How You Will Choose the Best Burgers for 2017
While at first glance Beijing may not seem like a burger mecca, would you believe there are over 100 different brands grilling their take on this classic item? And that's not even counting the big chains -- throw in the international bigwigs and Chinese dining behemoth dianping.com lists over 1,000 outlets serving burgers.
Fact is: Burgers are a staple, even for Beijingers.
And thus each year we enlist the help of the resident expatriates of this city to help us select the best there are out there. And who better to select the best of this prototypical foreign food than foreigners?
This is where you come in: we need your taste buds. Over the next month, it is your mission to try as many burgers as you can -- so that when it comes time for you to select the best, you are an informed voter.
This is a contest we do not take lightly. We do everything in our power to ensure the ultimate outcome of this exercise -- a list of Beijing's Best Burgers -- is both fair and reflective of the wonderful selection we have on hand.
So rev up your gym routine because you're going to be downing a lot of calories in the form of burgers, buns, and sides (and beer ... can't forget beer) for the next month.
What we hope to do is inspire you to visit as many new places as possible -- you may think you know Beijing's best burger, but how can you be sure if you haven't tried them all?
Here’s how it will work:
Appetizers (Now through May 19):
Exercise some civic responsibility (and your metabolism) by choosing to expand your burger horizons. You could do worse than to check out the list of last year's final burger rankings here. However, before you begin, let me forewarn you that at least 7 of the Top 100 did not make it and have folded up shop since last year's balloting: those we have sadly bis farewell to include Union Bar & Grille (#6), Burger Me (#26), The Smokeyard (#41), Pinotage (#42), Koli's Camp (#62), Serbia Burger (#72) and Little Britain (#92).
You'll also find us blabbing on about a bunch of newcomers and some familiar faces over the next couple of weeks; you can be sure to not miss any of the action by following our 2017 Burger Cup coverage.
There are 28 meals between now and the Burger Fest (you freaks could probably squeeze in 42 if you count breakfasts or late-night dining), so it would not be a stretch to think a reasonable foodie could expand their burger horizons by about eight or 10 new choices without growing too weary (or unable to fit into one's normal trousers).
The 2017 Burger Fest (May 20-21):
Now it's your chance to put your sampling into overdrive. Come out on Saturday or Sunday (or both) to experience one of (if not the biggest) cook-out in Beijing's modern history: The Beijinger's 2017 Burger Fest. We'll be there from 11am to 8pm; your ticket (RMB 20 in advance) comes with a cowboy hat or bandana, or take your chances and arrive decked out in your fanciest chaps and cowboy boots and enter for RMB 25 at the door.
This will be your chance to check off the spots you have yet to try -- we'll have more than two dozens to choose from.
You can also expect a fantastic lineup of some of Beijing's wildest bands, DJs, and entertainers playing everything from country music to rockabilly – the perfect opportunity to dance off some of the calories from all those burgers.
Burger Cup Voting Bracket (May 22-Early June):
After you have had plenty of time to sample burgers, it's time to put them to a vote. We'll give you an initial ballot with the Top 64 or so contestants spread into four brackets, and you will choose which ones deserve a spot in the next round.
Once seeded, the brackets will be put up for another round of voting, and each round the number of contestants are cut by half. We'll keep doing that until only one remains: Your burger champion for 2017.
So what are you waiting for? Go out and gorge.
Tickets are now on sale for our May 20-21 Burger Fest at Galaxy Soho ... Tickets are limited so buy ahead to make sure you don't miss out! Click here to purchase!
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