The Place
If you’ve been watching the WeChat Moments of a certain Shekou set, you’ve already seen pictures of Hammock – a restaurant that has created a bit of burger buzz despite swinging open its doors only a few weeks ago.
The man in the driver’s seat – or at least keeping class in the kitchen – is a one Chef Rambo Mai. Though a Guangdong native, he spent 12 years in New Zealand involved in the restaurant industry, including running a popular Auckland eatery – some recipes of which have been imported to Shenzhen in the form of light, saucy burgers.
The Food
Not to be a layabout, it’s about the burgers at Hammock, which are apparently taken very seriously, such as the foie gras slider (RMB48). It ostensibly makes use of a marinade bought in eastern Guangdong that is stewed over more than a decade. Pair that with coriander and bean sprout and you have a tangy, double-bite mini burger, though nothing exactly screams the ‘Chaoshan-style’ described on the menu.
The most expensive burger – and most photogenic – is the New Zealand All Blacks (RMB78). Based around a beef patty and with cheese, bacon and ‘black truffle eggs,’ we’re told this stack is one of the bestsellers in New Zealand. The inclusion of kale is sure to raise some eyebrows among Shenzhen’s burger aficionados.
Most combos are quite ‘light,’ not by skimping on the good stuff, but by relying on ingredients to fill out the palate, like the white wine stewed apple in the Texas Pork burger (RMB58), which is also the hardiest of the three we sample.
The Vibe
Hammock’s ceilinged balcony juts into an open-air mall, which recently started operation a short strut from the Sea World subway stop. When the area’s stores fill up, it will be great for people watching and likely popular with the family oriented set. Sporting a surprising amount of open space between solidly built chairs, along with a view of the sky, Hammock proves itself much more than a post-shopping afterthought.
Price: RMB80
Who’s going: locals and expats
Good for: meat, buns and all in between
Nearest metro: Sea World (Exit C), 5 minutes
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