City Guide: New York

andrea strong bitesee contributor
By Andrea Strong

Shake Shack

Visit the original location of this serious burger and fries empire in scenic Madison Square Park.

In 2001, Danny Meyer installed a simple hot dog cart to support the Madison Square Park Conservancy’s first art installation. Today, Shake Shack, as it became known, is an international brand and a publicly-traded company—which is easy to understand why.

The slim patties, griddled on a flat top so they’re crispy-edged but still nice-and-juicy, are prepared from a custom blend of 100% all-natural Angus beef, topped with American cheese and sandwiched with your choice of all-natural applewood smoked bacon and chopped cherry peppers (the Smokeshack) or classically with lettuce, tomato and special secret Shack Sauce (the Shack Burger).

The creative brains in the Shake Shack kitchen churn out limited edition menu items, which can become permanent, like the Chick’n Shack, a crunchy fried breast drenched in buttermilk dressing and topped with pickles on a Martin’s potato roll, or the Hot Chick’n, dusted with a guajillo and cayenne pepper blend and topped with slaw and pickles. There’s dogs too like the fully-loaded Shackcago-style also grilled on the flatop and the crinkly cut fries are hot, salty, and crisp, and beg for one of their thick shakes, fresh-squeezed lemonade or an ice cold beer. Equally delicious is the frozen custard so, if possible, save room!

Must try:
Shack Burger
Fresh Fast-Food / A Must For First-Timers
$
Reservations: No reservations
Hours: Mon-Fri, 7:30am – 11pm; Sat-Sun, 8:30am-11pm
Location: Multiple; original location at Madison Square Park
Address: Madison Avenue and 23rd Street inside Madison Square Park
Phone: (212) 889-6600
  • Subway: N/R to 23rd Street
 
Ideal for:

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