Review: Shake Shack - Fried Pickle Dog and Chili Cheese Dog

I recently tried Shake Shack's Fried Pickle Dog and Angus Beef Chili Cheese Dog because they're running a two-for-$8 deal on them.

The Fried Pickle Dog features a butterflied and grilled Vienna Beef hot dog topped with cheese sauce, three crispy fried pickles, and chopped applewood-smoked bacon. It's $7.99 for one, as is the chili cheese dog, so the deal amounts to a BOGO for me.

The bun was soft and plush, and I could taste the grilled butter on it. The hot dog was tasty and meaty. I liked that it was longer than the bun.

The pickles provided a lightly seasoned, tangy flavor to go with a light crispiness and a watery crunch. It felt a little shoehorned in with the cheese and bacon and may have been better served with a drizzle of ranch instead. The cheese was thick, creamy, and rich, while the bacon offered a nice smokiness and a balanced mix of soft and crispy textures.

The Angus Beef Chili Cheese Dog came topped with cheese sauce, Angus beef chili, and a mountain of crispy-fried onions. The toppings may have been a little too much for the bun, as it split at the seam. The hot dog, cheese, chili, and onion combination is a classic one and went great together here. Additionally, the fried onions double as a side.

The chili was thick and very meaty with a slight kick to it, while the plentiful fried onions offered light seasonings and a slightly caramelized onion flavor.

Between the two hot dogs, the Angus Beef Chili Cheese Dog was the definite winner for me. Not sure I'd pay $8 for it though.