It is unimaginable why anyone would choose a name like this for their business – maybe because their burgers really are bigger, but evidently it works. Fat Burger is an international success. An American company that started in California more than half a century ago, it now has restaurants in 12 countries including China.

Fat Burger has three locations in Beijing: The World Trade towers at Guo Mao;Shu Yi near the International exhibition center; and MaliangQiao (pictured right) behind the American Embassy. They are strategically located in areas frequented by masses of expats. The Guo Mao restaurant (pictured below), for example, is located just a few steps from an international supermarket, in a building where many international companies converge. The building has coffee shops, banks, shops and many other international eating places.

Categorizing Fat Burger is not so easy. They are a fast food restaurant in the sense that customers line up at the counter to place their orders. Their burgers are freshly made to order, so the waiting time is slightly longer than most fast food restaurants, and prices are a higher than Burger King and McDonalds. But as they say, “you get what you pay for.” Beijing Fat Burger restaurants fly their fresh beef in from Australia – no wonder it’s not cheap!

The company’s motto is, “The last great hamburger stand.” I don’t know if they are really the last, but they are certainly great – at least for fast food. I grew up on backyard grilled burgers, so it has to be far better than average for me to think it tastes great.

Combo meals can be served with either fries or giant onion rings. I’m partial to the onion rings (pictured left) because most fast food burger shops have French fries, but few sell onion rings – at least not as huge and tasty as the ones at Fat Burger. Their menu also features hotdogs, imported ice cream shakes and hot wings.