At the table
Share the duck and rice filling. Ask the server to portion it and check whether the bird is boneless: “这道八宝鸭去骨了吗？” means “Is this eight-treasure duck boneless?”
A whole bird may contain bones. The filling includes meat and may include offal and shellfish; soy sauce may contain wheat. Ginkgo seeds must be cooked and eaten only sparingly, and are unsuitable for infants and toddlers. Check the filling before ordering for allergies or dietary restrictions. Cooking wine is used; do not assume the dish is alcohol-free.
Filling, seasoning and bone removal vary. Dried scallops are an addition in some versions, not a fixed ingredient of every eight-treasure duck. Ask about the version being served.
GET TO KNOW THE DISH
What goes into it?
Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.
One Shanghai filling combines chicken, pork belly, chicken gizzard, cured ham, chestnuts, ginkgo seeds, bamboo shoots and shiitake. Some versions also add dried scallops; other recipes use different fillings or remove the bones.
Typical ingredients
In some versions
Recipes vary by restaurant.
How does it taste?
Rich and savory
- Chili heat
- Texture
- Tender duck and dense sticky filling.
- How it’s made
- Fill the duck with glutinous rice and savory ingredients, then steam.
One Shanghai filling combines chicken, pork belly, chicken gizzard, cured ham, chestnuts, ginkgo seeds, bamboo shoots and shiitake. Some versions also add dried scallops; other recipes use different fillings or remove the bones.
A CONNECTION TO PLACE
Origin & regional roots
Associated with Shanghai.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有八宝鸭吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
A whole duck for the shared table
This account describes a tradition or story, rather than an established historical fact.
Whole eight-treasure duck is a Shanghai banquet and reunion dish. Slow steaming lets the rice absorb the duck juices, and cutting it open reveals a meal within a meal. The name celebrates a varied filling; neither the ingredient combination nor the count is universal.