Best Duck Dishes in LA?

[Oliverstreet]

Hi. I'm a New Yorker coming out to LA over Christmas and have a hankering for duck (must be the holidays). I'm open to any cuisine, though I must say, I'm a fan of crispy duck, especially in Thai or French (confit) preparations.

I once had a great duck salad at Vim years back in Thai Town. Can any LA chowhounds steer me towards other delicious duck dishes? I'll be in Silver Lake, but am willing to travel.

Thanks!

[SauceSupreme]

In Saladang Song in Pasadena, they've got duck soup (guay tiao ped)

[lebdog]

I'll add my endorsement for Lu Gin Dee. My all-time favorite is the Peking Duck House (Maple Garden) with two branches in Manhattan, but after dinner at Lu Gin Dee, you can go next door for a $15 foot massage. Aaah!

[krazzledazzle]

Blair's on Rowena in Silverlake also has a fantastic duck dish. The other food was also very good, but the prices of their drinks really brings the bill up! Just a word of caution.

[SauceSupreme]

Just a note that duck is all over the menu at Ruen Pair. For lunch today I had the cha po rice which included duck as well as deep fried pork belly and sliced pork. Also tried the duck feet stew at the recommendation of the waitress which was nice but a little too mushroomy (it was my first time eating duck feet, and I have to admit: I like it!).

[Hughlipton]

Well, I'm impressed. The hounds on this board really sniffed out some possibilities. I thank everyone for their efforts.

[Hughlipton]

I guess duck al orange and duck montmorencey are things of my youth and no longer draw any interest. I don't know where I would go to order either of these preparations but if someone has some recs I would be willing to check them out.

[kevin]

for duck a la orange, you get it at La Vie, a Vietnamese-owned French restaurant, it's classic french through and through, no fusion here.

La Freres Taix might have it on Sunset, near Echo Par, but I don't know if it will be any good.

Dal Rae in Pico Rivera should have it and if they don't you can probably settle for their peppercorn steak.

[carter]

Hugh, Wine Bistro has a modified version of ''orange" noted here:
http://www.winebistrostudiocity.com/d...

However, Le Sanglier apparently does not.

[Servorg]

http://www.lepetitchateau.org

Duck served with orange sauce or with cherries.

[Erik M]

Re: Thai preps

I am quite keen on the kũay tĩaw pèt pa low, or "rice noodles with 5-spice-braised duck," at Sanamluang Cafe and Ord Noodles.

And, while I haven't been in awhile, Siam Sunset does a righteous version of the Thai classic, khâo nâa pèt, or "roast duck with ginger/yellow bean 'gravy' over rice."

But, if it's crisply-roasted duck skin that you are after, you will likely do no better than the krà-phrao pèt, or "roasted duck stir-fried with holy basil," at Ruen Pair.

Unless, of course, you can manage to convince Phii Nong at Spicy BBQ Restaurant to make you a plate of lâap pèt, or "minced duck salad with roasted rice powder." <smile>

Sanamluang Cafe
5176 Hollywood Blvd.

Ord Noodles
5401 Hollywood Blvd.

Siam Sunset
5265 Sunset Blvd.

Ruen Pair
5257 Hollywood Blvd.

Spicy BBQ Restaurant
5101 Santa Monica Blvd.

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic....

E.M.

[kevin]

is ruen pair crispy skin duck???? that's definitely what i'm after.

[Erik M]

I'm not sure what you mean by "crispy skin duck," but the dish I describe entails wok-frying sliced, roasted duck meat/skin with holy basil leaves over high heat. As a result, the meat/skin is well-crisped. It's not an unusual dish by any means, it's just that Ruen Pair's version is exceedingly delicious.

E.M.

[kevin]

sounds good, i'm more of a crispy skin on duck rather than duck in soup, which i usually see at thai restaurants. thanks.

[orythedog]

Duck confit pizza at Crepevine in Old Town Pasadena. Perfect amount of duck confit on a cracker thin crust, bourdin cheese, musky mushrooms, a dash of truffle oil and a few herbs = YUMMY

[Fru]

I know I'll get shot down for this but I LOVE the duck salad at Saladang in Pasadena.
Having had Peking Duck at Lu Din Gee a few months back did not replace my +25 years memory of having it after an Asian trade show at a banquet at Fu Ling in China Town. That being said, to Modernist, it would be nice if you could offer a recommendation rather than to just shoot down someone else's pick.

[Clinton]

I agree. What's good to someone is not always the same for another person. Taste is purely subjective. To shoot someone down for his or her personal opinion and not leave a recommendation is somewhat uncalled for. BTW, I too love Peking duck...probably one of my favorite dishes and I've also had it at Fu LIng.

[modernist]

sorry guys, i didnt realize my comment was gonna cause such a stir. i just got back from 2.5 weeks in bangkok and hong kong where coincidentally, my last meal was peking duck at peking garden in central...

i got peking duck because there is no good peking duck in los angeles. im sorry. this is my opinion, and for those lovers of lu din gee. im glad it makes you happy and i hope it continues to bring you great joy. im not being sarcastic... i guess im just a bit spoiled on the peking duck having lived in beijing and going back to china almost yearly... i just wait till im back in china to eat this particular dish...

[WORX4FUDE]

Don't apologize. Everyone has their own tastes and if people can't take contra-advise or criticism (especially on a food website that attracts... oh, FOOD CRITICS) than they should take their panties out of their rears. I am looking forward to your next find, here in the US. Good luck, man.

[monkey]

i agree with capitol letters on the Crepe Vine... The wife and I went there around XMAS time and had an amazing pizza and steak tartar to accompany it.I enjoyed this as much as Pizza Mozza.... It was just about the perfect lunch....also the four glasses of wine might of helped but I love that place!!Best Duck Pizza in LA.

[Will Owen]

This surprised the heck out of me, but when we took the parents (at their request) out to yet another tragically Americanized Chinese restaurant in Pasadena, Spring Garden, Mrs. O's menu selection was the tea-smoked duck...and it was one of the best duck dishes I have ever eaten, including my very own Weber-grill version. It came with puffy steamed buns and plum sauce, which was nice, but I could have made a meal of just the duck and the excellent garlicky sautéed spinach. In fact I might just go back and do that!

[ipsedixit]

It's not on the menu, but if you ask nicely, the Sam Woo in Alhambra will sell you a bucket full of crispy, fried duck heads. Paired with some hoisin sauce, and they are quite addictive.

Sam Woo BBQ
514 West Valley Blvd
Alhambra
[phone]

[J.L.]

As long as they're no longer uttering "Aflac!"

[carter]

The duck entree at Max restaurant in Sherman Oaks blows everything else out of the water that is not Peking or Chinese influenced. They are so far apart that you cannot make the comparison. However, the duck confit at Comme Ca is pretty good too, yet Andre Guerrero's version is fabulous! Tasted it last night for the 3rd time in less than 2 months.
www.maxrestaurant.com for deets!

[J.L.]

The Roast Duck Lo-Mein (#53 on the menu) at Noodle Planet has a cult following, including yours truly.

Noodle Planet (Westwood)
noodleplanet.com

[strags]

I'm quite partial to the roasted duck at Chan Dara.

[silverlakebodhisattva]

Oh, almost forgot: Chameau has served duck bastilla. Also, I don't know if anyone's doing duck with mole' around town these days; Sonora Cafe on la Brea used to do a very good one (though not as good as Rick Bayless' in Chicago, which is truly killer!)

[Juji]

It's not enough for a whole meal, but Cafe del Rey has delicious duck spring rolls.

[Diana]

We had a nice duck salad at Boneyard Bistro, don't now if it is still on the menu.

I already posted it on this thread, but I really gotta recommend over and over the duck confit sandwich at Artisan Cheese Gallery

[oldusedcop]

Nice duck confit at Cafe Mundial in Monrovia.

[auntflo]

My favorite is at Pizzeria Mozza. Duck leg and thigh confit style over lentils. Only on Tuesdays as one of their specials. Great.

[fdb]

I had that on a Tue. at P Mozza, too, but didn't like it. My recent favorite is the duck confit salad (a whole leg over greens) at Wilshire.

[mollyomormon]

I think the duck at Warszawa is delicious.

[hrhboo]

Strongly second this, it's the perfect winter dish.

[mollyomormon]

Especially if you start with a cup of their borscht!

[New Trial]

So good that one might even say that it can't be beet.

[silverlakebodhisattva]

There's a gang of Thai places (Yai, Palms, Vim) that do pretty good duck salad; John Gold swore by the duck soup at Rodded on Sunset, there's trad French duck breast (generally with a fruit sauce of some sort) at Beaujolais in Eagle Rock and Cafe La Gare in Pasadena; roast duck in the various dim sum houses in the SGV.

Anyone know the best Peking Duck to be had in town these days?
Also, there's a Cajun duck prep (that K Paul's in NOLA serves, and which I think Orleans in WLA maybe used to serve) where they roast, halve, and bone the duck, and right before it's served, separate the skin off the top, and run it under a salamander or broiler to super-crisp the skin. Anyone seen it done in LA recently?

[bagdoodle]

Great MEATY duck breast wonderfully prepared at La Vie in Rosemead for around $20, including soup AND salad AND veggies. Be sure to order your Grand Marnier dessert souffle (about $7 extra) at the same time as you order the rest of your meal.

[Oliverstreet]

I've tried Googling, but can't figure out what/where Rodded on Sunset is. Is that spelled correctly? And if you have the link to Gold's column, please include it in your post. Thanks!

[silverlakebodhisattva]

achh, brain weevils!

Rodded is on Hollywood, not Sunset. Here's the link to the most recent J. Gold mention,

http://www.laweekly.com/index.php?option=com_lawcontent&task=view&id=9165&Itemid=

and the more detailed discussion, which I believe is the one I mis-remembered as Gold's, was in fact part of Chowhound's own Thi N's epic "every restaurant in Thaitown" effort: see:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/56953.

[Diana]

Duck Confit sandwich at Artisan Cheese Gallery!

http://www.artisancheesegallery.com/i...

[justanotherpenguin]

check out the place in san gabriel. outstanding. lu din gee.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/329497

[Dave and Stuff]

I second this one...Lu Din Gee is exceptional...

[modernist]

dont like being negative, its exceptional only if you havent had good peking duck... for people with much experience with good versions of peking duck, i would'nt come here..

[justanotherpenguin]

to each his own. but i have to say that the very first time i ever went there we wound up sitting next to a chinese gentleman and his daughter. over the course of dinner we struck up a conversation and he told us that he had just flown in from beijing and insisted on being brought straight to the restaurant for the peking duck because it was better than anything that he'd had in china in the previous three weeks.

[fdb]

I, for one, like Lu Din Gee better than any other places for the duck. Other Peking Ducks are just too fatty for me.

[JAB]

Recs for a good version?

[modernist]

sorry, i cant recommend a particularly good version.. quanjude was as close as it got, but closed down several years ago...

[Dave and Stuff]

I don't like you being negative (get it?), but it absolutely is exceptional in my mind.

Please send me to one of your favorites, and I will try it, and not be negative (get it again?)

[chowmominLA]

For Peking Duck, Lu Din Gee had been my far and away favorite, but at Elite in Monterey Park the peking duck prepared "three ways" (or maybe it's "two ways"), they also do a nice job. The skin is served the more common way with biscuits and shrimp chips (versus the pancakes at Lu Din Gee -- I prefer the biscuits and chips), and the meat is minced and served with lettuce leaves. Both are great, just depend on the mood you're in. Also depends when you want it -- at Lu Din Gee you have to order at least an hour in advance.

[kevin]

anyone know the address, hours and other good stuff, regarding Lu Din Gee, it sounds great, since I don't have much authentic experience with Peking duck it migt just fit the bill.

also, how much does it cost, is it served for one or do you have to have multiple guests with y ou???? thanks.

[exilekiss]

Hey kevin,

I really like the Peking Duck at Lu Ding Gee. I've never had it in Beijing before, but IMHO, for LA, it's the best Peking Duck hands down! :)

Most places require you to call 24 Hours in Advance, but Lu Ding Gee just needs 1 Hour advanced notice. 1 Order is 1 Full Duck. You can take the rest of it home if you want, but it's best to eat it fresh.

You can ask for it prepared 2 Ways (w/ the 2nd Way being Sauteed Duck Meat (no skin) w/ fresh Bean Sprouts) or 3 Ways (Sauteed Duck Bean Sprouts, and then the rest of the Duck in a Soup). The more Ways you request, the higher the price. The main event is really the Crispy Duck (w/ Skin) wrapped in the fresh steamed buns (it's always the "base Way" that comes with any order). Cost-wise, I forgot how much it was, but it wasn't outrageous or anything. Darn it, now I'm getting hungry for more Peking Duck! :)

Lu Ding Gee
1039 E. Valley Blvd., #B102
San Gabriel, CA 91776
626-288-0588

Enjoy! :)

[kevin]

Would a solo diner be all right there? thanks.

[fdb]

It's a small restaurant. You won't feel out of place dining solo, but you'll have a lot to take home if you are ordering the duck.