After a four-year break, Slowboat has returned to prominence, reclaiming its title as the 2026 Juicy Burger Cup Champion. However, they are not the only victors this year, as our team of devoted burger connoisseurs will also be recognizing an Expert's Champion, which will be revealed tomorrow.
Returning to our 2026 Juicy Burger Cup People's Champion, Slowboat delivered an exemplary performance throughout the competition, achieving a perfect 4-0 record and hosting one of the most popular stands at this year's Juicy Burger Fest. Fans queued for all four days, eager to savor why Slowboat has earned its seventh title in the last sixteen years.
The Undefeated Four
In Round 4, four establishments emerged with flawless 4-0 records, each charting a unique route to success.
Top seed Slowboat demonstrated that consistency is key in the cup, maneuvering through the bracket with the composure of a seasoned champion. The 2026 title marks their seventh win in sixteen years.
Side Street, the champion in 2020, 2024, and 2025, narrowly missed out on a fourth title but remains a formidable force, finishing in second place. Their 4-0 record was simply business as usual for one of Beijing's most dependable heavyweights.
The next two establishments in the top four made particularly impressive strides this year.
Beersmith Gastropub, seeded #6 after finishing tenth in 2025, surged through the bracket with the most challenging schedule among all undefeated teams, earning third place and establishing their status among the elite.
Wagyu Kaiju, seeded #10 following a fourteenth-place result last year and last year's Best New Burger winner, proved themselves as a genuine contender, rounding out the top four. Their victories included defeating two-time former champion Q Mex, signaling the arrival of a new competitor.
The significant rise of these two establishments indicates that the upper tier of Beijing's burger scene remains dynamic, with potential for major shifts. We look forward to seeing how these formidable challengers perform in the 2027 Juicy Burger Cup.
Methodology
You might be curious about the process behind the final rankings, especially since the top four all achieved 4-0 records. We applied a weighted formula that considered four key factors. The primary sorting was based on overall record (4-0, 3-1, 2-2, 1-3, 0-4). Within each record grouping, establishments were ranked using a composite score combining pre-tournament seeding, Strength of Schedule (average seed of opponents faced), and Margin of Victory.
The Top 20
You can view the complete 1-64 rankings at the end of this post, but for now, let's take a glance at this year's top 20:
1. Slowboat 悠航
2. Side Street 街旁
3. Beersmith Gastropub 鲜啤吧
4. Wagyu Kaiju 和牛怪物汉堡
5. Jing-A Brewing Co 京A精酿啤酒
6. Wild Kite Brewing 野风筝
7. Great Leap Brewing 大跃啤酒
8. Q Mex Bar And Grill 库迈墨西哥餐吧
9. Burge's Bistro And Bar 小伯格酒馆
10. Home Plate BBQ 本垒美式烤肉
11. Circle Burger 圆场
12. Goose Island Taproom 鹅岛精酿啤酒餐厅
13. Plan B
14. Slider Nation 小堡邦
15. WhyNot 外岛•精酿餐吧
16. Huddler Diner and Bar
17. Deli NYC
18. Wolfgang's Steakhouse 沃夫冈牛排馆
19. Take A Bite TAB汉堡
20. Rich Burger 发财汉堡
This year’s Top 20 has witnessed notable advances from several venues compared to their final rankings in 2025. The most remarkable jump was made by Huddler Diner and Bar, climbing from 57 last year to 16 this year, while WhyNot rose from 24 to 15 and Plan B moved from 45 to 13. Rich Burger soared from 41 to 20, and Goose Island Taproom advanced from 29 to 12. Wolfgang's Steakhouse improved from 34 to 18, and Take A Bite increased from 33 to 19.
Best New Burgers
In addition to honoring the 2026 Juicy Burger Cup Champion, we also want to recognize some of Beijing's Best New Burgers:
- Smoke and Road BBQ 烟熏公路美式慢烤工坊
- 3A•Burger
- MUA 摩造汉堡
- Pignut Barbecue 坚果猪美式烤肉
Following a four-year break, Slowboat has returned to the forefront.
After a four-year break, Slowboat has returned to the forefront.
The recent circus at SKP was a sight to see.
The recent circus at SKP was a sight to see.
Following a four-year break, Slowboat has returned to the forefront.
The recent circus at SKP was a sight to see.
After a four-year break, Slowboat has returned to the forefront.