Side Street Crowned 2025 Juicy Burger Cup Champs

Katie Coy, Managing Editor | Jun 6, 2025 3:30 pm | Add a comment | 193 reads

Our esteemed Burger Expert Panel has spoken and crowned Side Street as the 2025 Juicy Burger Cup Champions! They've managed to defend their title, smashing the competition to become three-time Champions (2020, 2024 and now 2025).

The battle was fierce, though, with six-time Champs Slowboat landing in a close second place. They were followed by Q MEX coming in at third place, proving that their flavors still pack a punch. Meanwhile, Wild Kite Brewing managed to maintain their fourth place slot from last year, and they were followed by burger stalwarts Home Plate BBQ, finishing out the top five.

But wait – there’s more! The best of the best have been ranked, and the full list of Top 16 Burgers of 2025 is about to be revealed. Who soared? Who surprised? Check out the list below, and start planning your ultimate burger crawl – because these patties? They’re worth the hype.

#1 Side Street 街旁
#2 SLOWBOAT 悠航
#3 Q MEX Bar & Grill 库迈墨西哥餐吧
#4 Wild Kite Brewing 野风筝
#5 Home Plate BBQ 本垒美式烤肉
#6 Burge's Bistro & Bar 小伯格酒馆
#7 Jing-A 京A
#8 DOSH GASTROPUB 到时精酿餐吧
#9 Great Leap Brewing 大跃啤酒
#10 Beersmith Gastropub 鲜啤吧
#11 Circle Urban 圆场
#12 blue frog 蓝蛙
#13 Overtone Taproom 弦外之音
#14 WAGYU KAIJU 和牛怪物汉堡
#15 Wake&Bite
#16 Benlo's Burger 本楼汉堡

On Monday (Jun 9), we’ll have a detailed rundown of the Top 16 Burgers for 2025, along with the full ranking of Beijing's Best 60+ Burgers for 2025.

This year's Juicy Burger Cup followed the same format as last year: First, the masses voted to determine who would enter the final round, and this list was then passed on to a panel of experts for ranking from 1 to 16. You can read more about our panel of experts here.

Along with Beijing's Best Burger of 2025, we have also crowned the Best New Burger, and the title goes to Wagyu Kaiju!

The Signature Wagyu Kaiju Burger

The runners-up are as follows:

HUNGER DOG饿狗
JING SLOW Handcrafted Burger 京悠手工汉堡
Pizza Hut 必胜客

This year, we've also created a new award called the "Unsung Hero," given to the venue that did not make it into the Sweet 16 as voted on by the general public, but that was mentioned multiple times by our Expert Panel.

The winner is Breef And …

With runners-up being:

Casalingo, JW Marriott北京粤财JW万豪酒店-卡萨琳戈
Centro, Kerry Center北京嘉里大酒店-炫酷
SOLDOUT
TRIPS Burger
NBEER CRAFT BREWING 牛啤堂精酿啤酒

Now, back to this year's Champion. Among our Expert Panel, the name Side Street kept rising above the rest. It was clear that they earned the crown not just through consistency but also through a relentless dedication to craft, creativity, and community.

"Their buns are perfectly soft and toasted, and the patties are juicy with just the right seasoning," rave Bruce & Kate, praising the balance of fresh, flavorful toppings that make each burger "easy to enjoy and hard to forget." Dan Sandoval echoes this, calling their Jiandan Burger a masterclass in simplicity – "good meat and great sauces" – while their K.O. Burger "always delivers goodness."

What sets Side Street apart is its unwavering commitment to quality and innovation. "They consistently maintain high standards while keeping things exciting," notes Carvel Gao, highlighting their weekly buy-one-get-one deals and inventive DIY Burger Combo. Whether it’s The Cholo Burger – packed with "thick Spanish chorizo patties, overflowing cheese, and bold Mexican flavors" (Gao Yuan) – or the limited-edition festival surprises ("unveiled only on-site, creating buzz and long lines"), Side Street never rests on its laurels.

For many, it’s a taste of nostalgia and reliability. "For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed biting into the juiciness of a Side Street burger," says Janita Shahsavari. Others, like Tim C, argue their burgers "could rival top global spots," praising the "expertly crafted, flavor-packed creations" that remain just "the slightest bit greasy" (in the best way). Even their vegetarian options impress, with "no less than three distinct styles" (Michael Wester).

Beyond the food, Side Street’s charm lies in its vibe. Hubert Liu loves its "authentic American diner feel" and "industrial décor," while Phoebe Wu applauds their "menu diversity and rock-solid execution" – "a hexagonal warrior delivering non-soggy buns, rich sauces, and juicy patties every time." And let’s not forget the caramelized onions, a fan favorite: "That sweet, smoky depth paired with the savory patty is pure addiction" (Lu Xinwei).

From pet-friendly policies to daring new releases (like Juicy Burger Fest 2025 specials The Fish King and Captain Chili), Side Street isn’t just serving burgers – it’s curating an experience. As James Nobles puts it: "Very traditional. Very well prepared. Always worth a visit." In a city bursting with options, Side Street stands tall – a true "pillar of the Beijing food community" (Tim C) and a champion worthy of its title.

This Saturday (Jun 7) Side Street will be putting on a special Burger Winners celebration at their Jianguomen branch with a deal where you can get a beer and a burger for only RMB 88!

Jiaodaokou branch
113-02 Jiaodaokou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
东城区交道口东大街113-02号
Hours: Sun-Thu, 10am-midnight; Fri-Sat 10am-1am
Phone: 176 0088 1832

Jianguomen branch
101-102, Bldg N28-2, 17 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (behind NOLA)
朝阳区建国门外大街17号28号楼2/101-102号（NOLA后面）
Hours: 11am-midnight (opens today at 6pm)
Phone: 135 2195 8643

And here’s a refresher of all the Juicy Burger Cup winners by year:

2011: blue frog蓝蛙
2012: Home Plate BBQ本垒烤肉
2013: Home Plate BBQ本垒烤肉
2014: Home Plate BBQ本垒烤肉
2015: Slowboat 悠航鲜啤
2016: Slowboat 悠航鲜啤
2017: Q MEX 库迈
2018: Slowboat 悠航鲜啤
2019: Slowboat 悠航鲜啤
2020: Side Street 街旁
2021: Slowboat 悠航鲜啤
2022: Slowboat 悠航鲜啤
2023: Q MEX 库迈
2024: Side Street 街旁
2025: Side Street 街旁

If you'd like to stay up-to-date with everything burger-related in the capital, join one of our dedicated Burger Lovers group chats! Simply add TBJButler on WeChat by scanning the QR code below, and request to become a member.