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Photos: A Taste Of The West Coast's First Shake Shack
Let the East Coast-West Coast rivalry begin a new. This time the "beef" will be over which coast's beloved burger chain serves up a better patty.
On Tuesday, the first Los Angeles outpost of Shake Shack will have its grand opening in West Hollywood, placating the East Coast transplants who (misguidedly) find In-N-Out insufficient. And the Californian In-N-Out diehards will finally be able to justifiably determine which one is the superior burger. Thankfully for us it won't be a Highlander-esque scenario—both are now options.
Shake Shack's menu, while a little more expensive, at least has the one-up on In-N-Out by offering far more options than In-N-Out's minimalist slate. Aside from burgers, fries and shakes, Shake Shack also offers hot dogs, frozen custard, and even beer and wine. Their signature burger, the ShackBurger, was not a disappointment. The proprietary "ShackSauce" was like a savory mayo that enhanced the beefy patty, but I wasn't terribly keen on the potato bun. And this onion-lover was wondering where they were:
The ShackBurger (Photo by Annie Lesser/LAist)
The latest addition to their menu is the recently launched Chick'n Shack—their own version of the crispy chicken sandwich. [Jules Winnfield from Pulp Fiction] Mmmm, this is a tasty chicken sandwich! The fried chicken breast was a perfectly crispy golden brown, and the pickles and buttermilk herb mayo were delightfully tangy.
The Chick'nShack (Photo by Annie Lesser/LAist)
And while I did not partake in a bite, my vegetarian dining companion was all about the 'Shroom Burger, whose patty is a crispy-fried portobello mushroom packed with gooey muenster and cheddar cheese.
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An oozing 'Shroom Burger (Photo by Annie Lesser/LAist)
As an added bonus for Angelenos, Shake Shack's menu comes with two, L.A.-only bonuses: the Roadside Double and the Rainbow Connection. The Roadside Double is the chain's take on that sandwich that L.A. lays claim to: the French dip. It's a double Swiss cheeseburger topped with Dijon mustard and onions simmered in bacon and beer. For dessert, you can chase that behemoth with the Rainbow Connection, a frozen custard concrete with Cofax donuts and Sqirl jam. A portion of sales from the Rainbow Connection will be donated to LA PRIDE.
For any Angelenos who would like to once and for all settle the In-N-Out vs. Shake Shack debate, the West Hollywood location opens on Tuesday, 11 a.m. at 8520 Santa Monica Boulevard (near the corner of La Cienega Boulevard). Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Future locations to open in downtown L.A. and Glendale.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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