Shanghai Restaurant Review: Sunny's Burgerland

By Betty Richardson, August 14, 2017

The Place

Fine dining is all well and good, but sometimes there are hunger pangs that only a hefty burger can quell. As chef de cuisine of Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant Tai’an Table, Jeno Racz probably knows this better at anyone. He’s the brains behind Sunny’s Burgerland, a tidy little burger joint in the heart of Jing’an.

As the name suggests, it’s an upbeat spot with lots of natural light and bright, pared down, beach shack interiors. The dulcet tropical house tones of Kygo waft from the stereo like sunshine streaming through palm fronds, and local post-90s kids snap pictures of both themselves and the food.

The Food

Sunny’s colorful burgers have something to do with this, thanks to the choice of three different bun colors: red (beetroot), orange (butter) and black (charcoal). The taste is by and large the same, so just go ahead and choose whichever color matches your personality or personal brand if you have one.

Next step, choose from seven different burgers all made with 180g Australian Angus beef patties, with the exception of the Budapest burger – more on that later.

The sun-rise burger (sic, RMB68) packs the tastiest punch, delivering fried egg and smoky bacon in each more-ish bite. The red beetroot bun didn’t get in the way of the burger flavor, which we’re ultimately thankful for.

More adventurous is the surf ‘n’ turf burger (RMB78), which sees the beef patty topped with grilled shrimp and a citrus mayonnaise. Seems a little risqué to pair citrus mayo with beef, but ultimately, Sunny’s pulls it off as the flavor was subtle and the juicy shrimp had good texture. Inside, the beef was cooked to medium-rare and they didn't ask if we wanted it that way, as is well within their rights.

The Budapest burger (RMB65) is an exception to the beef, consisting of a breaded chicken schnitzel topped with sour cream and grated cheese. We get where they’re going with this one, but it was under-seasoned and came off a little bland.

Food Verdict: 1.5/3

The Vibe

Affordable, visual and quick, Sunny’s is a textbook example of a well-executed fast casual eatery. We won’t go all out and say it’s the most stupendous thing you’ll have in your life, but these burgers are return-worthy for their flavor and substance, especially since French fries and salad are included in the price.