Wild Kite Brewing Serves Up Bomb Burgers, BBQ & Beer
Wild Kite Brewing has been around in Beijing now for just over a year, having first opened its doors back in September 2021, and what a year it has been for this brewpub! Making a name for themselves with their great craft brews and top-quality burgers, which have gained them entry into the illustrous Elite 8 of the Beijinger Juicy Burger Cup, they really have taken the capital by storm.
Wild Kite is the creation of Derrick Xu, Owen Li, and Chris Li, and this is their first year participating in the Juicy Burger Cup and Juicy Burger Month with their Wild Kite Classic Wagyu Burger (RMB 68). This juicy burger features an Australian Wagyu beef patty topped with caramelized onion, burger sauce, cheddar cheese, onion rings, and jalapeño -- giving it the perfect combination of beefy goodness mixed with the comfort of melted cheese, with just a dash of pizazz crush and spice.
In creating the burger, co-owner Derrick Xu wanted to keep things simple in order for the beef patty to be the main focus of the burger, not its added toppings, which he feels distract from the actual meat itself. They only use high quality imported Australian Wagyu beef for the patty, with a carefully calculated 80/20 percent fat ratio. It’s well seasoned and cooked medium so that it’s slightly charred on the outside but sill tender, juicy, and slightly pink on the inside. This makes for one delicious burger, where the meat really is the star of the show.
Along with the Classic Wagyu Burger, they have five other burgers on offer including a decadent Wagyu Burger with Foie Gras and Black Truffle (RMB 128) and a more unusual Deepsea Butterflyfish Burger (RMB 98). But, it isn’t only burgers on the menu at Wild Kite. They’re also serving up other pub classics like Fish and Chips (RMB 58) which has been adapted slightly for local tastes and the ultimate Canadian classic -- Poutine (RMB 45), a pretty rare find in the capital.
Wild Kite also serves American style barbecue with the same attention to detail being paid to the meat as with the burger. Their Smoked Brisket (RMB 148), which again is made from imported Australian Wagyu beef is perfectly tender and melts in your mouth, while their Smoked Pork Ribs (RMB 128) easily fall off the bone just like good ribs should.
Now it isn’t just amazing food that Wild Kite has going for it, but also their impressive array of craft beers. In the year they’ve been open their craft brews have already made a name for themselves in the capital and beyond, being sold in a number of other bars in Beijing as well as other cities across China.
They normally feature around 22-24 beers on tap and regularly add one to two new beers to the menu each week. Derrick explains how they treat their brewing room like a lab, constantly perfecting recipes until they have a stable brew that they can rely on. Their signature brew is the Wild Kite Sunset Blvd West Coast IPA (RMB 38 for 285ml/RMB 50 for 425ml), a smooth IPA which will even have non-IPA drinkers wanting more. Another classic is their Cosmic Pop Mango Sour with Vanilla (RMB 58 for 330ml). Made in Australia, it's proved popular for customers in the mood for a lighter, fruitier pint.
Alongside Wild Kite’s own brews, they also have a few imported Australian brews on tap thanks to exclusive partnerships with a number of Australian breweries. In fact, some of Wild Kite’s own brews are made in Australia and then imported as this is where co-owner Chris Li is based.
Wild Kite is located right by Andingmen in Z Zone and despite being in the hutongs, they have a large space with one big, open seating area and a small room off to the side.
There is a minimalistic feel to the décor, with some quirky elements thrown in, such as the paper kites hanging form the ceiling or giant squid mural in the side room. There is also ample outside seating come summer with both a front and back area, another original graffiti mural decorates the wall on their back terrace.
The brewpub's casual vibe makes it a great hangout spot for a bite of lunch during the day or to catch up with friends over burgers and beers come evening.
Of course, with the recent dine-in ban hitting many restaurants in Beijing, Wild Kite is currently only able to do take out and waimai. You can order through Meituan, JSS or their WeChat mini program (search 野风筝 Wild Kite).
If you’re taking part in Juicy Burger Month you can still get a passport and sticker from Wild Kite when ordering delivery, simply put 我要参加TBJ巨C汉堡月，我想要一张汉堡月贴纸 (I am taking part in the Beijinger's Juicy Burger Month, I would like to collect a sticker with this order) or 我要参加TBJ巨C汉堡月，我想要一张汉堡月贴纸和一本巨C汉堡月的护照 (I am taking part in the Beijinger's Juicy Burger Month, I would like to collect a sticker and passport with this order) in the "notes" section on the delivery app you're using, and they’ll be included.
Wild Kite Brewing
No. 3, Z Zone, Huayuan Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区花园胡同三号城市空间1921文化产业园内
Tel: 010-64022988
Hours: 11am-1am
