Burger Battle: Facing Off the Final Four

We've ground our way through several rounds of our 2012 Burger Cup, and four patties remain: Brussels vs. Union Bar and Grille and Home Plate vs. Fatburger. With voting closing at noon on Thursday, you've still got a few hours left to decide their fates.

It's been a surprising journey, with last year's winner, Blue Frog, taking one on the chin from Brussels. I dropped by Brussels yesterday afternoon to get a refresher on what we're dealing with here.

The cheeseburger (RMB 58) comes with fries and a salad, and the fries (or should I say chips?) were nicely handled. The patty was very juicy, so much so that the bottom bun was actually breaking apart, and the flavor was powerful. My biggest issue with Brussels was the onion was just too strong. Rings of the stuff come already hidden under the melted cheese, and some bites just felt like a punch in the nose. By the time I was done, my eyes were watering.

Still, I'd gladly take Brussels' offering than Union's more expensive burger. At RMB 85, I was hoping for a serious contender, but I came away yesterday very disappointed. The meat had nary a hint of moisture, and the outside was blackened to the point of charcoal flavor. It wasn't what I remembered of the burger there, so I asked the manager if this was usual. She said that it was indeed normal, noting that the char was part of how they cook it. I can get emotional about my burgers, and this whole experience left me quite sad. The skinny fries tempered some of my melancholy, but only a little.

Moving on to the other showdown, I'd have to go with Home Plate on this one. I had such high hopes for Fatburger when it arrived, but it has regularly failed to live up to them. If this were a milkshake cup, I might give them a nod. The cheeseburgers (RMB 45) do sometimes manage that classic greasy diner feel, but it's hard to justify the pricing for repeated visits.

At RMB 30, Home Plate is actually the cheapest burger on the list, though to be fair, it comes by itself, fries and salad are extra. I'd definitely rank this as one of the best burgers in Beijing. I will say that the double cheeseburger can overwhelm on the salt front, but you should be okay if you stick with a single patty.

At the end of the day, this isn't up to me, so take my words with a side of pickles and ketchup and cast your own vote. If you think I'm out of my mind, by all means, prove me wrong.

Until then, may the burgers be ever in your favor.

Photos: Josh Ong