[Shanghai Girl Eats] Charlie’s Burger
Charlie’s Burger | Dianping
Address: 89 Changshu Lu near Julu Lu / 常熟路89号(近巨鹿路)
Date visited: 2015.12 for lunch
Price: Burgers RMB35-55; fries RMB15-35; shakes RMB35-45
Will return: Yes
The popular space that was formerly Piro has been converted to Charlie’s Burger by the same owner Charles Zeng, who also owns the spaces next door Baobei Noodles, Captain Rooster, and Dos Locos in Jing’an Kerry Center. Charlie’s Burger is a burgers & shakes joint offering some fat burgers and fries in true American fashion — big portions and loads of cheese and sauces (there is even homemade ranch in the house). Cannot have this frequently or RIP waistline.
This place is dog friendly (Charles himself has a dog) and has doggy treats on the menu for your best friend including doggy peanut butter & bacon biscuits (RMB15), woof beef patty (RMB20), and puppy ice cream with biscuit (RMB25).
Side note: a few people have asked if this is similar to Shake Shack due to some font and logo similarities. It doesn’t taste like Shake Shack and I don’t think/hope it is trying to be beyond the similarity of a fast food burger & shake concept. The bun is different, the patty is different, and the toppings are different.
Taro milkshake (RMB35)
Recommend: yes
Taro lovers rejoice. I haven’t seen taro milkshakes elsewhere in Shanghai yet so this is the place. The milkshake is thick for those who prefer this texture (whereas Beef & Liberty is thin). Other flavors include vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, green tea, and mint chocolate chip (+RMB10).
Bacon cheeseburger (RMB45) with homemade pickles, onion, lettuce, tomato, and burger sauce
Recommend: yes
It is greasy, beefy, cheesy, and everything American stacked between a soft roll. It is a good burger if you are looking for something that is in between fast food and gourmet.
Burger of the month: “The Billy” with fried egg and spam
Recommend: yes
This was burger of the month for more than a month so I am not sure if it is still available. Spam is so good yet so unhealthy but I guess if I am eating a burger, I have already let go.
Awesome fries (RMB35)
Recommend: yes
No burger is ever complete without fries and here are some fries on crack with liquid cheese, caramelized onion, and burger sauce. I added ketchup to this and made it an even bigger mess.
The downside is the burgers do not come with fries so you gotta get your own. The good part is that there are so many types of fries, most of which are made with pretty much the most fattening combinations of cheese. At this point I am not sure if Charles is being a dutiful American or simply mocking our other homeland. Either way, get the fries. The selection includes regular fries (RMB15), cheesy fries (RMB30), chili cheese fries (RMB35), Wisconsin cheese curds (RMB35), which are actually fried cheese nuggets (the horror though I don’t doubt its taste).
