Shake Shack adds Shanghai to its destination list

Shanghai is the first city on the Chinese mainland to get a Shake Shack. The modern day “roadside” burger outlet chose Xintiandi for its first Chinese venture, reflecting its original spirit when it first took off from New York City’s Madison Square Park when the buzzing vibe, the outdoor patio, the trendy locals made it a hot destination in town.

Without any promotion, Shack fans lined up in front of the newest outlet on January 24 in the north block of Xintiandi. Since the original Shack opened in 2004 in Madison Square Park, the company has grown in popularity and expanded to more than 200 locations in 26 US states and the District of Columbia, over 70 locations, including London, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Dubai, Tokyo, Moscow and Seoul.

The 144-seat Shanghai’s Shack features outdoor patio seating in the heart of Xintiandi with its design inspired by the location’s shikumen architecture as a nod to the local culture and heritage. The kitchen area shows Shake Shack’s iconic corrugated aluminum and white marble counter. Chinese-Swedish artist Camilla Engstrom painted lush Chinese landscapes decorated with signature Shack items throughout the space.

Shake Shack adds Shanghai to its destination list

Courtesy of Shake Shack / Ti Gong

Caption: The SmokeShack burger (left).

Shake Shack is known for its 100 percent all-natural Angus beef burgers and flat-top Vienna beef dogs (no hormones or antibiotics). With a rough memory of trying its classic burger in Madison Square Park four years ago, I was excited to taste it again here. The classic ShackBurger (47 yuan/single) is a safe choice — a deliciously meaty stack of bun, Angus beef, topped with lettuce, tomato and house-made ShackSauce. I especially liked the SmokeShack burger (58 yuan/single), a riff on the classic burger but topped with Applewood smoky bacon and cherry peppers instead of lettuce and tomato. It simply gives an extra layer of pungent taste, leaving a strong impression.

Since Shake Shack began as a hot dog cart in New York, the Flat-Top Dog, which is all-beef and served on a non-GMO Martin’s Potato Roll, has a special significance to the brand story.

The famous Crinkle-cut Fries are the perfect pair for a burger or dog, served plain or with a Shack blend of American and cheddar cheese sauce. The Cheese Fries (34 yuan) are tasty and just make you want more.

Courtesy of Shake Shack / Ti Gong

Caption: Shake Shack chooses Xintiandi for its first Chinese mainland venture.

The first-ever Shanghai Shack serves up a selection of local menu items as well: Strawberry Yu(zu) Garden Shake, a specially designed vanilla frozen custard blended with strawberry puree and yuzu juice, topped with whipped matcha cream cheese, whipped cream and matcha powder — ideal for Asian tastes.

Shake Shack is a lively community gathering place with its fresh, simple, high-quality food offering, thus serving well its motto: “Stand for Something Good.” According to CEO Randy Garutti, the Xintiandi Shack will donate 5 percent of the sales from its Straw-Bei Li Cheesecake concrete (exclusive local item) to Flying the Hope, an educational assistance program for the underprivileged.