I still remember the first time I ever went to a Shake Shack—in the middle of July, in the middle of New York City (Madison Square Park), and in the middle of the day when the line for the burger chain was wrapped around the park. It was possibly the longest, sweatiest line I'd ever been in—and I've been to Disney World in dead of summer. I remember muttering under my breath to my friend who swore it would be "Totally worth the wait!" that it better damn be. Luckily for my friend, she was absolutely correct. I had fallen in love with...a cheeseburger. (I have pics for proof, but that's neither here nor there.) My love affair with Shake Shack has been a lasting one, so getting the chance to try everything on the menu in the comfort of my own home was close to one of the easiest decisions of my life. Without boring you more, here are my top picks:
Milkshakes: Black & White
I do believe it was Miley Cyrus—sorry, Hannah Montana—who sang about getting the best of both worlds, and I'm 92 percent positive she was referring to Shake Shack's Black & White Milkshake. If you let it melt just a litttttle bit, it tastes exactly like a Wendy's chocolate frosty. And you know what goes great with a frosty? Fries. Lots and lots of fries. Please promise me you will dip at least one fry into your Black & White shake for me.
Honorable mention: The vanilla shake with a touch of Jameson or your favorite whiskey 😉
Sides: Cheese Fries
Danny Meyer, the creator of Shake Shack, was inspired by the Midwest when drawing up the menu for his modern day burger stand. It should come as to no surprise that when it came to the french fry shape, he chose crinkle cut fries. (Fun fact: They're crispier than your usual fry thanks to all that extra surface area that touches the oil.) The fries on their own are...fine. With cheese sauce though? Oh, heck yeah. That blend of cheddar and American cheese deserves to be on everything.
Flat-Top Dogs: Hot Dog
ICYMI: Shake Shack actually started as a hot dog cart. Confusing, I know. But these hot dogs aren't your typical ballpark 'dog. They're split down the middle then griddled until crisp on top, which makes them ready for toppings. Special shoutout to the potato roll, for always being soft yet not mushy, dependable yet not boastful.
Burgers: ShackBurger
It's the original for a reason! And also trademarked...for a reason?? Melty cheddar covering a perfect burger patty, smothered in ShackSauce is something we all deserve to experience once in our lives. There's nothing fussy about this burger (looking at you, Shack Stack) which is why it stole my heart. Sometimes simpler truly is better.
Chicken: Chick'n Bites
Tbh, I had never once ordered the Chick'n Bites in all my times of going to Shake Shack. I didn't see the purpose when the Chick'n Shack—with its pickles, and buttermilk herb mayo—was right there in front of me. I was SLEEPING on these bites. I can't believe I never gave them a try. These bites are crispy, breaded to the perfect ratio (at least double-breaded), and moist. I would like to formally apologize to Chick'n Bites for never giving them a real, honest chance in my past.
Still hungry? Check out more of Julia Tries Everything on Delish’s YouTube channel.
