JS Garden (Apgujeong)

This Gangnam-area Chinese restaurant serves up a very good Beijing duck—some say as good as what you'll find in Beijing itself. In contrast to the typical Chinese restaurant, the atmosphere here is more upscale, thanks to the attentive service and sophisticated vibe—it's the kind of place where you'll find patrons opting for wine over Kaoliang liquor. The set menu is structured and reasonable, and the diversity of options allows guests to pick and choose dishes according to their preferences. The lunch course menu with its abalone soup and eggplant shrimp is popular but the highlight of JS Garden is of course the Beijing duck. A huge fire oven is on display just inside the hall, with ducks being roasted inside using techniques imported directly from mainland China. A well roasted duck is carved at the table, and the crispy skin compounded with moist, tender meat makes for a splendid meal. Be forewarned: Orders for Bejing duck are taken a day beforehand because they must be cooked for a long time, and reservations are often fully booked due to popularity. Recommended meals include their jjambbong made with knife-shaved noodles and ample seafood, and their fried rice. The restaurant has branches in Jamwon and Cheongdam, aside from the one in Apgujeong.