Bottom Line: The Spicy Shackmeister could be a little higher on the heat, but Shake Shack always delivers an excellent burger.
Shake Shack is a fast-casual restaurant spreading across the country that is acclaimed for its gourmet burgers and shakes (it makes a pretty mean chicken sandwich as well), and it has been known to spice things up from time to time. Last year around this time the chain teamed up with Hot Ones, unveiling several spicy selections (read more about those here). And now it has a new “Hot Menu” for Fall 2023 that includes a spicy burger, chicken sandwich, and fries. I have had more than my fair share of chicken lately with restaurants preferring to kick up the poultry over other proteins, so I decided to give the burger a try.
Referred to as the Spicy Shackmeister, the new, kicked-up burger comes with a 100% Angus beef patty, American cheese, a dusting of their signature hot pepper blend, crispy onions, chopped cherry peppers, and ShackSauce all sandwiched within a toasted potato bun. You can get this as a single (which is a quarter-pound patty) or a double (you do the math).
Shake Shack does some pretty good burgers, so you know they have the basics covered going in. In addition to a well-seasoned piece of meat which is cooked just right, you get a good taste from the peppers and crispy onions right away. The peppers deliver a nice tang and I seem to note some roast pepper taste in there, though that could be coming from the seasoning. The onions maintain their crunch and add some nice texture to the burger. The ShackSauce (basically a Thousand Island type of sauce) brings some creaminess and a bit of sweetness. The American cheese adds to that creaminess along with just a hint of sharpness. The potato bun does not really stand out, but it holds everything together well and does not detract from the experience.
As for the heat . . . this is definitely not comparable to the Hot Ones burger from last year. At best, the Spicy Shackmeister gets to Mild on my scale, although a few bites were a bit hotter, perhaps where the seasoning got clumped up. I will probably ask for extra seasoning next time, hoping that will kick things up some more.
Overall, this is still an excellent burger, and the little bit of a kick is nice. My only complaint is that it is somewhat pricy for the size. The single will set you back $8.59 in my area, and an order of fries will get you over thirteen bucks with tax. Add on a drink and you are starting to get into Five Guys territory, which is not good for your wallet. Of course, you are getting quality ingredients and one hell of a good burger, so the splurge is worth it once in a while. But it sure would be nice if they would give some sort of combo discount to keep the meal cost down.
Shake Shack does not give the full nutrition breakout for their limited items, but the calorie total for the burger is 660. That’s actually not bad for a gourmet burger, but you better plan on splitting those fries, especially if you get the ones from the Hot Menu. A regular order runs 470 cals, and the Spicy Fries with Ranch top out at 630 cals. If you eat those with the burger, you better plan on doing some penance in the Gym.
The Hot Menu is limited time only just like last year’s spicy selections. As mentioned above, they also have a chicken sandwich, and I may get around to trying that but I already have several other poultry sammies on my to-do list. My guess is that these spicy items will stick around for a couple of months, but don’t wait too long in case they get shipped back to Limited-Time-Only-Ville sooner rather than later. You can look for a Shake Shack near you at their website.