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The 12 Best Things to Order at Steak N Shake

Steak N Shake is a classic fast-food diner. Known for their steakburgers and skinny french fries, Steak N Shake was founded in 1934 in Normal, Illinois. However, their steakburgers and milkshakes are much better than your average fast-food joint, and we love to go there on the weekends! 

Steak n Shake Hamburger Store

If you’ve never been to Steak N Shake or just want to try something new, don’t worry: we’ve got you covered. We tried the whole menu, so you don’t have to. We even found the nutrition facts.

The shakes are all good, so they didn’t make it on this list (just pick your favorite flavor and trust that it will be delicious). 

Of course, some menu items are better than others. Shakes aside (if we could ever put the shakes aside), here are our picks for the best food at Steak N Shake.

From the classic Original Double ‘n Cheese Steakburger to the Frisco Melt, there’s sure to be something to catch your eye on this list. 

Original Double ‘n Cheese Steakburger

It’s hard to go wrong with the Original Double ‘n Cheese Steakburger. It’s what made the company famous—two thin steakburger patties and melted cheese, with the choice of ketchup, mustard, mayo, lettuce, onion, and pickles (sliced the long way).

With a soft drink and a side of fries, the Double ‘n Cheese is an excellent choice if you don’t know what to get. 

This burger is not so huge that it doesn’t fit in your mouth, but it is filling. The American cheese adds that classic diner taste.

Like all the burgers at Steak N Shake, the Double ‘n Cheese is made of high-quality steak and fried where you can see it. 


Bacon Cheese Fries

Of course, no burger is complete without french fries. While their thin and crispy fries are delicious on their own, you also get the choice of adding cheese.

If the cheese on top of your fries still isn’t enough, top it off with a side of bacon cheese fries. Think a loaded baked potato, but with fries instead. 

Of course, this is a delicious greasy mess of a side dish—it’s all in the name. Steak N Shake doesn’t tend to skimp with their melted cheese, so you might end up eating this side dish with a fork.

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The bacon bits melt right into the cheese and add a nice crunch. 


White Truffle Prime Steakburger

If you want to step up your game a little, head to the prime section of the menu. These steakburgers are made from prime cuts of meat, and you can taste the difference!

The White Truffle Prime Steakburger is a complete eating experience—you won’t regret living large and giving it a try. 

The White Truffle Prime Steakburger has the prime beef but goes even farther. The burger is topped with caramelized onions, swiss cheese, grilled mushrooms, and delicious truffle aioli.

Loaded onto a butter brioche bun, it’s the best of Steak N Shake. 


Patty Melt

The Patty Melt is a California classic, and Steak N Shake does it justice. If you don’t know what a patty melt is, it’s like a burger but on rye bread.

The Steak N Shake version has caramelized onions and melted American cheese. If you prefer regular bread to a bun, try the patty melt. 

I love Steak N Shake’s patty melt—I’ve always loved rye bread and hot sandwiches.

The combination of melted cheese, a classic steakburger patty, and caramelized onions do it for me—the Patty Melt and its cousin, the Frisco Melt (see later in the list) are both some of my favorite items at Steak N Shake. 


Classic Steak Frank 

Of course, you don’t have to get a cheeseburger at Steak N Shake. They have other meat options. If you love hot dogs, try their Classic Steak Frank. It comes with ketchup and mustard and is served in a bun. 

A Steak Frank with cheese fries will make you feel like you’re at a baseball game. Get the combo and upgrade to a milkshake, and you’ve got the perfect summer meal! If your kids love hot dogs, stop by on a Saturday or Sunday.

With every adult plate, kids eat free on the weekends! 


Frisco Melt

Other than the classic steakburgers, the Frisco Melt might be the most popular item on Steak N Shake’s menu. It’s a steakburger patty topped with swiss and American cheese on sourdough bread.

On top of all that, they top it off with their signature Frisco sauce—tangy and delicious. Once it’s all melted together on the grill, it’s a meal to die for. 

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One of the least healthy and most delicious items on the menu, The Frisco Melt is great if you love paninis and melts.

Patty melts were created in California, and Steak N Shake has put the western inspiration to good use. 


Jalapeno Crunch Steakburger

Craving a little spice to go with your burger? The Jalapeno Crunch Steakburger is everything the name implies: spicy, crunchy, and satisfying.

The meal starts with a regular steakburger and adds jalapenos, fried onions, chipotle mayo, fresh salsa, and pepper jack cheese. It’s an explosion of flavors. 

Be warned: the Jalapeno Crunch Steakburger varies in spiciness. Because jalapenos have a natural variation in heat, the burger can be anywhere from a little tangy to eye-wateringly spicy.

However, the pepper jack, fried onions, and chipotle mayo are consistently delicious. The flavor combination makes this burger a definite win. 


Chicken Sandwich

I’m going to be honest with you—this sandwich is not the best thing on the Steak ‘N Shake menu. It’s not because it’s not good; it’s merely because it’s not as good as a lot of the other burgers.

However, if you’re watching your weight or trying to be healthier, the chicken sandwich is a great option! 

The sandwich comes with a chicken, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. While chicken is not Steak N Shake’s specialty, they do a pretty good job with this sandwich.

It’s your basic diner chicken sandwich, but it doesn’t disappoint! 


Garden Salad 

The garden salad—whether the side or the whole—is one of the healthiest items on the Steak and Shake menu. A base of iceberg and romaine lettuce is topped with tomatoes, carrots, red cabbage, and croutons.

You can add or take off the shredded cheese and choose your dressing. You can also add grilled chicken!

The garden salad is a great option as a side if you still want a steakburger but don’t want all carbs. You can get a side salad (or the vegetable cup!) to make your entire meal a bit healthier. 


Western BBQ ‘n Bacon Steakburger

The Western BBQ ‘n Bacon Steakburger has a lot to offer, from two steakburger patties to strips of smoked bacon. It also includes onions and a double slice of American cheese.

The star of the show is the BBQ sauce, however. 

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Steak N Shake’s BBQ sauce is surprisingly controversial. Some customers can’t stand it and avoid the BBQ ‘n Bacon Steakburger at all costs. Others swear by it. I like it—it’s sweet and tangy, with just a little bit of spice.

You’ll have to try for yourself to see what you think of the BBQ ‘n Bacon Steakburger! 


Chicken Fingers

I’m not going to lie—I get the chicken fingers at Steak N Shake almost every time. It’s not that I don’t love burgers (I do). When I was a kid, we would stop at Steak N Shake on the way home from vacation.

I would always get chicken fingers, cheesy fries, and a chocolate peanut butter shake. Even now, it’s hard to resist that combo. 

The chicken fingers at Steak N Shake come in an order of three or five chicken tenders. They are breaded in a combination of flour, salt, and pepper, and fried to perfection.

They come with a dipping sauce of your choice (I always chose ranch, in case you were curious) and go very well with cheesy fries. 


Grilled Portobello ‘n Swiss Steakburger

The Grilled Portobello ‘n Swiss Steakburger is like a less fancy version of the White Truffle Prime Steakburger. It has the regular beef patties but adds the same grilled mushrooms and swiss cheese.

If you’d rather have a simpler, cheaper version, this is a tasty option as well. 

The Grilled Portobello ‘n Swiss doesn’t have a brioche bun—instead, it sports the regular burger bun. It tasted much less like a fancy dinner and more like a regular burger. For many people, that’s exactly what food at a diner should be.

If mushrooms and swiss are your thing, give this burger a go! 


Whichever menu item you end up choosing, you have to get a side of fries, chili mac, or just plain chili.

Of course, you can’t neglect the desserts menu because half of what Steak N Shake is famous for is their shakes! They have classic flavors—chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, banana—and premium flavors available. 

Steak N Shake remains an American classic. The restaurant chain has managed to capture the nostalgia of a fifties diner with the efficiency of a fast-food joint. Whether you get the White Truffle Prime Steakburger or the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, you’ll be happy you stopped at Steak N Shake.

2 Comments

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  1. This was a rare occasions tonight. The chance to order in does not come often anymore. But tonight I had the perfect excuse, my refrigerator was on the fritz. Because I love shakes, I decided to order from Steak ‘n Shake. What a disappointment. It was so bad that thought for instance that I must be confused and checked their Logo on the bag. The Bacon Cheese Steakburger was good but very small. Five Brothers was far better in so many ways. The fries were delicious, and I order a large, but cruel joke of nature the box was huge yet the perfect fries could barely peak out the top. For lunch I ordered Chili, assuming the risk. No surprise that the dish consisted of sponge-like worm size noodles way overcooked and topped with a ton of legumes and a few scraps of cheese. No thanks. This could not be karma – I refuse to believe that.

  2. We absolutely love Steak and Shake. We stick with the double steak burger but may venture out after reading this review.

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

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