Beijing's Top 12 Burgers of 2015
Mark your calendars: May 28 (Saturday) is when the Burger Festival happens at the open grounds of Oasis Hospital inside the Universal Creative Park (across the north gate of 798). Prior to that, starting on Monday (May 16), lots of top burger venues in town will be offering Burger Days promotion. Watch this space as we unroll more details shortly.
Meanwhile, here’s a list of last year's top twelve burgers:
No. 12: Lily's American Diner
Name of signature burger:
The Lily’s Burger, RMB 49, served with home-made fries or a salad
Why it’s so damn tasty:
Nothing
can be more American than a cookout featuring a freshly grilled burger,
a cold beer, and plate of coleslaw. Coleslaw may be an oddity for
diners outside of North America, but it’s what makes the Lily’s Burger
unique: this savory burger is topped by this creamy, crunchy topping.
Those of us who grew up with coleslaw will never want to have it on the
side again.
Shuangjing: Unit 2-18, Bldg 2, Tianzhi Jiaozi, 31 Guangqu Lu (northeast corner of Shuangjing Qiao), Chaoyang District 2-18; Daily 10am-midnight; 6592 5548
Sanlitun: 1-037, Bldg 5, Shoukai Bojun, 8 Xindong Lu, Chaoyang District 1-037; Daily 8am-midnight; 8418 5497
Sihui: Jindi Mingjing (200 meters east of north gate), C1 Exit of Sihui Station, Chaoyang District, Daily 10am-midnight; 6556 3817
No. 11: Plan B
The Bronco Burger, RMB 60, served with choice of hand cut fries or fresh veggie sticks with honey mustard dipping sauce
Why it’s so damn tasty:
Forget
gourmet. Trevor Metz, the owner of this Shuangjing-area sports bar,
knows all the home-style secrets needed to grill a truly mouthwatering
burger. The buns are made fresh on site every day, and so is the Jack
Daniels-infused barbecue sauce that laces the Bronco Burger, which also
features crispy bacon, cheese, fried onions and jalapenos. If you’re
hankering for a satisfying burger and have lost your appetite for
pretentious sandwiches, then look no further than Plan B’s Bronco.
Shuangjing: 2-012, 22 International Art Plaza, Pingod, 32 Baiziwan Lu, (east of the Today Art Museum), Chaoyang District, Daily 5pm-late; 5821 1353
No. 10: Frost Coffee, Cocktails and Dining
The
Frost Burger, RMB 48 (single), RMB 68 (double), served with a side
salad of mixed greens, cucumbers and tomatoes with house-made lemon
vinaigrette
Why it’s so damn tasty:
Generic
buns are forsaken and English muffins are applied in this creative
Brit-Friendly twist on a hamburger, served with American cheese,
lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and all the dressings on the side
(house-made habanero sauce, European-style honey mustard, mayonnaise,
and ketchup). The beef is also ground on site, and special care is taken
to balance the fat content to a highly tasty level that doesn’t succumb
to greasiness.
Xingfucun: 55 Xingfucun Zhonglu (in the alleyway across from April Gourmet), Chaoyang District; Mon-Fri 7.30am-2am, Sat-Sun 11am-2am; 6417 5430
No. 9: Q Mex
Carnitas Burger, RMB 65, served with roasted corn, double-fried potato wedges or Mexican cabbage coleslaw
Why it’s so damn tasty:
This
savory, spicy burger may be the most unique offering amongst all the
top-tier competitors. Chef Marcus Medina delved into his Mexican roots
for the recipe, shredding the braised pork that is typically used for
burrito filling and placing the savory meat between two firm, impeccably
chewy buns.
Sanlitun: Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu Chaoyang District; Mon-Thu 10am-2pm, Sat-Sun 10am-3am; 6585 3828
No. 8: The Big Smoke
Name of signature burger:
Portabella Blue Cheese Burger, RMB 68, served with truffle fries
Why it’s so damn tasty:
The
Big Smoke’s signature burger is served as a double-decker, with a smoky
beef patty capped by a blue cheese-stuffed Portabella mushroom. A
stroke of creative genius that has kept this burger in our Top 12 three
years running.
Xingfucun: Lee World Building (down the alley from Frost Nails), 57 Xingfucun Zhonglu, Chaoyang District; Mon-Thu 11am-midnight; Fri-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 11am-10pm; 6416 5195
No. 7: Let's Burger
Cheese King Burger, RMB 129, no sides
Why it’s so damn tasty:
Consider
it a volcano of deliciousness ready to erupt on your tastebuds. This
burger is chock full of mozzarella, Danish brie cheese and cream cheese
on a red pepper wedge, filling your dairy quota for days to come.
Sanlitun: B1/F, Sanlitun Village North, 11 Sanlitun Lu (opposite Colibri Cafe), Chaoyang District; Daily 11am-11pm; 6415 2772
Solana: Unit L-RS-206, Bldg 11, 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang District
No. 6: Union Bar & Grille
Double Cheese Burger, RMB 88 (single), RMB 155 (double), served with thin-cut fries and fresh coleslaw
Why it’s so damn tasty:
Many
Beijing restaurants import Australian beef for their burgers, but Union
has taken that practice several steps further by only using grain-fed
Aussie beef aged for 21 days. Aside from the high quality of their meat,
Union gives diners lots of options, always asking patrons how well they
want their burger cooked and offering a selection of cheeses (cheddar,
Swiss or blue).
Sanlitun: S6-31, 3/F, Bldg 6, Sanlitun Village South, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District; Mon-Fri 11am-11pm,Sat-Sun 11am-midnight; 6415 9117
No. 5: Blue Frog
The Montana, RMB 98, served with French fries or sweet potato fries
Why it’s so damn tasty:
This
burger is a behemoth, requiring two hands to handle even for the most
massive of foodies. This heftiness is not only due to its huge all-beef
Aussie patty, but also the toppings, especially the thick onion ring
served on top. The Montana takes its moniker from the homeland of Blue
Frog’s founder.
Sanlitun: S2-30, Level 3, S2 Tower, 19 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District; Daily 10am-late; 6417 4030
Guomao: 15-16, 1/F, Bldg AB, Ocean International Center, 10 JingtongXilu, Chaoyang District
Chaoyangmenwai: 1/F, Bldg 1, U-Town, SanfengBeili, Chaoyang District; Daily 10am-late; 8561 2665
No. 4: Great Leap Brewing #12 Brewpub
The Cheeseburger, RMB 55, served with French fries or onion rings
Why it’s so damn tasty:
Stop
by this brewpub restaurant at nearly any point during its opening hours
– be it a weekend evening or a weekday afternoon – and you’ll find it
jam-packed. That popularity can be attributed to its excellent range of
craft beers and also to its sizzling, savory cheeseburger. With a recipe
written by top-notch chef Kin Hong (of Taco Bar fame), there’s little
wonder why this burger has been such a hit with pub-grub lovers, or why
it has cracked the Top Five in our Burger Cup year after year.
Xingfucun: 12 Xinzhong Jie, Dongcheng District; Sun-Thu 11.30am-1am Fri-Sat 11.30am-2am; 5712 4376
No. 3: Home Plate BBQ
The Itis, RMB 98, no sides
Why it’s so damn tasty:
This
southern style barbecue stalwart is a three-time holder of the Burger
Cup top slot, and their revamped 2015 entry has upped their game. In
addition to its award-winning classic cheeseburger, Home Plate has
unleashed its hulking Itis burger this year. The Itis doubles its
predecessor’s patties and cheese slices and features the smokehouse’s
house-cured maple bacon and its famous fried pickles, making it a burger
to be reckoned with for years to come.
Xiaoyun Lu: 35
Xiaoyun Lu courtyard (from Dongsanhuan Beilu, head 20m north of Xiaoyun
Lu intersection and take the first right), Chaoyang District;Daily
11am-10pm; 5128 5584
Sanlitun: Home Plate BBQ and The Bullpen, Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District; Sun-Thu 11am-2am (food served until 1am), Fri-Sat 11am-3am (food served until 2am); 400 096 7670
No. 2: The Local Bar and Grille
The Dry Rub Avocado Burger, RMB 75, served with a small salad and a choice of fries, onion rings or sweet potato fries
Why it’s so damn tasty:
The
dark horse of the 2015 Burger Cup competition, The Local’s beefy
contender vaulted up the charts this year to end up at No. 2. Chock that
success up to The Local’s unique blend of house salsa, slightly spicy
dry rub, and of course the perfectly ripe avocado half from which this
burger takes its name. Owner/Manager Kenn Bermel also attributes this
burger’s strong showing to the quality of its ingredients, noting that
only 100 percent Australian beef is used and avocados are sourced daily
to ensure freshness.
Sanlitun: Courtyard 4 (opposite west entrance of 1949 - The Hidden City), Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District; Daily 11am-2am; 6591 9525
No. 1: Slow Boat Brewery and Taproom
The Fryburger, RMB 50, served with a pickle
Why it’s so damn tasty:
This
brewery’s beloved all-beef burger settled for runner up last year but
sailed to a first place finish in 2015. Its success lies in careful
preparation at their Dongsi taproom, as well as its unique placement of a
French fry patty between the buns. Part of its success can be
attributed to the homemade aioli that it is dressed with, which Slow
Boat Owner Chandler Jurinka has described as a “a nutty and fragrant
East-meets-West family recipe.” Foodies also love the Fryburger’s buns,
which are light, sprinkled with sesame seeds, and delivered fresh
daily.
Dongsi: 56 Dongsi Batiao, Dongcheng District东城区东四八条56号; Mon-Thu 5pm-midnight, Fri 5pm-1am, Sat 2pm-1am, Sun 11.30-10pm; 6538 5537
Click "Read more" for more details about the Burger Cup.