8-Bit: Video Game Haven in Gulou

8-Bit: Complete with Video Games Galore, Craft Beer + Sushi

Located on the north end of Beiluoguxiang, near the 2nd ring road, 8-Bit is a novel concept for Beijing.

“Beijing’s first retro game bar, 8-BIT provides comfortable surroundings, a full array of quality alcohol and, of course, a classic lineup of 80s and 90s consoles, games and competitions. Providing genuine retro gaming on original old-skool consoles (none of that simulator bullsh*t), 8 BIT Bar has invested in collectible, fully working versions of vintage favorites like the NES, SNES, Atari, Mega Drive and the (Super) Game Boy.”  - 8-Bit’s Facebook Page

Spread over 3 floors, it is a video gaming bar, another video gaming bar and a rooftop terrace. The ground floor has Arrow Factory beers on tap and a selection of 7 different gaming options including N64, Gamecube, PlayStation 2 amongst others.

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Blue Frog: A Guide to 2-for-1 Burger Mondays

Join Blue Frog’s Mile High Club by ordering 2 Mile High Burgers for the Price of 1 Every Monday

For most of my foodie friends, Blue Frog‘s 2-for-1 Monday Burger Night is widely known as one of the best value deals in town. Though it was all the rage when the deal first came out, it’s been around for a few years now and after going for monster burgers every Monday for a few weeks in a row, it’s not too long before you get burgered-out.

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Katchup: Monster Burgers & Sandwiches in Gulou

If it doesn’t get all over the place…

Burgers were all the rage about 2-3 years ago with burger joints popping up left and right all over town competing to be Beijing’s best.

And though the race still continues on theBeijinger’s annual Burger wars to win the highly sought-after Burger Cup title, I can’t say there are that many new contenders this year. Last year, Home Plate Bar-B-Que narrowly won 1st place over Plan B, which was followed by The Local and Great Leap Brewing not far behind in 3rd and 4th place. This year, I’m pretty certain these 4 burger joints will remain among the top 10 rated burgers but I’d definitely like to highlight a recently discovered burger joint in Gulou worth mentioning.

This year, theBeijinger will be narrowing down a list of 64 burger joints and I’m pretty sure Katchup will be a top contender this year.

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LDS Discovery: Frost’s Taco Trio & Salmon Hash

***THIS VENUE IS NOW CLOSED!***

Frost’s Signature Tacos are a Fiesta in My Mouth

I know Frost is well-reputed for their burgers and their quirky combination of comfort American food alongside a range of nail services, but I have fallen instead for Frost’s terrific tacos and brunch menu.

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Pop-Up Party: Cold War Underground Bunker Rave

Cold War Pop-Up Bunker Party by 3Sums

Jerry Guo of 3sums Burgers Bar is organizing a one-of-a-kind, one-off Cold War Pop-Up Party in an abandoned cold war bunker that was built during China’s Cultural Revolution as part of Chairman Mao’s underground city that connects to the Forbidden City through a tunnel.

Head Down these Stairs to Rave Underground

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Hubert Keller’s Burger Bar Branches into Beijing

Hubert Keller Opens Up his Newest Burger Bar in Beijing’s Parkview Green

As a Californian native, I wish I could say that I’ve had the privilege of dining in one of Hubert Keller‘s world-famous restaurants like Michelin-rated Fleur de Lys in San Francisco, but I only became a foodie after moving to Beijing (go figure).  Though I can’t speak from personal experience, I’ve definitely heard great things about Hubert Keller and his popular chain of Burger Bars with branches in San Fran, Las Vegas and St. Louis in the US, a few branches in Asia (Philippines and Japan), and now its newest branch in Beijing, China just opened June 2013.

They haven’t fully opened the bar and restaurant yet, but it’s definitely in full operation and I’m grateful to their consulting chef Brandon Trowbridge (of Nola, Hutong Pizza, Cookie’s Cookies and Great Wall Granola) for giving me the head’s up to come check them out. I have a handful of foodie friends who are as crazy about burgers as monkeys go bananas for bananas, so it was easy for me to recuit company to join me for a meal (with one hour’s notice, no questions asked).

To be honest, I was curious about this Burger Bar, but what really intrigued me was to hear that Brandon was involved.  I’ve been a long fan of his projects – everything from Nola to his cookies and granola, but I only recently got to know him a bit better as fellow judges for SeeDiceGo Productions‘ Back Alley Chili Cook-Off 2013.

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A Home Run for Home Plate Bar B-Que

Home Plate is home of the best pulled pork sandwich of my life and let me tell you, their savory BBQ corn-on-the-cob and homemade corn bread and yummy Oatmeal Raisin and Peanut Butter cookies for dessert were equally as impressive.  Serving authentic All-American Southern BBQ favorites, Home Plate has a wide range of BBQ burgers, sandwiches, fries, hot dogs, wings and BBQ platters.  Highlights are their pulled-pork sandwiches and briskets where the meat is slow cooked for 8 hours over apple wood.

“Smoked for ten hours, the pulled pork offers a moist, juicy bite that even the most toothless hillbilly could chew his way through.” – theBeijinger
Click here for their review of HOME PLATE.

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Wu Loves Lush

I admit that this was my very  first time to Lush.  And before this weekend, I had only been out to the Wu once in the 5 years I’ve been in Beijing.  I have nothing against Wudaokou, but it is student-central and it’s a RMB 60+ cab ride from my Chaoyang hood.

Before going into Lush, I had pinned it down as something similar to the student hang-outs in Sanlitun like Nanjie, Kai Bar, Shooters…I was not expecting to stumble upon such a cool joint!  Lush is open 24/7 and it is packed 24/7 - mostly with students but the vibe is chill and full of energy at the same time.  I realize these are too opposites, but yet it works.  People are chilled-out while still having a great time because they feel at home when they come to Lush. I even overheard someone telling their friend that they call Lush their second home.

Located up the stairs from a bookstore, the staircase is lined with fun polaroid photos of party people and inside, the tables are full, the vibe is buzzing, the drinks are strong, the food is good, everything is half the price of Sanlitun/CBD and I instantly understand exactly why Lush is a Wu institution that continues to reign supreme in this student-run neighborhood.

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