US burger chain adds local flavor to its hearty menu

The New York burger chain Shake Shack made its Beijing debut on Wednesday.

Set in the trendy Taikoo Li Sanlitun neighborhood, it creates a warm community gathering space in the thriving shopping, dining and entertainment destination.

To celebrate its opening, Shake Shack Sanlitun staged a series of events inspired by Peking Opera with a thrilling modern twist, wowing the audience with games, prizes and performances. The performances included rap music infused with traditional opera and street dance blended with tai chi.

Like its opening celebrations that combined traditional culture with modern music, the new restaurant has added a local flavor to its culinary offerings.

The signature items are offered exclusively at Shake Shack Sanlitun and reflect the tastes of Beijing.

Among them, Hutong Hawthorn milkshake, inspired by tanghulu－a popular street snack in Beijing, made of sugarcoated haws or other fruits－is made from freshly spun frozen vanilla custard infused with the tartness of local hawthorn berries and topped with whipped cream and crushed caramel.

The picturesque Beijing Blush Concrete features vanilla custard blended with Daoxiangcun-branded rose pastry, raspberry jam and fresh raspberries, topped with rose petals. Daoxiangcun is a time-honored food brand in Beijing.

Taking notes from roasted chestnut street snacks in northern China, the Taikoo Lizi Concrete blends roasted chestnuts, buttery shortbread and a drizzle of miso-chestnut caramel sauce with frozen vanilla custard.

To round off the local offerings, Shake Shack Sanlitun offers beer from Jing-A, Beijing's award-winning craft brewery. Jing-A is a brewery obsessed with hunting down rare ingredients and unexpected flavors to brew its beers with. They range from twists on classic styles to curious experiments and inspiring collaborations.

Starting as a humble hot dog cart in Manhattan's bustling Madison Square Park, Shake Shack remains proud of its New York City heritage and commitment to serving quality food made from thoughtfully sourced ingredients. The menu in Beijing features all of its crowd-pleasing favorites, the company said.

The cultural combination is also reflected in the restaurant's design. Just as the modern Taikoo Li Sanlitun was built around heritage hutong streets, this restaurant draws inspiration from traditional courtyard houses and updates it with contemporary touches.

Beijing's courtyards, which lined hutong, have traditionally provided a serene, natural space for connecting with friends and family. Shake Shack Sanlitun is comprised of two distinct spaces connected by a corridor harkening to crisscrossing hutong lanes.

Lush foliage and a live tree anchor the space, which is in contrast to the modern fixtures such as a terrazzo, mirrored finishes and dynamic lighting which changes throughout the day to mimic Taikoo Li's colored glass facades that transform according to the sun.

Shake Shack opened its first China outlet in Hong Kong in 2018. It now operates six burger restaurants in Hong Kong and five in Shanghai, News.winshang reported.