Found a Shake Shack

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
02/18/2020 at 14:06 • Filed to: None

Time to see what all the fuss is about

UPDATE Burger was excellent, fries and shake were average. I liked it but for $5 less I could go to Five Guys and get a meal I enjoy just as much.

DISCUSSION (67)

Notchback88 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:13

Got a few of those in the KC area. Not bad. Not sure the wait in line was worth it, I need a second go of it to see.

Sovande > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:14

I ate at one once and I am still waiting to see what all the fuss is about.

dogisbadob > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:15

not really a fan of their potato rolls, and their fries aren’t the greatest

For Sweden > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:15

Gotta get the steak burger s brah

Kinja'd!!!

jimz > Sovande
02/18/2020 at 14:17

I felt the same way about In-n-out. I mean, it was good (especially for a fast food burger) but damn, the hype is like over 9000 times greater than it should be. Oh, and their fries are trash.

Chick fil a too, for that matter. same as In-n-out; a cut above the rest, but I don’t get the lines. it’s just a damn chicken sandwich.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > jimz
02/18/2020 at 14:20

I totally agree with you about In-n-Out. The Costco here has way better fries.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Notchback88
02/18/2020 at 14:20

Service at this one was pretty brisk. That had a DIY order station with a bunch tablets and my order was up in 8 minutes.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Sovande
02/18/2020 at 14:21

Does it fuss on the way back out?

Notchback88 > For Sweden
02/18/2020 at 14:21

Had Freddy’s a couple times, there was one by my old apartment in NKC. It came across to me as a more expensive Steak and Shake?

Honestly, when it comes to “fast” food burgers, I think Culver’s has some of the best. And cheese curds. Mmm.

DutchieDC2R > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:23

So, theyve opened a c ouple of Five Guys places in my city and...honestly, theyre quite expensive. Granted, you really do get a full meal and a proper burger, but it is a lot of money (nearly 50 euros for an average size menu). I can't imagine how expensive Shake Shack would be here, considering they're more expensive than Five guys.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > DutchieDC2R
02/18/2020 at 14:25

Did you say 50 euros??? That’s like fancy special occasion dinner money. A burger, fries, and drink at five guys here is less than €15

Notchback88 > DutchieDC2R
02/18/2020 at 14:26

50 Euros for a meal? That seems insane. Here’s prices in the states: https://www.menuwithprice.com/menu/five-guys/

Sovande > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:30

Not that I recall, but I can eat just about anything without running into any unpleasantness.

ttyymmnn > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:33

It’s funny how Oppo has such a love/hate relationship with Five Guys. I’m a big fan, but there are those here who say it’s terrible. Others are crazy about In-n-Out, but I’ve never been impressed. Here in Austin, people rave about P. Terry’s, but I think the burger there is remarkably average. Of course, a burger is a very personal thing. As are fries.

TheRealBicycleBuck > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:34

I’ve had it several times in both NYC and Houston. The hype is not worth the price. I’ll stick with Whataburger.

ttyymmnn > jimz
02/18/2020 at 14:34

There is only one decent In-n-Out in America, and that is only because of the views.

Kinja'd!!!

CalzoneGolem > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:35

Those fries look good. There isn’t enough crinkle cut options.

I like 5 guys because I can add so many vegetables to my burger. All the veggies, mustard and hot sauce.

i86hotdogs > jimz
02/18/2020 at 14:35

What entices me about In-n-out so much is how it tastes like the classic all American Cheeseburger. Veggie toppings are cold, the patty isn’t a giant thick slab of meat like the gastropub burgers are aiming for, you can taste every aspect of the burger when you take a bite. Are there better ones out there? Sure.

Tripper > DutchieDC2R
02/18/2020 at 14:36

Damn! 50 euros, f that noise! $50-60 bucks will get you a couple beers and a great meal at an actual restaurant.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Sovande
02/18/2020 at 14:38

I'm weird. I can eat Taco Bell with no issues but anything spicy or caffeinated will send me rushing for a toilet

Sovande > DutchieDC2R
02/18/2020 at 14:39

I know the guy who started 5 Guys. He and a couple of his son’s live in the same city I do. The main guy (and father) Jerry one of his son’s keep boats at the same marina as I keep mine. I was talking with Jerry one day and said that the biggest expense in each individual store is making ice. Costs more per store than the meat and potatoes.

50 Euros? That’s pretty wild. The last time I ate at one it probably cost me $15? Burger, fries and a drink.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:40

I’ve never been inside of a Shake Shack before. I’d like to try it, but I just haven’t been

That being said, the fries look kinda subpar to me just by the picture.

Five Guys has really good fries, and a tasty burger (albeit expensive)

Probably my favorite go-to fast food burger (when I don’t feel like spending $20 at Five Guys) is the Wendy’s single. It is a darn good burger for fast food.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > ttyymmnn
02/18/2020 at 14:41

If you ever go to a Shake Shack, get the Shack Stack® (pictured ). It's a cheese stuffed fried portobello cap on top of a beef patty.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
02/18/2020 at 14:44

Ye. Wendy’s makes a good burger. It’s my go-t o out of the Big Three

Sir Halffast > DutchieDC2R
02/18/2020 at 14:45

Just to echo the others, tha fuck?

Sir Halffast > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:45

That’s because Taco Bell is neither spicy nor caffeinated.

facw > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:48

They’ve really backed themselves into a corner with the crinkle cut fries. Terrible option.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > facw
02/18/2020 at 14:48

They pick up ketchup nicely.

ttyymmnn > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:49

My wife will have that. I’m a dedicated carnivore.

fintail > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:49

This is like a Steak ‘N Shake but more hip (trendy/expensive) , right? We have nearly none of either in my region, but I have patronized both when on trips. I think I went to one of these in Cleveland.

Having a shake alone is usually enough to lure me in , but I prefer fresh cut fries.

facw > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:49

I only put ketchup on bad fries, so...

Jason Spears > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:50

Definitely not worth driving past a Five Guys to get to. Our local Five Guys has added a shake station too, I need to check that out.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > fintail
02/18/2020 at 14:51

This one was decorated hella chic/trendy but I don't know if that's because it's a flagship city location or what

Sovande > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 14:51

Your poor hole.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 15:02

I enjoy In-n-Out just as much, for far less money. And, the fries are better.

jimz > DutchieDC2R
02/18/2020 at 15:03

proper burger? wow. the few times I’ve been there I got the “little” burger and still felt like a glutton afterwards. I can’t imagine downing an entire big one.

jimz > Sir Halffast
02/18/2020 at 15:04

That’s because Taco Bell is neither spicy nor caffeinat ed.

Kinja'd!!!

jimz > ttyymmnn
02/18/2020 at 15:05

it’s the war between the thin, deeply browned “smash” patty and the thicker, more robust one. Both have their place.

jimz > i86hotdogs
02/18/2020 at 15:09

Yeah, I hate over-stuffed sandwiches of any kind. there’s a small local chain in my area which does your typical deli sandwiches, and as Mitch Hedberg would say they’re like a cow with a cracker on either side of it:

Kinja'd!!!

I went to one once and that’s how they are. that’s just stupid, IMO.

notsomethingstructural > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 15:10

5 guys with a shake is $5 less than shake shack? This is mind-blowing to me. I get a burger or chicken sandwich and fries all the time and it’s like $11 or $12 out the door. Seemed comparable to 5 guys to me or even slightly cheaper, but I don’t get shakes.

notsomethingstructural > facw
02/18/2020 at 15:11

the crinkle cut fries are good you monster

fintail > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 15:12

IIRC the one I visited was in an upscale outdoor mall, and was that trendy fake industrial style. It was OK, I think, like yours, I seem to recall it seeming maybe just a little expensive. But I have a simple palate, and it was close to my hotel.

Shane MacGowan's Teeth > ttyymmnn
02/18/2020 at 15:12

We love P Terry’s cause it’s local, not the quality. Personally I’d take Mighty Fine over PT any day of the week.

That said, I went to Five Guys once, waited 25 minutes for a dry burger that they had wrong. Meh. The burger place that really confuses me is Hopdoddy’s. Overpriced and wayyyyyy overhyped.

Maxima Speed > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 15:13

If you want the full burger shack experience you cant get better than “Larry’s Dawg House” in Athens Ohio. Place is amazing, the food is ughhh its making me drool just thinking about it.

HammerheadFistpunch > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 15:15

am totally unimpressed with shake shack. The one by me is always busy and I don’t know why. VERY expensive for the amount of food you get and nothing special. Then again the drive through at in n’ out here is always slammed and I think the same about them. I guess it just matters that people think its special versus actually being special.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > notsomethingstructural
02/18/2020 at 15:22

This meal was $19

facw > notsomethingstructural
02/18/2020 at 15:25

Look, I’m just saying you’re lucky we have to be excellent to each other here :P

ttyymmnn > Shane MacGowan's Teeth
02/18/2020 at 15:29

You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a P. Terry’s these days. And I agree on Mighty Fine. I really like their fries. Ate at Hopdoddy once and have no reason to return. Too bad places like Hut’s are disappearing. All the “weird” places that made Austin special are going away , most victims of skyrocketing rents and ravaging developers. Hell, even Threadgill’s couldn’t stay open downtown. That was our go to place for dinner between symphony rehearsals.

notsomethingstructural > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 15:31

yeah with a shake i can see that

wafflesnfalafel > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 15:42

That’s about my take as well - good but pricey. I personally like Kidd Valley, https://www.kiddvalley.com/ , and they are local for me. Joe’ s Burgers https://www.joesburgers.com/ are supposed to be decent. W e had one open nearby but only with outdoor seating, (which is awfully cold and wet at this point...)

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Sovande
02/18/2020 at 15:46

Jerry was yanking your chain. There is no way that is true unless 5 Guys is using the Bugatti of ice makers. If ice was so expensive, why would every fast food outlet fill your glass up with ice to limit the amount of soda they have to put in the cup?

Source: Works for company that runs 250 restaurants

gin-san - shitpost specialist > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 15:59

Around here’s it’s either Wendy’s or A&W for the win (and I’ve heard many times that A&W here in Canada is different from the USA).

gin-san - shitpost specialist > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 16:05

The first time I had Shake Shack it was in Istanbul of all places. No lineup or wait so I thought I’d give it a go.

I basically had the same opinion, although instead of a shake I got a strawberry lemonade. French fries are a deceptively simple item and it’s hard to get right, especially crinkle cut which I find are generally too soft and not crisp enough.

Burgers are good, but not good enough for me to really go out of the way for it. The hype is real, though: on my flight out of Singapore they had recently opened a Shake Shack in the jewel (part of the airport but open to the public as well) and the lineup did a full loop around the floor (and it’s a very large floor). If you were at the end of the line, I’d think that a very optimistic time estimate would be two hours before you place your order.

I decided to go with soba noodles instead, a branch of a Michelin star restaurant in Japan, and it was fucking delicious. No wait, and turned out to be the better choice because I can still find good burgers around here, but there are zero places I know of that serve soba at all, let alone a delicious soba.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > Shane MacGowan's Teeth
02/18/2020 at 16:28

Twisted Root in Texas (elsewhere?) also is overrated. Bu t we always had great experiences at 5 Guys. Now that we are in Florida, there is a BurgerFi by our house that is pretty good, and I guess they are in a lot of other states as well.

i86hotdogs > jimz
02/18/2020 at 17:01

I like them occasionally . The messy obnoxious craft bur ger sounds great once in a while.

That sandwich looks so good. I also haven’t eaten in 8 hours.

DutchieDC2R > Notchback88
02/18/2020 at 17:51

I can find the menu but there are no prices in euros, but yeah, last time I was there, I had a big fries, the double bacon cheeseburger (the regular one, which they call ‘big’ over here) a milkshake and a beer and paid a bit north of 40 euros.

The thing with Five Guys over here is that they try to class themselves as a bit of a upper scale burger place. We (the Dutch) have been used to Burger King and McDonalds dominating the fast food scene with their cheap crap that it almost makes sense for Five Guys to be that expensive.

DutchieDC2R > Tripper
02/18/2020 at 17:51

DutchieDC2R > Sir Halffast
02/18/2020 at 17:52

DutchieDC2R > jimz
02/18/2020 at 17:54

I shouldve emphasized, we’ve been used to McD and Burger King for the past 20 years, the ‘other’ burger places like Five Guys are deemed a bit ‘exotic’ here. I understand that if you can choose between 25 different franchises within a 6 mile radius, Five Guys might be a bit crap, but I honestly find their burgers a lot better than what most bigger franchises sell here.

DutchieDC2R > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 17:55

DutchieDC2R > Sovande
02/18/2020 at 17:55

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > DutchieDC2R
02/18/2020 at 18:00

They definitely are trying to go upscale there, then. Can't buy beer at the ones in the U.S.

MM54 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/18/2020 at 20:58

There is one of these at the Cleveland airport, I’ve been there, it was alright. What’s the big deal people make about this place?

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > jimz
02/18/2020 at 21:30

the first chick filla in the county is is opening next to my office and given how the others have gone, i think I’m going to need an alternate route. i don’t get it. the shake was ok, but the sandwich was meh. waffle fries were great

Sir Halffast > DutchieDC2R
02/19/2020 at 08:52

I guess that makes a certain amount of sense? It’s not cheap-cheap here in the States either. For one person, it’s about $15 for a double cheeseburger, small fry and a drink. That’s in DC where the chain started. Even in Euros, that would still be close to double McDonalds/BK’s prices so 40 Euro is still ridiculous. That said, they’re apparently doing well in Europe, and I saw two opening in Rome when I was there a month ago. So maybe that pricing is working out for them.

DutchieDC2R > Sir Halffast
02/19/2020 at 15:24

15 bucks is crazy cheap. I'd be going every week if it was 15 euros here..

Sir Halffast > DutchieDC2R
02/19/2020 at 16:31

I can walk out of McDonalds for under 10. So yes and no.