Shake Shack: A dream of quality fast food at reasonable prices - review

Meyer had a vision to offer fast-food favorites using higher-end ingredients at a reasonable price, serving up burgers made from all-natural Angus beef; crispy, crinkle-cut fries from golden potatoes cooked in cholesterol-free vegetable oil; and shakes that use a frozen custard that incorporates milk, cream, cane sugar, and egg yolk.

SHAKE SHACK finally arrived in Israel last year, first opening an outlet on Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Street, and then at Rishon Lezion’s G Complex, and the BIG Fashion Glilot shopping center near Ramat Hasharon.

Having not been to the Shake Shack in Israel, I accepted an invitation to try out some items that were recently added to their menus here: their Crispy Chicken Shack sandwich and Crispy Chicken Bites, which have proven popular favorites alongside burgers and hot dogs.

I sampled these and other offerings at the flagship Dizengoff branch, with its outdoor eating area, just across from the street’s namesake mall.

Like its other offerings, the fried-chicken meals are made with higher-quality meat. The Chicken Shack (NIS 41) uses an all-natural, antibiotic-free breaded chicken breast, served in one of the toasted potato buns that is a trademark of the franchise, with lettuce, pickles, and a herb mayonnaise.

The Chicken Bites are small chunks of crispy-coated chicken breast served with honey-mustard and BBQ sauces on the side (NIS 35 for six pieces; NIS 53 for 10).

I’ve only had the burgers at Shake Shack but was not surprised that the Chicken Shack sandwich and Chicken Bites were up to those standards, the meat tasting tender and fresh, the coating crispy without the oiliness I’ve experienced with fried chicken from other fast-food outlets.

For some reason, fried chicken has never really caught on in Israel unless prepared in the traditional European-schnitzel style. For example, KFC, so popular in the US and elsewhere, closed several of its outlets here this year. Perhaps Shake Shack’s offerings will help boost its popularity in this country.

At Shake Shack, I also tried a couple of menu items that had been specifically tailored to local tastes. One is the High Heat Fries (NIS 31) – a serving of their signature crinkle-cut fries, topped with cheese sauce, hot pepper spice, and cherry peppers. The fries are crisp, with just enough heat to give them a little tang for those who like things a little spicy.

As its name indicates, shakes are as much a signature dish as its burgers. I have had the rich and creamy trademark Vanilla and Chocolate Shakes (NIS 23) a few times in the US, so I decided to try their new Israel Exclusive Shake – the Pistachio Shake (NIS 38).

This is Vanilla Shack Ice Cream blended with pistachio ice cream, topped with toasted kataifi, crushed pistachios, and salted cardamom honey. Kataifi is made from thin strands of shredded phyllo dough, most commonly used in Israel to make knafeh.

The Pistachio Shake is something truly unique and I loved it, but it’s only for those who have a serious sweet tooth, like the taste of pistachio, and don’t mind drinking a green milkshake!

Obviously, a place called Shake Shack that serves burgers is not going to be kosher. Unlike other foreign fast-food outlets in Israel, it’s hard to see how Shake Shack could adjust its trademark offerings to receive kosher certification without losing its special authenticity.

However, the meat used in their burgers is kosher, and you can order it served on a parve bun, so it is possible to have a “kosher-style’’ meal at Shake Shack, depending on how you define that.

The lack of kosher certification may limit Shake Shack’s expansion here, although there are plans for other outlets. But given the quality of the offerings, staying true to the principles that have fueled the explosive popularity of Shake Shack over the past two decades, I’d say Danny Meyer’s dream of quality fast food, served at reasonable prices, has a solid future in Israel.