Let’s not fool ourselves – milkshakes are mostly ice cream, not milk. But that’s what makes them so slurpable. When drinking a milkshake, it is socially acceptable to order dessert first. After all, who doesn’t start a meal by ordering a drink before entering? A shake is meant to be enjoyed with a burger and fries – and if you really like a salty and sweet bite, you dip your fries in your shake. While these sweet treats often take a back seat to more popular desserts like ice cream, cake, and cookies, the milkshake definitely deserves its time in one’s treat rotation. From plain and pure vanilla to exotic crazyshakes, here are 16 great vegan milkshakes that are truly topped with a maraschino cherry.
What’s in a Vegan Milkshake?
Most milkshakes are of course made with cow’s milk. But thanks to the variety of plant-based dairy products on the market, making a completely animal-free milkshake is easier than ever. All you have to do is mix your favorite fruit, chocolate or nut with your favorite vegan milk and voila: it’s a plant-based shake. If you want to try it for yourself, we recommend this delicious Toasted Marshmallow Pecan Milkshake recipe. But if you want to sit back and relax while someone makes you a delicious creamy treat, we recommend going to one of the places below.
Where to find vegan milkshakes in the US
Fatburger
1 Fatburger
Fatburger isn’t vegetarian yet, but the fast-casual burger joint offers a handful of vegetarian options to rival its animal-based menu. Strawberry, chocolate, Maui banana, and vanilla vegan milkshakes, made with Craig’s vegan ice cream and dairy-free whipped cream, are indulgent yet totally satisfying. If you want some texture in your shake, you can add Oreos by asking nicely (it’s a bit of a secret menu item). Pair your treat with a vegan Impossible Burger and Fat Fries or Crinkly Sweet Potato Fries.
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good guy
2 good guy
This Costa Mesa, CA hole-in-the-wall serves vegan fast-food favorites, and it doesn’t skimp on milkshakes. Unlike some of the over-the-top burgers on the menu, the Nice Guys Moo Shakes aren’t elaborate. Customers have a choice of vanilla or strawberry. Depending on location, additional milkshake flavors include chocolate and malt. Local Tip: Malt is the way to go—you don’t find a vegan malt every day.
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modern love
3 modern love
With locations in both Omaha, NE and Brooklyn, NY, this refined vegan diner combines sophisticated cuisine with a cozy atmosphere. The mouth-watering menu is vast and induces decision fatigue, but one non-negotiable is a milkshake. The standard shake reminds us of something we’d get from an old-timey ice cream parlor—think strawberry swirls and peanut butter chocolate served in a tall glass, with syrup running down the side. If you want (or need) something stronger while dining at Modern Love’s Omaha outpost, a boozy milkshake won’t disappoint. You can add a “spike” of alcohol for an additional $3.
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4 black tap
At this massive craft beer and burger restaurant, more and then some. The chain is known for its crazyshakes — milkshakes that are much more than whipped cream and a cherry. Rims are coated with frosting to adhere decorations like chocolate chips, nuts, or crushed Oreos; Whipped cream is used as spackle for cookies and candies, and the whole thing is often topped with another dessert, such as a giant brownie or two-layer cake slice. All shakes (both crazy and classic) can be ordered with vegan ice cream and dairy-free whipped cream, but not all toppings are vegan. Choose the Vegan Black ‘n White Cakeshake for a completely plant-based chocolate shake topped with vanilla frosting, mini chocolate chips, a black ‘n white cake slice, whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. We know we said milkshakes are meant to be enjoyed with meals, but this is definitely leaning towards dessert.
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Next level burgers
5 Next level burgers
Shake-seekers in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, and Houston can find a quality bite at any of these next-level burger locations. Aptly dubbed Next Level Shakes, these desserts are dense and perfectly sweet. Flavors include Peanut Butter, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate and Orange Cream. The latter tastes like a creamsicle but is made without chemicals and artificial flavors.
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Hummus and Pita co.
6 Hummus & Pita Co
This shake won the award for most unique. The original ingredients may give you pause, but once you try it, you’ll realize the hype is real. As its name suggests, this vegan milkshake is made with chickpeas and tahini—aka, hummus—and it’s not a savory shake. A frozen banana and dates are enough to mask the chickpea flavor while the tahini adds an unexpected but delightful nuttiness. We recommend starting with the original, but the chain also offers chocolate, toasted almond, strawberry, butter pecan, pistachio, cold brew and seasonal flavors.
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straw
7 Straw Modern Milkshakes
Milkshakes are the main event at this nondescript Orange County strip mall eatery. As with Black Tap, the shakes here get a little wild. Vegan options are available upon request, and thankfully, they’re not limited to creativity. Try The Dentist—a cotton candy-flavored shake with sprinkles, a ring pop, a lollipop, and strawberry sauce. For a salty option that still reminds you of childhood, opt for the lunch box. This secret menu item combines a peanut butter salted pretzel shake under a strawberry jam with non-dairy whip, a hard salted pretzel, and a triangular slice of toasted bread, obviously chopped. Buji options are also available.
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Spiral dinner
8 Spiral dinner
When in Texas, a stop at Spiral Diner and Bakery is a must. The old-school-style diner serves its shakes in a tall, frosted glass, topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Flavors range from the usual suspects—chocolate, vanilla, and cookies and cream—but the standouts are peanut butter and peanut butter and cookies. Also look for shake specials like the Salted Caramel or King’s Cake shakes.
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Monty’s Good Burgers
9 Monty’s Good Burgers
Those craving an In-N-Out shake can find solace at Monty’s Good Burgers. This SoCal vegan burger chain has a streamlined menu of impossible burgers, fries, tots, and shakes—much like its non-vegan drive-thru muse. The brand offers more involved flavors than In-N-Out’s trio of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. True to its Los Angeles roots, Monty’s Dodgerberry (a strawberry and blueberry blend to represent the city’s pro baseball team) is an Eco Park neighborhood exclusive. Check out Travis’ Oat Matcha Latte Shake (a collaboration with longtime vegan Travis Barker), or seasonal variations at the chain’s other Los Angeles or Riverside locations.
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Plant power fast food
10 Plant power fast food
Monty’s may mimic In-N-Out, but the plant-powered fast food claim is a vegan McDonald’s. The tasty menu highlights such handholds as The Big Jack and a ‘fish’ fillet sandwich – both paired nicely with a vegan shake. Choose from classic flavors or go a little off-center with a horchata or cookie butter shake.
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Trisha A./Yelp
11 Another side dinner
When you’re in Honolulu, HI and want something a little creamier than Dole Whip or shaved ice, check out The Other Side. This vegan-friendly eatery has a collection of milkshakes that can be made vegan upon request (minus the whipped cream). Flavors that caught our eye beyond the basic chocolate, vanilla and peanut butter include Macadamia Nut and Chunky Monkey (chocolate, peanut butter and banana).
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Chicago Diner
12 Chicago Diner
More often than not, you can trust a diner to whip up a quality milkshake. This vegetarian and vegan-friendly Chicago establishment offers an assortment of sweet, award-winning shakes made with Temptation’s oat-based soft serve. Choose from Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cookie Dough Peanut Butter, Mint Chocolate Chip, Strawberry, Banana and more. The tasty menu spans everything from Mexican to Thai, but we recommend your shake with a plant-based burger or spicy chicken sandwich.
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Veggie Galaxy
13 Veggie Galaxy
Tourists be warned: If you want a milkshake in Boston, you’ll get a glass of milk that’s been shaken. In Beantown, they call it a frappe. Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge serves frappes alongside its extensive dinner and bakery menu, and it’s all vegetarian. The place only grew in popularity after being featured on the Food Network Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Expect the usual range of flavors made with locally produced FoMu vegan ice cream, and a few seasonal frappe specials like matcha.
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Vegan Goon
14 Vegan Goon
Officially crowned the best milkshake in LA, Vegan Hooligans’ delicious creations are made with a base of vanilla, chocolate, Oreo, strawberry, peanut butter or vanilla ice cream. And if you’ve got a big sweet tooth, you can choose to “bulldoze” your shake with banana, cherry, almond butter, vegan M&M’s, peanut butter cups and more. Time to sip.
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Water food
15 Water food
Denver locals flock to this comfort food haven for both sweet and savory menu options. Shake flavors include the standard chocolate, vanilla, and peanut butter chocolate, as well as more off-the-cuff offerings like espresso, chai, and matcha. The serving sizes are manageable—12 or 16 ounces—making these milkshakes a perfect accompaniment to some hearty menu items.
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Heart House
16 Heart House
Kevin Hart’s fast-growing vegan fast-food chain is already winning over taste-buds. With four locations in the greater Los Angeles-area, Heart House boasts a simple yet delicious menu that never leaves customers with decision fatigue. Choose between strawberry, vanilla, chocolate and Oreo flavors when selecting your dairy-free shake.
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For more vegan restaurant picks, read:
Tanya Flink is a digital editor for VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.