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.

Other than their slow-cooked BBQ meat and ribs, I also recommend ordering their homemade drinks like their Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade and Iced Southern Sweet Tea and for desserts, try their homemade cookies or their pies and cakes delivered fresh from Life of Bread Bakery.

Home Plate Bar B-Que Menu

LumDimSum Snapshots of our meal at Home Plate:

Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade (RMB 20) and Ice Southern Sweet Tea (RMB 18)

Corn Bread (RMB 5 each) and BBQ Corn-on-the-Cob (RMB 10)

Pulled-Pork BBQ Sandwich (RMB 35):

Slow-cooked over 8 hours over apple wood topped with slaw and BBQ Sauce

Homemade Cookies: Oatmeal Raisin and Peanut Butter Flavors (RMB 5 each or 3 for RMB 12)

If our tummies allowed us, we would have wanted to consume twice more what we ordered as the rest of their menu was sure to shine, but alas, this is just an excuse for us to go back for more!

I’ve been meaning to get my foodie buddies out here for ages it seems and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to make it!  Since the first time I went, I can’t stop singing their praises and my very foodie friend and talented Resident DJ of PUNK, Saul Diaz has been back three time in one week and I have appointments to bring more friends this coming week.  If it’s your first time to Home Plate, be sure to make not of their address and map (see below) as it’s not the easiest place to find (on parallel street north of Xiaoyun Lu along a strip of Chinese restaurants resembling a less-busy version of Ghost Street 鬼街。Biking down this road, we knew exactly when we reached Home Plate not because of the big sign posted outside the restaurant but because the outside seating was packed with foreigners (with a wait might I add).

LumDimSum Snapshots of Home Plate Restaurant:

Word-of-mouth on this little American BBQ joint has spread like wildfire and it’s easy to see why.  If you are a serious fan of slow-cooked BBQ meat and Southern American favorites at it’s finest, Home Plate may soon become your second home.

Review of Home Plate: Go down alleyway behind Kro’s Nest on XiaoYun Lu and turn left on food street to Home Plate, 35 Xiaoyun Lu courtyard, 朝阳区霄云路35号院（Kro’s Nest后面200米）远洋新干线美食步行街 Tel: 5128 5584, Open from 11AM-10PM.

Best Part:

• Best Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich of my life
• Quality All-American Southern BBQ
• Try their BBQ Corn-on-the-Cob, corn bread and homemade lemonade!

• Burgers and Sandwiches are all great value with prices ranging from only RMB 30-40
• They will soon begin to offer delivery!

Comments:

• Some of their good stuff is not on their menu (like their corn-on-the-cob) so be sure to ask what’s available!
• I hear it is common for them to run out of popular menu items…hopefully they will never run out of pulled pork sandwiches!
• Location is definitely off-the-beaten-track and not the easiest venue to find, but your efforts to find Home Plate will be rewarded once you try their food!
• Their interior decor is nothing to write home about, but then again, who really cares when the food is this good.  While the weather is still warm, I recommend sitting outside if you’re able to wait for a table to free up.
• Service was mediocre, but owner Seth Grossman was really friendly and personable and able to make some great recommendations.
• They are relatively newly opened, so they are still figuring out their website (link here), some kinks on their menu (still don’t have chocolate chip cookies) and service (working on offering delivery option).

Rating: (On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 9
• Atmosphere: 6
• Service: 7
• Overall Experience: 8

Map to Home Plate Bar B-Que, on street parallel north of Xiaoyun Lu

Directions: Go straight down alley by Kro’s Nest (all the way through), turn left at major street and you’ll find Home Plate on Left-hand Side

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.

Inconspicuous Exterior:

Coffee-drinking study spot by day and lively hangout by night, Lush is known for their great breakfast options, giant burgers, delectable desserts and amazing drink deals like their daily happy hour from 8-10PM with buy 2 get 1 free, bucket of 7 Tsingtao for RMB 70.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Lush’s Food:

Tofu Burger with smoked tofu, sauteed mushrooms, lettuce, tomatoes and onions (RMB 45)

Lush Original Burger with a thick patty and carmelized red onions (RMB 50)

Check out theBeijinger review of this burger here.

Giant Chicken Caesar Wrap (RMB 30)

The “Cure-All” Hot Drink with Lemon, Ginger and Honey (RMB 20)

There you have it – Lush serves the food better than Blue Frog, Union Bar & Grill and many of the popular Sanlitun hot-spots.  If you agree that you, too, love Lush’s burgers, you can vote for them here on theBeijinger’s Burger Cup.

It really is SUCH a shame they are so freakin far away because I kind of like Lush…a lot. So although I wish it were closer to home, i’ll have to let Wu keep this gem since they had it first.

LumDimSum Snapshots of LUSH:

Review of Lush: 2/F of O2 Sun Bookstore in South East corner of intersection by WuDaoKou Subway Stop- Bldg 1, Huaqing Jiayuan, Chengfu Lu, Wudaokou,五道口华清家园1号楼2层 Tel: 8286 3566

Best Part:

• With Jade Gray and Rich Atkers behind Lush and Pyro Pizza, it’s no wonder this place is packed 24/7. Everything is well done and the places just oozes of their fun, personal and lively personalities.
• Open 24 Hours with Free Wifi and great coffee

• Popular Pub Quiz every Wednesday, Open Mic Night on Sundays and Live Music Every Friday night
• Happy hour daily 8-10pm: buy 2 get 1 free, bucket of 7 Tsingtao for RMB 70
• They offer a great set combo meals
• Cheap drinks and they guarantee nothing they serve behind the bar is fake alcohol (which says a lot!)
• Great tasty burgers that are giant and crazy cheap

Comments:

• It’s in the Wu, which is so far away, it should not still be considered Beijing.
• It’s packed 24/7 so not everyone can be seated straight away.
• I can’t comment much on the service since I had the big man boss take care of my order.  Needless to say, I was well-looked after.

Rating: (On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 8
• Atmosphere: 8
• Service: 9
• Overall Experience: 8

Battle of the Burgers: TheBeijinger’s Burger Cup

theBeijinger knows just how much we Beijingers all love burgers.

Now it’s find to find the King of Beijing’s burgers by pitting off various restaurants in Beijing from the famous Blue Frog, Lush in WuDaoKou, Fatburger, Let’s Burger, fast food joints like Burger King and Hollywood to fine dining restaurants like One East (Hilton) and Maison Boulud.

Sadly, I am ashamed to admit that there are even a few restaurants listed I have not yet tested out!  I will make a conscious effort to change this and try out Burgers & Beer in Shunyi, Lush and La Bamba in WuDaoKou and Lily’s American Diner in Shuangjing.

First Round Burger Match-Ups:

The Box Vs. Grandma’s Kitchen
1F Vs. La Bamba
Scarlett Vs. Hard Rock Cafe
The Den Vs. Luga’s Villa
Blue Frog Vs. One East
Paul’s Steak and Eggs Vs. Let’s Burger
Lush Vs’ Maison Boulud
Home Plate Bar-b-que Vs. Flamme
Peter’s Tex-Mex Vs. Village Cafe
Eudora Station Vs. Chef Too
Union Bar & Grille Vs. Burger King
Kiosk Vs. Rumi
Fatburger Vs. Hollywood
Paddy O’Shea’s Vs. Burgers & Beer
Lily’s Vs. Vineyard Cafe
Stumble Inn Vs. American Cafe

So there you have it Beijingers – now it’s up to you as a burger fan, make your voice heard by voting on theBeijinger’s website link here: The Beijinger Burger Cup: Voting to Decide Beijing’s Best Burger.

Voting closes on Thursday, August 11.

Be The Burger King

Everyone has his/her own opinion about what makes the best burger. The possibilities are infinite. Is your burger a classic you’ve been missing from back home or is your ideal burger something a bit more exotic?

We call on Beijing’s burger fanatics to ignite your imaginations, fire up your grills, and join in the fun of our search for Beijing’s best burger.

We’re looking for highly creative recipes that are packed with flavor. You may choose to reinvent your favorite burger with exciting new toppings, turn the elements of a classic dish into a burger, show off your ethnic or cultural background, highlight the unique dishes or products of your home country, or surprise us with a completely new concept in burgers. Just use your imagination and think of all the millions of possibilities.

What kind of meat will your patty be made of? What type of bread will you use for your buns? What other ingredients will you add – bacon, mushrooms, sautéed onions, cheese? What veggies will you add? What condiments will you use to compliment your burger’s ingredients and leave that final touch of perfection?

Feel free to enter as many recipes as you wish, but before submitting them, please read the rules carefully.

Alright Beijing, let’s see what you’ve got.

Here’s your chance to make your dream burger known and challenge Beijing’s toughest critics.

Let the games begin!

Step Aside Blue Frog

This Wednesday, January 20th, come to All-Star Sports Bar & Grill to discuss the upcoming ‘Haiti Rise’ fundraiser event (headed by JUMP foundation director Justin Bedard) to directly donate and make a difference to rescue and recover work being done by Partners in Health (www.pih.org)

…plus it’s our amazing weekly promotion:  Buy-One-Get-One-Free Burger Wednesdays!

NEW! All-Star's SteakHouse Burger

Featuring a newly updated menu with an extensive new burger selection, All-Star is treating you to the best burger deal in town.  From our Steakhouse burger and Swiss & Shrooms Burger to our Bacon Blue Cheese Burger, bring a friend and get two-for-one on all new All-Star burgers!

Buy-One-Get-One-Free BURGER WEDNESDAYS

ONLY @ All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

New Burgers @ All-Star include:

SWISS & SHROOMS BURGER RMB 70

Two slices of delectable Swiss Emmental cheese melted onto a charbroiled beef patty together with sautéed mushrooms, crispy pork bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and mayo on a toasted bun to create an exciting twist on a classic flavor combo!

BLUE CHEESE & BACON BURGER RMB 72

If you like blue cheese, you’ll never forget this gourmet burger. Created with all our favorite ingredients from melted blue cheese, pork bacon, arugula, tomatoes, onions and mayo on a toasted bun, the vibrant flavors of blue cheese and smoky bacon are a winning combination made just for your taste buds to celebrate!

HAWAIIAN TERIYAKI CHEESEBURGER RMB 68

Our Hawaiian-inspired burger topped with marinated & grilled pineapple, melted Swiss Emmental cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mayo and our homemade teriyaki glaze on a toasted bun.

THE STEAKHOUSE BURGER RMB 70

Introducing the Ultimate Steakhouse Burger, an icon for the American Dream. Charred beef patty melted with American cheddar cheese, topped with crunchy onion strings, A-1 sauce, lettuce, tomatoes and our special horseradish mayo on a toasted bun.

Round up your crew and come out to All-Star this Wednesday!

(Buy-One-Get-One-Free Burger Special is available every Wednesday)

All-Star @ Your Door Step

What’s better than dining out?

Snuggling up on your couch with a great DVD and food delivered straight to your door.

I know for a fact that 99% of all Beijing deliveries is probably from Annie’s or your local cheap Chinese spot, but now you have a new delivery option – from All-Star Sports Bar & Grill!

With free delivery on orders over RMB 99 within 3 kilometers, this is a great option to get your fix on American grub with the American gourmet burgers, pizza, pasta, Mexican classics, hot soups, salads, and chili-cheese fries.

Delivery Hours:

• Monday-Friday: 5pm-Midnight
• Saturday-Sunday: 11am-Midnight

To Order, just call +86 1338 -131- 0777

See All-Star’s Delivery Menu here:

Where the Sad French People go: Blue Frog

The popular Shanghai chain Blue Frog seems to do very well with this great outdoor terrace and convenient location in the Sanlitun Village.  I’ve been there multiple times for private parties, event functions, and meetings, but I’ve actually only eaten there a few times.

Blue Frog 蓝蛙:  American Dining on the 3rd floor of Sanlitun Village opposite the Apple Store.

The Best Part:

• Their spacious and massive outdoor seating space, perfect for a lazy afternoon under the sun
• They’ve got fantastic promotional specials – like their Monday’s buy-one-get-one-free burger deal
• Probably the longest happy hour in town: 4-8pm 2-for-1 drinks
• Great menu design, restaurant design, and furniture
• Great buzz and a lively, fun dining/drinking atmosphere
• Super friendly and helpful staff, all very proficient in English
• Food in generous proportions

Comments:

• Food overall was very average and quite expensive without a promotional deal (80RMB burgers, and
• Burgers were bland and tasteless
• I recommend switching your French fries for sweet potato fries