Rich Burger: More than Meats the Eye
While Beijing has in recent years blossomed into an international-class burger mecca, Shunyi’s villa district has dragged behind, with only a handful of choices beyond your basic fast-food burger.
Enter Europlaza’s Rich Burger, which is a major +1 for northern suburbanites, serving up burgers that taste like they belong in a downtown gastropub, despite the venue’s ordinary-looking décor.
Granted, Rich Burger may not be worth a special trip if you happen to live downtown, but if you live or work in the area – or you find yourself visiting the nearby international convention center – then it’s worth stopping in.
The burgers are all priced between RMB 55 and RMB 58 (except for a double, which goes up to 76). I ordered a classic Cheeseburger, which is served with lettuce, tomato and both fresh and sauteed onions on a light, fluffy sesame seed bun.
One bite and your thoughts of this being an ordinary fast-food burger are gone: the meat is tender and juicy without being too drippy or messy, and the interesting combo of both sauteed and fresh onions really works, each lending a distinct flavor to the burger's overall appeal.
They’ve also taken the effort to make some unique combos, such as the Pineapple Teriyaki Burger and the Vietnamese Burger. This latter concoction is perhaps the venue's most unique: it is served with shredded carrots and radish, basil, cilantro, lettuce, onions, and a sweet/tart Vietnamese-style sauce.
Rich Burger's menu is rounded out with hot dogs, spaghetti, nachos, soft drinks, milk shakes and even good old fashioned Coke Floats.
A side of chips and salsa unexpectedly accompanied my order, but by the time I had realized that I had already ordered a side of Garlic Fries (RMB 38).
This turned out to be the highlight of the trip: the large portion of steak-cut fries is enough for two and comes literally mounded with a fragrant garlic-herb mixture that will blow your mind.
Be warned: these garlic fries are not for the weak of heart; those that love the Stinking Rose will definitely want to return for more.
My only beef with Rich Burger is its incongruous interior. It’s done up in a generic, antiseptic fast-food style that although reassuringly clean, reveals little of the quality of the food.
Had I not been acting on a recommendation, I probably would have walked right by, because its décor has all the charm of a run-of-the-mill McDonald’s knockoff.
However, if you do the same, you’ll be missing out on a great burger. Give Rich Burger a try and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Rich Burger
10am-10pm, 7 days a week
1F, Europlaza, Shunyi 国展欧陆广场1层
15311760790
READ: Burger Cup '21 Recap: The Top 12 and Then Some
Images: Michael Wester
