A cozy spot in the U District, Little Duck serves up authentic northeastern Chinese comfort food that's both hearty and homey, perfect for a laid-back meal.
"This inconspicuous, seriously underrated spot just north of the University Bridge focuses on the cuisine of northeast China. The cabbage and pork dumplings are tender and juicy, the mapo tofu is balanced and packed with umami, and the chicken fried rice is some of the best in the city. Be sure to order the comically banal-sounding “spicy potato sticks.” Calling them the best fries in Seattle wouldn’t even do them justice." - Mark DeJoy, Eater Staff
"Specializing in the Dongbei cuisine of northeastern China, this cozy little restaurant is tucked behind a laundromat in the University District. One of the specialties is guo bao rou: sweet-and-sour pork made from thin slices of meat coated in potato starch, twice-cooked, and then covered in a thick gingery sauce. Eggplant with peppers and potato is another typical Dongbei dish, as is anything featuring “sauerkraut” (pickled Chinese cabbage), such as the sauerkraut with plain boiled pork and tofu—in a broth that puckers the lips and yet is perfectly comforting." - Jay Friedman
"Blink, and you might miss Little Duck. It’s a casual Chinese restaurant in a small building that shares space with a dry cleaner. The specialty here is Northeastern Chinese food, so you’ll find dishes like dry fried chicken and pork dumplings, but the chicken is covered in tingly peppercorn, and the pork dumplings are filled with pickled cabbage and stand alone without any dipping sauce. Even the stir-fried green beans are excellent. Come with a group, wait for a table, and order a bunch of things." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"This pint-sized restaurant (with just a few tables inside) next to a laundromat in the University District serves some of the best Chinese food in the city. The focus here is on Northeastern Chinese dishes, like the braised pork ribs potatoes and green beans, but the menu also includes dishes from other parts of China, and the fried rice dishes here are consistently satisfying. It also serves particularly refreshing jellyfish salad with cucumber matchsticks." - Eater Staff
"The first time we entered Little Duck, the dining room was silent—nobody spoke or looked at each other. Of course, we initially assumed this was due to a cyborg invasion. But then we ate the Northern Chinese food at this University District spot and suddenly understood. Nothing anyone has to say could be more interesting than dishes like crispy double-cooked sweet and sour pork slices, sauteed corn and pine nuts, spicy dry-fried chicken, and pickled cabbage dumplings that are so flavorful they don’t even need any sauce. In a neighborhood full of speedy counter-service places, Little Duck is the comforting, sit-down restaurant we’re glad exists in the U-District." - aimee rizzo
