Meet The Exclusive Burgers You Can Only Find at Burger Fest
The wait is almost finally over with Juicy Burger Fest 2023 all set to kick off on Friday (Oct 27) – and running until Sunday (Oct 29). This year we have an amazing 40+ vendors, so many in fact, we're going to split our vendor post into two instead!
In part one, aka this post that you're reading right 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.
Wild Kite 野风筝
Exclusive item(s): Preserved Eggs with Chili Wagyu Burger
Hutong brewpub Wild Kite will be joining the Juicy Burger Fest for the first time this year. You’ll be able to try their Wild Kite Classic Wagyu Burger, Pulled Pork Burger, and their Fest exclusive: the Preserved Eggs with Chili Wagyu Burger. It's a Classic Wagyu burger 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, if you're not a fan of century egg then no worries, you can swap it out for a regular fried egg instead!
Wild Kite will also have a range of their carefully crafted beers and if you buy any burger you can get a beer for half price!
Q MEX Bar & Grill 库迈墨西哥餐吧
Exclusive item(s): Birria Burger and Mexican Beef Barbacoa Loaded Fries
Q MEX are bringing the big guns to the Fest with not one but two exclusive items, and oh boy do they sound good. The first is a bit of a taco and burger combo, if you will, dubbed 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..
They've also got 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 京A
Exclusive item(s): Shenme Gui!? Burger and Ghost Whisper
Beijing brewery Jing A will have a special Halloween-themed burger called the Shenme Gui!? Burger up for grabs. It features a thick Angus beef patty layered with slices of cheese and sandwiched inside a black bun to create one spooky-looking burger! They'll also be serving their ever popular Stout Bacon Cheeseburger and Kimchi Burger, the latter of which is normally only available at their Wangjing branch.
For beer, Jing A is showcasing something they cooked up with New Zealand brewery Garage Project, Ghost Whisper. This joins the lineup with the Hawthorn Smash, Queen of Hearts, and others. Plus, if you're looking to win vouchers and prizes, there'll be opportunities to do so at the Jing A booth throughout the Fest.
Home Plate BBQ 本垒美式烤肉
Exclusive item(s): Smoked Cheeseburger
Home Plate BBQ will have a whopping five burgers on offer: 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.
Nashville 乡谣餐吧
Exclusive item(s): Bull Demon King Steak Burger and Monkey King Speciality Cocktail
Country music restaurant Nashville will have a menu of 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, 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.
BURGE’S Bistro & Bar 小伯格酒馆
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 on multi-leavened French butter bun. We can't go without mentioning their exclusive Slow Cooked Pork Burger, which uses pork shoulder 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 sauce that’s rich with just a hint of spice.
Circle Urban 圆场
Exclusive item(s): Pulled Pork Burger with Green Apple Coleslaw
Circle Urban's 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 mouth-watering 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 Burger 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 虎滋精酿餐吧
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.
U.S. Meat Export Federation 美国肉类出口协会
Exclusive item(s): Smoke Roasted US Pulled Pork Butt 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 CT Butt Pork Burger, which uses American pork butt (which is actually pork shoulder for those non-versed in American English) 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.
SUSU 苏苏越南菜
Exclusive item(s): Banh Mimi Burger, Shaking Beef Skewers
Susu is making its debut at Burger Fest with their 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 Medi地中海餐吧
Exclusive item(s): Moroccan Spicy Beef Burger
Mediterranean restaurant Medi has two burgers to try: the Angus Beef Cheese Burger and the Moroccan Spicy Beef Burger. The latter, a Fest exclusive, features a 150 day grain-fed Angus Beef patty smothered in an intense tomato sauce seasoned with a mixture of Mediterranean herbs and spices.
VINN 维恩餐吧
Exclusive item(s): Flaming Mountain Beef Cheese Burger
VINN will be joining Burger Fest for the first time with four burgers. These are the Flaming Mountain Cheese Burger, Grain-Fed Beef Cheese Burger, Double Cheese Burger with Mushrooms and Mini Grain-Fed Beef Cheese Burger. Their signature burger is the Grain-Fed Beef Cheese Burger: a handcrafted Australian grain-fed Wagyu beef patty is topped with melted cheese, pickles, and salad. Their exclusive Flaming Mountain Beef Cheese Burger is sweet, sour and spicy all in one and will definitely satisfy all your burger cravings. In addition to burgers they’ll have three different sides available too: Potato Wedges with Cheese, Sweet Potato Fries, and Mexican Deep-Fried Jalapeño.
Beersmith 鲜啤吧
Exclusive item(s): Spicy Beef Burger
Beersmith will be serving a plethora of burgers at the fest: Bacon BBQ Burger, Angus Cheese Burger, Spicy Beef Burger, No Meat Burger, Crispy Chicken Burger, and Beersmith Beef Sliders. The one to try has to be their most popular burger: the Beersmith Cheese Burger. It's cheese melted over a 200g Angus beef patty and smeared with mustard mayo for a slight kick. For the fest they’ve also created the Spicy Beef Burger which sees one of their signature beef patties loaded with chili con carne, jalapeños, chipotle mayo, onion and pickles. For vegetarians, there is the No Meat Burger, which features an omni-pork patty with chipotle mayo, jalapenos, and lettuce in a brioche bun.
Brotzeit Bier Bar & Restaurant 博璨啤酒餐厅
Exclusive item(s): Thuringer Sausage Pretzel Burger
Brotzeit goes German with their offerings: Juicy Crackling Pork Knuckle Pretzel Burger and Thuringer Sausage Pretzel Burger. You may remember the former from last year’s Juicy Burger Month, which sees a massive 24 hour slow cooked pork knuckle slathered in their chef’s secret sauce, sandwiched between one of their delicious pretzel buns. The latter, a Fest exclusive, is a pretzel bun stuffed with saurkraut and a big ol' Thuringer Sausage.
Latina Latina 巴西牛排馆
Exclusive item(s): Picanha Beef Burger
Latina is all about Brazilian meats, something they'll be showcasing with their exclusive burger, the Picanha Beef Burger. Picanha (aka Sirloin Cap) is a cut of beef taken from the top of the cow's rump, prized for its juiciness and buttery, earthy flavor. It's allowed to shine here, seasoned with sea salt and cooked over an open fire, layered with Spanish Iberian ham, secret sauce and shredded potatoes on a soft sesame bun.
LA PLATEA 兰蒂地中海餐吧
Exclusive item(s): Truffle & Mushroom Focaccia Burger and Pesto Asiago Focaccia Burger
La Platea is combining the American burger with Italian flavors, chief amongst them the choice of bun: focaccia, a yeast-leavened, rectangular bread that's crispy on the outside with a soft center. Try it with their Truffle & Mushroom Focaccia Burger or the Pesto Asiago Focaccia Burger. For beers, La Platea goes global with a selection of craft beers from all over the world.
#WAWABEER X Taste Laboratory 哇哇兔精酿×口味实验室
Exclusive item(s): BLACK PINK Mudslide Burger
After combining forces for the China-CEEC Food and Music Fest last weekend, #WAWABEER and Taste Laboratory have partnered up again to bang out something interesting for Juicy Burger Fest. They've done this in the form of two burgers: a Chinese Style Burger and the BLACK PINK Mudslide Burger. The latter is unlike any burger you’ll have ever seen, with fried chicken stuffed inside a black bun then covered in an eye-catching pink cheese “quicksand” sauce.
Hi-Town Bistro 海塘无国界餐吧
Exclusive item(s): Portabella Double Cheese Burger
Hi-Town Bistro are offering a Portabella Double Cheese Burger and the Handmade Cheese Burger. The former has been specially developed by the Hi-Town Bistro chef team just for the Fest. It takes their traditional beef burger then turns things up a notch with the addition of a deep-fried portabello mushroom, a homemade sauce and double cheese for a super decadent treat.
In the non-burger department, there's their signature dish: Smoked Lamb Kidney, a traditional Chinese barbecue dish in which they smoke the lamb with rosemary and other seasonings to give it a woody, smoky aroma.
Tofu OCN 一来东豆腐店
Exclusive item(s): Good Water Farm Rice Wine Veggie Burger
Tofu experts Tofu OCN will serve Good Water Farm Rice Wine Veggie Burger. This veggie burger features a special bun made with one of Good Water Farm’s rice wines to create a light, soft bun with just a hint of glutinous rice wine. The bun is then filled with a vegan burger patty, organic lettuce and tomatoes and sauce.
LUSH
Exclusive item(s): Vegan Chicken Burger
Although Wudoakao veteran Lush has been around since 2003, this will be their first time joining the Burger Festival – guys what took you so long!? For the vegans out there, Lush have created a special vegan burger just for the fest. Called the Vegan Chicken Burger, it’s made from soybeans and comes served with pineapple, onion, BBQ sauce, and coconut sauce.
For meat eaters, they’ve got the Lush Classic Beef Burger, Mexican Beef Burger, and Mini Burgers. The one to go for has to, of course, be the Lush Classic Beef Burger. It's made with New Zealand Angus beef, American bell cheese, and fresh seasonal vegetables. Former Beijing university and exchange students are sure to get a taste of nostalgia with each bite.
Grassroots 草根芝士
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. A Zrou patty is spiced and crumbled into chorizo, then stuffed into a crispy tortilla full of melted Grassroots Mozzarella and topped with fresh tomato, homemade pickles, and Grassroots’ signature cheddar sauce.
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, Oct 27 from 3pm-9pm and Saturday, Oct 28-Sunday, Oct 29 from 11am-9pm at Xidianjiyi FunsTown in Gaobeidian. Standard early bird tickets start at RMB 20/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: Juicy Burger Fest 2023 Is Coming Next Weekend, Oct 27-29
