This vibrant counter-serve spot is a burger lover’s dream, offering gourmet fast-food classics alongside great vibes and outdoor seating near the Flatiron.
"Your Order: ShackBurger ($7.69) and crinkle cut fries ($4.19). Someone is probably going to be mean to us on the internet for this one, but they’re probably just hangry for a ShackBurger. In LA, there’s In-N-Out, and in NYC, there’s Shake Shack. And the burger—which you can find at 19 locations across the city, and also all over the country, including Lexington, Kentucky—is really good. Don’t go here if you have the time to read this guide and choose. But if you need a smashburger, and need it now, the odds are high that you’re ten minutes from a Shake Shack, and that the ShackBurger with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce will more than satisfy your craving." - willa moore, neha talreja, will hartman
"The O.G. location of Danny Meyer’s hit burger chain is this humble stand inside Madison Square Park. And while there are now locations scattered all over the city (and the world), there’s something special about the very first outpost, especially when the weather is nice. It’s hard to top the simple pleasure of a Shack burger eaten outside. On nice days, expect a long line, but it moves." - Eater Staff
"New York has many popular burgers, but Shake Shack’s Shackburger might very well be the favorite (though it’s faced backlash over how it handled new coronavirus-related small business loans). The chain remains open for takeout and delivery, with updates about temporary store closures posted here. The burger shop is requiring diners to place orders online or via the Shack Shack app and wait outside to get their food." - Carla Vianna
"Eating a burger at Shake Shack’s Madison Square Park location is a quintessential summer NYC activity. There are trees, lots of dog and human butts for your dog to sniff, and plenty of seat-yourself tables." - hannah albertine
"Shake Shack started as a seasonal stand in Madison Square Park in 2001. Two decades later, it has more than 400 locations scattered across the globe. It’s the rare example of a chain that’s managed to keep up quality while expanding rapidly. Lettuce, tomato, American cheese, and a squirt of Shack Sauce serve as supporting roles for one of New York’s most popular smash burgers. What these patties lack in char, they make up for in size: You’d be hard-pressed to find a burger with more beef for under $10." - Luke Fortney, Robert Sietsema
