Old Beijing Roast Duck restaurant holds grand opening with lion dancers

by Charlie Smith on August 28th, 2017 at 12:17 PM

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Vancouverites are used to seeing lion dancers on Chinese New Year, but these traditional performances are also held on other auspicious occasions, including business openings.

So it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that the drums were pounding and the lions were swaying today for the official launch of Old Beijing Roast Duck at 1643 West Broadway.

It's a new high-end northern Chinese restaurant founded by UNBC grad Denny Sun in the spacious, high-ceilinged room that used to be home to Maurya Indian Cuisine.

Earlier this month, Straight food writer Tammy Kwan noted that the space has received a major facelift with the addition of stone lions, Chinese-style doors, and an interior full of reminders of imperial China.

Travis Lupick

Along the west wall is a lengthy illustrated panel showing how meat traditionally made its way from the market in China to the table.

Sun's father, Sun Yi, operates three Old Beijing Roast Duck restaurants in China and this is the family's first North American outlet.

The family traces its roots back to Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province and one of the oldest cities in China.

It was also home to the leaders of various Chinese dynasties, including the Tang and Western Zhou.

The Beijing roast duck is served in a different ways at the new restaurant.

Tammy Kwan

Old Beijing roast duck, for which the restaurant was named, was a household dish in the emporer's court since the Ming dynasty.

The first Old Beijing Roast Duck restaurant opened in Beijing in the 1860s, and photos its early days grace the wall near the entrance.

The local establishment sources its birds from the Fraser Valley, not from China.

Old Beijing Roast Duck serves soup in hollowed out oranges.

Tammy Kwan

One of the visitors on opening day was Burnaby councillor James Wang, who was also raised in Xi'an.

This city is famous around the world for its 2,000-year-old Terra Cotta Warriors.

Ribbon cutting at Old Beijing Roast Duck grand opening on August 28.

Craig Takeuchi

Wang, who ran for the NDP in Vancouver-Langara in the recent provincial election, said he was there to support the new restaurant.

“They invited me and so I thought it would be nice to come and see," Wang told the Straight. “Food is a part of culture and so now the city can enjoy different food and different culture.”