Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
The New Shake Shack Chicken Sandwich: A Preliminary Review
By
Nell Casey
Published Jul 7, 2015
Modified Jul 7, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Ben Miller / Gothamist
View all 7
By
Nell Casey
Published Jul 7, 2015
Modified Jul 7, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Today begins the era of the ChickenShack, Shake Shack's first foray into sandwiches that (formerly) clucked. The Brooklyn-only sandwich—that's some borough othering, SS!—went live at 11 a.m. and I headed over to the DUMBO location to try it. Things were calm at the 11 a.m. opening. So calm, in fact, that Shake Shack team members were in Peak Hype Mode trying to drum up excitement over the new sandwich. One guy gave me a high five so hard my hands hurt for several minutes. Respect.
Besides overly enthusiastic team members, there are signs for the sandwich...everywhere. At the front of the lines, on the menu, multiple signs at the registers. If someone practically screaming in your face didn't clue you in, the deluge of signage will. And after you order said sandwich, someone will also tell you that there's a survey about the sandwich at the bottom of your receipt. Or, you can wait for a team member bearing an iPad to circle your table while you eat and prompt you for your opinions as you chew the final bite.
Bottom line: they're excited about the sandwich and frankly, they should be, as they've got something really great on their hands (and in my belly). In direct contrast to the bun-eclipsing chicken from Fuku, the plump breast neatly occupies the boundaries of the potato bun, ensuring even chicken distribution. Said breast comes encapsulated in a crunchy, peppery crust that's heavy on the golden brown characteristics. Inside, juicy breast meat, perhaps the result of a brining process behind the scenes.
(Ben Miller/Gothamist)
As far as comparisons to traditional fast food go, this sandwich most closely resembles the Crispy Chicken Sandwich from McDonald's, but with a few key differences. First, Shake Shack goes with shredded lettuce over the full leaf, which means more even distribution of greenery. Second, their mayo component is redolent with herbs like thyme, parsley and perhaps some dill, adding a cool, ranch-like flavor to the sandwich.
Pickles, too, add great crunch and a little bit more moisture to each bite. And finally, there are no tomatoes, which some may say is an abomination but in my opinion the addition of tomato would have sent the sandwich into soggy territory. You're better off without it.
Some other important things to note:
- You can only order six sandwiches per person, presumably 'til they get used to making high volume amounts of sandwiches.
- For the first time ever, there are bottles of hot sauce in the condiments section. They're for use on the sandwich—though it'd probably be pretty tasty on some cheese fries, too—but honestly: you don't need it. I'm a hot sauce fiend and put it on everything but I didn't think it added anything.
- The sandwich stayed hot for quite a while before I bit into it at the Shack and other Gothamist staffers report that the sandwiches brought back for them also stood up better than the burgers. Perhaps this is finally the hack for to-go Shake Shack?
With Ben Miller
Tagged
chickenshack
fried chicken sandwich
shake shack
original
Nell Casey
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Oct 10, 2026
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .