Suwon Ingye-dong Chinese restaurant: dongpo-yuk at Gang's Duck

Today I've got a review of Gang's Duck, a restaurant I visited in Ingye-dong. It's famous for Peking duck, and after going I could totally see why. If you're looking for good food near Suwon City Hall, it's close by too, so this could be handy.

Gang's Duck opening hours and private event bookings

Gang's Duck is open 11:00–23:00 with a break time of 15:30–17:00. Last order is 14:30 and 22:00. They also offer private rental, so you can inquire for group gatherings.

The exterior and interior design caught my eye right away. Even though I visited on a weekday evening there were quite a few customers, and the atmosphere was nice enough that I saw people there celebrating birthdays.

Why Gang's Duck feels like Shanghai in Ingye-dong, Suwon

Gang's Duck felt quite similar to a Peking duck restaurant I once visited in Shanghai. The lighting was dim, giving it an upscale restaurant feel, and it was fascinating to see roasted ducks displayed at the front counter.

On the wall hung framed duck portraits — they reminded me of England's Queen Elizabeth, in a stylish way, haha. There were also pretty Chinese liquors on display, which were fun to look at.

Book ahead and your table is marked "reserved"

If you book ahead at Gang's Duck, your table gets marked as 'Reserved' with your name on it. Seeing a reserved seat like that for a special occasion just makes it feel extra special, doesn't it?

Cold jasmine tea instead of water at Gang's Duck

They brought over a bottle I assumed was water, but it was jasmine tea. Is this place really not in Shanghai? The exotic atmosphere made me question whether I was really in Ingye-dong. The cold jasmine tea was genuinely delicious, and it cut through the greasiness you feel eating Chinese food perfectly. Drinking it after so long really brought back Shanghai memories.

Gang's Duck menu and prices

• Peking duck (half) ₩39,000
• Peking duck (whole) ₩76,000
• Buddha Jumps Over the Wall ₩58,000
• Steamed rockfish (light) ₩66,000
• Steamed rockfish (red) ₩66,000
• Dongpo-yuk (braised pork belly) ₩32,000
• Peking duck fried rice ₩12,000
• Dongpo-yuk rice bowl ₩13,000
• Dandan noodles ₩13,000
• Yuxiang eggplant rice bowl ₩11,000
• Mapo tofu rice bowl ₩11,000
• Black pepper fried pork ₩19,000
• Water spinach stir-fry ₩16,000
• Yuxiang eggplant ₩16,000
• Spicy diced chicken (Lazi Ji) ₩19,000
• Yuliangi (crispy chicken) ₩19,000
• Butter sweet and sour pork ₩19,000
• Mapo tofu ₩16,000
• Mala cream shrimp ₩19,000
• Cereal shrimp ₩19,000
• Chili shrimp ₩19,000
• Handmade boiled dumplings (6pcs) ₩13,000
• Handmade pan-fried dumplings (6pcs) ₩13,000
• Hong Kong-style egg noodles ₩11,000
• Mala ragu noodles ₩12,000
• Shrimp fried rice ₩12,000
• Garlic fried rice ₩12,000
• Black vinegar cucumber salad ₩9,000
• Peking duck with bean sprout stir-fry ₩10,000
• Mala cumin fried potatoes ₩10,000
• Jjamppong soup ₩20,000
• Beef mala tang ₩23,000
• Suntory Premium Malt's (draft) ₩9,900
• Jellyfish cold salad ₩12,000
• Braised chicken ₩12,000

Gang's Duck dongpo-yuk (Chinese braised pork belly), 32,000 won

This time I ordered dongpo-yuk, yuxiang eggplant, and Peking duck fried rice. I hear it's best to reserve the dongpo-yuk and Peking duck in advance, so keep that in mind before visiting.

Maybe because I'd reserved, the dongpo-yuk came out quickly, and it looked genuinely upscale from the moment it arrived. It reminded me of a dish I once saw on the cooking show Black and White Chef.

You cut the string with the provided tongs and scissors, and just looking at it you could tell the meat was going to be really tender. Eating it together with the bok choy and bean sprouts added a nice bite to the soft meat, and the seasoning had soaked in just right. I could honestly call this place the Shanghai of Suwon.

Gang's Duck yuxiang eggplant, 16,000 won

I don't usually like eggplant, but Gang's Duck's yuxiang eggplant completely changed my mind.

It comes with a generous amount of sweet and tangy sauce poured over crispy fried eggplant, and while the eggplant itself is crispy and delicious, the sauce is really the kicker. It disappears from your mouth in an instant, so I'd recommend savoring it slowly.

Gang's Duck Peking duck fried rice, 12,000 won

This fried rice had an outstanding nutty flavor. What's unusual is that it has rice crackers mixed in, so you get a crunchy texture as you chew, which is quite unique. I wondered how they even came up with an idea like that.

The seasoning was just right too, so it paired well with the other dishes — a bite of fried rice with a bite of dongpo-yuk is pure happiness, so I'd recommend having them together.

Is Gang's Duck in Suwon worth booking? Final verdict

Since the chefs here come from hotel Chinese restaurants, the polish of the dishes was noticeably a cut above. With the black-toned interior and great atmosphere, it seemed like a great fit for dates as well as work dinners and group gatherings, and since private rental is available, that's worth keeping in mind. The Peking duck and dongpo-yuk are popular, so I'd definitely recommend booking ahead.

If you're looking for good food in Suwon or Ingye-dong, or you've been curious about a good Peking duck spot, I'd recommend giving Gang's Duck a try.