Lett-uce Tell You: Shanghai’s Tastiest Burgers

Lett-uce Tell You: Shanghai’s Tastiest Burgers
By Sam Elliot , eChinacities.com

Over the last few years the burger has gone through a miraculous change. While it used to be simply junk food, it’s now a dish to be taken seriously and a highlight for countless gastropubs and casual dining restaurants.  

Lett-uce Tell You: Shanghai’s Tastiest Burgers
Photo: Katherine Lim

We’ve scoured the city and sourced a selection of restaurants catering to a range of prices that have taken this classic comfort food and transformed it into haute cuisine. So, without further ado, let-uce tell you about the best burgers in Shanghai!

Budget Beauties

1) The Grumpy PigView In Map
The Grumpy Pig, a charming name for a restaurant if there ever was one, offers smashing burgers at great value. The patty itself is enhanced with a dash of minced onions sautéed in pork fat. The burgers come topped with onion rings, slices of dill pickles as well as the obligatory tomato, lettuce and sliced American cheese. 

One particularly considerate detail of the burger at The Grumpy Pig is the dusting of paprika and parsley that come with their fries. This adds a delightful touch of flavor and creativity to the dish.

Add: 65-4 Maoming Bei Lu, near Yanan Lu, Jing’an District, Shanghai
地址:上海市静安区茂名北路65号,近延安路
Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday: 12:00-22:00; Friday-Saturday: 12:00-23:00
Tel: 021 6217 3355
Website: www.thegrumpypig.com

2) The Commune SocialView In Map
For those who haven’t been yet, The Commune Social is a standout classic in Shanghai’s casual dining scene. A remorselessly cool tapas and dessert restaurant, it’s a favorite amongst expats and was opened by Jason Atherton, who made his name as a top deputy for celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

Although not strictly speaking a true hamburger, the Commune Social’s iberico pork and foie-gras sliders are a real crowd pleaser. These mini-burgers are chock full with succulent pork and rich foie gras and are accompanied by creamy avocado mayo and crunchy baby gherkins. This imaginative dish is perfect for those looking for a lighthearted and sophisticated interpretation of the beef burger.

Add: 511 Jiangning Lu, near Kangding Lu, Jing’an District, Shanghai
地址:上海市静安区江宁路511号, 近康定路
Opening hours: Tue-Fri, 12:00-14.30, 18:00-22.30; Saturdays: 12:00-15:00, 18:00-22:30; Sundays: 12:00-15:00
Tel: 021 6047 7638
Website: www.communesocial.com

Moderately Priced

1) Beef & LibertyView In Map
Beef & Liberty can be found where the Gourmet Café used to be. This all-American diner features all the classic burgers such as the Bacon Cheese, which comes with their special  'baconnaise' and 'bacon jam' as well as smoked bacon (in case you felt you were missing out on bacon), iceberg lettuce, gherkins and cheddar cheese.

For those on a low-carb diet, they also serve 'bunless' burgers, which are served on a mound of fresh salad leaves; sans carbs. Beef & Liberty has a robust drinks menu, which includes their beloved spiked milkshakes as well as a variety of IPA brews. There are also happy hour deals to be had on Vedett beer.

Add: Shanghai Centre 1376 Nanjing X Lu, near Xikang Lu, Jing’an District, Shanghai
地址:上海市静安区南京西路1376号, 近西康路
Opening hours: 11:00-23:00
Tel: 021 6289 5733
Website: www.beef-liberty.com

2) Bistro BurgerView In Map
Bistro Burger is another gem from the mind of Eduardo Vargas and is a new take on the American diner. The menu is abundant with indulgent American classic burgers as well as an extensive selection of craft beers and spiked milkshakes.

One to try is the Argentine Gaucho burger which, ironically, is made with Australian beef. This comes topped with cheddar and mozzarella cheese, chorizo and chimichurri green sauce, and can be served alongside a plate of curly fries or tater tots.

Add: A Mansion, 1/F, 291 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai
地址:上海市徐汇区富民路291号,近长乐路
Opening hours: 12:00-23:00
Tel: 021 6170 1315

Gourmet Burgers

1) Sir Elly’s at the PeninsulaView In Map
Located on the top two floors of The Peninsula, Sir Elly's has a first-rate reputation and views of the Pudong skyline that are simply stunning. The restaurant itself is best described as continental fine-dining and is run by the well-respected chef David Chauveau who has extensive experience in Michelin-starred London restaurants. Their Wagyu Burger Rossini is pure hedonism: 300g of wagyu beef topped with a decadent slab of foie gras and finished with wafer-thin slices of black truffle, sweet potato crisps and a stem of arugula.

Add: 13th Floor, The Peninsula Shanghai, 32 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu near Beijing Dong Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai
地址:上海市黄浦区中山东一路32号半岛酒店1楼, 近北京东路
Opening hours: Monday – Thursday: 18:00-22.30; Friday – Saturday: 18:00-23:00
Tel: 021 2327 6523
Website: www.peninsula.com/shanghai/en/dining/sir_ellys_restaurant

2) 1515 West ChophouseView In Map
The 1515 West Chophouse is located in the luxurious hotel Jing An Shangri-La and combines the themes of classic Shanghai movies with an all-American bar and grill décor. 

The Shangri-la Hotel in Jing'an can only be described as burger purists. The beef in their burgers are to said to come from cows that are raised exclusively for Shangri-La, which oversees each step of their journey from the ranch to your plate, even having say over the cattle’s feed and supervising their extensive drying process of the meat, which brings greater tenderness and flavour.

Their Wagyu Jumbo Combo burger weighs in at 350 grams and comes topped with aged cheddar cheese and smoked bacon. Needless to say, the 1515 West Chophouse is the jewel in the epicurean crown of The Shangri-la in Jing’an.

Add: Fourth Floor, Jingan Shangri-La Hotel 1218 Yanan Zhong Lu, near Tongren Lu, Jing’an District, Shanghai
地址:上海市静安区延安中路1218号静安香格里拉酒店4楼, 近南京西路
Opening hours: 18:00 – 23:30
Tel: 021 2203 8889

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Keywords: Moderate and Gourmet Burgers Burgers in Shanghai Budget

3 Comments

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Guest2776966

I wish these articles told address and metro with exit numbers ...I get lost way to much trying to find places here :(

Dec 15, 2015 16:25 Report Abuse

NickHZ

Yum

Jan 27, 2015 16:14 Report Abuse

Guest2606944

How could you forget MUST Grill buns?? Best and most authentic burgers in town! Pull pork + bacon + homemade bread and a foie gras brandy version!

Jan 16, 2015 17:56 Report Abuse