it’s over Greece, and Sandy and Danny dance in that iconic scene, you know, where they shimmy back and forth on a fun ride? This, we all remember (you’re welcome for that we will go together earworms). But the part you may or may not remember is their side words on that journey, but we’ve got you covered. It says: Shake Shack. Yes, it turns out, the 1978 classic inspired the name of one of America’s favorite fast-casual restaurant chains.
But while the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies school is inspired by the ’50s, Shake Shack (the brand, not the ride) is all about the here and now. That’s why, as more Americans reach for meat- and dairy-free options, the restaurant chain recently added new plant-based items to its menu. It’s still far from being (very) plant-based heaven, but it looks like Shake Shack has leveled up. Here’s what you need to know.
Does Shake Shack have vegan options?
Shack Shack—which has more than 260 locations in the U.S. and more than 140 international spots—has experimented with vegetarian options a few times now. For example, in April 2021, the chain teamed up with Pinky Cole (founder of popular Atlanta vegan fast-food chain Slutty Vegan) to launch a limited-edition plant-based sandwich called the SluttyShack in Atlanta.
The collaboration was part of Shake Shack Now serving Collaboration series, which saw the chain work with a number of top chefs, including Dominic Crane and Junghyun Park. As you might expect, Cole’s burger featured his signature sauce Slut Dust, as well as a veggie patty and a toasted Hawaiian bun.
That same year, Shake Shack rolled out its vegan crispy shallot burger at its UK locations. Again, the burger was the result of a collaboration, this time with Scottish chef and plant-based restaurateur Neil Rankin.
“Working with [Rankin]We’ve created a unique vegan patty that delivers everything we love about a great burger — decadent, juicy, satisfying and packed with umami flavor,” Jim Frisch, the chain’s director of culinary and product development, said at the time.
The same burger has yet to materialize in US locations. But, across the pond, you can now find a meatless patty on the chain’s menu, as well as its signature French fries and two new dairy-free drink options. Learn more about this below.
Vegan options at Shack Shack US
Shake Shack/Instagram
1 Veggie Shack (with variations!)
In May 2023, Shake Shack rolled out its Veggie Shack burger—which is made with vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, and quinoa—to all of its U.S. locations. “We take a fine-dining approach to culinary innovation and have spent five years testing and refining our new Veggie Shack with our culinary team,” said Chief Marketing Officer Jay Livingston. “It’s loaded with garden-variety vegetables and powered by farro and quinoa for a hearty, substantial bite.”
Although the option is always meatless, it is not animal product-free. But that said, vegetarians can still order the new menu item with (several) modifications. You’ll need to request it without the cheese, crispy onions or shake sauce, and swap out the bun for a gluten-free option, which is also vegetarian. And there you have it! A vegetarian-friendly veggie shack meal.
shake shake
2 Non-dairy chocolate custard
As well as burgers, fries and hot dogs, Shake Shack is arguably best known for its range of frozen custards. While most of the options aren’t vegan-friendly, the chain recently introduced its new non-dairy chocolate custard. To create the offering, Shake Shack partnered with Chilean food-tech company NotCo, which makes a creamy, dairy-like vegan milk called Not Milk.
shake shake
3 Non-dairy chocolate shake
Along with the non-dairy chocolate custard option above, Shake Shack has also released a vegan version of its chocolate shake called, you guessed it, non-dairy chocolate shake, which is also made with non-creamy milk.
“Partnering with Shake Shack has been one of my dreams and one of the most ambitious milestones for NotCo,” Matias Muchnick, CEO and co-founder of NotCo, said of the new collaboration. “Having a customized NotCo product in Shake Shack stores nationwide in record time is a clear statement of our ability to create advanced custom-made delicious and profitable versions of products that appeal to the mass market.”
Shake Shack/Instagram
4 fried
Finally, it’s not a real fast-food meal unless you have the obligatory side of fries. And we have great news: Shake Shack’s iconic crispy, crinkle-cut fries are vegan. However, just one note: If you’re concerned about cross-contamination via shared cooking equipment with meat, be sure to double-check with your server before ordering.
Read more about vegetarian fast food:
Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on the south coast of England.