

From the outside, it doesn't look like much. Once you stepped in, you'll realize it's bigger than you think and soon you would also realize why it's so popular. Most visitors come here for the Peking duck. For $42 each, they do a great job of carving it and making it easy for you. Tip: ask for the bones and you can make great soup out of them. But another hidden gem is the seafood pan fried noodles ($30), which can easily be shared between 2-3 people. The service was pretty good, as our hot tea was refilled promptly and the head waiter very attentive to our requests. Small bathroom for a size like this restaurant, and the prices can be a little bit better. However given the demand it has, and that you better make reservations for almost anytime of the day, I can see them doing the exact same thing for the next 10 years, and people will still flock here. Another tip: take a look at other tables' dishes and ask the waiter/waitress about the ones that look good. Chances are if the dishes look good, it's also super delicious.
(4)
Food-Travel-Adventure A.

My friend took us here for dinner since we were in the mood for peking duck. My husband and I think it was okay. The Garlic Sprouts was not that good, the peking duck was okay, the seafood soup ($11/order came with 2 small bolws) it was decent, and the new order special shrimps on the menu wasn't that great. As for the drinks, we ordered the Fuji volcano and my kids had virgin strawberry daiquiri and we all loved the drinks. The services are excellent and friendly. Overall, we think this place have a decent food, but not great. If we are back in town next time we wouldn't come back here.
(3)
Richard A.

Love this place. Cone for the duck and the simply incredible wall of fame and shame. Presidents, playboyd (and girls), pundits and even Bobbitts are all reoresented here hanging side by side with autograohed pics and handwritten notes here.
(5)
Dennis V.

This is by far the best Chinese restaurant in the U.S. Their Peking Duck is second to none! Even better than the most famous Peking Duck place in Beijing China!!
(5)
Tra H.

I can definitely see how they get 4.5 stars out of almost 900 reviews. The Peking duck was fat, juicy, and expertly crafted. The garlic sprout was out of this world. Also, the service was quite amazing for such an authentic Asian restaurant :-P
(5)
Donna G.

This ordeal was a Seinfeld episode. Even with a reservation, our party was kept waiting 55 minutes - without explanation or apology. ("You know how to *take* the reservation, you just don't know how to *hold* the reservation.") The waiting throngs are packed around the hostess station with bursts of cold air from the nearby door, diners and waiters pushing past to the adjacent dining room, and people trying to access the takeout window or restroom. The hostesses were rude and unfriendly, simply ignoring our inquiries about when we would be seated. Frustratingly, the same waiting list incuded those with OR without reservations. What, then, is the purpose of a reservation? The dining room is very VERY loud. I could only hear the person seated directly next to me. Service was swift and as unfriendly as the hostess. Our waiter Poon (I kid you not, that was his name) took it upon himself to serve duck to everyone at the table, even those who had not ordered it and did not want it. He insisted upon filling and rolling everyone's pancakes, going so far as to take the serving implements out of one diner's hands. Didn't want the pancake? Prefer to avoid the sauce or onions? Too bad. Poon is giving them to you anyway. The dumplings and egg drop soup were adequate. Nothing more, nothing less, no different that that greasy takeout around the corner from your house. The Szechuan Beef Proper (not to be confused with the Szechuan Beef - WTF?) was a piping hot $24 plate of candied meat. Honestly, it was so cloyingly sweet I could not eat more than two forkfuls. The "gourmet Chinese eggplant" was a $14 pile of mushy, garlicky, inedible goo. Perhaps the duck is good - I didn't have it and can't say - but everything else is utterly forgettable. Definitely not worth the trip, the wait or the money.
(1)
Sophie U.

I wanted to love it. I mean, duck, right? What's not to love about roasted duck? I hadn't read about this place before; I hadn't bothered to check reviews because I went with someone who happens to love this place -- not specifically for the Peking duck, but word on the street is that it's the best Peking duck around. Full disclosure: I had never had Peking duck, and I had no prior knowledge of how it's prepared. Had I known, I probably would have been more apprehensive, because I grew up eating Cantonese roast duck and the concept of slicing that brown, fatty, succulent bird into thin and lean slices only to wrap them up inside a hoisin-slathered pancake is absolutely ridiculous to me. But I digress; I'm not trying to turn this into a Cantonese vs. Mandarin thing. I'll cut straight to the chase: I found it underwhelming. Table-side carving, tutorial from the server -- many things prepared me for what I thought would be forty two dollars' worth of feast. Unfortunately, the duck was as flavorless as it was pale. The meat was mostly dry, and the scallions were not fresh. The only thing I could taste was hoisin sauce because the bird was unseasoned, or seasoned very conservatively. And it's fine if you want to charge $42 for a duck, but if you're gonna do that you should probably leave most of the duck with the customers. I'm just saying. I'll stick with Cantonese roast duck -- the kind that doesn't have all its delicious fat scraped off its skin. Three stars because I only had Spring rolls (tasty but nothing extraordinary) and the duck.
(3)
Mojdeh S.

How I heard of this place: Our dear friends, and monthly dinner companions introduced us to Peking Gourmet as the best Chinese food in the area...or anywhere for that matter. A week before we moved from the area, the special occasion called for a special dinner at this grand establishment. Type of cuisine: "In 1978, Eddie Tsui wanted to open a restaurant specializing in a unique northern chinese cuisine. After deciding on Peking Duck as the specialty, Peking Gourmet Inn was born. Realizing that store-bought ingredients were not adequate to generate the authentic taste he was seeking, he opted to go the route of growing his own jumbo spring onions, as well as formulating his own recipe for hoisin sauce and hand crafting each pancake. Today, we at Peking Gourmet Inn continue to uphold the methods and traditions set forth by its founder, ensuring that delicious and authentic flavor. We will strive to do our very best so that every experience with Peking Gourmet Inn is an enjoyable one." Ambiance: We entered this strip mall parking lot to find a boring red awning and yellow font indicating we had arrived at our destination: Peking Gourmet Inn. We entered to find that we had suddenly joined the masses of diplomats, generals and even presidents who have dined at this location, easily taking us into the heart of a restaurant in China. An expansive space ahead, the bar to our left and a smaller, yet still intricately detailed and beautiful room at our backs, we took our seats, but continued to stare at the beautiful space surrounding us. Large lanterns hung throughout, continued to draw my attention throughout the meal. What I ordered: As I perused the leather-bound menu, my dining companions began to make their choices. I started with a Shirley Temple, as my dining companions enjoyed mini glasses of tea. For our appetizers, we enjoyed a bowl of the Chinese Winter Squash and Sea Scallop Soup (for two $11) with minced sea scallop and winter squash prepared with bits of ginger, cilantro and egg whites in a rich chicken broth. The Barbecued Spareribs ($8), and Fried Dumplings ($6). For our main entrees, served family style, I left the ordering to my dining companions, each of whom was all too happy to take on the ordering. Garlic Sprouts stir-fried with Chicken ($18.50), served for the first time in the Washington area, Orange Beef ($19), Black Pepper Sea Scallop ($22), Fried Shrimp ($19), and to satisfy our sweet tooth, after a filling and scrumptious meal, we couldn't pass up the Toffee Apples ($8): chunks of Granny Smith apples fried and tossed in caramelized sugar, sprinkled with sesame seeds, and blanched to ease the stickiness that often makes such desserts hard to swallow. What I loved: The Toffee Apples truly offered the perfect end to our ultimate meal, where each course continued to out-flavor the last, and each bite better than the one previously enjoyed. The consensus around the table is that the scallops offered the highest intensity of flavor with the perfect seasoning and delicate preparation. The Garlic Sprouts offered simple, yet abundant flavor of its crispy preparation perfectly combined with the juicy and tender bite-sized strips of chicken. Any of these dishes would have easily stood on its own, and the combination of them all...had us going back for more. And more. And more. Why I loved it: Excellent food, beautiful presentation, stunning decor and a lively space with friendly staff and efficiency in service. We might need to go back. Cost: Average to high ($15 - $30 per family-style entree served with rice)
(5)
Eric L.

I am not ethnic Chinese, and I haven't been to China. I have tried many places that advertise "Peking Duck" by far hands down this is the best Peking Duck dish I've ever had. My favorite part is the service is also great and everyone is attentive. You don't have to wait for one specific server. You just grab the one closest to you and they get what you need. THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT! This place is definetely get a reservation before you go so you don't have to wait in line forever. Even on a Thursday night at 7pm I was surprised that the place was at 75% capacity (from a quick glance). Gets five stars because it's the best Peking Duck I've had, and the service is great. Typically it would have gotten a 4 because of price but the service and quality definitely kept it at a 5.
(5)
Lawrence H.

This is a great place for peking duck. It is so good. I din't like duck until I came to this place. All the Peking duck I used to have were so greasy and gamey. Not here. I always take visitors here and they all love the place. And I also love the free fried rice that comes with the other meals. It's so simple but something about it is soo good. It's like white rice mixed with egg, onions and peas. That's it. I only gave the place 4 stars because the other food here is just kinda ehh. I do like the Jaoyen shrimp and the bokchoy with mushroom, but everything else was just average. This is another place where reservations are highly recommended. Waits can get up to 2 hours at peak eating times. The restaurant is nothing special in terms of decor. Seems like a typical Chinese restaurant, except that this place is FILLED with pictures of the owner with different politicians and military people. I heard it was papa Bush's favorite place to eat or something. And this place is surprisingly big inside considering what it looks like outside.
(4)
Ashley Y.

After 5+ years of living in the area and hearing all the hype about this place, I finally made a reservation and went to PGI for a friend's birthday. The short answer is, if you're looking for the overall experience, great service and pretty good food, this place can't go wrong. however, the main con is that it's a little pricier than other Peking duck places. To dig in deeper, as mentioned above, the service is spectacular! Our waiter Steve was really cool, always kept our teapots full, and despite a busy evening, never kept us waiting too long. He had a great demeanor and was very pleasant, as did the rest of the staff. As for the duck, given that this place is a little more well known, the portions are comparably smaller and the prices higher than other duck places. However, the duck skin is one of the best I've had, the pancakes are definitely homemade and thin/not doughy, the sauce is incredibly delicious and not overly sweet, and they offer a side of cucumbers (which were were super fresh) for your wraps. We also ordered some other side dishes, all of which were just average. Also, this is one of those restaurants that actually charges per person for tea. But that's neither here nor there; this review is clearly focused one thing only. Bottom Line: if you're looking for a place that shows well, can seat larger parties (with reservation, of course), has good food, and are okay paying a little more, this is the place for you. if you're a "quantity AND quality" person who doesn't mind a mediocre venue, I've got better ideas for ya :)
(4)
Jonathan C.

This place isn't at all what is hyped to be. I came here on a Saturday evening around 9:30 with my girlfriend. We come in and end up waiting 20 minutes for a table when clearly there are open tables that can seat a party of two.Finally get seated immediately are asked for drink orders.I thought "okay so this is where the attentive service I read about is" We order our drinks with two appetizers. The server didn't know which table to drop it off at which I thought was funny we had to tap her on the shoulder and let her know that it was ours. The lettuce wraps and the crab rangoon both were not that great...Once our main entrees came out we started to notice that the attentiveness to our table had suddenly stopped. We were rarely asked if we need refills and when did need them took 10 minutes to get it. We were sitting next to a loud annoying party which the owner Bobby seemed to care more about by providing them with a cocoanut shrimp recipe that hadn't been added to the menu yet, he also seemed to make sure they had everything they wanted quickly. Mean while we had to move our empty dishes and plates around just so we have space on our table. I read a comment earlier where someone said that they don't seem to care about the younger people or people who don't seem like they have money. Which would make sense seeing as they have pictures full of celebrities and important people who have eaten there before. Long story short this place is hyped make sure you wear a suit of some sort otherwise you wont get good service. Food is not that great either, no flavor and taste bland you can probably get a better meal and duck at Chinatown in DC for cheaper the price. I wouldn't recommend this spot and theres better duck places in the DMV.
(1)
Christy V.

The food was great. I just enjoyed a delicious lunch with my co-workers. Four of us shared the duck. It was the best duck I have ever had. The hot and sour soup was also the best version of it I have ever had. The egg roll was too greasy and not great. Our server was rushed and slightly rude, but the food outweighed the service. I'll be going back.
(4)
Girl-and-Goat D.

Delightful dinner spot with awesome fare. Pictures adorne the walls with multitudes of famous patrons. We will certainly come back soon !!
(5)
Lisa H.

Old world charm in a dumpy strip mall. Don't let the location fool you, get passed the door and you are taken back to 1980... waitstaff in jackets and little paper umbrellas in drinks... charming! The food is great as well! Try the duck as it is worth the price to see it carved and presented in such a masterful way! WORTH A TRY!
(5)
Stacy H.

If you come here and didn't order their duck, you haven't been here. Whatever you think you know about ducks, forget them --- try their Beijng style duck, and you will come back again.
(4)
Maynard A.

Great restaurant. Family style restaurant which is great for families. Definitely will be back here !!!!
(5)
Gwen B.

I've been here about 5 times and love it every single time. There's a reason they've had the POTUS visit, really no better place to get Peking duck in the area. We usually order the signature shrimp dish (fried shrimp, can't go wrong), the Chilean sea bass, green beans, and a chicken dish of some sort. We've gotten the scallops before and they were awesome! We got the walnut chicken this time and my husband liked it. It's well made with quality meat and not over fried like most Chinese restaurants. Of course the highlight is the Peking Duck. We got 2 ducks this time since we had 7 people and there was plenty for everyone. They give you the rice/flour tacos along with onion and cucumber. They have a server carve the ducks table side (breast and skin first, then the legs/remaining parts). Overall it's not a cheap meal but certainly not overpriced for the DC area. All dishes I've ever had are good, I highly recommend this for anyone who likes duck and quality Chinese food!
(5)
Angel Y.

Peking Duck is worth 5 stars, best you can get in the states. Everything else on the menu is good, but not as amazing as the duck. I recommend the baby bok choy with shiitake mushrooms, they cook the bok choy to perfection. The toffeed fruit for dessert is also delicious and really cool to watch them prepare. Service is always excellent.
(5)
Ashlyn A.

Omg, soooo good! Me and a co-worker stopped in after a meeting thinking what the heck we're hungry. We didn't expect to much but WOW it was the best Chinese food I've had in a long time. The service was good too!
(4)
Jia G.

Duck is just ok, while the other dishes are not delicious. And the service is like sh*t. The waitress here will teach you how to order and what you should order (always the most expensive ones) which is f*cking annoying! Will never come back. Btw, if you are looking for real Chinese food, find another place with reasonable price and better service. Oh, forgot to mention, the food here isn't even close as tasty as some dishes I cook at home.
(1)
Ian F.

This is hands down the go-to place for Peking Duck. I think every year or two they increase the price of the peking duck a little bit, but it's so good that I don't even care. Try the sweet crispy beef in tandem with it if you have a big group. The duck can probably serve 3-4 ppl per duck. PLEASE make a reservation or you will wait forever. This place is a historic must try if you're visiting the NOVA. Bonus if you can find the waiter who both looks AND sounds like Po's dad from Kung Fu Panda... Yes I know he's a duck, but if you know, you know...
(5)
Spence N.

The Peking Duck was out of this world, and the service was impeccable. This is our 4th visit all the way from Harpers Ferry, WV, and we will be back for more. The waite staff is courteous and responsive. The Duck was fabulous as usual for them. I'm now spoiled and won't eat perking duck any where else.
(5)
Pete V.

I'm a huge fan of Peking duck and after finding out about Peking Gourmet Inn, I had to try their duck! When you arrive, the exterior is very nondescript. It's located in a strip mall, and one with a US Postal Service in it at that. We almost left and drove home. Our reservation was for 8:30 pm on a Saturday night, and man, I am glad we had one! When we walked in there was a crowd of 15+ people waiting in the vestibule alone. Claustrophobia was on steroids. The hostess immediately escorted us to a cozy table near the back. Now for the food. The duck was about a 7 out of 10. I have been to the famous Du Dong in Beijing. I have been to the famous Sun Wah in Chicago. This was no where near those ducks. The skin was not as crispy. The meat was not as juicy, nor flavorful. The meat indeed was tender, and I think they cooked it right, but I have had better. That said, I have not had duck as good in NoVA. If you have not had Peking duck before, or are just plain craving it, then I would not recommend against going here, but be warned. They charge $42 for a full duck. It's about half that at Sun Wah in Chicago, and they serve the duck with not only the bao, cucumber, scallions, and hoisin sauce, but they also take the carcass and make it into a delicious soup and fried rice. Still, I did enjoy the duck. It was tender, went well with the bao, vegges, and sauce...oh and plenty to take home with me for a feast the next day! I must add that I thought the service was not friendly, but expedient. For a place as packed as Peking Gourmet was that night, I'm surprised the food came out as fast as it did. We ordered the fried rice, and hot and sour soup as well and both were very good. Not the best I've had, but still better than average. Overall, I did enjoy our duck, and must say it hit the spot. It might be unfair to compare this to some of the best duck in the US and China, but there are just not many places that server Peking duck, especially in the States, so I have little reference to go on. While the duck is fairly pricey, I would still go back...I'm just waiting for another duck craving to sneak up on me :)
(4)
Tunaidi A.

The Peking duck here is amazing! It's better than places I've been to in NYC. There is such craftsmanship when slicing the meat off the duck. Watching the servers here do their thing is a treat in itself. I love how they would even cut the fat off the crispy skin. I appreciate the in-house made pancake wraps for the duck, but it's a little more doughy than it should be. Other great dishes to get include the Szechuan beef proper and the Szechuan green beans. Tip: Peking Gourmet Inn accepts reservations, but if you make a reservation for peak hours, expect to get seated 30 minutes after your reservation.
(5)
Alicia M.

This place is phenomenal! From the steamed dumplings to the Walnut Chicken ending with the Toffee Apples was amazing! THIS PLACE IS A MUST!
(5)
Christine M.

This place is great and always packed! Be sure to come at an off time or you can be waiting for over an hour! the kung pao is great and so is the whole menu be sure to come with a group because the portions are huge and that way you will get to try so many more things.
(4)
JoAnna D.

If my fiance had told me, "Hey, for dinner, I'd like to go 20 minutes outside of Washington DC & take you to a Chinese restaurant in a strip mall in Virginia," I would've laughed in his face. BUT I'm so glad that he surprised me, because otherwise I would have never enjoyed the incredible dining experience at Peking Gourmet Inn. Last summer, after a long day of sightseeing, we drove about 20 minutes from DC and arrived at this little strip mall that my fiance discovered years ago when he lived in the area. We found a parking spot literally right outside the front door, which he told me is practically unheard of. Indeed, the rest of the lot was jam-packed, and unless there was a rush sale on discounted mattresses, I realized that the lot must have been filled with hungry Peking Gourmet Inn patrons. The service is just fantastic. We were greeted so kindly! Then we were led right in and sat at a small table by the wall. I was blown away by the sheer size of the restaurant - definitely misleading from the storefront outside. Larger circular tables run down the center of the room, while the smaller tables are along the walls. There's not a lot of elbow room, but there's just enough for you to eat comfortably. Our server, Sam, was delightful! Such a gentleman. It makes me smile just to remember him. He was so attentive, practically anticipating our needs & questions before we even asked anything. I had a few questions for Sam about the menu - namely the Green Beans. He told me they usually came spicy, but I could ask for them without any heat. We ended up ordering the Lettuce Wraps as an appetizer, and the Peking Duck with a side of (non-spicy) Green Beans and Fried Rice. The Peking Duck is just ... it's the most amazing dish. It really is. From preparation to presentation to palate, the Peking Duck is absolutely spectacular. A small table was brought over with the whole duck, and we watched as a skilled carver carefully sliced thin layers of skin & meat and placed them on a plate. We were mesmerized as she carved the entire duck, wasting nothing! The smell was incredible. The duck looked so juicy & delicious. When our carver was done, Sam was so careful & meticulous, setting the table just so, and teaching us the best way to prepare our Peking Duck rolls. He even prepared our first rolls for us & carefully placed them on our plates! Everything we ate that night was delicious. And not only that -- the entire dinner was an unforgettable experience! But the food was just so amazing. We actually negotiated over who would get to eat the leftovers! Unfortunately, my fiance won that round, so hopefully I can convince him to take me back lol. I now can't envision a trip to DC without making a stop at Peking Gourmet Inn. Best meal I've ever had in the DC area -- and best duck I've ever had, period!
(5)
Kim T.

I didn't try their famous peking duck but I had their noodle dish, Gourmet Pan-Fried Noodles and I wasn't not enjoying it at all. It was supposed to be crispy but it was not and the sauce was very thick and heavy. It was not my favorite dish at all. However, I will definitely comeback to try other dishes I have yet to try. I would go back to try other food and because of their friendly services.
(3)
Travelwriter_Tom J.

The best Chinese restaurant in the DC Metro Area for 37 years pekinggourmet.com Recommend highly. You've probably heard the news already. When you walk into this place the walls are filled with pictures of the all the celebrities gracing the doors of this place over the years. Presidents, foreign leaders, authors, you name, a notable person of every category of fame you can think of has eaten at this restaurant. But that's not why it's famous. Those folks come back over and over again because the food is tasty, scrumptious, and presenting well. I've eaten at this restaurant since it opened in 1978. Having been through the menu several times, I can assure you every entrÃ©e and appetizer is delicious and well appointed. The only thing that's changed over the years are the prices. But that's to be expected. You'd be shocked if I told what my favorite dishes: Peking Duck, Seafood Imperial, and Szechuan Beef Proper used to cost. But they're still worth it today. Orientation - directions for the traveler This place is located in shopping center about Â¼ mile due west of Baileys Crossroads, VA near to the US Post Office. Take I-95 north or south and take the King Street exit west towards Baileys Crossroads. Parking can be a challenge, especially on weekend nights. This place is in a small shopping mall. Try the adjacent parking lots down the street. It's best to call a head for reservations. They may be long waiting lines. Website: pekinggourmet.com
(5)
Mina L.

This is my absolute favorite place to dine when I am craving peking duck! Fair warning, make sure you make reservations on the weekends because this place gets PACKED. This is the typical order: 1. Peking Duck: $42 -- Whole duck can feed about 4 people but you should also order an additional dish. This dish comes with pancakes, hoison sauce, spring onions, thinly sliced cucumbers, and don't forget to ask for HOT PEPPERS! The skin is crispy and the meat is very tender, the flavoring is excellent! 2. Shrimp Garlic Sprouts: $23-- Garlic sprouts tossed with jump shrimp, this isn't my absolute favorite dish but everyone else in my family likes it 3. Jeo-Shen Shrimp: $29 -- This reminds of a highly deep fried jumbo shrimp that seasoned with salt and pepper (This is an excellent choice with the duck because the duck can be a little gamey but the shrimp balances it out nicely) 4. Firecracker Shrimp: $42 -- Jumbo shrimp sauteed in a brown sauce with a lot of hot spicy peppers. It was good but for $42, I didn't think it was worth it, we should have just gotten another duck. Service: Everyone helps each other out, food comes out fast, waiters were polite.
(4)
Dave A.

Best duck ever! Sometimes I dream about the crispy skin and must return for more. I've eaten here numerous times and have never been disappointed. Also if you have room for more than duck the other menu items are awesome too.
(5)
Bert V.

Chinese delivery. What else can I say...
(2)
Ahran J.

I base my reviews on how the food quality matches the price. This place is not cheap (about $35 per person if you order ducks), but it is a perfect place to go when you have one of those days ' I really want good food today'- which happens to me about a once a month. if you dont order duck, I dont know why you exist ( of course unless you dont eat meat). I mean it is good. please try with all the vegetable and hot pepper they give you or your missing out on life. I live to eat good food. Their scallops are amazing. I just had to put rice in the sauce with chili after finishing the scallops and almost licked the plate afterwards. The string beans are SUPER nice, too. Please visit here or your stay in VA is meaningless.
(5)
Pebbles R.

when it comes to food, perfection! but do not dine during lunch and dinner rush hour. if they have to, they will put additional table next to a bathroom ... it's unfortunate ...
(3)
Jj L.

Great duck . No fat at all. Candy Apple dessert is good. Great service feel like a queen.
(5)
Sylvia C.

Oh dear! Although the service attitude is very good, but the worst is still to wear vest guests don't need to go in to dinner, do you really think your restaurant is a famous restaurant, what is not a normal restaurant in Beijing? What's the big deal, not only your shop some eat, garbage. Ps: Please indicate the vest customer prohibit a meal, so that other customers also like me.
(1)
Vienna H.

I came here from NYC for the cherry blossom festival, and saw this place on yelp! Once we walked into the restaurants, there was people in the front waiting for tables and I was so glad that I made reservations for 4! They DO NOT have chinese menus and they do not have fresh seafood that you would typically get from a chinese restaurant. My parents spoke mandarin with our waiter. He was very funny and was telling us that he's been working for 40 years!! We ordered the peking duck (of course), their home grown garlic sprouts, lamb chops and ma por tofu. When the duck came, they would cut the duck and trim of the fat in front of you. This is not your typical roasted duck that you can find hanging in the windows of chinese restaurants. The waiter prepares the first few peking duck wrap for you with sliced cucumber (extra $3), the big scallions and hoisin sauce. When the dishes came, IT WAS HUGE! My family barely finished the dishes. It was pleasure experience coming here and if you're looking for great peking duck, this is the place to be when you're in the area!
(4)
Best Y.

It's the beast Duck I ever had in my life. There are nice pictures of fames people from around the world. They have good fried rice with chicken.
(5)
Andrew K.

I've been here several times and love coming back. I always get the Peking Duck, use the homemade pancake, put some cucumbers, Uncle Charlie's peppers, some hoisin sauce and wrap it up and it hits the spot. I also really love the lambchops which is deep fried on the outside but is a medium rare on the inside. I always try some other things here and it never disappoints but definitely come for the duck and lambchops.
(5)
Lauren L.

Probably about 6,000,000 million degrees of separation later I'm connected to President George Bush. Our connection? Peking Gourmet. if you are anywhere even close to the dc area everyone will tell you to go to Peking gourmet. I'm not a peking duck fan but I have to say this one is different. And with the whole place decked out in who's who wall pics it seems like it's not a bad place to go. Welcomes at every angle. Hello, welcome hello. The bus boy is saying hello. the cashier the waitress. The manager. Everyone is on the welcome wagon. Seated in the booth the waiter takes my order. Surprise!!!Peking duck and some shrimp dish that's just know as the shrimp dish. Seems like the the only 2 items everyone orders. The Peking duck is at the table in a flash. The whole duck is carefully carved. By carefully I mean skillfully. Within minutes The whole duck is carved meticulously down to the bones. They lay out the skin in a separate dish. The skin glistens like I have never seen. Normally when i have Peking duck it's just oven roasted duck. But not here. Here the skin has an extra something. It's almost like the skin is blistering like the best pieces of crispy roast pork. I quickly plop a piece in my mouth. The soft crunch is something no other Peking duck place had. Have I never ate Peking duck before today? Within seconds a waiter comes by and skillfully with 2 spoons scoops up my pancake (A sort of tortillas instead of the usually Banh Bao dough) and the hoisin sauce adds onions and the duck skin. Faster than I can say no sauce it's already rolled up and in my plate. Amazing! Not even sure how they did it. Couldn't even get a pic is was so fast. Like I said I'm not a huge fan of this dish but I must admit everyone on the wall's knew what they were doing there. This is the best Peking duck ever. Almost made me forget about the shrimp. The shrimp dish came. Large prawns lightly battered and topped w my fav. Garlic and lemongrass. If nobody was around I would have dumped the whole plate of topping into my month and had no shame. In a nutshell... 1. Order the duck and the shrimp Duh 2. Make ressie this place is busy! 3. I ate the duck in its own and didn't add all the foo foo stuff
(4)
Steve P.

PGI is, quite simply, incredible. The Peking duck is obviously what you need to get when you're there along with the chicken/pork with garlic sprouts. Their other menu items are top notch and fresh tasting as well. The wait staff are incredibly professional and kind - we love the ceremony that goes in to carving and plating the duck table-side. They are incredibly attentive and all eyes are ensuring you have a quality meal - literally; you're surrounded by framed luminaries - both political and celebrity - lining the walls; testimony to the deliciousness you're about to enjoy. The strip mall in which PGI is located can use a facelift - it's a little shady. But once you step through that non-descript red door you're transported into the Orient to embark on a tour of culinary intrigue and delight. Be sure you make a reservation well in advance of your visit - we've never gone where the restaurant hasn't been slammed with patrons. Enjoy!
(5)
Jun C.

Absolutely top-tier food and service. It makes sense why so many famous people have visited this restaurant. The prices are indeed quite steep, but it makes sense. My family and my brother's fiance's family went there to celebrate, and the place was absolutely packed. For our first course on the menu, we got the 2 whole ducks, which were skinned and cut at our table by 2 different people, and served/plated amazingly. The skin of the duck had its fat shaved off, which left a light, crisp piece of duck skin to eat. The duck meat was cut into portions and served with lettuce sides and sauce, for a fantastic combo. The next courses mostly consisted of shrimp and chicken, which were also seasoned and sauced nicely. Combined with the oolong tea, It made for a dining experience that I haven't had in a long time. For extra special occasions, I definitely plan on making Peking Gourmet Inn the place to go to. I would highly recommend this place to people that I know.
(5)
Kelsey K.

Great duck and Chinese!! Always get extra side of garlic sauce, it's delicious! They also grow their own fresh veggies like cucumbers and scallions!
(5)
Mohamed K.

Right so after a year of dilly-dallying I decided to try this place out. Being very picky about Chinese food (preferring Sichuan cuisine over Cantonese or any other type of Chinese cuisine) and having been to China, I've always been looking for something authentic, I didn't feel this place met my expectations overall. I think part of the hype of this place is the number of celebrities/famous personalities that have been here and perhaps that draws people. The walls are decked with photos so I think it's a very good marketing tool. Food quality - decent but I'd still pick Sichuan Pavillion in DC or TNR in Arlington over this place although the Peking duck was not bad. Portions - pretty big although they threw in 6pcs of shrimp in a pile of onions. Ambiance - kinda like what you find in a busy typical Chinatown restaurant. It's loud and bloody packed to the rafters. Service - can't fault them here because the service was good. Price - frankly speaking I thought it was pricy and they food wasn't WOW to me. Overall - I'd give this 6/10. Not worth the hype at all. It's a place for people who don't really know about authentic Chinese food and are happy being overcharged for the same Chinese food you'd find at your corner take out Chinese restaurant (which would probably be better!).
(3)
Josh V.

We have had a good experience every time. Great service, awesome food. The Spring Chicken (Cornish game hen) and the Duck are my favorites.
(5)
T. P.

Bad service and don't honor reservation. Waited 30 min from the reservation. Stay clear
(1)
Geoff R.

Wow Peking duck for two, delicious. Had to take most home. The is too nice to have wifi. It is the kind of place you go for important celebrations, not to surf the Internet.
(4)
Justin W.

If you go here and don't get the Peking duck, you should be slapped upside the head. You ONLY go here to get the Peking duck. It is the best in the area by far. I would only say get at least a half a duck or more per person in your group and a vegetable dish and you should be fine.
(5)
Aki T.

Poor service! The duck was so so and very costly! The waiter was unhappy and with a very sad face! When he knew we only want one duck, he was mad and yelled like: [why only one not two? Every one wants two! You should order two!] How could we know it's good or not, we wanted to have some other dishes too. Um, not worth to try! Do not think we will go back again!
(2)
Nam N.

This has been my go to Peking duck place for many years. The service is good and the food is delicious. Peking duck is on of my favorite foods ever and there is no other place I would go to get it. The decor is a bit out dated but it feels very "lived in" in a good way. Many people from former president bush to john travolta have been here! Parking at dinner is not always the most pleasant thing but I'm not too mad about that. Overall one of my favorite restaurants in town.
(5)
Robert H.

It was lunch time and we were getting hungry. We drive past this place and my wife says "that looks like a real hole in the wall, let's try it". We go in and find out the place is a lot bigger than it looks. Tried the Peking Duck and it was better than what we had in China and Hong Kong for that matter! The carver came out and the waiter told us he was the carver for George Bush Sr. We had 2 other outstanding dishes recommend by the hostess. Try this place, you'll like it.
(5)
Hannah H.

My husband and I come here only for their Peking Duck - 1 order is definitely enough for 2 people. It comes with 1 whole Peking duck that is carved by your table - they slice the crispy skin off, then eliminate the fat, then carve the meat. We get the cucumber slices, the sliced spicy hot green peppers, a bowl of hoison sauce, and the dough wrappers. Usually, the waiter makes one for you - you lay the wrapper down on your plate, then spread the hoison sauce; add the slice of the duck meat, then the crispy skin, cucumber slices, and top it off with the hot peppers. Wrap it up, and chow down. I love the skin - it's so crispy and sweet; the rest of the ingredients make it a savory treat. Don't be shy to ask for more hot peppers or more of the wraps. I usually get a coke with their famous crushed ice to wash it down. Service is usually prompt, and the place gets jam-packed during the dinner rush, especially on the weekends. There are photographs of famous government officials that adorn the whole restaurant, which is pretty cool. I'm not sure if there are other Peking duck places in the DC Metro area, but this seems to be a consistent spot for a lot of people, old and new. +Peking Duck (for 2) +price increases every so often! +reservations highly recommended
(3)
Xin Z.

First The duck, skin wasn't crispy and didn't taste fresh. $42, huge rip off with such quality. Saw very positive review on Jeo Yan shrimp, so we ended up order it but it was too hard outside, some of the shrimp sand vein didn't clean entirely. Won't go back again.
(2)
Hunter Z.

Personal favorite. So far the best place for Peking duck in DC metro area. The dishes are just the same as you could have in any other Chinese restaurants but the duck is tasty. Try the following - Complete set of Peking duck. Remember to ask them to cook soup out of the remaining bones and meat of your duck. Yummy-yummy soup! Lettuce wrap. This tastes just so good!
(5)
Josh R.

I love this restaurant. I remember it as a kid growing up. My mom would take me once in awhile because this place is special. It's not the typical Chinese restaurant that you order Take Away. You need to eat inside to get the full effect of the ambiance. The food is so yummy. I love the Garlic Sprouts with Chicken because it is a unique dish. You can't find garlic sprouts at any Chinese restaurant. The Peking Duck is also good based on my friends review of the duck. Duck Chang's of Annandale is a tough match in regard to Peking Duck.
(5)
Tomas P.

Can you get better duck or green tea anywhere around DC? No. Why four stars then? Because the waiters watching your every move are just creepy. I recommend it.
(4)
Peter N.

While in VA, we were told that we HAVE to try this place out. This place is pack and is best to have a reservation. The place seems cluttered with pictures of what I'm assuming famous people from around the world that step foot into this establishment. I give the duck carvers mad props for being able to separate the skin from the meat in such speeds. The main thing to get here is of course the peking duck, which is quite delicious. but I'm so use to having the duck served with steam buns, rather than pancakes. Which makes a big difference. I like the steam buns, the pancakes are too light and plain for me, but I don't think you have a choice here. Back to the duck, it was very delicious and tender, and I could not stop eating it. Sandwich (or taco, lol) the pancake, duck, and hoisin, scallions, and peppers (if you like the heat) and you got yourself a piece of heaven in the palm of your hands. We also had the coconut shrimp, was was mediocre, but I must give it to them, those suckers are huge! I can't wait to go back for those ducks, but for now I guess I'm stuck with those mediocre ducks...
(4)
Logan N.

For awhile now I have wanted to try Peking Gourmet out but you have to plan ahead and make reservations, which I am normally last minute on all my decisions. We visited the place on a Friday evening and I was quick to find out why you need reservations, the place is packed!! We were quickly seated and the waitress was prompt to ask us what we would like to start out with for drinks and appetizers. Since we had a group of 4 we had to try the Flaming Volcano, which is a drink with multiple liquors and a center of 151 on fire. Pretty cool if you haven't experienced one. As for the food, we had crab lettuce wraps which were amazing and the waitress setups the wraps for you using spoons, she never touched the lettuce wraps with her hands, which is interesting to watch. For the main courses, we ordered the pan fried noodles which is a family size portion and of course the duck. I love noodles and these were good but I got a little too full from the appetizers which prevented me from truly enjoying the noodles. As for the duck, it is a must order! Go to PG at least once for the experience, I doubt you will be disappointed! Good Luck and have fun!
(4)
Lisa N.

It can't get any better than this. If you want some duck, this is the place to be. The duck was so crispy that while biting down, "the crunch hurt my ears" said my boyfriend. Although it's $40/duck, it's worth it in my opinion. They stand there and carve it for you and even wrap the first roll for you to show you how it's done! Service was on point although it was super crowded on a Thursday night. We also ordered the Crab Rangoon (which was not creamy enough for my liking) and the Fried Dumplings which were pretty tasty. Overall, Peking Gourmet is a great place for large parties and has an upbeat feel. They also have pictures of famous patrons who've dined there which is pretty cool!
(5)
Orquidea R.

I guess it wasn't my night, when i decided to visit this landmark in the VA area. I had heard alot about it, this famous person ate there and this other one, so I decided to make my way in...but wasnt impressed at all. My dish: Shrimps with snowpeas....No taste at all. It was just like broiled shrimps with the snow peas thrown on a plate.....The portion was enormous, but I have learned that when you have to ask for spices to pour on your meal to give it taste, then something is not right with your dish at all. My friend asked for chicken and brocolli, that too, we found to not have taste..But I was seeing everyone asking for the roasted duck. Is that the dish that would get me to come back??? So far I haven't been interested in visiting again...Please convince me otherwise!!!!
(2)
Donna P.

My only complaint is that I felt like we ran out of duck really soon among the 5 of us. We were sure that they were going to come back with an additional plate later in the meal, but nope that was it. First of all, I have never liked duck and to be honest I'm not a big fan of Chinese food, but I AM a fan of trying new things so I didn't mind coming here. Make sure you make a reservation, this place gets packed. We ordered a la carte: 1) Duck 2) Jeo-Yan Shrimp 3) Lamb with Spring Onions 4) Fried Rice and some other things that I can't remember at the moment. I wish we could have ordered the garlic sprouts but they were sold out. Everything tasted SO GOOD. Honestly, none of it tasted bad at all. I can't explain how good... but the only thing all of us could say while we were eating was "this is so f***** good". Over and over. Like I said before, my only complaint was that there just wasn't enough duck, (we didn't want it to end). Wrap it in this tortilla-like thing they serve it with (forgive my ignorance, I don't know what it was called and I'm sure it wasn't a tortilla) and it tastes even better.
(4)
N C.

On a Sat. night, my table of 6 came here to show me what it's like to eat at a ridiculously famous place. Well, for starters, the area around it is just as ridiculous. I mean, this side of the neighborhood is a complete DUMP. I believe we heard gun pop sounds when leaving the place. The ambiance is sort of shabby, and the crowd that dines here is either a wannable hilltern, or some fat cat (or skinny cat). I couldn't help but notice how many peacocks in the place were trying to "flaunt" their feathers, but I suppose that's the DC vibe. Onto the food. We were served two orders of peking duck, the shrimp & asparagus dish, green beans, sour cabbage, and toffee peaches (a must-try). Everything was well-made and nobody really had complaints about the food. I will say that the peking duck was way too fatty and not trimmed well enough. It seemed like our carver was cutting it blindfolded. Our server, Maggie, didn't know what the f#@k she was doing Or saying. Her accent was just too thick, and she made fun of one of the patrons for not using chopsticks correctly, when in reality we simply weren't used to metal chopsticks. Very funny, lady, and so is your tip. We graced past the two owners as we were leaving. Does that make us cool? Long story short, the food here is overall solid, but the inside and outside ambiance, and the service really stinks to the point that the inflated price you pay is really due to the place's fame, and nothing else.
(3)
David H.

holy crap this place gets busy... we came on a Saturday night during Memorial Day weekend and it was PACKED. My parents were meeting my girlfriend's parents for the first time so we figured this famous DMV Chinese restaurant would fit the bill for their first meeting. We all agreed on one of the group dinners. Mini Steamed Dumplings & Crab Rangoon - Crab Rangoons had actual crab in them and weren't stuffed with cream cheese. Nice touch.. should be expected of a restaurant like this. Fish Maw Soup - Soup was a tad bland, but add some white ground pepper and red vinegar and you're all set. Peking Duck - A whole duck is brought out and sliced in front of the table. Nice crispy skin, but the meat was a little dry for me. *Black Pepper Shrimp *Orange Beef - This dish was not that great. The flavor was there, but it was just way overcooked. It didn't even feel like we were eating beef. It was like we were eating strings of fried sponge. *Peking Gourmet Chicken - This was pretty good, the chicken came with what I believe were garlic scrapes. Fresh Shitake with Chinese Baby Green - Just your typical Chinese veggies. All good. Yang Chow Fried Rice - The fried rice was pretty good. I think this was a good choice for the meeting of our families, so I would recommend Peking Gourmet Inn for special occasions.
(3)
Krista B.

I apologize for the novel, but I have never had quite the spectacle as I did this evening. We had all heard great reviews from friends and of course through yelp! My bf and I arrived first of our group right before 4:30. When she learned we did not have reservations, she gave a slight huff and said 'no problem' and quickly showed us to our table- at the very back corner. It seemed as we were relegated to the 'naughty corner' for not having reservations. I was starving and wanted to order some spring rolls with our drinks while we waited for our friends to arrive. But we waited several minutes with several waiters passing us by with no acknowledgement of our presence. Finally a waiter came by to take our drink order- a fancy red wine for the bf. We also put in an order for egg and spring rolls. While we both received waters right away, we did not get the rolls or wine for quite a while. Our friends arrived shortly after receiving our waters, as did a new waiter for the evening. After the new waiter's awkward and lengthy intro, he asked our drink orders - again. My bf stated he wanted the fancy Cabernet and the waiter replied 'house red, ok.' My bf nicely replied that he did not want the house, but rather the more expensive red and even pointed to the menu which one he wanted. He ended up with the house red anyway. As for the main meal, our friends ordered a soup and a chicken dish. My bf ordered their 'seasonally famous' garlic sprouts w/ chicken as well as fried rice to share with the table, and I ordered soup and wanted to order the chicken lettuce wraps as my meal-but was quickly and rudely cut off by the waiter- apparently I only get soup! I quickly grabbed his attention and advised that I wanted the lettuce wraps and he impatiently huffed and added it to his list. After reviewing what we ordered he seemed to get panicked and told us he had to hold off the egg rolls because 'the soup HAS to come first so you have to wait on the egg rolls.' At this point we were all getting very weary, but waited for him to check with his manager. A quick minute later he brought the manager over, a very nice young lady that seemed just as perplexed. He relayed the 'issue' of egg rolls before soup and she apologetically looked at us and said it was indeed ok, gave a disapproving shake of her head to him and walked away. We mentioned wanting to split the check and our waiter looked like his head would explode. After ordering we were brought a few sauces for the meal, the usual duck and mustard sauces & soy sauce bottle in a saucer, placed carefully on the table, followed finally by our 'meh' egg rolls. Our mediocre soups came by shortly after, along with some yummy crunchy noodles. Our waiter did check back frequently to see how the food was, not really asking us if everything was ok, but rather repeatedly saying 'everything good, hmm?' After we finished the apps, our waiter removed the empty dishes and then proceeded to obsessively move the sauces back to their original locations on the table. The waiter also took our crunchy noodles away though we still wanted them and told him so, he replied 'I'll bring you new ones.' Those delicious and arguably best items on the menu never arrived. Shocker. Our main entrees arrived shortly after the sauce rearrangement. Everything was hot and smelled great. The garlic sprouts with chicken were not good at all. The 'sprouts' were greasy, the chicken dish looked overly coated in batter, too gingery and not fresh. My lettuce wraps were just ok, and topped with what looked like strange tiny styrofoam pieces. Even the chicken fried rice- a no brainer, right? - was mushy and not flavorful. Our waiter brought us waters and approached my bf, a big muscley guy, told him he was a big guy and needed more room, and was told to stand up so he could expand the table leaf for more room at the table. I kid you not. Oh it gets better. While attempting to neurotically rearrange the food and sauces- again!- he spilled a glass of water all over our table. Once we were finished our plates were cleared with a myriad of other waiters/busboys, and the table was meticulously cleaned with a crumb remover- a bit odd while we were still sitting there. The soy sauce was yet again moved. I removed it in spite and placed it next to it's saucer (insert evil giggle here) and the waiter looked so annoyed when he saw it. After a quick restroom break (and a glance at the not-so-impressive-looking duck), I arrived back at the table the check had been delivered with fortune cookies without an offer for dessert, though they did box up our leftovers. A different waiter had taken our credit cards and was able to split the check correctly- astounding! As you can see the overall experience was hilariously disastrous. fact that it was such an epic failure you couldn't help but laugh. Food was dismal, service was outrageous, and prices too high. I wish I was joking and I will never return.
(1)
Kat V.

at 9PM on a Thursday the restaurant was still packed with more people coming in. The walls are adorned with pictures of the likes of John Travolta, George Bush, and even PSY (Gangnam Style!) dining at their restaurant! MAN- sets the bar pretty high. I can't even begin to articulate the exceptional experience I had at Peking Gourmet. For starters, the hostess was incredibly friendly. (She was even given a hug by a patron leaving the restaurant and as he walked away she said ' I have no idea who that is!" Guess this means he had a great meal!!) We were seated fairly quickly even though the restaurant was still bustling with people. My main mission of the night : DUCK. Our family of 7 ordered 2 whole ducks and they were carved table side, brought out with cucumbers, hoison sauce, and other adornments. The service that night made our family feel like rock stars. Table side duck carving, then the waiters prepare your first pancake for you. Everything is done with elegance. We also ordered the ginger root with shrimp (A MUST HAVE) and a pan fried noodle. Everything was amazing. I can never order duck at another restaurant and be satisfied, as Peking Gourmet is the Creme de la Creme, the Dom Perignon or the Bentley of duck preparation. AMAZING. MMM MMM- can't wait for my next trip back.
(5)
Christina K.

Really don't know what all the hype is about. Granted, I'm vegetarian and did not have the peking duck. So maybe it IS really amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed my green beans, though I always love Chinese-American style green beans from fast food places, so that's not saying much. The other dishes ordered were supposedly their popular dishes - some fried beef dish that apparently turns to jerky the next day, their "homemade" noodles, which completely lacked the chewy texture of good homemade noodles and were uber greasy, and some fried shrimp dish. Everything was preeeetty Americanized Chinese. Yes, there were some Asian folk, but I'm not sure what they ordered. Must have been off the menu. Meh, I don't feel the need to go back, especially since we went at 9 PM on a Saturday and the place still had a line out the door.
(3)
Ideen S.

Absolutely awesome experience! 1) Delicious, plentiful, reasonable priced food 2) Good presentation and friendly, fun service 3) Obviously Asian staff with American pseudonyms. Our server was "Scott." There was also a Ben, Phillip, and Hannah :) We had the "Group B" option ($35/person) and dined like friggin' kings: -- SEAFOOD ASPARAGUS SOUP; pretty thick and included scallops and shrimp -- MINI STEAMED DUMPLINGS & CRAB RANGOON; small, but yummy serving -- PEKING DUCK; the highlight of the experience -- BLACK PEPPER SHRIMP: my third favorite dish -- ORANGE BEEF: so-so -- PEKING GOURMET CHICKEN: I honestly don't even remember b/c there was so much food! -- SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS w/ BABY GREENS: awesome if you like mushrooms -- YANG CHOW FRIED RICE; my 2nd favorite dish -- ICE CREAM (mango) or TOFFEE (apple, peach, or banana): we had the apple toffee and it was quite the experience! They bring out a bowl of ice and then flash freeze the hot toffees! After tax and tip, it was just under $50. A bit pricey, but considering the amount and quality of food, and the experience, it was definitely worth it. PS. I made the mistake of showing up in a cutoff t-shirt. They (understandably, but still embarrassingly) asked if I had a shirt with sleeves, which I did in my car. Ironic though since my girlfriend was wearing a dress that revealed her entire arms and more; but I guess I can understand why they don't want guys in cut-off tshirts (since it looks "trashy").
(5)
Stan J.

Very good peking duck. But West Coast is just as good or better. I would compare this with J. Rong in Rosemead, CA Their (J. Rong) duck skin is cut in almost a perfect rectangle shape. No or very little sub cutaneous fat under each skin. Instead of green onion, its cucumber strips. I think cucumber is better, less sharp and pungent and more complimentary to the rich duck skin and hoisin sauce. The better waiters are not Cantonese. I mean as far as being courteous in the Western sense of the word.
(4)
Paul S.

The best Peking duck anywhere! Service has always been great and we love watching them carve the ducks tableside. I've been going here for many years for family gatherings where we get like 10-12 ducks (1 duck for every 2 people) and the quality and consistency of the duck is second to none. Sometimes the skin isn't crispy, but the meat is very well prepared.
(4)
K T.

We are here now. We called a week ahead and made a reservation for Four people at 6pm. We arrived at 5:55, five minutes early. They saw our reservation and checked us off. It's now 7pm and we have Not been seated, along with about 7 other sets of people who also had reservations. An hour wait, with reservations?? What's worse it that it is very cold outside and we have been squished by the front door, so every time someone enters or leaves, we get a brisk gust of chill. The maitre 'D desk are is body to body, which is horrid since it is cold and flu season. We have an 11 an 13 year old with us and it's a good thing they are patient. We were hungry at 6pm, now we are starving. Several other people have left despite having reservations. They could at least offer a beverage or have chairs. Right now, there are literally 32 bodies waiting for their table in a very, very crammed area and the staff is overwhelmed and not helpful. I've asked the desk person and have been told "one minute" twice and that was 40 minutes ago. Guess we are leaving. So much for reservations. Still not seated at 7:15 for our 6pm reservation.
(1)
Katherine B.

I was so disappointed tonight! This is one of my favorite restaurants... My family and I go for most special occasions. Tonight was one of the only times I didn't make a reservation. I called at 4:30 to see if I could come between 5-6. They told me they were booked and I should try to walk in... I decided to take a chance... When I got to the desk the lady was helping two people in front of me told them I can't seat you till 8:30 then looked again and said ok I'll seat you at six! I said oh great that means we should get a table with in a reasonable time as well... Not the case!! She said not till 8:30 when I called an hour before why couldn't she give us that 6 pm reservation... I have worked in restaurants for years and this is just not right... I then spoke to one of the managers who didn't smile and didn't seem to give a crap!! He told me oh well us know she was just able to squeeze them in so sorry nothing for you till 8:30... Never in my life have I written a review like this but I could not believe the lack of emotion and con earn from the manager. I know they are super busy on the weekends but you need to take care of your guests!! Extremely disappointed!!!!!
(1)
Elizabeth B.

Was it bad? No. Was it worth the price? Certainly not. The portion is decent but regular delivery offers a similar amount. The choices were pretty standard - from what I could tell, the main draw is the Peking duck, but for $42 you'd better go with a larger group and not just 2 people. The soup was good, though. I was mostly put off by the micromanaging waitstaff. Even went so far as to correct where I placed the serving spoons of our dish. Too much! And when I mentioned some foreign object in my water glass, my waiter argued with me twice that it must have been a trick of the light. I guess I understand if I would have been asking for something in return... But I just asked for a new glass! What gives? And although there were many empty tables in the restaurant, we got sat by the waitstaff table in an uncomfortable corner where 5-6 waiters were constantly jostling by us. Overall, I probably wouldn't return... The experience was just disappointing.
(2)
Eric O.

Make reservations Duck is delicious for sure Oh so overpriced
(3)
World War Z.

I'm a fan of Peking Duck, and this place serves the best in the area. They have an awesome business churning out hundreds of ducks a day. The duck smells great and they roll out the duck and cut it up in front of your table. They have this cute old hostess lady who has an accent like the ones you see on the old Hollywood movies depicting Chinese people. This place would be really good for banquets and you can see all the pictures of famous people on the walls like Psy, George Bush Sr, George Bush Jr., and a bunch of other celebrities, Congressmen, and Generals.
(5)
L W.

Fabulous meal. Best Chinese I've had since NYC Chinatown. Excellent service. The duck was incredible. Entire meal, top notch.
(5)
Jenny S.

If family or friends come to visit the DC area, Peking Duck is one of the restaurants that pop in my head that I have to take them to. It is essentially a no-frills Chinese restaurant, even though there are hundreds of photos of famous celebrities and highly ranked political figures on the walls who have come and eaten at the Peking Duck. Obviously- everyone will say that you have to order the Peking Duck. It is a great appetizer to everyone to share. (I guess you can make this as your meal if you order enough). Even if you don't usually eat duck, you have to try it here. The duck here isn't your typicaly greasy, boney duck at other Chinese establisments, but succulent and tender and rich! The waiter will come cut the duck table side for you to watch and it is a neat presentation if you haven't been there before. They skillfully are able to slice the duck meat so thinly and cut away the fat. Paired with some plum sauce, cucumbers and a piece of the crispy duck skin, these are so divine wrapped around a thin warm pancake! Although pricey for a whole duck (about $40 each), it is definitely worth it and can easily be shared between 3 people. The other chinese food on the menu are good too, not as speculator as the duck, but good nonetheless. A few of my favorites are the Shrimp Pepperada, Crispy Szechuan Beef and the Bang bang Shrimp. Portion sizes are plentiful, you will leave full and maybe needingto unbutton the top button of your pants. Everything is family styled and meant to be shared. This is a great traditional Chinese restaurants for special occasions with family and friends and shouldn't be overlooked just because of the dated decor.
(4)
Zach H.

This place has been featured on Food Network's "Best Thing I Ever Ate" for a reason... their traditional Peking Duck. It's carved table-side and absolutely one of the best things I've ever eaten. Everything on the menu is great, but you must get the duck when you visit. It is an overall pleasant experience with very attentive service and every menu item prepared with detail. The price range is on the higher end, but it's definitely worth it. Reservations are highly recommended as it is very busy on a regular basis, even during the week.
(5)
Mirini K.

Never had duck like this before. There's a reason why this place is so popular and always busy! I would go back here just for the duck. I'm a little on the fence about the other items on the menu because nothing compares to the Peking Duck. Duck can be pretty gamey but they prepare it in such a way that is absolutely tasty! The combination of duck in the pita-like bread with sauce, shredded cucumber, and shredded green onion is a unique flavor. The flavors complement each other well. It's definitely worth a try! You'll probably become hooked like me.
(5)
In Y.

Amount of visits I've had, number of ducks i've eaten, it will be shame not to give 5 stars. The server who used to take care of my table on my the first visit now is a floor manager. :) Expect to wait a decent line if no reservation on the weekends. Mr. Zhou is my go-to duck cutter. (#1 in the house!) Although, the price of their food has escalated over the years, what does not change is the taste. And that is what you want to look for in any restaurants. *well, too bad they don't serve Moutai no more! Duck and Moutai was a such a killer combo!
(5)
T L.

THIS PLACE IS SO GOOD. The service is impeccable, they are so attentive. They help you carve the duck and make the pancake rolls. Everything comes out pretty quickly. They check frequently to see if you need anything. And most importantly THE FOOD IS SO GOOD!!!!!! I don't find that the duck is over priced- $42 for an entire duck that feeds 2-3 people with pancakes etc? Pretty good. We also ordered a platter of fried rice, and a platter of sauteed vegetables, and ordered two cocktails. Our bill came out to less than $80. To me for the amount of food we got, AND HOW GOOD IT FRICKIN TASTED, this was amazing. All the people comparing this place to places in NY makes no sense to me. I'm from NY, born and raised. However, I've managed to come to terms with the fact that Virginia (or any other place in the world) is not NY. If you're looking for things to be like they are in NY, then you might as well stop going places here and move back to NY. In sum, forget what you heard- this place is good.
(5)
Ann K.

I give 4.25 for the Peking Duck alone. One Peking duck is good for 6 people/ 2 pancakes each, perfect appetizers $40. No wonder all the presidents, generals, admirals, and other politicians must come here for a peking duck. How do I know this top secret, CIA trip? Check out the framed pictures on the wall. I can't find General David Petraeus though. Please let me know if you have found his picture in there too. The staff took so much care in serving a peking duck, almost to an art form. The skin is sliced paper thin, looking like crystalized skin. The staff carefully dabs any excess oil out before slowly sliding each piece on the plate. They also serve the duck meat and legs as well. I think the peking duck here is better than Peking Duck House on Mott Street in New York City. The other dishes are not that impressive. The Chilean sea bass in black bean sauce is quite disappointing. It is drowning in the black bean sauce which covers the taste of sea bass completely. I wonder if they serve authentic Chinese menu too. My hat off to the staff's service and hospitality. It is more superior than any other restaurants. They made my visit more complete. Thank you.
(3)
Cathy H.

Although Peking Gourmet is located in a very sketchy strip mall (Culmore), its reputation definitely keeps the patrons coming. There was a 20-minute wait upon arrival. This place was established in 1978 and when you step in, you notice multiple framed photos of politicians (both Bushes have been here), servicemen, and celebrities. The duck here is very good -- crispy skin and tender meat. Along with the meat, you are provided pancakes, cucumber strips, scallions, and hoisin sauce. I believe it was $39 for the entire meal, which was definitely enough to serve at least 3 people, so pretty good deal. My 5-star rating is strictly for the duck. Their bathroom is very clean and the service is decent. If you want to eat peking duck, do not look elsewhere!
(5)
Barbara B.

It was okay. High priced food, personally I rather mall or panda express than this. But nice presentation and good servers
(2)
Cat B.

I really like this place for the duck. I've tried other things on the menu, but nothing compares to it. Try the Peking Duck with sprouted garlic! Wonderful!
(4)

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Address : 6029 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA, 22041
Phone (703) 671-8088
Website https://www.pekinggourmet.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

Claim Restaurant

Chinese Cuisine

The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.

Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.

There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.

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Peking Gourmet Inn

6029 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 22041

Peking Gourmet Inn Menu

Chef's Specialties

Soups & Appetizers

Poultry

Seafood

Pork

Beef

Vegetables

Noodles & Rice

Healthy Meal suggestions for Peking Gourmet Inn

Chef's Specialties

Soups & Appetizers

Poultry

Seafood

Pork

Beef

Vegetables

Noodles & Rice

Christine L.

Alice W.

Donald L.

Kimberly T.

Kevin L.

Kirk S.

Ruth C.

Connie L.

Sam Y.

Judy And Joe N.

Jenny S.

Damon B.

Danielle A.

Timothy P.

Cee L.

Willy W.

David K.

Jister Y.

Tu H.

Rebecca M.

Seung Ho J.

Hien P.

Diane G.

Ellen K.

Steve P.

Amy B.

Nick B.

Jesse L.

brian t.

Brianne C.

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Jess R.

Jay K.

Avi G.

Azn G.

Ling W.

Heather H.

cenan p.

Nicholas G.

YM C.

Herschel S.

Cp T.

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Hain L.

Erica Y.

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Bill F.

Jennifer C.

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