Shake Shack continues to exist in Seoul. Yeah, I’ve heard the almost good and bad reviews. Sometimes, though, you just need to go and discover what the fuss (or lack thereof) is all about. So, one fine day I made it a point to head over to Gangnam to find out for myself.
Though there are many branches throughout Seoul, the flagship restaurant is located in Gangnam. The hype has loooooong since died down from when it first opened and it was easy to get in, get my burgers, and get to eating. I had heard the stories of long waits in queues for over half an hour but those days are done.
When it comes to the menu Shake Shack Korea hits all the bases. The mainstays are of course the burgers. From the Shack Burger and the Smoke Shack to the ubiquitous cheeseburgers and hamburgers every burger joint needs to get right or should pack up and go. There are also hot dogs as well as the trademark Shake Shack crinkle cut fries. You can find the Shake Shack notable concrete frozen custards which comprise a solid dense frozen custard blended at a high speed with mix-ins you choose. Of course you can also go for one of their signature concretes if you can’t quite decide what to put in yours. If Frozen Custard isn’t your deal then go with the more standard shakes that will definitely put back on any weight you thought you lost.
As far as drinks go you have your soft drinks, lemonade, beer selection and even a shack red or shack white wine….. I’ll stick to the shakes.
Now, down to the knitty-gritty: The food. I went with the smoke shack which was reasonably priced under 10,000 krw. IT came with smoked bacon flavored with apple wood, american cheese (cheddar would’ve been better) and a cherry pepper sauce custom created by shake shack. I won’t lie… it was tasty. Not travel across to Gangnam tasty but still it was a good burger. I still think they should ditch the american cheese for something with more bite. And if you are a big guy, like me, then double up on those patties.
On my next trip I plan to hit up another burger. The vegetarian option, the Shroom Burger, looked interesting. I mean it did have muenster and cheddar cheese on a deep fried portobello mushroom cushioned on a lettuce, shake sauce and tomato. Usually I am not one for veggie options but hey, times are a changing and so is my diet. We shall see. The crinkly cut fries definitely made my taste buds water, but I ate those sparingly because fries are a definite no-no.
As you can probably guess the shakes and custards didn’t make it to my plate, so you will have to explore those on your own. I will say it’s hard to resist a chocolate shake, but c’est la vie.
The Good: Decent Burgers at reasonable prices.
The Bad: Overhyped
The Weird: DIY Shack Burger Kits???
Prices: 5,500 +
Phone: 02-553-5576
Delivery:
Not yet, but you can order Delivery for other tasty treats via Shuttle (셔틀). The prep time is 15 to 35 minutes.
Address: 452 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul and Locations Throughout Seoul see website
Website: Shake Shack
Directions:
Go to Gangnam station and take exit 11. Go straight for about 200 or so meters and you will see Shake Shack on the left hand side.
