Still Rocking

Second Bite review: April, 2011

We were skeptical of a place we knew better for T-shirts than food, but our meal at Hard Rock Café demonstrated clearly why the restaurant’s made it 17 years in Beijing and is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary worldwide. The food is actually great, with flavors just like you’d get in the U.S., thanks to imported ingredients and an experienced Singaporean chef. The ambiance first comes off a little cheesy, but in the end, it’s hard not to be impressed by Prince’s guitar hanging above the bar.

Prices are high, but portions are massive and quality good. The nachos (¥125) are easily enough for four people. There’s no skimping on the Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses that cover the chips, along with tasty jalapeño slices, pinto beans, pico de gallo and a generous dollop of sour cream. And the sour cream! After years of dealing with the runny, watery imposters in Beijing, we’d almost forgotten what it should taste like. Chicken fajitas (¥128) continue the Tex-Mex hits. The tortillas are warm and soft, and you get a huge plate of guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese, tomatoes and lettuce to assemble yourself. The 10-ounce mushroom and Swiss burger (¥125)—made with Australian beef—is juicy and tasty, again generously topped with cheese. Desserts are fun and scrumptious. We especially recommend the apple cobbler (¥58), with its great crunchy, nutty topping.

In addition to the rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, Hard Rock keeps up its musical theme with a decent cover band and a legitimately good playlist of rock hits. We look forward to lots of music-themed promotions to celebrate the chain’s 40th anniversary this June.

Sienna Parulis-Cook