Crowds descended on the new burger place Shake Shack, the first in Israel, on Tuesday. The latest chain from Uncle Sam opened its first location on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv. Now, after years of having the social media and news outlets drip-feed us that Shake Shack's hamburger is the best in New York, it was clear that the launch would draw throngs of people willing to stand in line for an hour and a half just to taste the famous hamburger after its aliyah to the Holy Land.
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Just like everyone in line, we were excited and waited in anticipation, and when it was our turn the very courteous staff welcomed us. Those interested, by the way, can also order from a self-service kiosk.
The menu in Israel, like the one in New York, is divided into burgers, hot dogs, shakes and Shack ice cream, fries, and also Tel Aviv Specials – a category that includes the pistachio shake.
Those who want to enjoy the sun can also order cocktails, wine, or beer and head out to chill at Dizengoff Square nearby.
Although the place is not officially kosher, the meat is halachically slaughtered and you can tailor the burgers so that they do not have cheese and replace the chain's iconic dairy bun with a kosher one.
The moment of truth arrived
You can follow your order on the screen. A text message will be sent to your mobile when the food is ready.
To the credit of the fast food chain, despite the immense crowds, the five-course meal we ordered was ready after only eight minutes.
First, we tasted the chain's flagship burger, the "Shackburger". It came with "Shack Sauce", tomato, and frilly lettuce. "The beef in our burgers is 100% Angus, with no hormones and no antibiotics," it says on the menu, but the vibe we got from the very first bite makes you understand what mass production is.
The thin patty was dense, slightly chewy, and to be honest – lacked real taste. The bun was mushy and slightly sweet, and the vegetables were crisp. But even in the constellation that includes all the ingredients and in the kosher version, unfortunately, we did not enjoy the juicy, dripping burger that our taste buds had been waiting for months since the first announcement of the chain's arrival in Israel.
The second dish we tried was a beef hot dog, to which we added fried onions, pickles, and Shack Sauce. We enjoyed the meaty, savory, and slightly fatty flavor of the hot dog. Overall it can be said that it was a quality product. The fried onion coated in breadcrumbs was fatty and soft and did not provide the crispy contrast we were hoping for.
The fries were another bright spot in the meal. Thinly cut and crispy french fries, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, apparently made from the right potatoes and served hot. But with all the waiting for escapism from abroad, the highlight was the Tel Aviv shake. Vanilla ice cream shake with pistachios and halva crumbs, pistachio pieces, and slightly salty honey. Creamy textures blended with crisp ones in the mouth, and the sweet, nutty flavors of pistachio and mocha in the background blended into a celebration that ended the meal nicely.
After all the hype, TikTok videos, and prolonged anticipation, it's hard to determine but certainly possible to wonder if Shake Shack will be very successful in Israel alongside competitors like McDonald's, Burgeranch, and Burger King. The Israeli palate is already used to high-quality burgers and pop-ups prefers egg yolk and truffle mushroom toppings, loves strong flavors, but is also open to much more.
Whether the person who brought Shake Shack to Israel is a genius or a fool, we'll probably only know over the years. At least 15 branches are slated to open here in Israel by 2033 In our opinion, by the way, In-N-Out is the best chain in the US. We're waiting.
