Game for duck

Xi’an

Three duck dishes appear on the menu at this bustling modern Chinese spot. (Mushu duck is also available by request.) The most popular is the skinny version they do of classic Peking duck, tucked into delicate pancakes with fresh scallion and plum sauce. Through a time-consuming process, the chefs get rid of the thick ribbon of fat under the duck’s skin. But the skin still comes out crispy.

* Peking duck, $16.95. 362 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 275-3345.

Stonehill Tavern

You’ve heard of double Dutch. Meet double duck. At Michael Mina’s civilized dining room at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, house cured duck breast -- think duck ham or prosciutto -- is sliced thin and ribboned over a toasted baguette topped with duck liver mousse. There’s also a layer of sweet, juicy shaved pear and baby greens.

* Duck toast, $18. One Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, (949) 234-3318.

Xiomara

Ropa vieja, a savory dish of shredded meat traditionally made with beef, is refashioned with duck for one of the appetizers at Xiomara Ardolina’s stylish Cuban restaurant. The duck is served atop a soft corn cake accented with manchego cheese, and the whole is topped with a garlic tomato sauce.

* Ropa vieja, $11. 69 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, (626) 796-2520.

Wilshire

Chef Chris Blobaum does delicious things with duck at this sexy, new American eatery, where the patio is king. To start, there’s a duck confit salad made with ripe Blenheim apricots and toasted pistachios. And for the mains, sauteed duck breast in a five spice jus with fresh farmers market Bing cherries, tart and sweet.

* Salad, $14; duck breast, $29. 2454 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 586-1707.

Boe

Among the entree-size salads on the lunch menu at this chic little spot in the Crescent Hotel, where most of the seating is al fresco, is one starring barbecue duck. It’s similar to a Chinese chicken salad, what with the nappa cabbage and fried chow mein noodles, but chef Erik Ritter adds julienned carrot and shiso leaf.

* Salad, $10. 403 N. Crescent Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 247-0505.

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-- Leslee Komaiko