was a one-counter food shack open for about 3 and a half minutes earlier this year on Fangjia Hutong. Then it was shut down by THE MAN because grilled cheese upsets the status quo. It gets people riled up. It gets people's revolutionary juices flowing. It incites civil unrest. Fast-forward a few months, investors, and legitimate licenses later, and now the brand new Corner Melt is open for good on Xingfucun Zhong Lu. As of today, they're back at it, slinging (basically) just one item on the menu: grilled cheese sandwiches. For the people. It looks like this: The Corner Melt's moved into the space of the old Back Alley Bistro, and they've pretty much gutted it and re-done it totally. It's just two rooms -- seating for about 20 or so in the front and standing space for 10 more in the back bar area. A blazing red sign ("Land of Bread and Butter") lights up about five rickety wooden tables. Scuzzed up concrete walls, iron plating, and pipes and gears work completes the look, which is basically esprite de dive bar. It's the ideal environment in which to drink a shit-ton of dirt-cheap beer and eat grilled cheese. So here's a grilled cheese! This is the "'Merican Melt": It's Bimbo brand white bread from the supermarket and cheddar cheese. Boom. That's it. Voila. A simple, buttery little call-back to your childhood. This is the entry sandwich to their menu, which currently stands at just six variations. They're still mixing and matching the elements of said variations but here's a few more examples of what's on offer: Midwest Melt -- Gouda, Mac & Cheese, Bacon, Basil, Tomato Marshal Melt -- Gouda, Turkey, Bacon, Avocado Saint Cloud Melt -- Bagette, Gruyere, Ham, Dijon Mustard The 'Merican Melt comes with a cup of simple tomato soup, with which you execute this maneuver: And then you can apply these as well: Finally, add about 40 of these to taste: That's pretty much it! Here's one with sourdough bread. Bimbo bread is the basic bread, but they're playing around with a few other variations and options. Maybe even whole wheat! This sourdough one was gnarly though. Tasted like unwrapping a Sega Genesis Christmas morning. Tasted like hitting a tetherball just right so it spins all the way around the pole in one go. Tasted like Hulk Hogan leg dropping that commie Iron Sheik back to I-fuckin'-Ran, man! The menu is still being tweaked here and there as they source ingredients, figure out what works, and get some feedback from people over the next few weeks, but, basically, the sandwich style is not like a "boutique gourmet" kind of thing. Like fancy cheese and seasonal ingredients and all that. Corner Melt's stuff is straightforward, broke-ass grilled cheese that's simple and delicious, and hits the spot, like if you've been playing Ninja Gaiden for about 40 hours straight and you need something fast and easy. They're going to be offering sides as well. Tater tots. Deep fried mac and cheese balls. And even a salad! But that's pretty much it. Drinks! Beer is these and only these. 15rmb per can. They also have this, which is like Goldschläger for people who own switchblades. And two variations of the Pickle Back shot, which is also a thing. A Pickle Back is whiskey and pickle juice. Mode d'emploi: You shoot the former and then the later in rapid succession like a champ. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. These guys are "Tickle Backs", which is the same concept with tequila and cauliflower juice. The idea is that the brine knocks the back edge off the alcohol shot and gives it a nice salty edge. Invigorating! So, yeah! The Corner Melt. Good times. Kinda feels halfway between a dive bar and a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. It's a nice place to hang out. It's definitely got a bar kind of feel to it, even though you're there for foodstuffs ostensibly. Here's how I'd recommend doing it: Hit it up with a bunch of friends, start with a platter of those 'Merican Melts -- just get a bunch of those lil' bastards to split or whatever as an entree. Then, split up and re-up with a main course melt with one of the fancier ones. Get some meat in you. All throughout, you should be bashing on those tall boys. And then for desert, rinse it all out with some pickle backs. Most excellent. Prices: 20rmb-35rmb for sammiches. Hours: Closed Monday and Sunday for now. Breakfast (yes!) is 8am to 10am. Dinner is 5pm to midnight. Look for their "Melt-Off" montly events, which is Beijingers culled from the community going head-to-head to see who can create the better melt. The Corner Melt is at 55 Xingfucun Zhong Lu, next to BBC, across from The Big Smoke. ***