The 21 Most Popular Shake Shack Menu Items, Ranked
When I moved to New York City in 2005, my first job was a few blocks from Madison Square Park and my new co-workers clued me in on all the good lunch spots nearby. At the top of the list was Shake Shack, which at that point was just a kiosk inside the park. There were usually massive lines, so we’d only when the weather was bad and the line was shorter, or when we were able to sneak in a long lunch. It soon became my first NYC “treat myself” spot, where I would go for cheesy fries, thick shakes and juicy burgers.
Since then, Shake Shack has expanded into an international chain with more than 200 locations around the world. That original location, which started as a burger cart in 2001 before becoming the kiosk in 2004, is still there. The only difference? The lines never get too long because there are so many other locations in the city these days.
As Shake Shack has expanded so have its menu options, going way beyond just burgers, fries and shakes. To help you sort out what you should order, I tried everything on Shake Shack’s core menu—minus the limited-edition specials and drinks beyond shakes—and ranked the menu items from worst to best.
I even got to include three of their newest items: the Veggie Shack, the non-dairy chocolate frozen custard and the non-dairy shake. Keep reading to see how all of Shake Shack's menu items stack up.
Related: White Truffle Has Arrived at Shake Shack
21 Shake Shack Menu Items Ranked
21. Vanilla Shake
Courtesy of Shake Shack
Ok, so there’s nothing glaringly wrong with this vanilla shake, but it’s just kind of plain. Don’t get me wrong: I love vanilla-flavored things, but unfortunately, this didn’t have a strong vanilla bean flavor, and it was too sweet for me. It’s made by blending their homemade vanilla custard with milk, and while it is simple and refreshing, I wish the vanilla was more prominent.
20. Chicken Bites
Courtesy of Shake Shack
If you’re a kid, you’ll probably love these, but they might not be the first choice for adults (or at least not this adult). The nuggets, which come in orders of six or 10, are made from hormone and antibiotic-free chicken breasts that are marinated in buttermilk, garlic and salt and pepper. They're cooked sous vide (to keep the meat moist) before being breaded and fried to order.
I can say without a doubt that the chicken is miles better than other fast-food nuggets, but I was hoping for more crunch and flavor from the breading. What really gives them their flavor is the dipping sauce. Customers have the option of BBQ, ranch or honey mustard. All of the sauces are solid, but the smoky BBQ was my favorite.
19. Chocolate and Vanilla Frozen Custard
Courtesy of Shake Shack
These are classic frozen custards made with simple ingredients: milk, cream, whole eggs, cane sugar and either vanilla or chocolate. These basic flavors make a great blank canvas for toppings, but they're a little one-note on their own. Much like the shake, I found that the vanilla custard could use a stronger vanilla punch.
18. Grilled Cheese
Courtesy of Shake Shack
This is a fun take on a classic, making one of the finest comfort foods even comfier by sandwiching plenty of melted American cheese in a buttery griddled inside-out potato bun. Yes, it’s tasty, but is this really what you’re coming to Shake Shack for? I hope not.
Related: The Simplest Way to Make Grilled Cheese For a Crowd
17. Strawberry Shake
Courtesy of Shake Shack
Similar to the vanilla shake, this drink was lacking a little in the flavor department for me. I prefer the strawberry to vanilla because the berry flavor brings a little something extra to the party. I was also lucky enough to try this when strawberries are in season, which certainly enhanced the berry flavor.
16. Fries
Courtesy of Shake Shack
There are two types of people: those who love crinkle fries and those who don’t. Unfortunately, I fall into the latter camp. I like my fries hand-cut, extra-crispy and fried until they're dark brown, and that's not what these are. Yes, these are the frozen crinkle-cut fries of your youth, and sometimes they are perfectly crispy, but just as often they come out undercooked and sorta soggy. That said, dipping a crispy Shake Shack fry into one of their milkshakes is one of life’s greatest pleasures.
15. Non-Dairy Chocolate Frozen Custard
Courtesy of Shake Shack
This is one of their newest menu items, and if nobody told me this was non-dairy, I never would have guessed. The treat has a super creamy consistency and there's no tinge of coconut, almond, oat or another nut flavor because it's not made with any of that stuff.
After years of R&D, Shake Shack partnered with NotCo, the makers of Not Milk, which is made from a near-flavorless blend of water, sunflower oil, pea protein and a few other ingredients to help with its color and consistency. This frozen custard is super smooth and rich, and chewy in a good way. It’s decadent and tastes like pure chocolate.
14. Hot Dog
Courtesy of Shake Shack
I love a good hot dog and Shake Shack's dog delivers in the summer cookout nostalgia department. Their big innovation here is that split them lengthwise before searing them on a griddle so they get more caramelization, yet still remain plump and juicy. The dog is served on a buttered toasted potato bun ready to be loaded with toppings. It’s a delicious option (and a great bargain) if you’re not super hungry.
13. Hamburger/Cheeseburger
Courtesy of Shake Shack
Shake Shack’s burgers are definitely one of their main attractions, and if you don’t like a lot of sauces and stuff, then maybe you’d want a plain burger with or without cheese. I am not one of those people, but their plain smash-style burgers made from antibiotic and hormone-free meat on a potato bun are still delicious.
12. Chocolate Shake
Courtesy of Shake Shack
While the vanilla and strawberry shakes missed the mark for me, the chocolate was a big winner. The strong chocolate flavor relies on chocolaty goodness instead of just sugar and the thick shakes is absolutely divine on a summer day. Also, let this be your second reminder (see #16) to dip your fries in your chocolate shake. You're welcome.
11. Black and White Shake
Courtesy of Shake Shack
Not everyone knows what a black-and-white shake is, but it brings me back to my childhood. My dad grew up in Brooklyn, where vanilla shakes with chocolate syrup were a thing. In a classic black and white, you can see the chocolate syrup stripes in the glass, but Shake Shack's version blends the vanilla shake with the syrup. The good news? You still come across some delicious fudgy ribbons every now and then, which makes me very happy.
10. Cheese Fries
Courtesy of Shake Shack
So you already know I’m not a huge crinkle-cut fry fan, but if you’re going to smother them in gooey cheese I will reconsider. The cheese here is perfectly melted American and it gets poured evenly over the fries, leaving no fry naked. The even distribution makes this one a winner, and it also hides the fact that some fries might not be as crispy as others. It’s a win-win, as long as you finish these before the cheese solidifies.
9. Non-Dairy Chocolate Shake
Courtesy of Shake Shack
Yes, I’m saying I like the non-dairy chocolate shake better than the regular chocolate shake. This is a bold statement coming from someone who loves milk and real ice cream (never sorbet or frozen yogurt), but as mentioned above in my review of the non-dairy chocolate custard, the texture is spot-on and the chocolate flavor is deep and rich. Perhaps they use a bit more chocolate to help cover up the fact that it’s not real milk? Whatever the reason, it's super delicious.
Related: 10 Delicious Milkshakes to Keep You Cool
8. Veggie Shack
Courtesy of Shake Shack
Just launched in May 2023, this is the first new core menu sandwich item in about five years. Shake Shack was definitely ahead of the curve with its vegetarian offerings—the ‘Shroom Burger has been on the menu since the early Madison Square Park days. But considering that sandwich doesn’t taste like hamburger at all, this is a welcome addition for anyone looking to eat less meat.
The Shake Shack team spent years developing their own veggie patty, which has nine different vegetables (including carrots, leeks, sweet potato, cabbage and beets) and two grains (quinoa and farro) to give it a meat-like texture that’s not mushy. Miso and mushrooms bring the umami. Because the mixture is firm, they can smash it just like a regular burger so you get those crispy, caramelized edges. The result is a texturally accurate juicy burger that is nutty, earthy and salty. I love that you can see the pieces of veggies in it, but it doesn’t taste like it’s made from vegetables.
7. Cheese and Bacon Fries
Courtesy of Shake Shack
Can cheese fries actually be improved upon? Why yes, just add some crispy bacon. Since this is a pretty substantial side, you may not want to pair it with any of the larger sandwiches (unless you're really hungry or sharing a bunch of items with others). Pro tip: SS's cheese and bacon fries can also hold their own as a main course. Just sayin'.
6. Avocado Bacon Chicken
Courtesy of Shake Shack
I love Shake Shack’s fried chicken sandwich, which is what this is with the addition of applewood smoked bacon and avocado. The chicken breast is marinated in buttermilk and then battered in a mix that crucially has paprika and cayenne in the spice blend (that's probably what’s missing from the nuggets), and comes with lettuce, pickles, and Shake Shack's great buttermilk herb mayo. If you’re a big bacon and avocado fan, this one's for you.
5. ‘Shroom Burger
Courtesy of Shake Shack
It’s hard to describe this sandwich without resorting to purely textural descriptions, like the fact that it’s simultaneously the gooiest and crispiest thing you’ve ever eaten. This is accomplished by marinating and roasting two portabello mushroom caps, stuffing them with a blend of cheddar and Muenster cheeses and then dredging the pair in flour, egg and breadcrumbs before deep frying. The mushrooms are perfectly crispy on the outside and when you bite into the sandwich there's a melty, oozy mess of piping-hot cheese. It’s as delicious and over-the-top as it sounds. Amazingly, you can still taste the mushroom flavor, which manages to not be totally overtaken by the cheese. The sandwich is served topped with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce on a toasted potato bun.
4. Shack Stack
Courtesy of Shake Shack
This sandwich sounds completely outlandish and too crazy to work: a cheeseburger and ‘Shroom burger stacked on top of each other with tomato and lettuce on a potato bun covered in ShackSauce. And although it seems like it was invented for social media, it almost predates the popularity of Instagram.
Luckily, it’s not just about the wow factor: the combination actually works (provided you’re super hungry). The crunch from the crispy mushroom is great and the tomato and lettuce help with the richness. That said, the cheese on top of the burger patty felt like overkill, given all the cheese oozing out of the mushroom.
3. Chicken Shack
Courtesy of Shake Shack
When the chicken sandwich wars heated up about five years ago, this was Shake Shack’s entry. It was a good one—and still is. The chicken is marinated in buttermilk and spices, and then battered and fried to crispy perfection. It comes on a squishy potato bun slathered with the great buttermilk herb mayo and topped with lettuce and pickles. The result is an explosion of textures and flavors, with just the right amount of spice and acid.
Related: 50 Easy Chicken Wrap Recipes
2. ShackBurger
Courtesy of Shake Shack
The namesake ShackBurger is the backbone of the sandwiches at Shake Shack. The expertly griddled smash burger manages to remain juicy on the inside with deliciously crispy bits on the outside and it easily blows other fast-food burgers out of the water. It’s the ideal size for a meal (not too big, not too small) and comes on a toasted potato bun and is topped with Shack Sauce (a mix of ketchup, mayo, mustard, chipotle Tabasco and pickle liquid for acidity), melted American cheese, lettuce and tomato.
1. SmokeShack
Courtesy of Shake Shack
Unlike a lot of Shake Shack’s menu items, I had never eaten this sandwich until recently, when I had to try it for this article. (The things I do for you.) I had always avoided it because, frankly, it just sounded like too much. And yes, I’ll admit I was intimidated by the possibly too-spicy cherry peppers. Boy, was I wrong to wait this long!
The sandwich consists of a burger topped with melted American cheese and Shack Sauce, but instead of the lettuce and tomato on the ShackBurger, there is the addition of pickled sweet and spicy cherry peppers and applewood smoked bacon. The peppers balance out the richness of the perfectly smoked bacon and cheese burger, while also giving it the perfect amount of heat and acid. Ladies and gentlemen, I have a new favorite Shake Shack sandwich!
