With the arrival of Shake Shack from New York City, we decided to compare it with Dallas cult favorite, Twisted Root Burger Co., to rule which burger should stand superior.

Shake Shack

Address:  2500 N Pearl St.

Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

Stars: 4.5/5

Price: $$

Nestled in the heart of Downtown Dallas, Shake Shack, the New York City cult favorite that has over 100 franchises across the country, brings a mix of a traditional burger restaurant combined with an area for families and friends to spend quality time.

This family-friendly aspect was apparent as soon as I pulled up to Shake Shack. I saw little boys playing cornhole with their dads in the patio area and young adults chowing down on burgers while chatting and watching football. Once you walk in, there’s a menu on the wall with a plethora of different burger types, from the traditional ShackBurger to a Link Burger with sausage from Pecan Lodge.

I ordered a ShackBurger that includes Shake Shack’s signature sauce, crinkle-cut French fries and a vanilla milkshake. Out of all burger places I have ever been, this had the most relaxed atmosphere.

Within the first bite into my burger, the juices of the meat mixed with their specialty ShakeSauce to create a well-balanced combination of meat, vegetables and condiments. Unlike some restaurants, Shake Shack’s burgers are fairly small with a fluffy brioche bun surrounding the meat and savory sauce. But for lunch, this portion was the perfect size. While the burgers taste incredible, the milkshakes take the cake.

Considering that they have “shake” in their restaurant name, I expected the milkshake to taste good. Before this moment, I never thought a milkshake could change my life.

With the perfect ratio of milk to ice cream, I devoured the fluffy shake in under five minutes. I do not think that any vanilla milkshake can ever compare to Shake Shack’s.

Shake Shack is a place where you can grab a burger, throw some bean bags while playing cornhole, bask in the crisp fall weather and hang out with friends.

Twisted Root Burger Co.

Address: 7300 Lone Star Dr. (There are multiple locations across DFW)

Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Stars: 3/5 

Price: $$

Since 2008, the Dallas Observer has ranked Twisted Root Burger Co. as one of the best burgers in Dallas.

As soon as I walked into their location at the Shops at Legacy, I landed myself in a 20-minute line. While I went to eat there at 7 p.m. on a Saturday, I was not expecting such a long wait for my burger.

Twisted Root’s decor with mostly red is something that looks hodge-podged together from a mercantile. While this may be some people’s style, I did not find its mismatched feel as enhancing my overall dining experience.

Rather than giving your name to the cashier, Twisted Root picks out a celebrity’s name for you to get your meal. While they gave me teen pop superstar Hannah Montana, other names I heard included Tony Romo, Harry Styles and Dora the Explorer.

In order to replicate my Shake Shack experience, I ordered an All-American burger that consisted of two pieces of American cheese, some bacon, and a basket of fries. Once the basket arrived at my table, I picked up the burger, roughly the size of my head and dripping with grease, and took a hesitant first bite.

While Twisted Root’s burger was not bad, it was not the best burger I have ever had. Because of the plethora of grease, the bun was soggy and the melted American cheese hid the patty. Instead of eating a juicy burger, I felt more like I was eating a bucket of grease.

There’s no comparison between Shake Shack and Twisted Root. From In-N-Out Burger’s arrival to Dallas a few years to Shake Shack’s this year, out-of-town burger chains with cult followings should keep coming. The Dallas burger scene stands no chance against Shake Shack.

– Katie O’Meara – Photo/Graphics Editor –