Burger Brief: Dongli Brewery's Highly Stacked Double Cheese Burger

Burger Brief takes a look at some of the attendees of the Beijinger's 2017 Burger Cup. With the grill warming up ahead of the 2017 Burger Cup’s voting starting on May 22, the day after our May 20-21 Burger Fest, we ventured to Dongli Brewery in Shangdi to try their self-titled burger.

Shangdi’s burger lovers no longer need to feel neglected. That’s because a sole brewpub is sizzling up quality patties in this outlying Haidian haunt, make it gleam like a western food diamond in the rough. Yes, Dongli Brewery's self-titled burger not only towers above any other western restaurant in the vicinity not only figuratively, but also literally.

That’s because the Dongli Homemade Burger (RMB 68) has two juicy patties stacked in three layers of buns, and is made all the more lofty with added toppings like a thick fried egg and a gooey slice of cheese. The beef is imported from Argentina, as opposed to the Australia red meat that is standard at most Beijing restaurants. The trio of buns, meanwhile, round off the proceedings nicely thanks to their generous sprinkling of sesame seeds. Their bun recipe is further augmented, as general manager Wang Wei told us last year (before he and his colleagues opened the more conveniently located Steamrhino on Xindong Lu) by the usage of “imported flour and milk powder from the Netherlands. Together, they give the bun a subtle crispy texture and a golden color.”

All of its layers make this burger an indulgently messy affair that’s perfect for famished patrons. Alternatives include a trio of smaller sliders (RMB 78) and the deep sea fish burger (RMB 58). Even better than the burgers are Dongli’s drink options, including on site brews like the Backyard Pale Ale for RMB 30, an Amber #21 for RMB 40, the Oak Blonde Ale for RMB 35, or the Richmond Lager for RMB 45.

All that, along with decor that goes heavy on wood grain and prominently displayed tanks where their beer is brewed, make Dongli more reminiscent of one of Beijing’s centrally located craft beer and pub grub mainstays, rather than an outlying oddity. The swaths of office workers in Shangdi, and especially in neighboring Xierqi, must at least be grateful to not have to hike it all the way to the city’s centre to find top notch brews and burgers.

The Beijinger 2017 Burger Cup is sponsored by Bon App, Job-in, and Left Hand App.

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Email: kylemullin@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @MulKyle

Photos: Kyle Mullin