Recently, Shake Shack added some Korean offerings to their menu: Korean BBQ Burger, Korean Style Fried Chicken Sandwich, and Spicy Korean BBQ Fries, with or without cheese. Recently, I also signed up for marketing emails from Shake Shack to see if there were any special promotions or offers.Right off the bat, I was given a promo code for $5 off a purchase of $15+ that would expire in 30 days. The code would only work on the Shack app.A couple days before I placed my order, I looked at the menu to see what I could get for $15. When I saw the menu on my phone one time, I saw the Korean menu items, but when I saw the menu on my computer at a later time, I didn't see the Korean menu items. I thought I was going crazy! However, I later found out that the specialty Korean offerings were only available through the app. And since my promo code would only work in the app, it only made sense to order a Korean burger/sandwich plus some fries.The Fried Chicken Sandwich was a half dollar more than the burger, but that half dollar was a big difference in deciding between the two. In conjunction with the Spicy Korean BBQ Cheese Fries, the sandwich would have gotten me over $15, but I would have been two pennies short of $15 to qualify for the $5 off had I chosen the burger. The fries come with kimchi seasoning, cheese sauce, and Korean BBQ sauce on the side. However, in the app, you can customize your order to have the cheese sauce on the side as well, and that's what I did because I wasn't sure if cheese and Korean BBQ sauce would make a good mix.For the burger, it was like a regular cheeseburger, but the sauce would be that same Korean BBQ sauce. I'd already have Korean BBQ sauce with the fries, so that's another reason why I went the chicken sandwich route where the chicken is coated in a spicy and sweet Gochujang glaze. There are also sesame seeds and white kimchi slaw in the sandwich.When I placed my order, I was allowed to specify a pickup time of ASAP, between 5 and 10 minutes, or 40 minutes. Nothing in between? Seemed like they were taking a page out of Papa John's book, IYKYK. I live within 40 minutes of this Shake Shack, so I chose the shortest non-ASAP pickup time.I arrived a few minutes early, and I was expecting to wait a little while longer for my order to be ready. An employee greeted me, and I told him my name for pickup. To my surprise, he went to the nearby pickup counter and handed me my takeout bag, which has two elliptical holes on top for ease of carrying.I asked for some utensils and napkins before departing. I sat at the outdoor patio where they had a couple stacks of Jenga blocks as well as a Connect 4 game that can keep the kiddos occupied. The tables were pretty clean, and I would imagine they're kept clean throughout the day as I witnessed an employee wiping down the tables while I was eating.Inside my takeout bag was a cardboard box that was as wide as the bag, so I couldn't get that cardboard out without damaging the bag. Instead, I grabbed the box of fries and the two sauces on the side to enjoy them first.As I mentioned before, the fries are topped with kimchi seasoning, but you won't really taste it when you dip them in either of the sauces, which I unfortunately have to say Shake Shack focuses on quantity over quality here. While the sauce cups were generous in size, the taste of each was not prominent at all. I don't remember what Korean BBQ tastes like, and after finishing the sauce, I still don't remember. The cheese was also disappointing as it paled in comparison to queso and/or nacho cheese. I think Taco Bell does this cheese thing better than Shake Shack. While the fries were nice and crispy, the underwhelming sauces left much to be desired.The chicken sando was also underwhelming. I've had Korean Fried Chicken before, and this one just didn't cut it for me. Quantity-wise, it was kind of small for the price point, almost $10 before tax! And the taste of the chicken was about as comparable as the taste of the sauces that went with my fries. I definitely didn't hate it, but I'm certainly not paying full price for that sandwich again. I doubt I would have liked the burger better, if at all.Overall, just okay, and I'm keeping my rating of 3 stars. It could have been *a lot* better, and I still wouldn't recommend Shake Shack as a whole, especially for the price point. I don't foresee a return visit unless I get another generous offer, like maybe a free shake with any purchase.
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"A really nice local spot! I always go for the Nashville Hot chicken tenders and they always come out great. I like that they're actually spicy! The service is always great and the team that works there are always very kind. I enjoy that they have an outdoor patio in addition to indoor seating. One of my favorite spots in Cypress"
"If you're like me and want a little of everything, the flight is your best option. There are such unique and innovative flavor combinations.1. SaltedPistachio Brittle: nutty and balanced by the salt without being too sweet2. Honey Lavender: A surprising favorite among my family for its creamy herbal flavor3. Cherry Amaretto Chip: For the Cherry Garcia fans4. Triple Chocolate Chunk Brownie: playing it safe, but rich and creamy with generous brownie chunks"
