Ask any American on the East Coast which burger joint is the best around, Shake Shack would be the best bet. Ask any American on the West Coast the exact same question, In-N-Out will be their answer. One has not experience the American way of life if he/she has not tried the burgers on both ends of the country. I’ve had the best of both worlds and I’m going to help make your decision a little easier here.
| IN-N-OUT | SHAKE SHACK | |
| Location | This burger joint has occupied a soft spot for Californians across all walks of life since 1946. Today its 290 stores stretched along the southwest coast. | Founded in 2004, they have been known for their extremely long queues outside stores. Within the U.S, they have a humble 34 stores serving the east coast. Internationally, they have also made their presence known in cities like London, Istanbul, Moscow and Dubai. |
| Quality | 2-ounce patties made from 100% beef chuck grounded in their own grinding facilities. This is topped off with a mouth-watering thousand-island style spread, mustard, or ketchup. | 4-ounce patties made from a proprietary blend of sirloin, brisket, and short rib topped with thousand island-style Shack Sauce, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. |
| First Impressions | Typical American diner with more than enough seats to accommodate everyone even during peak periods. Food quality compensates for the dullish setting. This is the place to go if you’re seeking affordable burgers and a little more privacy with your friends. | A more contemporary setting swamped with people waiting around finishing tables. Waiting times can take up to 30 minutes and you can be sure you’ll be out in less than 20 minutes. However, there’s something about the crowd and endless chattering that makes the place feels very alive and happening. |
| Menu | Few and simple: 3 burger varieties which consist of a hamburger, cheeseburger and ‘Double Double’ that comes with lettuce, tomato and a choice of onions.*Request for their secret menu of Protein and Animal Style fries!The cheeseburger would be my best bet! | Traditionally, they are best known for their milkshakes. Shake Shack has a wider variety of combinations for their menu that you are sure to go back wanting for more. Their Shake Stack is to die for – an original shack burger topped with a deep-fried, cheese infused Portobello! |
| Calories | Cheeseburger – 480 | Shack Burger – 490 |
| Price | $2.25 | $4.60 |
| Fun Facts | Their secret menu consists of 2 dozen unlisted items and you can even find bible passages scripted on their packaging | Nearly half of their stores are located overseas. Burgers are cooked medium and cooks use paint scrapers to get the patties off the griddle |
Choose your side. I’ve got to say, there was no question that Shake Shack is the better of the two. The burger experience was simply out of this world and as sinful as you can imagine, nothing beats experiencing the burst of flavours that comes exploding off your taste buds with just a bite into THE Shake Stack. I can assure you the wait will be worthwhile. P.S The food are very instagram-worthy too (:
