I tried nine fast-food chocolate shakes to find the best one for a standalone dessert, a dip for fries or as a drink pairing with burgers.
One of the best parts of grabbing a quick lunch or dinner at your favorite fast-food restaurant is that you can almost always walk away with some sort of frozen dessert to round out your meal. If the McDonald’s ice cream machine is actually working, who could turn down a McFlurry with a cheeseburger? And it’s almost impossible to go to Wendy’s without grabbing a Frosty to dunk your fries in. When tasked to rank the best fast-food chocolate shakes, I jumped at the opportunity. It’s a hard job being a food writer, but someone’s got to do it.
I sampled the following nine fast-food options:
- Arby’s
- Burger King
- Chick-fil-A
- Culver’s
- Dairy Queen
- Five Guys
- McDonald’s
- Steak and Shake
- Wendy’s
I ranked the shakes based on flavor, how chocolaty they were, the quality of the ice cream itself and value.
9. Burger King
Before even taking the first sip, I noticed that the shake didn’t seem properly mixed. I could see a swirl of chocolate syrup near the bottom of the cup, but the rest of the shake was only faintly chocolaty. The first sip confirmed my suspicions—this was simply vanilla soft serve poorly blended with a generic-tasting chocolate syrup. As for the ice cream itself, it wasn’t anything to write home about, and there wasn’t even an option to add whipped cream.
I did pick up two of the iconic Burger King crowns for my daughters on the way out, so I did leave with a smile knowing that this nostalgic freebie was still part of the experience.
Price: $4.19 for a medium (small wasn’t an option at the order kiosk)
Bottom Line: Given that there are many more fast-food chocolate shakes available, I wouldn’t take a detour to choose Burger King’s.
8. Dairy Queen
Since DQ is a national chain dedicated to all things ice cream, I thought its shakes would be perfected by now. Although this shake at least came with whipped cream, I wasn’t impressed.
Overall, it tasted about the same as any other chain where shakes aren’t an integral part of the menu. I suppose I expected a more elevated experience from Dairy Queen. In addition, the whipped cream adorning the top of this shake was my least favorite of all sampled. It was clearly from a can and had almost an oily mouthfeel. I did appreciate that Dairy Queen also offers options to make any shake a malt. I think that would have been a more flavorful experience.
Price: $4.29 for a small
Bottom Line: Next time I head to Dairy Queen, I’m going to stick with a Blizzard rather than ordering a shake.
7. McDonald’s
The McDonald’s chocolate shake I ordered arrived looking lovely with a nice dome of whipped cream on top. However, once I took that first sip, I knew those would be the best compliments I would find for this shake. Ultimately, it tasted quite typical and without any outstanding qualities. It was clear this shake was quickly blended from soft serve and the same chocolate syrup used at many restaurants. Although the whipped cream was impressive visually, there wasn’t much flavor behind the airy texture.
Price: $4.19 for a small
Bottom Line: I loved the speed and convenience of ordering a chocolate shake from McDonald’s, but it wasn’t tops in terms of flavor.
6. Arby’s
I am no stranger to Arby’s shakes. In fact, I have fond memories of walking around the mall in the ’80s and ’90s with freshly permed hair and a Jamocha shake in hand. This, however, would be my first time ordering the chocolate version.
This shake arrived with whipped cream that had an almost buttery taste. I thought that was just fine. In terms of the shake itself, I could hardly taste the chocolate at all. I could spot a faint swirl from the addition of chocolate syrup, but if I had sampled with my eyes closed, I would have guessed I had been served vanilla. However, I did appreciate the thick texture of the shake, and the ice cream itself was richer than other fast-food options.
Price: $3.79 for a small that felt more like a medium
Bottom Line: Arby’s makes a solid fast-food milkshake; I just prefer the coffee-infused Jamocha version to the plain chocolate option.
5. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A’s chocolate shake was one of the pricier ones I ordered for this taste test. I don’t mind paying a little more at this fast-food joint because its products are typically fresher and, in my opinion, of higher quality than at other places. That’s why when my order arrived, I was surprised that it was a bit melty and a little sloppy looking. Even though it arrived quite quickly, the whipped cream had already begun to wilt, and the cherry on top dripped maraschino juice onto the surface of the cup.
I have been a big fan of the seasonal peach milkshake for a while now, so I entered with high expectations for this chocolate option. However, the chocolate flavor was so weak, I had to peek under the whipped cream to make sure it was even chocolate. Maybe just a few more pumps of syrup and a little more attention to detail in the delivery and this shake could have ranked higher. The chain’s ice cream is consistently delicious, so I have hopes there is room for improvement on subsequent trips.
Price: $5.09 for a small
Bottom Line: Chick-fil-A often hovers near the top of my fast-food rankings, so I was surprised to find I wasn’t as impressed with its chocolate shake.
4. Wendy’s
Wendy’s french fries are tops in my book, and dipping fries in a Frosty is one of the best fast-food pairings around.
An argument can be made that a Frosty isn’t technically a milkshake, but then, according to the official rules, neither are others on this list. However, this thick, frozen dessert is so legendary in the fast-food world, it certainly needed to be included. I was happy that I could both see and taste the chocolate flavor here. It’s interesting to note that my Frosty was delivered to me with a spoon rather than a straw. This is perfect for the first half of the dessert, but I still would like a straw to suck up the second half after it has had a chance to melt a bit.
Price: $2.49 for a small
Bottom Line: You are never going to go wrong with a Frosty. However, if you’re craving a true milkshake, there are others on this list that might be more your speed.
3. Culver’s
As a Midwestern girl, I’m never going to say no to a trip to Culver’s. The service is great, and if the meal were served on a plate with shiny cutlery and a cloth napkin, you’d think you were at a sit-down restaurant, not a fast-food place. When I ordered the shake at Culver’s, it was the first time I was given a choice of ice cream. Here I could choose vanilla mixed with syrup, or I could start with a chocolate base. After so many disappointing chocolate flavors, I was ready to be wowed. Therefore, I doubled down on the chocolate, and I was so glad I did.
It’s important to note that the ice cream treats at Culver’s are technically custard-based. That means there is a higher butterfat content and egg yolks added to the farm-fresh dairy blend. The result is a level of richness that needs to be tasted to be believed. Of course, my chocolate shake from Culver’s was delicious. It was outrageously thick and definitely could only be enjoyed with a spoon.
Price: $4.99 for a small
Bottom Line: A decadent, silky chocolate shake from Culver’s is undoubtedly a winner, and it was the most chocolate-forward of the bunch. It just seemed to qualify more as a spoonable dessert rather than a sippable beverage to enjoy with a meal.
2. Five Guys
The milkshakes at Five Guys include whipped cream (if you so desire) as well as free mix-ins of your choice. There’s strawberry, salted caramel, peanut butter, banana, Reese’s cups, chocolate, Oreo creme, Oreo cookie pieces and even bacon.
I watched my hand-spun milkshake being made right before my eyes, and the real ingredients resulted in a thick and creamy shake that blew the automated machine-made options out of the water. The flavor was chocolaty without tasting syrupy and fake, like so many others, and the texture was the ideal balance of sippable yet rich and thick. The whipped cream was delightful, but a little deflated. A small thing in an otherwise delectable drink.
Price: $6.99 (one size only)
Bottom Line: I had to follow my own rules and order a plain chocolate shake at Five Guys, but I am definitely coming back to add some of those mix-ins next time. You won’t be disappointed with a Five Guys shake; there was just one more that stood out to take the top spot.
1. Steak and Shake
When the shake arrived at my table, I was sold. When dining in, the shakes are served in a chilled, old-fashioned-style glass with ice crystals on the side melting just enough to let you know you’re in for a treat. The whipped cream was piled high, and the cherry on top was placed with care. I couldn’t wait to dive in. Those folks seem to have thought of everything here at Steak and Shake because even the straws are crafted for the perfect experience. They are extra-wide to allow the thick shake to be sipped without the straw collapsing. The whipped cream tasted homemade, the flavor was chocolate-forward without being too syrupy, and everything was perfectly blended into a rich texture that just can’t be beat.
Price: $4.99 (discounted to $2.73 during happy hour on weekdays between 2 and 4 p.m.)
Bottom Line: Grab your poodle skirts and letterman jackets and head to Steak and Shake for a hand-crafted, old-school milkshake experience that is worth the trip. Even better if you grab two straws and share it nose to nose with someone special.
What is your favorite fast-food chocolate shake? Let us know in the comments below!
