Dragon-i, perhaps the first Chinese restaurant brand that brought proper xiao long boa and Chinese cuisine from the region of Shanghai, Szechuan, Beijing and Lanzhou, has been operating since some 14 years ago, is now relaunching 3 of their outlets to “Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant“, and I was invited to sample this new dish that they now offer at their 1-Utama outlet.

This was quite interesting for me, as Dragon-i at 1-Utama was one of my earliest food blog entry all the way back in 2005.

Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant at 1-Utama
Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant at 1-Utama

Well, compared to 13 years ago, the restaurant has seen quite a bit of an upgrade in its interior decoration. First and foremost, it has a new logo with a little duck by the side, the dining area looks a lot more up-class and comfortable, and most importantly, it also spot an open roasting room for Peking Duck, where you can observe the chef from Beijing expertly prepare the bird for your indulgence.

Peking duck roasting room with Chef from Beijing
Peking duck roasting room with Chef from Beijing

As for the duck itself, I was informed that they’re imported from China to ensure consistent quality and standard demanded by the chef. The roasting process is done by employing traditional brick hung ovens and roast for about an hour on controlled fire over fruit-tree wood.

The idea is to employ strict traditional method to get that crispy skin with tender & succulent duck meat that is infused with smoky floral aroma, just like how it should be.

crispy tender peking duck skin, expertly carved
crispy tender peking duck skin, expertly carved

The Peking duck dish comes in two choices. You can choose a “Peking Duck Two-Course Meal” that comes with Peking duck & duck bone soup with soft beancurd. This is a half duck course that feeds two pax and priced at RM 105.

However, if you have 3-4 pax (or a very good appetite), I’d suggest to go for the “Peking Duck Three-Course Meal” that serves a whole duck, the above mentioned soup, and a choice of

  • deep-fried duck’s bone with salt & pepper
  • stir-fried duck’s bone in Hunan style
  • braised rice noodle with black truffle and shredded duck meat
  • stir-fried shredded duck meat with vegetarian shark’s fin

all at RM 158.

Peking duck 3-course meal
Peking duck 3-course meal

Which was precisely what was served to us, and I’m happy to say that the Peking duck was indeed as described – crispy skin & succulent meat at the same time.

We had it the proper way of wrapping the duck meat with thin pancake skin, sweet sauce, cucumber, leek, and winter melon. The resulting roll is an explosion of taste & texture that no other dish can offer. I love it, and you bet we finished the whole portion.

5-appetizer - chilled chicken, stewed mushroom, pickled radish, deep fried bean curd, caramelized eel
Signature appetizer platter – chilled chicken, stewed mushroom,
pickled radish, deep fried bean curd, caramelized eel

Other than the Peking Duck, we were also served with some of their other dishes in the menu.

Starting with the Signature Appetizer Platter that consists of five different dishes (RM 83) with the following:

  • stewed mushrooms
  • chilled chicken with “hua diao” rice wine
  • deep-fried vegetarian beancurd skin roll
  • pickled radish
  • crispy caramelized eel

You can also order these dishes on its own, and if I had to pick one, it’ll have to be either the chilled chicken or the stewed mushroom. I especially love the rice wine undertone the chicken carries.

braised pork belly with steamed buns, sauteed mixed vegetable, Shanghainese steamed meat dumpling, steamed black pepper duck meat bun
braised pork belly with steamed buns, sauteed mixed vegetable,
Shanghainese steamed meat dumpling, steamed black pepper duck meat bun

For those who loves some good old fashion porky goodness, there’s the Braised Pork Belly with Steamed Buns (RM 88). The dish is beautifully prepared with the pork belly crafted in a pagoda-liked shape. The portion for this is quite big though, and I reckon should serve at least 4 pax, tender 3-layer meat in those soft steamed buns, the best oriental porky “burger” if you like.

Sauteed Mixed Vegetable (RM 25) provided a good change of pace in texture and freshness, and Steamed Black Pepper Shredded Duck Meat Bun (RM 12) provided yet another way for us to enjoy another different way the duck is served.

Of course, we also took the opportunity to sample the one dish that kick-started this franchise from all those years ago – the Shanghainese Steamed  Meat Dumplings,  or Xiao Long Bao (RM 12). Tasted just as it was the first time I set foot in this restaurant.

"la zhe chi", double boiled hydragea beancurd, sea cucumber, and matsutake soup
“la zhe chi”, double boiled hydragea beancurd, sea cucumber, matsutake soup

Additionally, we also tried the Sauteed Diced Chicken with Dried Flower Chili in Szechuan Style (RM 38), or commonly known as “la ji zhi”, 辣子鸡. A dish with quick a bit of a kick that I absolutely adored, if you’re really adventurous, the imported fried chili can be chewed down for that numb and burning sensation (I didn’t try, but one guy over the session did).

And last but not least (actually was the first dish I had), for the soup lover, their Double-boiled Hydrangea Beancurd, Sea Cucumber and Matsutake (RM 38) soup is one not to be missed. The soup was sweet with seafood goodness, and that tofu that’s expertly cut into 2,800 strands is really something to behold.

Over all we definitely had a great time and awesome lunch at Dragon-i. I think it is time we start to look at Peking duck as a delicacy that is to be enjoyed not only during special occasions such as near & around CNY, but all year round too.

Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurants are located at 1-Utama, Pavilion KL, and JBCC Komtar.

Address:
Dragon-i Peking Duck
Lot S313A, 2nd Floor Highstreet,
1 Utama Shopping Mall,
No. 1 Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, 
47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
GPS: 3.150050, 101.615939
Tel : 03 7725 8822

KY eats – Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant
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19 thoughts on “KY eats – Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant

  • July 31, 2018 at 2:07 am
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    KY, when I went to Vancouver, Canada had the Peking or Beijing duck. Instead of pancake they served steam buns. It Cantonese the meat what left of duck went into stir fry dish and soup for us. They separate skin and meat so you get two plates if duck.

    Reply
    • July 31, 2018 at 10:06 am
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      Vickie: yah, steamed buns is a great option too to have with peking duck.

      Reply
  • July 31, 2018 at 11:49 am
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    Seen this -i restaurants all over KL, did not bother to try any. The vegetarian sharks’ fins, I guess the sharks fins are vegetarian imitation made to look like the real deal?

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    • July 31, 2018 at 1:00 pm
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      suituapui: Their food is actually pretty good, can’t say I’m fully on-board with vegetarian sharks’ fins, I generally won’t have fins at all, vegetarian or otherwise.

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      • July 31, 2018 at 5:27 pm
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        They sold in groceries so I can make dishes with it.

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        • July 31, 2018 at 5:43 pm
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          Vickie: ooo, didn’t know they do.

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  • July 31, 2018 at 4:44 pm
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    The signature appetiser platter is very prettily presented. I remember having the crispy caramelised eel and chilled drunken chicken. The latter used to be served submerged in a lot of wine (ai, where’s the wine?) and it was so intense it made me drunk-lah…hehehe! 😉

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    • July 31, 2018 at 5:43 pm
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      eatwhateatwhere: hahaha won’t be drunk gua….

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      • July 31, 2018 at 5:52 pm
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        KY, know you are a great scuba diver so when you head out for it ? I will soon with husband to Hawaii to some scuba diving and some doctors to do also researching samples collected from the reefs.

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        • August 1, 2018 at 5:39 pm
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          Vickie: haha that’s too much compliment. Scuba diving at Hawaii must be awesome!

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  • August 1, 2018 at 7:29 am
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    i can smell the peking duck aroma now, powerful pictures ah uncle

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    • August 1, 2018 at 5:39 pm
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      kekeke: terima kasih tuan.

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      • August 2, 2018 at 7:41 am
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        datuk will be fine, uncle

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  • August 1, 2018 at 3:22 pm
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    So cute the duck logo and those duck decor!
    Ok, give me all the crispy duck skin!

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    • August 1, 2018 at 5:39 pm
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      Choi Yen: I HAVE ALL THE SKIN!

      Reply
  • August 2, 2018 at 6:08 am
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    wahh receptionist so preedee, oh oh wait, cardboard cut out #blardyhell #lol

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  • August 6, 2018 at 7:08 am
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    errrr….. noh #fakenews lol. Why why they steam the mushrooms?

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    • August 6, 2018 at 9:51 am
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      kekeke: why won’t they?

      Reply

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