Review: Shake Shack - K-Shack BBQ Burger

Shake Shack's K-Shack BBQ Burger
features a quarter-pound Angus beef patty (or two or three), American cheese, crispy-fried sweet onions, fresh scallions, and Korean BBQ sauce, served on a toasted potato bun.

I went with a double-patty version, which costs $14.29, but made use of the current BOGO deal.

Oddly enough, the Double K-Shack BBQ Burger brought to mind McDonald's McArch, which I tried (and reviewed) recently. Both burgers sport a half-pound of beef and a strong onion presence (both feature crispy onions, but the McArch has slivered white onions while the K-Shack contains scallions/green onions).

Perhaps getting the double patty was the wrong way to go, as the Korean BBQ sauce came in as a light touch here. The single-patty version might have been a better showcase for it. If you're thinking that the sauce would have more of a sweet and tangy bulgogi or American BBQ feel, you might be disappointed. The burger's Korean BBQ sauce was more of a savory sauce with a base of what I would guess to be fermented beans (but not spicy like gochujang). There were some mild sweet-and-tangy notes, but the sauce was mostly savory. It was nice enough, but I wouldn't call it a Korean BBQ sauce, as I don't think I've encountered a similar flavor at any Korean BBQ restaurant.

The beef was plentiful with a coarse grind and crispy crust. It was flavorful and juicy. The cheese was creamy and thoroughly melted.

The onions were sweet and crispy, adding another layer of crunch and flavor. The scallions were surprisingly robust in flavor. I'm used to them being milder, but they definitely punched about their weight here.

The potato bun was soft without much spring to it. It almost wrapped the burger's fillings as I was eating.

Overall, Shake Shack's K-Shack BBQ Burger was a well-executed burger with a premium feel in both taste and texture. That being said, it's quite expensive (I'm not sure I'd get it without a discount) and a bit weak on the Korean-style theme front (which really just amounts to the sauce and scallions).