Shake Shack in Hong Kong – Because Taiwan Doesn’t Have One!

Is Shake Shack Avoiding Taiwan?

It seems like Shake Shack is opening stores around Taiwan, but not in Taiwan itself. Many neighboring countries already have a Shake Shack, yet Taiwan is still left out. Does that even make sense? Is there a reason behind this? Sigh! I still remember my first Shake Shack experience—it was in New York, USA. Back then, Shake Shack was only available on the East Coast, with New York being its main hub. Now, it has expanded to multiple countries, following a different strategy from the West Coast-based In-N-Out.

Shake Shack is considered a premium fast-food restaurant, with prices noticeably higher than other fast-food chains. Even though it’s not cheap, the crowds keep coming. I still recall the insane lines at the Shake Shack near Grand Central Station in New York. During my stay in Hong Kong, I spotted several Shake Shack locations but didn’t visit any, as I preferred to try local restaurants. However, on my way back to Taiwan, I passed by a Shake Shack at West Kowloon Station while heading to the Airport Express at Kowloon Station. Since I had plenty of time and hadn’t had breakfast yet, I decided to stop by and relive the taste!

Maybe it was still early, but there weren’t many customers—almost like having the whole place to myself. I even noticed a few groups of people checking the prices and leaving! Here, you can either order and pay at the self-service kiosks or go to the counter. The food preparation was a bit slow, considering the low number of customers. From what I remember, the waiting time used to be shorter!

The milkshake is a must-order. Shake Shack is famous for its milkshakes, and they are ridiculously sweet—in the best way possible. It’s hard to find this kind of rich, chocolatey, and smooth milkshake in Taiwan nowadays. Of course, it’s a calorie bomb, but that’s the fun of it!

If you eat beef, you have to go for a beef burger first. Then, you can try the chicken burger. Their patties are seared to perfection, giving them an irresistible aroma and a slight sweetness. The fried chicken is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and nothing like McDonald’s Spicy McChicken. The pickles add a refreshing contrast, and personally, I love pickles!

I didn’t order fries this time. Was it a shame? Maybe. Any regrets? Not really. I’d still recommend getting fries, though! I skipped them purely because I didn’t want to overeat, thinking I might grab something else at the airport later. Otherwise, fries would have been a must! As for the price—yes, it’s expensive, no doubt. Whether it’s worth it or not depends on personal preference, but it’s definitely worth trying at least once!