The Unexpected Reason You Should Get A Milkshake From Steak 'N Shake

Since its launch almost a whole century ago in small-town Illinois, Steak 'n Shake has grown to over 550 locations across 28 states, serving up their concept of a "better burger" (via Steak 'n Shake). With all of the burgers made-to-order, you can usually assume you'll be getting a warm, juicy burger — with no hormones, antibiotics, or preservatives — every time. And the fries? The perfectly crisp fries are made from freshly harvested potatoes, so it's a no-brainer to order a side of them with your meal. 

When it comes to milkshakes, that's a tricky one. The restaurant chain claims to serve over 60 million milkshakes every year, but how do they taste? We already know that their never-frozen, "smash technique" steakburgers and fresh fries are delicious, but how do their milkshakes rank among all the other choices out there? Thankfully, we found some data that analyzes which quick-service restaurant's rich milkshakes reign supreme.

With the word "shake" right in its name, Steak 'n Shake knows its milkshakes. The chain describes them as "hand-dipped with real milk and ice-cream," blended, and "topped with whipped cream and a cherry" (per Steak 'n Shake). And according to Taste Of Home, it's one of the best on the market right now. Against Burger King, Culver's, Dairy Queen, McDonald's, Shake Shack, Wendy's, and Oberweis, Steak 'n Shake came in second place right behind Oberweis for the best fast-food milkshake.

Why might you ask? Taste Of Home reported that Steak n' Shake's classic vanilla milkshake was "rich" and "topped with a hearty amount of whipped cream." For only $3.99, the milkshake was also a good size, making these treats a must-have every time you drive by a location. Additionally, Steak 'n Shake was actually the only quick-service restaurant surveyed that gave out environmentally-friendly paper straws. With millions of single-use plastic straws used and thrown out each day in the United States, and among the top 10 contributors to plastic debris in the ocean around the world (via Our Last Straw), the chain's paper straw choice really make their milkshakes extra delicious — well, that may not impact the taste, but it was certainly the cherry on top.