Duck Chang’s: 40 years in Annandale
Duck Chang’s restaurant, which is celebrating its 40th
anniversary in Annandale this year, has brought several innovations in Chinese
cuisine to the United States.
anniversary in Annandale this year, has brought several innovations in Chinese
cuisine to the United States.
The restaurant, at 4427 John Marr Drive, uses old recipes that rely on a lot of
different spices and herbs, and “99 percent of our food is made on
the premises,” says Peter Chang, who took over Duck Chang’s after his father, Man Ming “Duck” Chang, died in 2005 at age 81.
different spices and herbs, and “99 percent of our food is made on
the premises,” says Peter Chang, who took over Duck Chang’s after his father, Man Ming “Duck” Chang, died in 2005 at age 81.
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| Peter Chang |
Peter Chang credits his father with developing a process to create
delicious Peking Duck, the restaurant’s specialty, in six to eight hours – so
you can order it when you arrive and it will be on your table in 10-15 minutes. In China, the traditional process for preparing Peking Duck
took two days, and when U.S. restaurants began serving the dish, customers had
to order it 24 hours in advance.
delicious Peking Duck, the restaurant’s specialty, in six to eight hours – so
you can order it when you arrive and it will be on your table in 10-15 minutes. In China, the traditional process for preparing Peking Duck
took two days, and when U.S. restaurants began serving the dish, customers had
to order it 24 hours in advance.
For those who haven’t tried Duck Chang’s, you’ll have a
chance at the Taste of Annandale, a community celebration on June 13, featuring
dozens of local restaurants, live entertainment, and other activities.
chance at the Taste of Annandale, a community celebration on June 13, featuring
dozens of local restaurants, live entertainment, and other activities.
A long history
Peter Chang isn’t planning any special events for the restaurant’s 40th anniversary but has asked customers to share their memories in letters and
on the restaurant’s Facebook page. Some regular customers have been coming once
a month for years, he says, and there are some fourth-generation
customers.
on the restaurant’s Facebook page. Some regular customers have been coming once
a month for years, he says, and there are some fourth-generation
customers.
Peter is the seventh generation of the Chang family in the restaurant business. Duck Chang, originally from the Shandong province in
northern China, was so renowned for his cooking skills, he was appointed the
banquet chef for the king of Thailand. That brought fame and wealth – he had butlers and maids – but was willing
to give it up when offered a chance to move to the United States by a
delegation of Americans who helped him set up the Empress restaurant in
Washington, D.C.
northern China, was so renowned for his cooking skills, he was appointed the
banquet chef for the king of Thailand. That brought fame and wealth – he had butlers and maids – but was willing
to give it up when offered a chance to move to the United States by a
delegation of Americans who helped him set up the Empress restaurant in
Washington, D.C.
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| Peking duck |
The Empress, the only restaurant in the U.S. serving Peking duck, was an overnight success and attracted many VIPs, Peter says. When Henry
Kissinger, President Nixon’s national security adviser, was preparing to visit
China – paving the way for Nixon’s historic trip – Duck Chang taught him about Chinese
cuisine and how to use chopsticks.
Kissinger, President Nixon’s national security adviser, was preparing to visit
China – paving the way for Nixon’s historic trip – Duck Chang taught him about Chinese
cuisine and how to use chopsticks.
When Duck Chang opened on John Marr Drive in Annandale in
1975, the whole family helped out, including Peter, and his brother and sister.
Even though they all eventually graduated from college with professional
degrees – Peter has a degree in molecular genetics from George Mason University
– “we all decided to carry on the torch” in the restaurant business, he says. His sister helps out at Duck Chang’s, and his brother is
in charge of the Peking Duck restaurant in Alexandria.
1975, the whole family helped out, including Peter, and his brother and sister.
Even though they all eventually graduated from college with professional
degrees – Peter has a degree in molecular genetics from George Mason University
– “we all decided to carry on the torch” in the restaurant business, he says. His sister helps out at Duck Chang’s, and his brother is
in charge of the Peking Duck restaurant in Alexandria.
Changing tastes
In the 1970s and 80s, Chinese food in the U.S. was pretty
limited and bland, with one or two sauces for everything, Peter Chang says. When Duck
Chang’s opened, “we tried to be authentic, but people didn’t want food that was
too spicy, so we dumbed it down.”
limited and bland, with one or two sauces for everything, Peter Chang says. When Duck
Chang’s opened, “we tried to be authentic, but people didn’t want food that was
too spicy, so we dumbed it down.”
Now American tastes have caught up, and “people appreciate
more cutting-edge cuisine and like food that is hotter and spicier with more
exotic seasonings,” he says. “Hot chili sauce is no longer a foreign thing.”
more cutting-edge cuisine and like food that is hotter and spicier with more
exotic seasonings,” he says. “Hot chili sauce is no longer a foreign thing.”
“We were the trendsetters, and that is flattering and also
frustrating,” Chang says. “If you’re too authentic, you’re going to alienate a lot
of people. We try to make sure our recipes cross both aisles – to appeal to
both Asians and Americans.” He would like to offer more upscale, innovative
fare but doesn’t want to scare away the regulars.
frustrating,” Chang says. “If you’re too authentic, you’re going to alienate a lot
of people. We try to make sure our recipes cross both aisles – to appeal to
both Asians and Americans.” He would like to offer more upscale, innovative
fare but doesn’t want to scare away the regulars.
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| Duck Chang |
Annandale has also changed over the past 40 years, Chang
observes. The population used to be at a higher socioeconomic level, but “it’s come
down a couple of notches,” he says. “It’s no longer looked as a prestigious
location,” and it’s become just a place to drive through, rather than a destination.
observes. The population used to be at a higher socioeconomic level, but “it’s come
down a couple of notches,” he says. “It’s no longer looked as a prestigious
location,” and it’s become just a place to drive through, rather than a destination.
The decline of Annandale has had an impact on Duck Chang’s: There are fewer customers and the restaurant closes earlier, at 10 p.m. Chang has
made up for that by focusing on his catering sideline. He caters about 20
events a month, including high-end weddings, parties at the Chinese Embassy,
and the Vanity Fair after-party for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
made up for that by focusing on his catering sideline. He caters about 20
events a month, including high-end weddings, parties at the Chinese Embassy,
and the Vanity Fair after-party for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Chang says Annandale should become more welcoming for pedestrians
and needs more redevelopment, better roads, and a livelier nightlife scene. “Annandale
could be and should be a great community,” he says. “It’s strategically located
inside the beltway There is such great
potential in Annandale.”
and needs more redevelopment, better roads, and a livelier nightlife scene. “Annandale
could be and should be a great community,” he says. “It’s strategically located
inside the beltway There is such great
potential in Annandale.”
7 responses to “Duck Chang’s: 40 years in Annandale”
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whose Peking duck is better" Duck Chang's or Peking Gourmet?
Two different place. Duck Chang does not have the celebrity status, but is family owned and kind of old world.
If you know your history, you will know that Peking Gourmet used to work for Duck Chang's. Celebrity is common to Duck Chang's but they don't advertise it.
Old world and old tradition. Take that any day over hype. Just my opinion.
My vote goes for Duck Chang! Both are excellent! Thank you, Peter for staying in Annandale for 40 years and also for your remarks.
I appreciate hearing about this place; I've never been there, in part because the name sounds so cliché that I didn't take it seriously. See where jumping to conclusions can get you?! Lesson learned; I have to try it now!
–KD
Definitely my favorite Chinese restaurant in NoVa. Their prices are very reasonable and they're always consistent with great service.
Duck Changs! My dad is on the wall at Peking Gourmet, but he will admit that Duck Changs is" better" .