Sampling Shake Shack’s Airport-Exclusive Red-Eye Milkshake

Shake Shack stands among my favorite quick-service spots, and I was pleased to learn that certain menu items are tailored to travelers at a few locations. Leading the lineup is the Red-Eye Shake, a real-coffee blend that’s ideal for those early mornings when the only plan is to power through emails while waiting for a flight.

During a recent visit to yet another restaurant headquarters for a menu tasting I’m not allowed to discuss just yet, I found myself waiting in line at Shake Shack at 8 AM to sample a milkshake for readers like you. Before diving into this bright-and-early dessert option, I have a confession to share. It’s been a long time coming, and I don’t think I can responsibly continue covering Shake Shack without addressing it.

What’s this earth-shattering Shake Shack confession?

I don’t eat their burgers. That isn’t a rigid rule or a critique of their beef offerings; I merely fell for the Chicken Shack on my first visit many years ago. Since then, barring reviews or particularly compelling coupons, I’ve stuck with that chicken sandwich on dozens of follow-up visits. When I visited Shake Shack’s team of chefs a few months ago, they generally felt that the Chicken Shack is underrated by the public, without quoting anyone directly.

So here I am, attempting to right the wrongs of popular underappreciation: I truly believe Shake Shack has the best chicken sandwich in the game, and I never miss a chance to grab one. Increasingly, their savory experiments have highlighted the brand’s chicken sandwich and stellar chicken bites (undeniably the best chicken nugget in the game). The logo might feature a burger, but in my heart Shake Shack operates like a chicken-focused shop.

Shake Shack Red-Eye Shake Review

Rare Shake Shack Shake!

Pros: This toffee-kissed twist on the chain’s classic Coffee Shake blends in toffee sweetness, whipped cream, and delicate shavings of toffee and chocolate on top, yielding a notably bold finish. Since the base Coffee Shake relies on real coffee blended with soft serve, the final drink comes through as quite potent. It’s a solid option to keep you energized during an unexpected travel hiccup.

Cons: I haven’t sampled Shake Shack’s standard Coffee Shake to compare, but I’d venture this is quite close in spirit. The toffee and chocolate accents are enjoyable, yet they don’t quite outpace the strong coffee flavor at the core of this variant. It’s a fun one-off to try, but I’m not sure I’d choose this over my usual Black & White Shake. (We’ve seen Shake Shack push the envelope before; they’ve already perfected a burger-and-milkshake combo, so pushing further might feel like chasing perfection.)

Rating:

8/10