Recapping the 2017 Burger Cup: The 12 Best Burgers in Beijing
After more than a month of sizzling competition, the 2017 Burger Cup drew to a close on June 15. Now that our stomachs have settled from all the inevitable feasting the occasion provided, we take a look back on how we came to crown a brand new champion as well as the top 12 Beijing burgers overall, as voted by you.
The festivities kicked off with a two-day-long burger binge at Galaxy Soho (pictures here) that drew more than 20,000 hungry Beijingers. Despite the hot temperatures, people stuck around throughout the weekend for live music, a big burger eating contest, tunes by some of the city's best DJs, activities for the kids, and, of course, unlimited burgers and drinks. Check out some exclusive footage from that event below:
Once the Burger Festival finished, the real action began. A six-week battle followed, from which we came away with full rankings of all 102 burger competitors – and now you've got a year to try to eat them all. It's not like you need a lot of additional encouragement: our average voter consumed two burgers a week for the entire duration of the Burger Cup, which means that an average of 12 burgers were scarfed down per voter over the past six weeks. Give yourself 52 weeks and a diligent foodie could easily eat their way through all 100.
However, if you don't have the appetite to chomp your way through them all, then at the very least make the Top 12 your priority. Without further ado, below is your cut-out-and-keep, bookmark-in-your-browser, favorite-on-WeChat list of the very best burgers in Beijing.
No. 12: The Big Smoke
Their must-try burger: Portabello blue cheeseburger served with truffle fries or sweet potato chips (RMB 65)
Why it’s one of Beijing’s Best: This stacked burger comes with a breaded and fried portabello mushroom stuffed with blue cheese on top of an all-beef patty, finished with lettuce, tomato, and chipotle mayo. If you feel like the blue cheese mushroom could be a meal in itself, then you're not alone – you can order the burger without the meat patty and with a double serving of mushroom for just RMB 50.
No. 11: Katchup
Their must-try burger: Manhattan Monster served with thick-cut fries (RMB 68)
Why it’s one of Beijing’s Best: Katchup’s signature burger magnificently mounts copious portions of fried onion rings onto a beef patty, turning an already toppings-clustered burger (fried egg, bacon, cheddar cheese, homemade beef chili) into something monstrously delicious. Furthermore, Katchup’s massively-cut fries (think potatoes cut in quarter slices) only add to the monster mystique put on by this Gulou eatery.
No. 10: Jing-A
Their must-try burger: Slider trio (RMB 50, add house-cured bacon for RMB 10)
Why it’s one of Beijing’s Best: The first of three Beijing breweries to grace the Top 12 rankings is Jing-A. Their bite-sized all-beef sliders come topped with a thick slab of seasoned Yunnan cheese, arugula, sweet and sour onions, and their "awesome sauce." Most diners (sensibly) choose to add house-cured bacon for an extra RMB 10.
No. 9: Blue Frog
Their must-try burger: The Montana served with french fries (RMB 98)
Why it’s one of Beijing’s Best: Its heftiness is not only due to its huge all-beef Aussie patty, but also the toppings, including bacon, cheddar cheese, barbecue sauce, and, in particular, the thick onion ring served on top. The Montana takes its moniker from the homeland of Blue Frog’s founder.
No. 8: Plan B
Their must-try burger: Poutine Slopper (RMB 70)
Why it’s one of Beijing’s Best: Trevor Metz, the owner of this Shuangjing-area sports bar, knows all the homestyle secrets needed to grill a truly mouthwatering burger. Of the over 20 different burgers on Plan B's menu, perhaps the most interesting creation is the Poutine Slopper. To make this joyous mess, half a bun is piled with two beef patties, American cheese, hand-cut fries, mozzarella cheese, and a smothering of gravy. The second half of the bun is then used to mop up what is left of the homemade beef bone gravy.
No. 7: Fatboy’s The Burger Bar
Their must-try burger: The Fat Basterd (RMB 118)
Why it’s one of Beijing’s Best: With two huge beef patties topped with a fried egg, smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, and their homemade barbecue sauce, the Fat Basterd is more than just an eyeful, it’s a mouthful. The Fat Basterd's sauce has a special twist – rather than the smoked hickory taste of typical barbecue sauce, theirs appeals to the Asian palate with a tinge of chili. The Singapore-based chain boasts a fine array of enticing burgers and with the Fat Basterd leading the way, expect this burger chain to be a mainstay on our list for years to come.
No. 6: The Local
Their must-try burger: The Dry Rub Avocado Burger served with a small salad and a choice of fries, onion rings or sweet potato fries (RMB 75)
Why it’s one of Beijing’s Best: The Local rose up the rankings this year from 10th to sixth place. Combining a unique blend of house salsa, slightly spicy dry rub, and of course, perfectly ripe avocado, The Local’s signature Dry Rub Avocado Burger demonstrates just how delectable burgers can be when the perfect pairing between condiments and toppings complements a beef patty. Owner/manager Kenn Bermel attributes its popularity to the quality of its eponymous ingredients, noting that only 100 percent Australian beef is used and avocados are sourced daily to ensure freshness.
No. 5: Home Plate BBQ
Their must-try burger: The Ba-Donk Burger (RMB 128)
Why it’s one of Beijing’s Best: This southern-style barbecue stalwart is a three-time holder of the Burger Cup top slot, and although they might have slid a few spaces in the ranking over the years, their buns-and-patties are still widely regarded as the gold-standard by which other, lesser burger joints aspire to. Home Plate’s arsenal of burgers includes the hulking Ba-Donk Burger. This burger behemoth contains a beef patty, cheddar cheese, two slices of bacon, Home Plate's original sausage, pulled pork, barbecue beef brisket, jalapeños, onions, fried pickles, and barbecue sauce. This is the kind of burger which, should you choose to eat it for lunch, will require a significant afternoon nap.
No. 4: Slow Boat Brewery and Taproom
Their must-try burger: The Fryburger, served with a pickle (RMB 50)
Why it’s one of Beijing's best: The Fryburger’s unique placement of a stack of french fries on top of the juicy beef patty have kept legions of foodies in utter adulation. Dressed with homemade aioli, in what Slow Boat Owner Chandler Jurinka has described as “a nutty and fragrant East-meets-West family recipe,” and buns which are light, sprinkled with sesame seeds, and delivered fresh daily, the Fryburger has undoubtedly buoyed this brewery’s credence as one of Beijing’s best.
No. 3: Great Leap Brewing #12 Brewpub
Their must-try burger: The Cheeseburger, served with french fries or onion rings (RMB 60)
Why it’s one of Beijing’s Best: 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 Final Four in our Burger Cup year after year.
No. 2: Cannon's Burger
Their must-try burger: Cannonnator (RMB 49)
Why it’s one of Beijing's best: The true success story of this year's Burger Cup was the rise of Cannon's. The then-new Gaobeidian eatery debuted in last year's Burger Cup at number 74. After a successful appearance at the Burger Festival, Cannon's skyrocketed all the way to second place this year, even coming within a hair's breadth of the title. Their Cannonnator burger features supple, homemade buns, two diner-style Angus beef patties encased in American cheese, fried mushrooms and onions, bacon, and a fried egg. Keep an eye out for this burger as Cannon's are set to open their new outlet on Xingfucun any time soon.
No. 1: Q Mex
Their must-try burger: Double burger, served with potato wedges and coleslaw (RMB 68)
Why it’s the best burger in Beijing: Q Mex truly stepped up their game this year, moving from last year's second place to claim the top spot. While their chorizo burger has brought something new to the table with its double-grilled and spicy beef chorizo patty, it's the double burger that keeps us coming back thanks to two special beef patties, a double helping of cheese, mayonnaise, and "special dressing." Coupled with a wide-ranging menu of strong drinks and regular promotions and events, Q Mex has rightly claimed its place at the top of Beijing's most popular burger spots.
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Images: the Beijinger, courtesy of the venues, Carmel Moersalim
