There are noble pursuits, the climbing of Mount Everest, the pursuit of an Olympic medal but Your Honour, allow me to share my pursuit. No, not just the pursuit of Happiness, although this would be considered an adjunct of this, but the pursuit of the best Peking Duck in Sydney. It goes alongside my pursuit of the best Xiao Long Bao dumplings (IMHO at Shanghai Night provided the skins are intact followed by Din Tai Fung whose skins are always intact). Just because one is looking after their tastebuds (and I’ve come to realise my pursuit of food is not about feeding my stomach, but more keeping my tastebuds entertained), doesn’t mean that it isn’t as worthwhile a pursuit. And it seems I have a group of people who were happy to join me!
@Gourmetrabbit and I were talking about Peking Duck, as people that are obsessed with food tend to do. If you know me you’ll know that even talking about food makes me incredibly hungry and she suggests that we get some Peking Duck. She starts searching on her phone for some good locations that we both haven’t tried yet and before you know it, we have a little group, all hungry for Peking Duck in two cars on the way to Eastwood where we’ve heard the Peking Duck is rather good. Also along for the ride with @gourmetrabbit and I are Perama chef @davidtsirekas, @pandas4 and her husband.
The queue
We ring up beforehand to check whether they are open and a voice tells us that we can’t book for a table of 5 and that we should just come along and queue up. Queue? Oh dear, we’re in Yum Cha territory here. We turn out and yes indeed there’s a long queue stretching out to the door and we wait for about 10 minues before we are seated.
We open the menu and it’s hopeful, there is a picture of Peking Duck on the first page. The menu combines suburban Chinese with some specialties so we go for the specialties in addition to the Peking Duck, the Mermaid’s Tresses, Chilli Squid, Snow Crab, Drunken Chicken in Wine Sauce and Braised Eggplant with minced pork.
Drunken Chicken in Wine Sauce $9.80
The Drunken chicken in wine sauce is a cold dish with soft chicken poached in a Shaoxing wine (which is not wine you’d want to drink but cook with). This gives it a wine and rum flavour. It’s not bad although I prefer Hainanese Chicken.
Peking Duck $40
The waiter brings out the duck-I do love it when they carve the duck in front of us but given there’s very little space between tables I know that it’s a physical impossibility. After a quick glance, he whisks it back into the kitchen for carving and they bring out the hoi sin sauce, cucumber, shallots and pancakes. The skin comes out on a plate and we help ourselves. The slices are generous, if there’s one thing I dislike, it’s teeny portions of skin. There is quite a bit of meat on the back of the skin whereas I prefer more of the just skin. The hoi sin sauce is very good and I slather this on generously. Sinking my teeth into it, it’s a good peking duck. Not the best I’ve ever had but a damn fine one. All 5 of us have 2 each and there are 2 left over which is a decent portion size for a whole duck.
Sang Choy Bao lettuce cup, second course for Peking Duck
Mermaid’s Tresses $9.80
I do like mermaid’s treses for that unique texture. It’s deep fried seaweed which has a unique dry flakey texture, much like those seasoned seaweed Japanese snacks but similar in appearance to those streamers that come out of NYE ribbon poppers. They serve it with shredded pork floss and toasted cashews to give it some gravity as they’re so light they could float away.
Chilli Squid $15.80
The chilli squid is tender inside but with a slightly grainy batter which @pandas4 doesn’t like. Still, I do love a Salt and pepper squid and it doesn’t stop me from taking many pieces.
Mango Bubble tea, Taro bubble tea and rockmelon drink
David spies the pictures of drinks above the counter and we quickly make an order for those. @gourmetrabbit chooses the Mango Bubble tea, I choose the Tara Bubble Tea and David chooses the honeydew drink. The bubble teas are a bit muted in flavour but David’s is strong and sweet and icily refreshing.
Snow Crab in Egg White $17.80
The Snow Crab in egg white was disappointing. My mother makes this dish with shiitake mushrooms and chicken and done well it’s a glorious dish with silky egg whites, a slippery sauce and delectable chunks of meat and mushroom. Here, it’s all much of a muchness and served with the vinegar sauce to give it more flavour and it’s less palatable. @gourmetrabbit finds that it reminds her of popcorn which in a strange way, it does.
Braised Eggplant with Minced Pork $14.80
The braised eggplant with minced pork is by contrast lovely and creamy in texture, the braised eggplant soaking up all of the flavours from the black bean, chilli and pork. We notice that no one had touched the steamed rice for fear of running out of stomach space.
Deep Fried Ice Cream
@gourmetrabbit just has to have some deep fried ice cream and she and panda share some. She can’t decide on which topping to have so they try all three.
And the damage? A tiny $30 per person which only goes to affirm that Chinese food is best shared among friends (be it new ones or old ones) or at least fellow Peking Duck aficionados.
So tell me Dear Reader, which Peking Duck in Sydney do you rate as the best and why?
Eastwood Garden Peking Chinese Restaurant
167 Rowe St, Eastwood NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9804 1289
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43 Comments | Add your own
“My dad picks the fruit that goes to Cotteeeeeees, to make the cordial, that I like best!”
Personally, I’d be all after the Mermaid’s tresses – though it looks a tad like you ordered a plate of roasted cashews with a seaweed garnish! Which, I suppose, wouldn’t be entirely awful!
Mmmmm…it all sounds good to me! After the Christmas/New Year splurge (plus a few nights spent in Sydney), I’m being good for a while.
I am desperately hungry though!
Great post!
Nice place
oh man…now I’m craving for some greasy Chinese food! i love it when they carve the duck in front of us too =)
looks so yummy! i shouldnt be looking at this article at breakfast time! i think i have to drop by this place for a visit sometime!
The eggplant looks delicious. I had pet ducks growing up so I didn’t eat duck for the longest time. I first tasted Peking duck in Hong Kong and now I can’t get enough. Sorry Donald it’s just too delicious.
I prefer the Peking Duck from Kensington Peking Restaurant. They also have decent serving for the whole duck for the same price of $40. There is not too much fat, crispy skin and enough meat to leave your mouth wanting more. Worth a try!!
Great review. Its only 10am and I’m now cravng lunch. Its been a while but BBQ King in the City was always a favourite – but after 4 years in Beijing where I became very well acquainted with a great back-alley place, I’ve become a bit picky!
I actually sent the blog to my friend as a birthday card today– your beautiful photos nearly bring the food to life Lorraine! Mmmmmm. Wonder if any readers have a favourite Peking Duck restaurant here in Perth?
This used to be a favourite of mine, unfortunately one absolutely horrid customer service experience has put me off ever going back. Shame really, as I do enjoy their chilli squid and the peking duck. Maybe one day I’ll have the courage to go back again
Great find Lorraine (and friends!). I love the way they serve you the cottees syrup on the table with the ice cream – so unpretentious, it’s fantastic!
You do have to best reviews Lorraine. Quack quack on this…awesome!!
A noble pursuit indeed. And so true that Chinese food is best enjoyed, and cheapest, shared amongst friends.
taxing woman – not sure if they do Peking duck (I assume they do?) but the roast duck at Hong Kong BBQ on Francis St in Northbridge is really good.
I hope you check your bill every time you go to an asian restaurant. They almost always overcharge you, or deliberately add it up wrong.
Hey Lorraine – this is my regular catch up place with my friends and where I first met Thi (my girlfriend) 6 years ago!
After this post, I’m convinced I’ve never had real Peking duck before…nothing I’ve tasted have looked that succulent and delicious!!!
I love the look of that Mermaid’s Tresses and Snow Crab in Egg White, too!
It’s always nice to see a local place that I frequent appear on your blog! This is a place my family and I head to every other week or so for the lunch special, because we do grocery shopping around there.
I agree with Ange though. Peking Duck in Beijing leaves you always wanting more from Peking Duck anywhere else! The place I visited gave more than the usual condiments and I couldn’t go past hoisin sauce, garlic and sugar (with some other vegetable like thing next to the garlic in the first picture. I’m not actually sure what it is…)
Here & here
I LOVE peking duck. Have never had any in Sydney, but remember a great place in London, where for 13 pounds each, one could scoff as much Peking Duck (freshly carved in front of you), plus other dishes, as one’s tummy could handle. I do have a fave place in Brisbane for Peking Duck … but if I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret any more…
Wow… Xiao Long Bao dumplings at Din Tai Fung my favourite, perfect everytime…51 visits so far… & Peking Duck, so far, my best value for everything is Top BBQ Restaurant, Dee Why where you can have just the pancakes served… close next is Bambusia Chinese Restaurant, Bondi Junction, but I will be trying your suggestion next week… yum…
The duck looks lovely and I’d definitely take second helpings of it!
Lorraine which restaurant is your pick so far for Peking Duck. We usually end-up at Kensington Peking. None in Sydney so far beat Bamboo House in Lt Bourke St Melbourne
I have been to this restaurant and quite like it but you have to be careful when the bill comes, it’s in Chinese and it needs to be checked item by item !!
Oh wow… you’ve got all my favs on the table.. peking duck, chili quid, bubble tea…. yum… kind of hungry now even though it’s not lunch time yet!
It’s always good to have serious goals, can’t think of one more serious than finding the perfect food obsession of the moment
For me that currently happens to be shallot pancakes!
Your food spread is very similar to our friday nite after work dinner last week. All 15 of us! (Yes we work mates like to share). Peking duck is the dish that everyone always agrees on, even the picky eaters so I do think you are onto something!
I love braised eggplant with pork and if anyone out there has a great recipe for it I would love to recreate it at home!
Mmmmm… duck
Oh geez. And I was stuck in Hornsby eating bad thai food. Should have abandoned it and headed to Eastwood post haste.
Bring on the challenge!
I’ve never had peking duck. I’m going to have to order it next time we’re out. Those drinks look fabulous and that crab in egg whites is really interesting. Always love reading your posts and finding all these unique meals.
I am so obsessed with finding the perfect food..so glad Im not alone. That duck looks beyond DELISH!
i was put off by the poor duck on a platter, but you won me back at the end with the deep fried ice cream. what can i say, i like ducks in their feathered and breathing states.
I have never eaten duck. I have heard that it can be greasy or very rich and a heavy meat. Is this true? I am very unfamiliar with the foods that you had to eat, but intrigued by them because of your photos and detailed description of the taste. You write a great post about foods and do make me want to reach in and try many new foods to me.
I’m getting a major craving for Peiking duck and chilli salt squid now! Looks like a good place for a big meal with friends.
What a yummy spread of food! My hubby could probably happily eat (almost) that whole plate of skin himself, lol! I was intrigued by that dish of snow crab with egg white…your mom’s dish sounds wonderful!
sounds like a decent one to try. so where is your favourite Peking Duck in Sydney then? i have yet to find one.
I’ve been to Eastwood Garden while reasonable they don’t serve the best Peking Duck. We had a group gathering recently ( http://bit.ly/4zLnSB ) at Golden Century in Haymarket and I think they served better Peking Duck PLUS they accepted booking for table and only charged AUD$5 pp for the corkage. the end result? beautiful peking duck with beautiful matching pinot noir with a group of great friends!
You may have heard about Duck Club – Peking Duck matched with pinot noir. First dinner last month with Peking Duck and a fabulous pinot – http://bit.ly/4zLnSB
We decided on GC as our first choice because those of us who have tried Eastwood reckon Golden Century is better.
Its nice to see you enjoy a meal at one of my local. If you do head back there again, order the “Stewed Pork Belly with Preserved Vegetables Hotpot”. I almost never order this in restaurants as they always give you nothing but fat. But the one from Eastwood Garden Peking Restaurant is surprising excellent. The pork belly not only is cooked & sliced to perfection but is in equal layers of fat & meat (tho, hubby disagree & don’t think it is fatty enough). The preserved vegetables give the dish a sweet & slight salty flavour which is excellent over plain rice. Oh, also give their HK hot milk tea a go.
The best Peking duck that I’ve had in the suburbs is the Chinese seafood restaurant in Carlingford Village called King Crab Village Seafood Restaurant. Most of the time they do a special Peking Duck (2 courses) for $18.80 if you also order 2 additional dishes.
I feel like Peking Duck now!
ooh! This is my favourite Chinese restaurant – it’s the only place we miss since moving away from Epping. If you do go back, be sure to try the fish fillet(?) in egg yolk gravy. It’s sooo tasty. I agree with you about the snow crab dish, which is strangely bland. Also, we always get the shredded Peking-style beef dish – it’s like candy, except beef!
Yum, the duck and the pork and eggplant look great! Shame about the snow crab though – I’ve never tried it, but from your description of your mum’s it sounds delicious!
Most people don’t realise, but Mermaids Tresses in Chinese restaurants are almost ALWAYS made with shredded bok choy, not seaweed as they often alude to.
Snow Crab is not supposed to have either chicken or shiitake, so your Mum’s version may have misguided your judgement of this restaurant’s version. It’s always a fish dish cooked to resemble crab meat.
I’ve had the Peking duck here and agree it’s not the best I’ve had but at $40 for the whole duck, it’s great value. Some places charge $60.
Hi Hannah-Haha!
Yes it’s not too bad is it? 
Hi Highlands Foodie-Thankyou! Yes I’m trying so hard too
Hi snooky doodle-Thanks!
Hi pigpigscorner-Yes I miss that! Not enough places do it anymore
Hi yellow_cake-Hehe cool! I’d love to know what you think of it
Hi Katherine-Oh no! Hehe you are funny, poor Donald!
Hi live_2403-Ahh that’s nearby to us! We’ve tried it there and it’s not bad.
Hi Ange-Thankyou! Oh I can imagine, you must have had some wonderful duck there!
Hi taxing woman-Oh thankyou so much!
Yes I wish there was a definitive guide to Peking Duck everywhere! 
Hi Jules-Oh what a shame!
Terrible customer service is not on!
Hi Christie -Haha yes! No fancy topping there!
Hi deeba-hehe quack quack indeed!
Hi Conor-Absolutely! You can eat so much for so cheap
Ahh great stuff!
Hi Ani-Yes I know, sadly there’s sometimes something wrong with the bill!
Hi Rob-Oh what memories! How gorgeous!
Hi sophia-Hehe really? It’s so good! You must try it as they have pancakes and they’re kind of like crepes!
Hi Lindy-Oh cool!
Yeah I’ve heard the same which makes me want to jump on a plane tout suite 
Hi MrsDesperate-Oh my god! What a concept! I love it *sigh…. LOL that’s cool
Hi Mark-Ahh excellent thankyou for the recommendations!
Hi Midge-Yes I try to stop at seconds
Hi Vivie-I like it at East Ocean the best so far
Hi sally-Yeah good point indeed! We’re often overcharged for things like tea etc
Hi myookinghut-Hehe I like your taste!
Hi Moya-Hehe yes they are my serious goals
Ahh cool! How is that going?
Hi Maria -What a cool workplace!
I’ve yet to meet someone that doesn’t love it 
Yes me too, it’s a great dish isn’t it!
Hi Alison-Hehe well we did invite you!
Hi Lea Ann-Thankyou! Oh if you see it I’d definitely recommend trying it but a word of warning, it is highly addictive!
Hi figtreeapps-Hehe cool! I maintain it’s a totally noble pursuit!
Hi grace-Oh really? How about chickens? Or is it specifically a duck thing?
Hi Darlene-It can be rather fatty indeed but I don’t mind that on occasion
Thankyou so much! You are so sweet! 
Hi Su-yin-Yes I love big Chinese meals shared with friends!
Hi Faith-Hehe I confess I could too probably!
I must get her to share the recipe!
Hi Simon-So far I like the Peking Duck at East Ocean but no place has blown me away I have to say
Hi JH-Yes I’m not a huge fan of no reservations policies! Good to hear you had a great Peking Duck there. I have tried it there and it is quite good
Hi MC-No I haven’t but I’m guessing you’re both from the Duck Club?
Hi Annie-Ahh good tip! I will
That dish sounds wonderful from your description!
Hi VB-Oh cool! Thanks so much for the tip!
Hi Syn-Mmm egg yolk gravy? Yum! How good does that sound!
Yeah I’ve had that dish done much better at other places 
Hi Alex-Yeah I really should get my mum’s recipe!
Hi Thomas -I’ve heard that but if that’s true, that’s the most seaweed looking bok choy I’ve seen!
Hi Chinalilly-I’m aware of that completely. I’ve also had the snow crab dish at other places where it has been much better. My mum makes an egg white dish that doesn’t have crab meat but it has other things and it’s much better. I guess I go for quality rather than cost.
Re Snow Crab – ahh, I think it was just a confusing choice of words in your review. I’m not defending the dish they made, I only made that point because you gave the reason for not liking it being due to your mother’s shiitake/meat dish.
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