Meet The Burgers You Can't Find Anywhere Else But Burger Fest
All set to kick off on Friday (Jul 7) – and running until Sunday (Jul 9) – this year’s Juicy Burger Fest is back and bigger than ever! In fact, with 40+ amazing vendors, it’s too big to fit into one post, so instead we’re splitting it into two.
In part one, aka this post right here that you're reading now, we’ll take a look at the vendors who have put their creative skills to the test by crafting exclusive burgers and other items just for the festival.
DOSH
Exclusive item(s): Parma Ham Burger and Fried Onion Hop Syrup Burger
DOSH is bringing two burgers to Burger Fest, the Fried Onion Hop Syrup Burger and the Parma Ham Burger, the latter of which is highly recommended by the restaurant. For this concoction, the smoky, salty, cured meat from the Italian town of the same name is layered atop a wet-aged beef patty. Then comes the melted cheese and a special handcrafted sauce. Finally, a fluffy brioche bun brings it all together for a loving embrace.
Wild Kite
Exclusive item(s): Preserved Eggs with Chili Wagyu Burger and Journey of Wukong American Pale Ale
Hutong brewpub Wild Kite placed eighth in our Juicy Burger Cup last year; no mean feat given they were a complete newbie. This year, they'll be joining their first Burger Fest, where you can try Wild Kite's Classic Wagyu Burger, Shredded Smoked Brisket Burger, and, especially for the Fest, a Preserved Eggs with Chili Wagyu Burger. This last one is intriguing for a very special Chinese twist. Their Classic Wagyu burger is doused in a spicy pepper sauce made from distinctive Sichuan and Hunan spices, and, for that special twist, there's a century egg added on top.
Wild Kite has also created a beer just for the Fest, an American Pale Ale called Journey of Wukong. It represents Wild Kite’s exploration of classic light ales, with the name Wukong referring not only to Sun Wukong the Monkey King, but also to the adventurous spirit and journey of self-cultivation at the heart of beer brewing.
It has a malt sweetness and subtle fruity aroma, and if you buy a burger you can add a glass of this – or one of their other beers – for only RMB 10. For those who rate their drinking skills, they’re doing a Cheers Challenge each day from 3-3.30pm and 8-8.30pm, where if you buy any draft beer and finish a 330ml glass within five seconds you’ll get a free refill.
Q MEX Bar & Grill
Exclusive item(s): Birria Burger and Mexican Beef Barbacoa Loaded Fries
2017 Burger Cup champs and last year’s third place winners Q MEX are bringing the big guns with not one but two exclusive items for the fest, and oh boy do they sound good. The first is a bit of a taco and burger combo, if you will, the Birria Burger. You've got the classic Q MEX Burger base of an Australian Angus beef patty, buried in slow-roasted pulled birria beef. Then they throw on crispy corn chips, cilantro, onions, and cilantro mayonnaise.
Next up is the Mexican Beef Barbacoa Loaded Fries, which take the fast food meets South of the Border twist cue from the Birria Burger, but instead goes with French fries and pulled beef Barbacoa. The mix is topped off with pickled onions, jalapeño cheese sauce, sour tomatillo salsa, cilantro mayo, pico de gallo, and cilantro. Of course, for those who want to keep it classic, Q MEX will also have the signature Q MEX Double Burger on the roster as well.
Jing A
Exclusive item(s): Singapore Noodles Cheese Burger
Beijing brewery Jing A will have a variety of their classic burgers available, along with the rather unusual sounding Singapore Noodles Cheese Burger. This burger takes their classic cheeseburger and adds a heap of Singapore-style chow mein for the ultimate carb combo. As you’d expect they’ll have plenty of brews too, with two beers from their new dream cream series: the Peach Lychee and the Double Orange Mango, plus two other refreshing summer beers: the Queen of Hearts and Hawthorn Smash. For those looking to win some vouchers or prizes, they’ll have some special promotions running throughout the fest as well.
Home Plate BBQ
Exclusive item(s): Smoked Cheeseburger
Three-time Juicy Burger Cup winners and last year’s second place contestant, Home Plate BBQ have a whopping five burgers on offer at the fest: The Great American, The Trucker, Hand-Pulled Pork, USDA Brisket, and Smoked Cheeseburger. The latter is a true beauty. It's a 200g USDA freshly ground all-brisket patty, smothered in Home Plate's signature beef brisket rub and smoked 'til pink, before it's reverse seared and topped with melted cheese, homemade pickles and their homemade BBQ aioli.
Slider Nation
Exclusive item(s): King Shroom Slider
Slider Nation will be serving up The OG Sliders (available as spicy or regular), made from 50g of Wagyu beef smashed with thinly sliced Vidalia onions then topped with American cheese, crisp pickles and their signature “crack sauce”, all sandwiched between their specially steamed Hawaiian style buns. They also have a vegetarian option just for the festival, called the King Shroom Slider, which sees pulled and shredded BBQ king trumpet mushrooms combined with pickled veggies and American cheese between black sesame seed steamed buns.
Alongside burgers they’ll have their brand new Aperol Spritz Slushee, taking the favorite summertime cocktail and sending it into full-on slush mode.
Plan B
Exclusive item(s): Chili Cheese Dog Slider
Plan B is going all in on the sliders with four to choose from at the Fest: Plan B Cheeseburger Slider, BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Slider, Chili Cheese Dog Slider, and Pulled Pork Slider. The two to watch out for are the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger (aka The Bronco Burger), which uses high-quality Australian Angus beef topped with cheese, crispy fried onions, and their signature Jack Daniels BBQ sauce.
The other is the Chili Cheese Dog Slider: a fried bratwurst dolloped with their award-winning chili and a gooey cheese sauce, before being sandwiched between a sesame seed bun baked only for Plan B. It isn’t only sliders they’ve got up their sleeve though, with drinks like their famous Plan B G&G’s (gin and grapefruit) making an appearance as well.
Nashville
Exclusive item(s): Bull Demon King Steak Burger and Monkey King Speciality Cocktail
Country music restaurant Nashville will have four burgers: The Nashville Hell Burger, Bull Demon King Steak Burger, American Beef Burger, and Chicken Burger. Crafted for the fest the Bull Demon King Steak Burger takes Angus rib-eye steak and combines it with Nashville’s special sauce. If you’re up for a challenge you can try the Nashville Hell Burger: at a massive ten inches in size with a patty weighing in at 1kg, then topped with veggies, mushrooms, bacon, cheese, and Nashville sauce, it’s a monster of a burger. Individuals who manage to finish it within 30 minutes will get it for free.
Nashville has also crafted a Monkey King Speciality Cocktail which blends Gangshan baijiu, peach liqueur, white peach, lemon juice, and soda water for a refreshing cocktail that packs a punch.
The Burp
Exclusive item(s): The Monkey King Loves Peach Beer
The Burp is always drawing inspiration from Chinese culture and flavors and their newest burger is no exception. The Qianlong Burger is named as such for The Burp’s proximity to Yonghegong, the birthplace of the Qian Long Emperor. This burger features Beijing local dish Qianlong cabbage, a salad made with Beijing sesame paste and vinegar that pairs perfectly with the beef patty.
Along with this, they’ll have their Old Beijing Osmanthus Burger, Hutong Ranger Burger, and Classic Cheese Burger. Aside from burgers, they’ll also be serving a range of beers – including the special The Monkey King loves Peach Beer – and will have a darts game where if you get over 300 points you’ll receive an RMB 5 voucher to spend on a Burp beer at the fest.
BURGE’S Bistro & Bar
Exclusive item(s): Slow Cooked Pork Burger
BURGE’S Bistro & Bar is bringing three burgers to the festival: Burge’s Beef Burger, Spicy Chicken Burger, and Slow Cooked Pork Burger. Their recommended burger is the Burge’s Beef Burger, an Australian Wagyu beef patty paired with buffalo cheese, secret onions, and Italian black vinegar mayonnaise in a multi-leavened French butter bread. We of course also have talk about their exclusive Slow Cooked Pork Burger, which uses pork that’s been marinated in a special blend of seasonings at a low temperature for eight hours and is then hand torn and mixed with a secret sauce.
Circle Urban
Exclusive item(s): Pulled Pork Burger with Green Apple Coleslaw
Don't miss out on Circle Urban's irresistible burger at the Beijing Burger Festival! Their half-pound smoked burger is a juicy masterpiece that's not to be missed. Made with a 200g Australian Angus beef patty, this burger is stuffed with a mouthwatering blend of Emmental and red pesto cheese. Prepared in a smoker imported from the US and smoked over applewood chips, it's a tantalizing combination of smoky flavors and cheesy goodness. In addition, they offer a pulled pork sandwich with refreshing green apple coleslaw and a delectable Beyond Meat Burger for vegans. Get ready for some fun as Circle Urban also has exciting drinking games in store. Circle Urban at the Beijing Burger Festival – where juicy, cheesy perfection awaits!
HUZI
Exclusive item(s): Tang Sanzang Humburger
An American-style hamburger joint, HUZI are offering three burgers at the fest: Red Boy Hamburger, Tang Sanzang Hamburger, and Golden Cudgel Hamburger. The Tang Sanzang Hamburger features slow-cooked pork ribs mixed with American BBQ sauce and sandwiched between two triangular bread buns. Besides burgers, they’ll have some on-site games running, giving customers the chance to win special HUZI Burger Fest gifts.
Malt Tiger
Exclusive item(s): Watermelon Meat Burger
Malt Tiger hopes to be the one that'll make your head turn this Fest with their Watermelon Meat Burger, Cocoa Beef Brisket Burger, Greek-Style Lamb Chop Burger with Green Sauce, and Hand-Pulled Pork Burger with Blueberry and Horseradish.
The Watermelon Meat Burger is a veggie burger that substitutes a meat patty for a thick slice of dehydrated, pickled watermelon instead. For meat eaters, the one to try is the Pulled Pork Burger, pairing hand-pulled roast pork with a blueberry sauce – forgoing the traditional apple – and horseradish sauce for a lively bite.
Malbec & Beef
Exclusive item(s): 192 Pepper Smoked Steak Burger
Argentinian restaurant Malbec & Beef will be joining our Burger Fest for the first time and have created the 192 Pepper Smoked Steak Burger for the event. This steak sandwich of sorts sees an Argentinian Angus steak paired with a classic Latin American smoked pepper sauce served in a hefty bread bun.
U.S. Meat Export Federation
Exclusive item(s): Smoke Roasted US Pulled Pork Rump Burger
U.S. Meat Export Federation will have two burgers at the festival. The first is the Char-Grilled USDA Prime Beef Flank Steak with smoked meat chili sauce and American Cheddar cheese. The second is the Smoked Roasted US Pulled Pork Rump Burger, which uses American pork rump that’s smoke-roasted for nearly ten hours at a low temperature over fruit wood chips, served with secret pickles, their special sauce, and American Swiss cheese.
Burger Treasure
Exclusive item(s): Grilled Tuna and Shrimp Burger
Pushing the boat out figuratively with their creativity, Burger Treasure is bringing the unusual offering of a seafood burger. The Grilled Tuna and Shrimp Burger sees a slab of marinated pan-fried tuna layered on pan-fried buttered shrimp, a seafood sauce, and fresh vegetables stuffed in a buttered bun. They’ll also have a limited number of customized handheld branded fans to give out to customers, which given the recent heat sounds like a pretty good idea!
TSINGTAO 1903 Taproom
Exclusive item(s): ManTou Classic Lamb Burger, ManTou Wagyu Cheese Burger, Mantou Vegetarian Burger and Brew Master Raw
TSINGTAO 1903 Taproom will have three burgers on offer at the fest: ManTou Wagyu Cheese Burger, ManTou Classic Lamb Burger and Mantou Vegetarian Burger. The lamb burger has been designed to pair perfectly with a cold pint, using fresh lamb chops served with lashings of cucumber yogurt sauce, tomatoes, and salad in a mantou bun. For vegetarians, there's the Mushroom Burger, made from shiitake mushrooms, St. George's mushrooms, and quinoa coated in egg breadcrumbs, all topped with arugula, tomatoes, and a squeeze of homemade garlic sauce.
Aside from burgers, they will bring a number of beers including the Brew Master Raw, a limited beer that is normally exclusive to customers who visit the Qingdao Beer Museum.
SUSU
Exclusive item(s): Banh Mimi Burger, Shaking Beef Skewers
Susu is making its debut at Burger Fest with their new Banh Mimi Burger, a twist on the classic Vietnamese sandwich they serve. Using either a beef or pork smash patty laced with lemongrass as a base, it’s piled with pickled carrot, daikon, Cheddar cheese, fresh chilies, cucumbers, herbs, and finally their homemade Sriracha mayo all inside a panini-type bun. In addition to the Banh Mimi Burgers, they’ll have Shaking Beef Skewers made up of beef, okra, and mushrooms, accompanied by a tangy dip.
Medi
Exclusive item(s): Juicy Pork Knuckle Burger
Mediterranean restaurant Medi has two exciting burgers to try. There's the Mini Gyros Cheese Burger: grain-fed Angus beef is slathered in garlic Greek yogurt and topped with a slice of tomato, all encased in their perfectly baked sesame buns. The other is the Juicy Pork Knuckle Burger which uses 24 slow-cooked low-fat pork knuckle spiced with a secret German seasoning.
Restaurant-Zen
Exclusive item(s): Kung Pao Chicken Burger
Restaurant-Zen is headed to FunsTown with Kung Pao Chicken in burger form. Diced chicken thigh is covered in kung pao sauce – minus the usual pieces of dried chili for ease of eating – and layered with onion, vegetables, and a squeeze of mustard inside two buns for a truly Chinese-Western fusion dish.
Triple B 3B
Exclusive item(s): Fresh Jalapeño Burger and Bacon Burger
The newest vendor coming to the festival, Triple B 3B bring with them four burgers: the Cheeseburger, Triple B SIGNATURE Burger, Fresh Jalapeño Burger, and Bacon Burger. The star of the show is the Triple B SIGNATURE Burger, where an Angus beef patty is blended with a mixture of different cheeses and finished with Alan’s secret burger sauce.
VINN
Exclusive item(s): Flaming Mountain Beef Cheese Burger
Having recently joined us at Taco Fest, VINN is now joining Burger Fest for the first time with four burgers. These are the Flaming Mountain Cheese Burger, Cheese Burger, Cheese Burger with Chili, and Double Cheese Burger with Mushrooms. Their signature burger is the Beef Cheese Burger: a handcrafted Australian grain-fed Wagyu beef patty is topped with melted cheese, pickles, and salad. In addition to burgers they’ll have three different sides available too: Potato Wedges with Cheese, Sweet Potato Fries, and Mexican Deep-Fried Jalapeno.
Grassroots
Exclusive item(s): Grassroots x Zrou Beefy Crunchburger and Grassroots x Zrou Fried Chicken Crunchburger
Plant-based creamery Grassroots will be debuting two brand new burgers at the festival, combining their signature plant-based dairy alternatives with Zrou’s plant-based patties. They'll showcase these in the form of the Grassroots x Zrou Beefy Crunchburger. Grassroots Mozzarella is melted over a spiced Zrou patty, topped with fresh tomato and pickles, wrapped in a flour tortilla, pan-fried until crispy, and finished off with Grassroots’ signature cheddar sauce.
Pawfect Treats
Exclusive item(s): Chicken and Vegetable Burger and Chicken and Duck Breast Burger
For those of you bringing your furry friends to the fest, we'll have burgers and treats ready for them courtesy of handmade pet snack company Pawfect Treats! They will have the Chicken and Vegetable Burger and the Chicken and Duck Breast Burger both carefully crafted to be suitable for both dogs and cats as a fun meaty treat! A range of their other snacks such as chicken slices, chicken chips, and cookies will also be available.
Now, that is one impressive selection of exclusive burgers! As you’ll only be able to enjoy them at the Juicy Burger Fest, you’d better get your ticket now to make sure you don’t miss out!
The Beijinger's 2023 Juicy Burger Fest is happening on Friday, Jul 7 from 3pm-9pm and Saturday, Jul 8-Sunday, Jul 9 from 11am-9pm at Xidianjiyi FunsTown in Gaobeidian. Standard early bird tickets start at RMB 25/person and can be purchased by scanning the QR code in the poster.
To stay up to date with all things burger related you can ask to be added to our Beijing Burger Lovers group chat. Just scan the QR code below to add TBJButler and ask to be added to the group!
Images: courtesy of the vendors, The Beijingers
READ: Decision 2023: Cast Your Ballots in the Juicy Burger Cup Opening Round!
