Peking Duck House • 1980

In Chinatown on Mott Street, waiters parade whole roasted ducks tableside before a chef theatrically slices the crispy-skinned bird with dramatic flair—a spectacle that's been drawing crowds since 1978. The restaurant underwent a modern transformation in 2004 with steel, glass, and ambient lighting, but the star remains unchanged: whole Peking duck served with thin pancakes, scallions, cucumber, and hoisin sauce, a dish so beloved it became a weekly luncheon spot for late NYC Mayor Ed Koch. The day after Koch's death, his friends gathered here in his memory, testament to the kind of loyalty this cash-only Chinatown institution inspires.