Wondering what the best fast food milkshake options are? Or are you simply looking for the perfect milkshake? Whichever it is, this is the list for you. To help you in your quest, we’ve compiled a list of chains offering the most delicious fast food milkshakes.
From traditional flavors like chocolate, strawberry, vanilla or a mix of all three, to more layered shakes filled with mix-ins and toppings, you’ll find your next favorite sweet shake treat in no time at all.
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- The 16 Best Fast Food Milkshakes To Order
The 16 Best Fast Food Milkshakes To Order
1. Shake Shack
First up on our list when it comes to the best fast food milkshakes around is Shake Shack. This New York-born gourmet burger joint specializes in delicious frozen custard milkshakes made with real, high-quality ingredients. It offers traditional flavors like chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, cookies and cream, as well as a special handspun black-and-white milkshake made of chocolate fudge sauce and vanilla frozen custard — a definite favorite for Shake Shack regulars. Unique limited edition flavors like frozen hot cocoa, maple snickerdoodle and birthday cake have also been released in the past.
2. Dairy Queen
Next up on our list is Dairy Queen. Along with classic milkshake flavors like hot fudge, cherry, caramel and more, it also offers occasional seasonal flavors like mint chip and banana. If you want caffeine thrown into the mix, try a signature MOOLATTÉ drink: each one is made by blending coffee with vanilla soft serve. All things considered, one of the best fast food milkshakes you can enjoy during any season is Dairy Queen’s decadently sweet frozen hot chocolate shake. The only thing better? Pairing your drink with something new from the Dairy Queen secret menu.
3. In-N-Out Burger
When it comes to the best fast food milkshake flavors, In-N-Out understands that you don’t need to mess with what works. In this case, what works is the chain’s tried-and-true recipes using real ice cream. In-N-Out offers three simple milkshake flavors familiar to us all: chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. Those who are a little more adventurous can ask to get the Neapolitan shake which is, as you may have guessed, a mix of all three. Grab something more savory off the In-N-Out secret menu and you’ll be good to go.
4. Wendy’s
Plan a visit to Wendy’s for one of the best fast food milkshake experiences yet. This beloved restaurant currently offers trademarked Frosty milkshakes in flavors like chocolate, strawberry and more. It also tends to release unique limited-time flavors like pumpkin spice and orange creamsicle throughout the year. The most iconic of them all is the Classic Chocolate Frosty. Many regulars stand by this airy, almost cloudlike concoction as one of the best fast food milkshakes around. Try it and you might just understand why the girl in the Wendy’s logo is so happy!
5. Five Guys
The next on this list of the best fast food milkshakes is from Five Guys, a well-loved burger joint. This chain offers hand-spun vanilla milkshakes with optional whipped cream and various mix-in toppings. These customizable toppings range from classics like chocolate, strawberries, Oreo cookie pieces, salted caramel and bananas to malted milk, cherries, peanut butter and even bacon — a great option for sweet-and-savory lovers. With so much possibility at your fingertips, it’s easy to feel inspired, so why not experimental with it? You’ll be sipping your dream drink in no time.
6. Chick-fil-A
No list of the best fast food milkshakes would be complete without Chick-Fil-A. This chicken sandwich joint offers milkshakes made with its signature Ice Dream base, resulting in a sweet treat like no other. The menu offers classic flavors, including the best fast food strawberry milkshake around. Seasonal flavors also show up throughout the year. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s nice to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures, and what could be simpler than a Chick-fil-A milkshake with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry on top?
7. Whataburger
No one does a unique milkshake like Whataburger, which has been doing it for more than 70 years. With a classically thick and creamy texture that makes them perfect for dripping fries into, this fast food restaurant’s classic milkshakes and toasty, smokey malted shake equivalents are well worth trying. The chain also releases seasonal flavors from time to time, including the much-loved Dr. Pepper flavor. That said,Whataburger’s classic vanilla malt shake is undoubtedly one of the best fast food milkshakes of all time.
8. BurgerFi
At BurgerFi, the ingredients are fresh and the milkshakes are refreshing. When choosing from one of the best fast food milkshake menus today, you have traditional options like chocolate, vanilla and strawberry as well as more unique and flavorful options like coffee mocha, birthday cake and sometimes even red velvet. It’s always worth checking in with your local outlet as these delicious flavors vary by location. Finish your drink with toppings like whipped cream and sprinkles and get set to enjoy one of the best fast food milkshakes available today.
9. McDonald’s
We can’t pull a list of the best fast food milkshakes together without mentioning McDonald’s! This global chain’s classic triple thick milkshakes come in classic flavors like chocolate, strawberry and vanilla, as well as seasonal and limited-time options like the mint green Shamrock Shake and, more recently, the berry purple mascot-themed Grimace shake. Made with soft-serve ice cream, optional syrup add-ons and a healthy dollop of whipped cream, it’s no wonder fast food milkshake connoisseurs remain loyal to this legendary spot. Simple is best, and McDonald’s has mastered it.
10. Culver’s
Culver’s is next on our list of the best fast food milkshakes. Like Shake Shack, this chain also offers delectable milkshakes made with a frozen custard base. Made in-house from scratch with real dairy ingredients, the custard gets whipped up and flavored. You can get flavors like classic vanilla, peaches, espresso, brownies, butter cake and more. Are you a fan of added mix-ins? If so, Culver’s has solid lineup of customizable Concrete Mixer drinks that’ll be right up your alley. If we had to pick a favorite, we’d say that the chain’s chocolate syrup milkshake is one of the best fast food chocolate milkshakes around.
11. Arby’s
Next time you’re at Arby’s, be sure to sample one of the best fast food milkshake menus around. The shakes here have a distinctly unique taste that sets them apart from the rest. Arby’s offers traditional flavors like chocolate and vanilla, as well as more complex seasonal flavors like orange cream. A popular favorite when it comes to the best fast food milkshake is the Jamocha shake, a blend of coffee and chocolate ice cream.
12. Oberweis
If you’re looking for something more niche on this list of the best fast food milkshakes, try Oberweis. With locations only in Illinois, Missouri and Michigan, crossing paths with this Midwestern dairy chain might be less convenient than usual, but it’s always worth it. It offers handmade shakes and malts in four traditional flavors, all made from only the highest-quality ingredients: chocolate, caramel, strawberry and banana. The smooth and creamy drink comes with a deliciously light topping of whipped cream and a sweet cookie for added texture.
13. Sonic
Craving a more retro drive-in experience with your fast food meal? Take a visit to Sonic to experience one of the best fast food milkshakes with a nostalgic spin. Sonic offers a comparably extensive menu of hand-mixed milkshake options, with three sections that include Classic shakes, Sonic Blasts and Master shakes. Classic shakes are traditional with no frills. Sonic Blasts feature more intricate combinations with ingredients like vanilla, M&Ms, Oreo pieces and more. Master shakes include premium flavors like strawberry cheesecake and Oreo peanut butter. Ponder your choices wisely.
14. White Castle
For a menu of the best fast food milkshake options around, especially one that’s fit for royalty, plan a visit to White Castle. This classic American fast-food hamburger chain was the first of its kind, founded in 1921. With more than a century’s worth of experience, it makes sense that White Castle’s traditional milkshake offerings stay simple yet strong. Choose from chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. The chocolate shake is one of the best fast food chocolate milkshakes around when it comes to a satisfying no-frills treat.
15. Steak n’ Shake
Next up on our list of the best fast food milkshake menus around is none other than Steak n’ Shake, an Illinois-based chain founded back in 1934. The chain’s hand-dipped milkshakes are worth the trip, with traditional flavor options like chocolate, vanilla, banana and strawberry as well as more complex options that combine Butterfingers, cotton candy, birthday cake and Nutella into a decadent and delicious treat. With so many options and a wealth of time-earned knowledge, at Steak n’ Shake, you’re sure to find one of the best fast food milkshakes available.
16. Johnny Rocket’s
If you ever find yourself on the West Coast, visit Johnny Rockets for one of the best fast food milkshakes available today. With a 50s theme, there’s no shortage of nostalgia to be found here. The hand-spun milkshakes are made with fresh ingredients like real ice cream, fruit and more. There are even non-dairy add-ins and vegan options! With original shakes that come in traditional flavors, including perhaps the best fast food strawberry milkshake in the country, plus deluxe shakes with all the classic fixings, you’re sure to be blown away.
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Whether you’re craving a hit of nostalgia or just trying to beat the heat, there’s nothing like slurping away on one of the country’s best fast food milkshakes. With countless chains offering their own take on the classic beverage, from traditional flavors to deluxe, fully customizable shakes, it’s almost impossible to choose a favorite. That’s not a bad thing, though, and after all, isn’t it reassuring to know that wherever you are in the country, one of its best fast food milkshakes is never far from reach?For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
