2019 Burger Cup Recap: Beijing's 12 Best Burger Restaurants
advertisement
The dust has settled on another year of the Burger Cup and after weeks of tough competition (follow all the stories via QR code below) we now know who you, the great people of Beijing, consider to be the city's best burger pushers.
As always, there were plenty of upsets and closely fought battles this year that eventually saw Slow Boat Brewery retain their crown, beating out dark horse Crafters Brewing Co. Last year's third place holders Side Street narrowly lost their position to Q Mex, while Beijing's many craft beer brewpubs made a strong showing in the rest of the Top 12 rankings.
Of course, many of you wouldn't have been able to make up your minds about your favorite burger without the Beijing Burger Fest 2019. Thousands of people turned out on Jun 22-23 to sample the wares of dozens of vendors – see if you can spot yourself in the photos here.
We don't blame you if you don't have it in you to chomp your way through all 120 of Beijing's top burgers but you can, at the very least, make the Top 12 a 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.
advertisement
No. 12: Boxing Cat Brewery
Their must-try burger: BCB Classic Burger (RMB 75)
12
Making their debut in the Burger Cup Top 12, having opened just after the end of the 2018 Burger Cup, Boxing Cat has won plenty of fans with their tried-and-tested formula of tasty craft beer and inventive pub grub. The BCB classic burger is, as the name suggests, a classic expression of a cheeseburger, topped with all the trimmings and plenty of American cheese. It goes down particularly well with a pint of their signature Standing 8 Pilsner.
No. 11: 3 Little Pigs by Andy's Craft Sausages
Their must-try burger: Chili Cheeseburger (RMB 65)
11
This venue from New Jersey sandwich-slinger Andy Horowitz (of Andy's Craft Sausages fame) specializes in satisfying, unfussy American-style sandwiches, from Reubens with homemade corned beef to hangover-busting breakfast combinations. As for the burgers, Horowitz keeps it simple with just two on the menu, including his top pick: the chili cheeseburger, featuring an American Angus beef patty topped with the chili recipe that won him people's choice award at the 2017 Great Leap Brewing Chili Cook-off.
No. 10: Arrow Factory Brewing
Their must-try burger: Double Smeesh Seitan Burger (RMB 64) (vegan)
10
Another brewpub making their debut in the Top 12, Arrow Factory have always had a loyal following for their British-influenced pub grub and hearty fried breakfasts but their burgers are also deservedly rated as some of the best in Beijing. Recently, they've also made waves with their creative, delicious vegan dishes, including this seitan and smoked jack fruit burger. The experience of eating the Double Smeesh Seitan Burger mirrors that of a cheeseburger thanks to a luscious dairy-free cheese sauce.
No. 9: Blue Frog
Their must-try burger: The Gourmet Beef Burger (RMB 118)
9
Burgers don't get more reliable than Blue Frog, which has maintained a position near the top of the Burger Cup rankings for years, thanks to quality beef, a wide range of burger toppings, and famous Monday night buy-one-get-one-free deal. The must-try gourmet beef burger features an Australian beef patty topped with Parma ham, avocado, feta-stuffed pepperoncini, chili-lime cheddar, and mustard seed mayo, all contained within a hefty toasted ciabatta bun.
No. 8: Great Leap Brewing
Their must-try burger: The Cheeseburger (RMB 65)
8
No. 7: The Great Outdoors
Their must-try burger: Chairman Mao Smoked Chili Burger (RMB 50)
7
With several very distinct burgers on the menu, Fangjia Hutong's The Great Outdoors certainly doesn't make choosing easy. However, for something a little different, our money is on the Chairman Mao Smoked Chili Burger (RMB 50, served with fries), which is made using a beef patty, handmade Hunan dried sausage, and a layer of spicy Hunanese chili peppers (a nod to Chairman Mao's home province), all balanced out with a rich layer of cheese.
No. 6: Jing-A
Their must-try burger: Classic Cheeseburger (RMB 60)
6
Having recently welcomed experienced chef Simone Thompson on board at their Xingfucun brewpub, Jing-A have really cemented their food menu, making it as much of an attraction as their beer. The Classic Cheeseburger is their must-try, thanks to two 100g patties and plenty of melty American cheese. Do yourself a favor and go for the option to add a couple of slices of house-smoked bacon. We love the side of spicy housemade pickles, too.
No. 5: Home Plate BBQ
Their must-try burger: Chopped Brisket Burger (RMB 55)
5
Holder of the Burger Cup title from 2012-2014, Home Plate might have slid a few spaces in the rankings over the years, but their buns and patties still have plenty of loyal fans around Beijing. Home Plate's arsenal of burgers includes the chopped brisket burger, which perfectly showcases why their southern-style barbecue has always been one of Beijing's best. The beef is tender and smokey with its own subtle spice, which can be augmented with a splash of one of Home Plate's homemade barbecue sauces.
No. 4: Side Street
Their must-try burger: Hutong Hipster (RMB 48) (vegan)
4
Side Street has had an impressive run over the past couple of years, placing third in its first competition in 2018 and only narrowly losing to Q Mex this year. Their secret? Most likely the impressive selection of drool-worthy burgers, from the heart-stopping KO with two patties, melted cheese, IPA caramelized onions, and KO sauce to the Indian-inspired Southern Tikka, with fried chicken and tikka masala gravy. Their vegan and vegetarian burgers are among the best in town, including the signature Hutong Hipster, which features a potato and spinach patty paired with a combination of tamarind chutney and spicy mint chutney.
No. 3: Q Mex
Their must-try burger: Double Burger (RMB 68)
3
Q Mex has had a strong showing in the Burger Cup ever since taking the crown in 2017. In that time, they have cultivated a range of tasty, creative burgers, some with a topical Tex-Mex twist like the spicy taco burger, but 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 earned a rightful place among Beijing's most popular burger spots.
No. 2: Crafters Brewing Co
Their must-try burger: Tiny Gangsta Burger (RMB 65)
2
Every year the Burger Cup throws us a dark horse and this year it's newcomer Crafters. Despite only having had a brick and mortar location for a few months, Crafters have hit the ground running with a preformed loyal fanbase thanks to their years of selling craft beer and cider at pop-up events around town since 2017. And clearly, their followers came out in force because they managed to blow past the competition and claim second place. Their must-try Tiny Gangsta Burger, which was a hit during their appearance at the Burger Festival, is topped with Chinese smoked bacon, Dutch smoked cheese, nacho chips, caramelized onions, jalapeños, and a special beer sauce made from their Tiny Gangsta IPA.
No. 1: Slow Boat Brewery and Taproom
Their must-try burger: The Fryburger (RMB 59)
1
Sailing to victory for the fourth time, this year's Burger Cup has cemented Slow Boat's reputation as Beijing's best burger purveyor. It also proves their love for one of, if not the, greatest burger in Beijing: the mighty Fryburger. Stacked with their signature patty, a perfectly pink-centered and juicy beef patty topped with a slice of gooey cheese and lattice of their seasoned fries, the effect is a crunchy mouthful that pairs incredibly well with a pint. Additionally, this year's competition and win coincided with the opening of their new venue in Dengshikou, giving Dongchengers a second reason to celebrate.
See how this year's best burgers rack up compared to 2018's.
Images: the Beijinger, courtesy of the restaurants
advertisement
Want to know what awesome events are happening in town? Scan/Extract the QR code above to get the list of our Editors' Picks.
Got something to sell? Looking for a job? Or an apartment? Then scan/extract the QR code above to visit our Classified Ads.
Do you have what it takes to be a True Runner?
Scan/Extract the QR code above to check out our current job openings.
The Beijinger
Always something fresh
Scan/Extract this QR code to follow us!