Side Street Swoops Into Ron Mexico's Former Digs With Burgers, Chutney Platters, and More

When we stopped by Side Street for its big debut this past Saturday (Jan 27), there wasn’t an empty chair to be found in the rowdy Jiaodaokou joint. That shouldn’t come as a surprise though, and not only because alleyway regulars are pining for a dependable local watering hole in the wake of The Great Brickening of 2017. The bigger predictor of the space’s popularity is, of course, the success of its prior concept as the taco and cocktail joint Ron Mexico. 

The concept change comes courtesy of Uday Phalgun, who has taken the reins now that his Ron Mexico partners Adam Gottschalk and Amir Avram have moved on. Phalgun started off as a frequent patron of the original Ron Mexico in Yongkang Hutong, and got on well with Gottschalk, who was the founder. When Gottschalk and Avram decided it was time to move to a bigger space sheltered from complaining hutong neighbors on Jiaodaokou this past April, they brought Phalgun into the fold. Avram subsequently moved to the States and Gottschalk sold his stake to focus on other projects like the new branch of QS, leaving Phalgun in charge.

“Last winter we had discussed a few times about a potential project together, but it never really happened until Amir [Avram] called me one day to let me know they were looking for a partner when they were moving to a new location and expanding their business. It was a very quick decision to join them as I always loved what they were doing,” Phalgun recalls. “I had an opportunity to take the business over, however, Ron Mexico was Adam and Amir's baby. Ron Mexico was great like it was but now that Adam and Amir moved on, I wanted to build something on my own and to try my ideas.”

Chief among those changes will be a switch from wee hours dive bar to more of a pub grub vibe. Ron Mexico’s focus on tacos has also been scrapped, as the Side Street sets its sights on burgers (RMB 45 for a classic or different topping options ranging for. RMB 55-65) made with Uruguayan beef (Phalgun proudly notes that meat comes courtesy of Casti Beef, an importer of premium South American wares). Their new menu is rounded out with vegetarian dishes like Cream Cheese stuffed mushrooms (RMB 45), beer cheese dip (RMB 45), potato fire balls (RMB 35), chutney platters (RMB 45) and more to come after CNY. Texan F&B stalwart Brian Murray is one of Phalgun’s partners at Side Street, and brings his years of expertise spent at Ron Mexico, VSports, Home Plate and other Beijing bars and eateries to give that menu an Americans flair. The potent cocktails at Ron Mexico have taken a back seat, meanwhile, to local and imported craft beers on tap.

Phalgun adds that his wife Priz has deftly handled the design, decoration, and marketing. She has made changes to the furniture and lighting to give it a cozier and more chill neighborhood bar vibe. Phalgun says: “I want Side Street to be a place where people can feel at home. Having lived in the hutongs many years myself, I’ve seen how these alleys have charm and character, and I am trying to bring those elements into Side Street, along with good food, good beer, whiskeys, and local art, because I am an art lover myself and a photography enthusiast.” 

As Phalgun and co. continue to put their spin on the place, we’ll be back to check out those artsier events and the down-home eats on the post CNY expanded menu. In the meantime, local barflies are sure to be pleased that one of Beijing’s most popular hutong spaces has smoothly withstood a change in ownership and is embracing a fresh concept. Considering all the closures we Beijingers have mourned over the past year, this Jiaodaokou joint's changes, growth and staying power all bode well indeed.

If you head over to Side Street before Feb 3, you can snag a "squatter" burger plus a pint of Slow Boat's Monkey's Fist for RMB 70.

Side Street
Daily 5pm-late. 113-02 Jiaodaokou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
东城区交道口东大街113-02

Photos courtesy of Side Street