The Beijinger's Juicy Burger Cup 2025 Expert Panel
For over a decade, the Beijinger's Juicy Burger Cup has celebrated Beijing's thriving burger scene through a unique multi-round selection process that attempts to tap into foodie expertise to select Beijing's Best Burger.
Here's how it works: First, an open public vote narrows the field from 100+ burger joints to a smaller subset. Then, during Juicy Burger Fest, attendees get to taste many of these contenders and express their preferences in a second round of voting, which is also open to those unable to attend the fest. Finally, our carefully selected Expert Panel determines the ultimate winners.
We changed to this expert panel system last year after previous years revealed some challenges with public voting alone. As the competition grew more intense, we encountered organized ballot-stuffing campaigns (amounting to thousands of fake votes) and saw how larger chains could dominate purely by relative popularity. While we could detect and remove these attempts, it became an enormous time sink. More importantly, we wanted to ensure winners were judged on burger quality alone.
This year's panel represents Beijing's diverse burger community. Selected through open applications, they include:
- Globetrotting connoisseurs who've sampled 97+ burger brands worldwide
- Dianping V8 critics with encyclopedic knowledge of Beijing's scene
- Everyday superfans who've methodically documented 30+ local joints
What unites them? Authentic passion, deep local knowledge, and a no-nonsense approach to judging. As one panelist puts it: "The best burgers need no gold leaf – just great ingredients and execution."
Now, let's meet this year's 31 panelists!
Alexandre Froger (France)
I've called Beijing home for over 15 years and have attended every Beijing Juicy Burger Festival since 2014. My passion lies in the simple yet perfect combination of flavors: I love juicy patties cooked medium-rare, a touch of sweetness from caramelized onions, the silky richness of top-notch melted cheese, and the occasional experimental twist that surprises the palate. I believe that great burgers tell a story of craftsmanship, and each year I'm ready to find the next chapter in Beijing's burger scene.
Anthonidaye Chang (China)
I savor every layer of flavor, offering meticulous objective critiques on ingredients while passionately showcasing each burger's unique taste and brand personality through a subjective lens – delivering the most authentic experience for burger enthusiasts!
Bruce & Kate (Iran)
We're passionate food lovers with a special talent for spotting the perfect balance of flavors, textures and creativity in every bite. From classic cheeseburgers to gourmet builds, we've explored burgers across cities and cultures, always on the hunt for the ultimate patty experience. Our keen taste buds and detailed feedback make us an ideal Burger Expert ready to crown the best of the best.
Carvel Gao (China)
This marks about my tenth year "Hunting Burgers" in Beijing, having tried over 20 burger joints with my personal burger checklist – a true burger fanatic indeed! Beyond that, I follow numerous burger influencers on social media to expand my burger knowledge. When traveling, tasting local specialty burgers is always my top priority – those creative combinations never fail to delight me. The Juicy Burger Fest has become my annual must-attend event in recent years, though I always wish I had a bigger stomach to try more!
Dairon "Arquitect" Cardona (Cuba)
I'm Cuban by birth, Beijing's Latin music defender by choice, and a full-time burger addict since forever. You'll usually find me (1) blaring reggaeton/merengue around Beijing (since 2015), (2) hunting down the juiciest burgers (slowly transforming into a meatball in the name of science), and (3) pretending softball burns calories (spoiler: It doesn't). As CEO of LTN Fire, I throw lit parties – but my real superpower is devouring double cheeseburgers without dropping sauce on the decks. Life rule: "If the bass shakes walls and the burger drips sauce, the universe is balanced." Why I'm here: to judge burgers as mercilessly as I judge my own DJ flubs.
Dan Sandoval (USA)
Having traveled to over 60 countries across all seven continents, I've tried burgers all over the world (yes, that includes Antarctica). Born and raised in Los Angeles, I started my burger journey as a young child, competing with my friends in cheeseburger-eating contests when McDonald's had 39-cent cheeseburgers on Sundays. These days, I not only eat burgers wherever I go (gotta try every local take on the bread-meat-bread combo), but I also experiment with making my own rubs and patty blends at home. From ostrich to buffalo, I love testing new flavors in the burger world – and I'm always looking forward to the next delicious experiment.
DrBruins (China)
I served on last year's Burger Expert Panel, and although I'm a cardiologist by day, my real passion is as a food connoisseur. As a burger enthusiast who's sampled over 20 burger joints, I spend my free time exploring diverse flavor profiles – each bite delivering a unique culinary adventure.
Du Zhehuai 杜哲怀 (China)
Having tried burgers from 25 different spots in Beijing, I love making my own while experimenting with patties and sauce pairings. During Juicy Burger Fest, my hope was to discover more unique creations – here's to Beijing's burger scene getting better and better!
Gao Yuan 高远 (China)
As a Beijing native, I love exploring the city's diverse food scene, but burgers hold an irresistible appeal for me. I enjoy trying all kinds of flavors, even the most adventurous ones. Having visited 30+ burger joints across Beijing, I've sampled everything from beef and chicken to lamb burgers. When traveling abroad, seeking out authentic local burger spots is always on my must-do list.
He Changjun 何尝君 (China)
I'm He Changjun, a Dianping V8 elite reviewer and true food enthusiast. I'm always a regular at the Beijinger's Juicy Burger and Sausage Festivals – after all, I've been eating burgers since childhood!
Hubert Liu 刘晨 (China)
As a long-time traveler across North America who visits local indie burger joints in every city I explore, I've developed a well-rounded evaluation system for assessing what both artisanal burger shops and chain restaurants should deliver in terms of quality.
Ian Wilkinson (USA)
I'm a thicc American man who eats burgers like five times a week because I can't help myself. Honestly, burgers keep me alive, and if burgers didn't exist in Beijing, I would have a six-pack guaranteed.
Jade Low (Singapore)
A Singaporean who's called Beijing home since 2019, I recalled asking my American colleague where I could get a good burger during my second week in Beijing and he recommended Fatburger. That tiny suggestion had me going around looking for a good juicy burger joint and beyond! Food has always been my language – Singapore taught me variety, but Beijing taught me curiosity. These days, I'll try anything once (and usually twice)!
James Nobles (USA)
I am the founder of Bizarre Beijing and explorer of the strange and macabre (including food). A member of Chaine de Rotisseurs and Disciples Escoffier, I have developed quite the palatte from fine dining to hot and spicy food. A burger a day keeps the doctor away.
Janita Shahsavari (South Africa)
I have been Beijing burger hunting going on eight years now. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I'm part-burger myself: very cheesy, deliciously messy, and have a bit of bite myself...
Joshua Linder (USA)
I am a passionate burger taster. I gather the world’s finest burger eaters and bring them together to taste burgers with me in videos to experience the thrill of modern expat cuisine. I love using my media skills to bring joy and maybe confusion to the world of Beijing foodies.
Katie Coy (UK)
Ever since I first attend the Juicy Burger Fest back in 2017, I've been on a quest to find the best burgers in Beijing. A few years ago, a friend and I even attempted to try all of the burgers in the Beijinger's Top 12 of that year to then give our own rankings of the burgers and see how they compared, which led to some great burger discoveries. I really enjoy a classic, simple burger that's been carefully thought out and balanced (RIP 3 Little Pigs, my old favorite), however I do also appreciate fusion burgers that work well and push the boundaries of burger creativity.
Lexie Li (China)
First of all, I love burgers (that means a lot coming from a Chinese person who's eaten 湘菜 and 东北菜 and hotpot – all kinds of flavorful foods). I've been to other countries like the UK and America, so I have the international viewpoint of how different cuisines can inspire people. Also, I am a foodie influencer, so I know what standards are for good food products and good restaurants. Last but not least, I am the go-to person in my circle of friends to make restaurant recommendations all the time. I’ve tried many restaurants and spent some cash in trying, too. I attended the Taco Fest and Sausage Fest last year and this year – I know all the Beijinger events, and I love them! So, that’s why I'm an ideal Burger Expert.
Lin Yuefan 林越凡 (China)
As a former product manager at a food channel and hardcore burger enthusiast, I've spent years developing food-related products while decoding the flavor secrets hidden in user preferences and data, with a recent obsession focused on deconstructing global burgers to discover the perfect equation of buns, patties and sauces. I believe exceptional products come from meticulous attention to detail and deep user insights – much like how a truly satisfying burger delivers instant flavor harmony – and I particularly enjoy applying product thinking to uncover life's "simple joy" through food.
Lu Xinwei (China)
A passionate food photographer and burger enthusiast, I'm obsessed with that perfect stack – crisp veggies, juicy patties, and pillowy buns in every bite. Pure satisfaction guaranteed!
Lv Kaiqi (China)
As someone born and raised in China, I've sampled over a dozen burgers in Beijing, and I still can't get enough!
Michael Struckmeyer (Germany)
I can proudly say that I tried most burger brands in the US. The 'Jing is more than competitive for a burger lover like me. I was so disappointed trying White Castle last November, and the first thing I did when I got back to Beijing was to order from Slider Nation. It's my second year as burger expert, and I love this annual highlight for burger lovers in Beijing.
Michael Wester (USA)
When I was a child, I never dreamed I'd grow up to throw Burger Festivals, but 40 years and 20 kilograms later, here we are. After 24 years in Beijing, I've tried probably half of the burger choices out there, which makes me very happy because it means there's so much more to explore. Oh, and by the way, I hate mayonnaise and all its demon spawn (whether you call it Tho(USA)nd Island dressing, salad oil, Russian dressing, burger sauce, special sauce...)
Phoebe Wu (China)
I'm a new food radar, constantly scanning 365 days a year while posting reviews on RedNote. With my "1TB-capacity burger stomach," I'm nicknamed "General Eight-Meals" for my efficient burger-tasting skills. I maintain weekly visits to both McDonald's and KFC, truly believing that "cheese brings joy" and "good people deserve good burgers."
Qing Cheng (China)
As a Dianping V8 user, I love sharing food discoveries. Burgers are my ultimate obsession – the one food I could eat daily without ever getting bored!
Saso Allen (Uganda)
I am the flame-grilled baritone behind SPIRIT REBELLIOUS, serving up sizzling lyrics with a side of hot sauce. When I'm not belting out reggae ballads about love and unity, I'm probably dreaming about the perfect burger. Music feeds the soul – but burgers? They feed the legend.
Sun Chong (China)
I've sampled burgers from around the world, with particular interest in the buns, patties, and all toppings – especially cheese!
Tan Tianpeng (China)
Raised on burgers, I've developed exacting standards for what makes a great one. From vegetable pairings to meat texture and sauce combinations, I've cultivated my own expert perspective.
Tim C (USA)
I tried my best last year as a burger expert to give every place a fair shot. I want to make my family proud by finally putting my Burgerology degree to use.
Wang Tian 王天 (China)
The first thing to know about me is my enduring passion for burgers – I make it a mission to visit burger joints everywhere, even during travels, having tried 97 different burger brands and nearing 100. Secondly, my eclectic taste knows no bounds when it comes to experimenting with burger flavors. Across those 97 visited establishments, I've lost count of the varieties I've sampled, and this well-traveled palate has gifted me with unique expertise in burger evaluation.
Wang Yuehang 王月航 (China)
I'm obsessed with burgers – a true carnivore who'd never diet, only devour. So far, I've tried 20+ burger joints in Beijing, and I religiously visit spots from the annual Juicy Burger Cup rankings. This year, it's an honor to join the judging process and help pick the best burgers for everyone.
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READ: Burger Bliss: Final Day at Juicy Burger Fest 2025
Images: the Beijingers, courtesy of the panelists
