Take a sneak peek inside Bangkok’s first Shake Shack

Photo: Porpor Leelasestaporn / Coconuts Media

By Porpor Leelasestaporn

Mar 23, 2023 | 1:38pm Bangkok time

The long wait will soon be over for an American burger chain’s long-anticipated entrance into Thailand.

Days before Shake Shack opens on March 30 on the ground floor of the Central World, we got a sneak peek at some of their classics and the special menu crafted for Thai fans.

Thailand’s 1st Shake Shack at CentralWorld set to open in March

The Burger

First, let’s begin with the main selling cards: the burgers. There has been a lot of buzz around this, we know, and we’re pretty sure that it will generate massive lines similar in scale to Krispy Kreme and other brands before them.

The classic Shack Burger (THB230 single/385 double) was great; the smashed thin Angus beef patty was crunchy, and with its sweet squishy potato buns — along with lettuce, tomatoes, hot sauce and mustard — the hype is no surprise.

Thinking about something to soak down the burger? Brooklyn Brewery’s Shack Meister Ale (THB290) is there for that.

The Smoke Shack (THB275 single/385 double) is perfect for bacon lovers. The smoked bacon shines over the smashed beef patty, while the tangly spicy cherry peppers lend some acidity to balance its richness.

Non-meat eaters can opt for the Shroom Burger (THB320). Though expensive for a non-meat option, you have to take your hat off to the fried, breaded portobello mushroom patty that explodes with melted cheese. It had a good crunch, but the interior leans toward wet rather than juicy.

Special menu

Shake Shack also occasionally does some locally inspired dishes, such as their gochujang-glazed crispy chicken breast burger in Korea. Their first venue in Thailand follows that trend.

Take the Pandan Sticky Rice Shake (THB230), for example. A twist on its classic shakes, the menu sees vanilla ice cream blended with palm sugar and rice milk and later completed with pandan jelly and Thai sweet, sticky rice. It’s sweet, no doubt, but also soothing in an inexplicable way. If you love Thai mango sticky rice and Thai pandan desserts, this is something you can’t miss.

Chocolate lovers — and followers of the popular dessert brand After You—will love the Shake Attack (THB190), a scoop of frozen custard blended with chocolate cream and topped with After You’s chocolate fudge and chunks of chocolate. It’s an impressive cheat day treat.