A Hamburger Today

Dear AHT: No Love for Shake Shack

Posted by Robyn Lee, November 23, 2009

Here's an email we received yesterday.

But...this burger just wants to be loved. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]

I just went to the Shake Shack in NY with my girlfriend, what is the big deal over this place? I thought it was nowhere near as good as In N Out, in California we have tons of them, and they make superior burgers, so good, that Aussie Olympian Ian Thorpe comes all the way from Down Under for them, the former Olympian wolves them down. This shack is the best running scam in the food industry, I have no idea what makes it so special because it was really lame. I swear even the burgers in Disneyland LA(oh and Disney burgers are actually pretty damn good) blow this place out of the water. NYC is a culinary let down, all style and no real substance. You may think what is dumber, flying across the Pacific for 14 hours vs standing in a very long line in the cold for a burger??

- Peter L.

I know not everyone loves Shake Shack, but it's my favorite burger joint in the city and I have no problem defending it. I've eaten at In-N-Out, and I don't prefer their burger over Shake Shack's. But the price at In-N-Out can't be beat for the amount of deliciousness you get, and when I have access to one, I'm all over it.

If you people think Shake Shack is a scam, you should check out some of the In-N-Out clones we've got here (we'll have a post about them later). Actually, don't, because besides that they probably don't taste as good as Shake Shack, they might cost more.

Admittedly, I wouldn't want to wait in a long line in the cold for a burger either. I don't mind it in the spring or summer though.

Who else has been disappointed by Shake Shack?

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