The best (and worst) of Shake Shack’s summer barbecue menu
It’s summer baby (yes, I got you baby, let’s move on), the season for beach days, pool days and just general rest. A time to be outside, enjoy the sun (as long as it’s not too hot) and eat good food. And nothing tastes as good during the summer months as good barbecue burgers.
But not everyone has the necessary grilling skills. And for those people, we’d like to point you to Shake Shack’s new Summer BBQ menu.
No, the burgers aren’t flame-grilled, but a high-quality smash burger drizzled with barbecue sauce sounds just as good, especially if you don’t have to make it yourself. The new menu consists of two different burgers, one made with classic barbecue sauce and fried onions, another with Carolina-style barbecue with fried pickles and a new take on the Shack’s fries and cheese fries.
Both look delicious, and it’s Shake Shack, so chances are at least the burgers are still good (we ranked Shake Shack’s beef patties as the best in all of fast food ), but fast food is expensive, so if you’re not interested in taking the risk, we’ll take the hit and do it for you.
We tried Shake Shack’s Summer BBQ menu, here’s what to order and what to skip.
Classic smoked BBQ burger
Thoughts and Tasting Notes:
I’m leading with the best of what I’ve tasted here. It’s a little odd that Shake Shack doesn’t already have a good barbecue burger on the menu, so the Smoky Classic is a much-welcomed inclusion in the current burger roster.
The construction consists of a delicious beef patty, American cheese, bacon, pickles and thin fried onions on a bun topped with smoky barbecue sauce. The combination of bacon and fried onions gives this burger a nice crunch and a smoky, umami punch that helps enhance the sumptuous beef notes.
The barbecue adds a sweet factor that makes this burger appear incredibly complex and flavorful, each bite a journey of flavors. Something about the construction here makes this burger seem extremely substantial and decadent, despite it being just one burger. Of course you can get a double so if you have a big craving for meat, go for it!
The essential :
If you like burgers with barbecue sauce, you will love this one. This might be the best fast food barbecue burger right now. (we will have to classify them and check).
Caroline’s BBQ Burger
I’m a little less convinced by Carolina BBQ. Don’t get me wrong, it’s delicious, but it tastes a little less essential despite better construction. The burger features a beef patty topped with pepper jack cheese, bacon, fried pickles, and Carolina-style barbecue sauce, which, if you’re unfamiliar, essentially replaces the smoky and sweet elements of traditional barbecue sauce with something much hotter with a hint of spice.
There is a slight tangy sensation in this burger, but it is very weak and is mainly expressed between bites in the aftertaste. The major tasting note here is spiciness – there’s a tangy mustard taste to this burger that pairs really well with the salty fried pickles.
It’s a great burger, but it’s just not as satisfying as the sweet, smoky masterpiece that is the Smoky Classic.
The essential :
An interesting build with a distinct tangy, earthy flavor and a hint of spice. It’s good, but not for everyone. You kind of have to like the flavor of Carolina style barbecue to really like this, but if you’re not familiar, this would be a great entry point.
BBQ Fries/BBQ Cheese Fries
Thoughts and Tasting Notes:
I’m not a fan of Shake Shack fries, this has been well documented here at Uproxx. So every time Shake Shack does it Nothing For fries, it’s an upgrade. What makes BBQ fries unique is the sprinkling of smoky BBQ seasoning. This gives the fries that sweet, smoky component (with a hint of vinegar) that enhances the otherwise bland flavor of brothy fries.
Cheese fries are made even better with the thick layer of cheese sauce with BBQ seasoning on top of the cheese. It tastes better when you mix this dish a little so the seasoning and cheese sauce are better incorporated.
It’s good, in the sense that we’re dealing with fries covered in cheese, so, you know, it’s a little hard to screw that up. Ultimately, I feel like these fries aren’t essential. I hate to end a rave food review on a negative note, but it is what it is.
The essential :
If you like Shake Shack’s fries, you’ll probably love this sweet and smoky version. If you’re not convinced by these crinkle fries, these won’t tempt you.
Find your nearest Shake Shack here.
