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Farewell, Yo Sushi. Hello, Shake Shack!

In a bittersweet farewell, I was disappointed to lose Yo Sushi at the Lion Yard. It was never the most inspiring of sushi joints but I have many fond memories here with my son. Trying to catch the food on the conveyor belt was the closest thing I got to hunting my own food but change is inevitable and with this change comes Shake Shack.

This American import, which began as a small stand in New York’s Madison Square Park, has finally arrived in Cambridge, bringing with it a reputation for responsibly sourced burgers and milkshakes.

Shake Shack aims to be more than just a fast-food joint, emphasising a “people-first culture”, recycling, and “community enrichment” by donating 5% of profits to local charities.

All very admirable, but how good is the burger and does all this ethical sourcing come at a higher price? I was delighted to accept an invitation from the team to find out, especially given the glowing reviews I had heard from other food bloggers.

The Restaurant

Stepping into the restaurant, the humidity outside seemed to have followed everyone in. The place was busting with tired, sweaty customers patiently waiting for their food. For those familiar with Yo Sushi, its bright, glass walls were still present with much of that open plan light-filled space now dedicated to Shake Shack’s kitchen, leaving less seating. Despite this, I was able to grab a table, as most orders were for takeaway. My food arrived quickly but after chatting with two ladies at the till, they had told me that they had been waiting 13 minutes.

The Menu

Shake Shack’s menu is, as expected, burger-centric, complemented by chicken bites, crinkle-cut fries, a single vegetarian burger, and a range of hand-spun milkshakes. What truly caught my eye, however, was the drinks selection. Not only did they offer wine but two craft beers were on draft. This felt remarkably sophisticated for a fast-food chain, and £6.45 a pint for the dead centre of Cambridge felt reasonable.

Prices were noticeably cheaper than other comparable restaurants, like Five Guys, a chain I have long had beef with over their cost to quality ratios.

Fun fact: You can buy dishes for your doggies with “Bag O’ Bones”, a doggie bag of 5 red velvet dog biscuits.

Let’s get to the good stuff, shall we?

My guest and I ordered a burger each, along with chicken bites, their chipotle cheesy fries, and a couple of milkshakes.

• Shack Burger – Cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce

• Smoke Shack – Cheeseburger with applewood smoked bacon, chopped cherry peppers, and ShackSauce.

• Chipotle Cheese Fries – Crinkle cut fries topped with chipotle cheese sauce, cherry peppers, bacon and spring onion

• Chicken Bites – Crispy, hand breaded 100% chicken breast, served with honey mustard or BBQ

• Vanilla and a Cookie Cream hand-spun milkshake

The Burgers

The burgers arrived beautifully presented, a pleasant surprise for a fast-food restaurant. My Shack Burger was particularly striking, bursting with vibrant colour and an undeniable freshness from the tomato and lettuce. It was one of those rare instances where the burger actually looked as good as the picture.

Both burgers were soft and juicy with a great flavour, likely credited to the grass-fed beef and their own brand of Shake Snack sauce (1/2 mayo, 1/4 ketchup, 1/4 dill relish). I noticed a slight mustard-esque taste to their signature sauce that was very welcome, as it gave a subtle spiciness. The cheese was melted throughout the burger, adding a lovely gooeyness to the bite. The burger size was about what I would expect for a fast food double.

Fun fact: Emergency Workers get a free burger with every burger ordered (just show your ID).

Chipotle Cheesy Fries

Unexpectedly, the chips were the true highlight of the meal. Shake Shack’s preference for thick crinkle-cut chips added a playful touch to the presentation, that was complimented further by a portion of generously loaded chipotle cheese sauce, cherry peppers, bacon, and spring onion that combined together to create a vibrant and colourful dish.

The chipotle cheese sauce was absolutely incredible and I highly recommend it, but the real surprise was the cherry peppers, which introduced a fruity dimension to the flavour. The chips were invigorated by the crispy bacon and fresh spring onion that made the burger surprisingly crispy and complex. It almost felt too extravagant and delicious for a humble fast-food plate of chips!

Regrettably, I didn’t get a good photo of the chicken nuggets but they genuinely impressed me – as they actually tasted like chicken!

I know that sounds obvious but when was the last time you had a nugget from McDonald’s, Burger King, or another major fast-food chain that genuinely did? These were large, surprisingly juicy and with a thin crispy coating that was mildly spiced. And though they won’t be winning any awards, they were undoubtedly the best fast-food chicken nuggets I have ever had.

Hand-spun milkshake

Shake Shack’s milkshakes are all hand-spun and so incredibly thick that your straw stands permanently upright. It took some real sucking to get the milkshake through but that extra hard work made it taste that little bit sweeter.

My sister chose vanilla, while I opted for the cookie ‘n’ cream. Both were excellent but between the two, the cookie ‘n’ cream was my favourite because it was utterly packed with large chunks of cookie that, despite occasionally getting stuck in the straw, added a fantastic crunchy texture and sweet pops of flavour.

Genuinely the best fast food I have ever had!

Having heard plenty of positive buzz from fellow foodies, I arrived at Shake Shack with high expectations but I certainly wasn’t prepared for the impression it left. Everything about my visit felt a cut above the rest. Crucially, despite their admirable charity work, recycling efforts, and worker-first policies – things that often lead to inflated prices – their offerings weren’t outrageously expensive. It truly shows that fast-food chains don’t have to be ruthless, money-hungry corporations and can contribute to their local community while still providing a reasonably priced, convenient, and, frankly, pretty damn good meal. My fast-food experience might not be as extensive as some but as it stands, Shake Shack is now my favourite chain.

I’ll definitely be back!

Thanks for reading.