Angel Burger May Sound Sweet but Means Business When It Comes to Quality Fast Food

Angel Burger is the name. But does the fast food joint's second venue live up to its heavenly moniker?

Well, at the very least junk food junkies will find plenty to enjoy at this satisfying Beijing burger restaurant. In keeping with American craft burger brands like Shake Shack or Five Guys, Angel has plenty of Americana abounding on both on the menu, and in the decor with a combination of brick and planked walls, specials etched on chalkboards, outlaw country on the speakers, and vintage wooden and leather chairs and booths. 

The menu stays on-point with options like the RMB 43 Angel Cheeseburger (a patty topped with a gooey slice of melted cheese, lettuce and tomato, grilled and sliced onions, and lots of their secret burger sauce). A double-decker cheeseburger with identical toppings will set you back RMB 65, while the “name says it all” Western Bacon BBQ Burger costs RMB 43. Other true red-white-and-blue standards include RMB 30 chili cheese fries, and RMB 32 “the works” hot dog with grilled onions and peppers and relish, not to mention root beer floats and a handful of milkshakes (RMB 25-38). All other sides are extra.

And while all those items aim for authenticity, a few creative twists on the burger menu help Angel soar to greater heights. Prime example: the Vietnamese Burger (RMB 43 and made with Vietnamese-style pickled carrots, turnip, basil, cilantro along with spicy mayo atop a beef patty). The same goes for the Spicy Kung-Fu Burger (also RMB 43 and featuring a special Sichuan-style hot sauce and roasted peanuts).

Saying that, when our Vietnamese burger arrived we were struck by its puniness, sporting a bun that was drab-looking and a wafer-thin patty. Thankfully, it tasted better than it looked. The pickled Vietnamese veggies gave it the desired exotic twist that tickled my curiosity in the first place, while the side of crinkle cut fries were firm and crispy, even though we’d prefer having a smaller portion alongside the burger at combo price. 

Such creative Asian-influenced items also help Angel Burger's Chaoyang Park-adjacent venue stand out against the growing competition. After all, Royal Stacks and Three Guys Burger House have also recently opened on the east side of town. Unlike those newbies, however, Angel already has a dedicated following courtesy of their original Shunyi outing, fans of which have long enjoyed its take on beef, patties, fries, and other such goodies. 

So while the portions and flavors don’t match the excellence of Arcade, Great Leap, Fat Boys, Slow Boat, or other Beijing burger heavy hitters, Angel is no slouch. And if it offered better combos, better buns, and made a few other improvements, it may actually have what it takes to truly take flight.

Hungry for burgers? You can find this year's top 12 here.

Angel Burger 
Daily 10am-10pm. Bldg 4, Park Avenue, Gongyun Nanlu, Chaoyang District (6502 3207)
朝阳区公园南路6号公园大道生活广场4号

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Photos: Kyle Mullin