Best place for a quick beer & snack before catching a train. Draft choices were Shack Meister Ale (Brooklyn Brewery), DC Brau "the corruption" IPA, Atlas Brew Works District Common and (lol) Abita root beer, about $6. Shake Shack cheese fries for $4 were good with a cold craft brew, but don't rush in for them, good only in comparison with cafe car food :). And don't try to dash in and out either, other Yelpers are right about the, uh, relaxed service here. read more

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Haven't been to Shake Shack before 10AM, and what a mistake that had been. Before catching our MegaBus at Union Station, we were looking for a quick bite. When we saw Shake Shack's breakfast sign, we quickly disregarded any other options. While service was not 100% the friendliest, it was early in the morning. We ordered 2 bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, which are also served on potato rolls. The eggs are fried-to-order (which takes a more time than the fast food joints across the way). Added with crisp bacon and melted American cheese, the sandwich is classic. These breakfast sandwiches are just the same melt-in-your-mouth goodness as their burgers. Paired with their fresh-squeezed orange juice and complimentary triple-filtered water, this meal was top-notch indulgent. read more

So here I am, walking over to Union Station for a quick bite to eat when I was afforded the opportunity to be one of the first customers to tryout the newly opened Shake Shack location at Union Station. Be prepared for a grand welcoming upon entering the establishment. The restaurant has both a downstairs and upstairs seating area. I highly recommend the ShackBurger, of course with fries, and a strawberry shake. The ShackBurger is essentially a cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce. If you are a fan of delicious, healthy 100% all-natural Angus beef burgers I don't think you will be disappointed. Looking forward to future visits. read more

Nothing out of the ordinary here. It's in Union Station so it's usually very busy (especially during lunch time). They have more seating on the second level (which is convenient). They are pretty good with orders if you order in person, but I tried ordering via their mobile app for pickup. I ordered, showed up 15 minutes later expecting my order to be ready for pick-up and they hadn't even started the order yet. When I asked an employee, he explained that "they don't start the order until you show up." But that's just like me standing in line and ordering. I didn't understand that at all. Either way, if you're looking for a burger, this is one of the few places in the area. It taste better than FiveGuys in my opinion. read more

I don't get it...it's just a burger (fast food, no less)...why all the hype? The first time I stepped into Shake Shack for lunch, I took a look at the line and nearly turned away. "Who waits in a line 30+ deep for a burger," I thought. After having stood in line long enough to get to the menu, I took a look at the prices and nearly bolted. "Who pays this much for a fast food burger," I thought. When I got my order, I took a look at the burger and was entirely unimpressed. "How do they get away with calling this tiny meat patty a burger," I thought. Then I took a bite, and all doubts melted away. My earlier condemnation of this incredible burger seemed almost blasphemous. The wait is worth it. The price is worth it. The Smokeshack is without a doubt the best burger that I've ever had, fast food or otherwise. (And I've learned my lesson: only doubles from now on; a single patty will just leave you wanting more.) 4.5 stars. read more

3.75 Shake Shack at Union Station replaces the "try to be everything to everyone" restaurant America. The food was never that great, but at least it was a full service restaurant with bar. Anyway, comparisons will obviously be made between this New York import and hometown favorite, Five Guys. They both cook their burgers fresh, never frozen, and prices are comparable: a Shake Shack double hamburger is $5.90 vs the $5.59 hamburger at Five Guys (also a double patty burger). The similarities end there. Five Guys offers free peanuts while you wait, a multitude of free toppings, and they give you more fries than those generous cups can hold. However, Shake Shack has the benefit of 1) having shakes and 2) having a license to dispense beer and wine (four drafts including two designed especially for Shake Shack by Brooklyn Brewery, and one by local brewer Atlas. But the kicker in my book? Shake Shack will cook your burger to order; my Shack Stack (burger and portobello) came out crispy on the outside and pink in the middle, just as requested. read more

I don't get it. I was so excited to try shake shack for my first time so went with a traditional order: The shack burger, a black and white milkshake and cheesy fries. In my opinion everything was super average, and something that I could have made at home easily for half the price. I didn't care for the "special sauce", which seemed to be the only thing that would set this burger apart. What I did like and appreciate was that the food was not greasy! The space is pleasant, and it seems the staff enjoy working for Shake Shack which makes the experience better. Overall, I do not see the hype and I'm not dying to go back. read more

Ordered a double hamburger and fries. It was anything, but a hamburger. The texture, color and flavor of the meat was completely off. Customer service could also better. Won't be coming back at Shake Shack. read more

FINALLY! A Shake Shack on the hill! I went yesterday, on its opening day and I was surprised at how composed the entire staff was and delighted by how friendly they were. Everyone was really helpful and in high spirits. In a location like Union Station, things can get really chaotic, but the staff is really well trained here. As always, I have to give the food at Shake Shack 5 stars because their burgers are amazingly juicy and who can turn down a frozen custard??? I recommend the MONU-mint concrete and the original Shack Burger. Be sure to check out their new shake flavors that change weekly. Great job Shake Shack! read more

This is one of the worst fast food places I've been too. It's all hype and no bite. The food is a small portion for a high price --and on top of that its always packed with tourists. If fast food is what you want, you can do better. read more

I have never been a huge fan of the shake shack setup, to be fair. The burgers are tasty, but not worthy of the pricing points. I do, however, like the option to grab some good beer (shackmeister ale is a decent craft option) with my meal and some tasty shakes. Unfortunately, the service at this location is abysmal. The cashiers just dont prioritize their job over whatever else they sre thinking about (yelling across the room to a fellow employee, chatting with a friend, using a phone, etc). Additionally, it always takes longer than I think it should to get a burger. Think of it. There are 2 different types of burgers, one shrimp burger, chicken sandwich and hot dogs. The combination of menu items is pretty simple. read more

Customer service was quick and friendly. Food was def fresh and tasty in which I'd highly recommend this location for a bite to eat especially after a day of site seeing and plenty of walking. Purchased th Shack Stack Burger and have no regrets when it comes to the calories! Favorite burger from Shake Shack! Next visit, I'll be visiting this location again! read more

Shake Shack Union Station - Shack Stack Burger with regular fries and a Coke - Burgers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've never been a blind disciple of Shake Shack, like it seemed everyone was when the first one came to DC. The burgers are pretty good but really, with all the burger joints out there today you can easily find the equivalent just about anywhere. Five Guys seems to have set the mold for this kind of burger joint. And there, you can get an equally tasty burger with fries and drink for a cheaper price than Shake Shack (if price is of concern to you). That said, there are some things to like about this particular branch. The union Station location is a prime one. It's on the main promenade (not in the downstairs food court ghetto). You can enter from directly in front of the train station or from the inside shops. Don't be fooled by the lack of seats in the main area where you order your food. There is a very sizable seating area upstairs overlooking the main corridor with a small lounge area and one or two TVs (in case you're not already distracted enough with your device of choice). As previously mentioned, the burgers are what you would expect from a burger joint these days. But the best news about Shake Shack at Union Station is that before now, you couldn't even get a decent burger there. That alone makes the Union Station Shake Shack a welcome edition. read more

I don't really understand about the rave on the shake shack burger. Aside from using Angus beef, the taste was no extraordinary that commands the price. The patty was bland. The only thing that is advantageous was the bread was sliced suddenly to catch the drip to reduce the mess. Over all, in and out would still be 100% better.. for me. read more

I'm one of those people that don't understand the big deal about Shake Shack - give me Five Guys any day. This new location just opened in Union Station, and has become instantly popular with the Capitol Hill crowd. Needless to say, this place is mobbed around Lunch and Dinner - fortunately the staff is pretty efficient and you won't wait longer than 15 minutes once you order (which can take a bit of time if you're at the end of that long line). But let's talk about the food. The burger toppings were really tasty, but the burger itself was mediocre at best. The patty was overcooked and left that fast food burger aftertaste in your mouth (you know - that aftertaste you get after eating one of McDonald's burgers). The fries were also subpar - they were a little soggy and cold. It may just be this location, but unless you're a Shake Shack fan, you can take a pass. read more

This location had a few hiccups in the days/weeks immediately following its grand opening, but they've appeared to have worked most of them out by now. Shake Shack has a good system of organizing customers in an orderly fashion, and with how their kitchen line is run, can get food (custards/milkshakes or burgers) prepared quickly. The upstairs is a nice touch because there is no inside downstairs seating (and therefore, those dining aren't being bothered by the those queuing), and additional seating is also available directly outside of the restaurant (although, the outside seating isn't reserved for Shake Shack customers only). Glad they've gotten their act together now (no more miscommunicated orders, faulty catsup pumps, or exposed drywall) because this is really the best food option at Union Station! read more

Ok - so for the folks on here that complain that the burgers are too small, go to Fuddruckers. They still server a 1lb frozen disk with no taste (aka burger patty) to stuff your face. Shake Shack is not a bigger-is-better burger. It is all about taste. For the West Coast In & Out fanatics - I have no idea how you crave that unholy slop called an In & Out burger - the taste of the Shake Shack patty is considerably better. As my good friend from Vegas described it, after many late (and drunk) nights, you really become conditioned to the taste. I get that. But don't compare a frozen unseasoned burger patty to the well-seasoned goodness that is Shake Shack. For those genuinely interested in the full Shake Shack experience I recommend that you go with the trifecta; the perfect combination of salt, sugar, and fat delivered in one sitting. That would be the Shake Shack burger (single or double depending on your hunger), the cheese fries, and a single scoop of frozen chocolate custard with a root beer to wash it down. You will thank me. Note: One slight disclaimer. I've eaten at a number of Shake Shack locations up and down the east coast. The one at Union Station is the most inconsistent (patties are sometimes overcooked, too salty, etc.). Recommend the one on F Street. (minus one star) read more

They were actually open after my bus arrived late. I was thrilled about that since I thought they were closed. The cashier was a little spacey and I had to fight to get my change back but eating the food after my long bus ride and starving to death was bliss. I savored those bites & ate my special DC concrete dessert (I forget what it was called). Keep in mind I live in NYC so we originated Shake Shack and I was long familiar with the brand before I got here. Unlike many NYC locations, there was ample seating & I could get water on my own in my own glass. I also didn't get sick eating the food here, as I typically don't (which is the difference b/t cuisine here & the fast food garbage though I wouldn't recommend eating this all the time for every meal). read more

July 3rd, 3:15pm First time here, I had to see what all the hoopla was about. Before I even got to the front I witnessed the woman who was giving out orders be VERY rude to another customer for misunderstanding the name she was calling out. "When it's your order your buzzer will beep OKAY?? MMMHM THANK YOU. " then why are you calling out names before turning on buzzers? This makes no sense. There was also an employee ordering food for herself, who was chit chatting with the cashier for quite literally five minutes. They were laughing amongst themselves wasting the time of people in a rush to get to their train. To top it off a regular shake (about 14oz.) is $5 and tastes no better than a shake from downstairs at johnny rockets. I won't be back. read more

I love this place. I really miss the restaurant space that used to be here. The shakes are delicious and a bit pricey. If you have friends visiting and you want a quick bite, this is a nice choice. Be prepared for crowds since it is a popular spot. All the milkshake flavors are wonderful. They change periodically. read more

Speedy service from the staff! The decor is nice and the place has a lot of seating downstairs and upstairs. The place is clean including the bathroom upstairs. The price point is a bit high but as to be expected for this type of fast food with your extra $$$ going to ambiance. I really do not understand why shake shack is compared so much to in-n-out. Other than the presentation of dine-in trays, I can't really see it. It is much more expensive and does not taste as good as an original burger from in-n-out. That being said, it does not make shake shack bad, just overpriced. The quality is good and lots of choices for flavor combos but unless my extra $$$ are going towards all employees making a living wage and receiving benefits I don't see why I should pay that kind of money for lunch. read more

Shake Shack Union Station - Burgers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

As a huge fan of Shake Shack, I am super excited to have another DC location for us to enjoy. This location in Union Station will be especially nice to have for my Amtrak trips to Philly/NYC! The restaurant is not located in the food court on the lower level- it's by the street level First Street entrance, in the same section as other fast-casual restaurants (Chipotle, Chop't, Potbelly, Roti). Service on the first day (6/23/14) was energetic and lively. There are two location-specific concretes on the menu: Busy Bee (which uses a local favorite, Baked & Wired), and Beaux-arts Banana (which also uses local Pollystyle graham crackers). I loved the Beaux-arts Banana, especially the homemade graham crackers, and I look forward to trying the Busy Bee concrete soon. The upstairs dining area is spacious and there are plenty of seating options - small tables, booths, small couches, and a long table for group or solo seating. With a delicious twist on classics (something about that potato bun and Pat LaFrieda burger patty, yum), there's something for everyone on the menu at Shake Shack! read more

I love Shake Shack! I do not usually eat at fast food restaurants, but this one is one of my favorites. I never miss a chance to make a stop for Shake Shack. I usually go when I am in New York, but I decided to give it a try here. What I love about this chain is their friendly customer service and their consistency. The burgers are perfectly seasoned for me, not too salty and not too greasy. Plus, the burger tastes fresh. Their crinkle cut fries were really good too! Their fresh squeezed orange juice is yummy too. read more

I've eaten at a few of the Shake Shack locations in NYC many times, but this was my first visit to the Union Station location. The restaurant has ample seating options and is 3 stories. There's al fresco seating outside and in the main lobby of Union Station reserved for Shake Shack diners if you want to people watch while you eat or track a train near the Amtrak screen. The menu has the same price points as other locations, and is just as extensive (even beer and wine!) I ordered the classic shack burger and a side of fries. Everything was delicious. I chose to go for double meat before my long bus journey and I was glad I did - this giant burger filled me up for the entire ride. Side note - if you order a fountain drink, you can get free refills the entire time while you're dining. I found this great to get another refill right before the bus. Clean location, friendly staff, and the same standard of excellent food we all love Shake Shack for. read more

I stopped here to get 5 shakes for our group before boarding our train. I got the black and white. I wasn't expecting it to taste so close to a McDonald's shake -- an aftertaste of slight starch -- the sweetness coming from maybe added syrup rather than real ice cream. At least that's what it seemed to taste like. Maybe it was really their custard with added flavorings. Ice cream shakes are colder to the taste as well. I was surprised that all 5 were piled onto a holder without any of them being marked on the outside. Impossible to tell the difference between the 4 different flavors by looking thru the opaque lid. Because they were all near white -- the strawberry a very pale pink; the caramel a slight slight beige, the vanilla being white, the black and white being just slightly darker in color. Pricey too, but I expected that at Union Station. It was busy and they handled our order within 15 minutes. Seemed like they're used to dealing with crowd surges. read more

I'm going to be the party pooper here. After hearing for what seems like forever how Shake Shack is going to kill McDonald's, Five Guys, and every local burger joint any day now, I went to the East Coast and ate Shake Shack. Five Guys has nothing to worry about. I ordered a pint of chocolate custard, a coke, fries and a Double ShackBurger. Total bill: $22-plus. The star of the meal was the custard. Smooth, rich and creamy, this is an excellent soft serve. It would be exceptional with a little cinnamon, but it's fine as is. Coke is Coke. You either like Coke or you don't, and this will meet your expectations either way. Cokes are served in the same pint cup the custard was in, so I consider it very expensive. They use frozen fries; apparently they tried cooking from fresh potatoes and the regulars started a riot. I notice they have a tap for mustard. Do DC residents dip fries in it? Now we come to the burger, and the reason they only get two stars: the thing tastes like an $8 grilled cheese sandwich! The Shake Shack burger is not massive - a Hardee's/Carls Jr Thickburger is larger - it is griddled rather than broiled or charcoal grilled, it's topped with utility-grade American cheese and very minimally dressed and it's served on a roll that any burger joint in America can buy. It's nice they buy ultra premium meat, but when the cheese drowns out the beef you have to wonder what the point is. And putting the word 'shack' in the name of EVERYTHING is cutesy but it gets trite quick. How would I fix this? Learn what pickles, onions and black pepper are, replace the griddle with a charcoal broiler, change to real cheese,, and find a meat vendor that'll sell larger patties for the price of the ones they're getting would be a good start. Bigger drink cups, strawberry custard, and lose the shack-shack-shack stuff. At the bottom I was asked if Shake Shack was good for groups. Well...matbe if they've eaten recently and you tie them together with parachute cord so they don't get lost in the crowd.. read more

I really enjoyed the burgers, the bacon cheese fries were ok. But the cheeseburger and the chicken sandwich were amazing. Topped off with an Ice cold beer and you can't go wrong. Next time I will try one of their ice cream soda floats or a shake. read more

Good burger but pales in comparison to any In n Out burger ever made, plus their prices are ridiculous. $7 for a single patty on a mini bun, really small Burger for the price. $40 for four single burgers, two fries, no drinks. Not worth it, won't be back. At least five guys gives you massive burgers for this price. read more

Ended up here because my bus was late. Fries were the best--so crispy they broke in half and hot. Burger had a garlicky flavor which I find pleasing. The big disappointment was the Chik n Shak which is supposedly organic chicken but the patty seemed like it was frozen, preformed and identical to other chicken "pieces." Could. not taste the buttermilk sauce and sandwich was filled with shaved lettuce. Had an unpleasant fried taste and texture--like it was made in same oil as the French fries. Could have been a Chick Fil A sandwich and not worth the indulgence. Crack Shack does this much better as a fast food treatment and it does not hold a candle to the Nashville hot chicken sandwiches that are cropping up all over LA at the moment. But I enjoyed my burger, fries--which are the raison d'etre of the business after all--and unsweetened iced tea! Just stay away from the chicken... read more

I've always thought Shake Shack was pretty overrated, but I will say that this location changed my opinion a little. My first Shake Shack experience was very unimpressive, so I wasn't thrilled about coming here when I did this time. My double Shack burger was very good this time, and the fries were so delicious. Still a bit overpriced for my liking, but it's worth it if you want a better fast food burger. read more

Shake Shack Union Station - Double shack burger and fries - Burgers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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These guys support the athletic community, and I want to support these guys for that reason. But I'll never eat here a burger or dog here again. As a Californian, I'm shocked that a yelper (probably not a Cali girl) compared this place to In-N-Out. T I thought the burger was small and greasy last time, so I ordered the portabello burger this time. I'm not sure why I expected anything better. It was a greasy, disgusting waste of money. The mushroom was tiny, battered and deep fried with some cheese, and slapped on a plain bun with a tiny sliver of tomato. On the plus side, there was plenty of seating. read more

Love shake shack but this location is terrible. My burger tasted worse than a McDonald's burger and they had like 15 fries out just waiting for orders even though there was no one there so I got fries laid out for probably hours. read more

I am not sure what all the fuss is about. I had a mediocre burger at a higher than reasonable price. There are a lot of better choices for this kind of meal and I don't seem to appreciate what is special about this place. One of our party did order a shake and she said it was good, but it was expensive and not particularly large. Sorry, I just can't jump on the hype bandwagon. read more

I have yet to come across a bad Shake Shack (though the crowded one in Times Square drives me batty and I avoid it like the Plague. Ha!) This was the first time I've been to a Shake Shack outside of NYC, actually; I purposely planned my bus down so we would get to Union Station before its 10 p.m. closing time; at 9:45, we did it with literal minutes to spare. YES! Their food is universally delicious, in my opinion, and here it was no different. The beau got a double cheeseburger, and I got my precious Chick'n Shack. Admittedly, it wasn't the best Chick'n Shack I had ever had, and I attribute it simply to being an odd piece of chicken breast. It was a little lopsided, so I was finished with the chicken before I really finished my sandwich as a whole; surprisingly, pickles, Ranch dressing, and a potato bun taste oddly delicious, especially after traveling for almost 5 hours. Ha! Props to Gabby who came up and spoke to us! (I take it she's a manager.) She was telling us how this Shake Shack has the largest square footage of any Shake Shack in the world, and it's one of the few that serves breakfast, which I have seen at the Grand Central location in NYC. She also cleared our trays for us when we were done, which was really too kind of her! Shake Shack can always save the day. It certainly did on this occasion! read more

Greasy finger licking good. There is a veg option. Dessert-hot chocolate, nice and sweet! Several seating areas, nice view on the second level. Foosball table and a shuffle board. Overall great for a quick bike or to sit out your delayed departure read more

I was very excited to finally try Shake Shack, especially after seeing Jim Gaffigan rant about it. This is one of the times when the experience did not disappoint. The service wasn't anything special but I kind of noticed this wherever I went in D.C. for some reason, it might have been due to the 4th weekend. Let's be honest, what matters is the burger, which was excellent. Even the bun, which should have melted due to steam in the packet they serve it in, tolerated the heat, steam and toppings just fine. Do yourself a favor and skip the fancy burgers get their classic with cheese. The shakes were a little on the thick side, although they lasted a long time, which worked in the heat. Definitely will be going back. read more

So the rumors were true. I've heard about how "great" Shake Shack is for years. Since we don't have any on the west coast, I had to try it. I ended up getting the SmokeShack which I was pretty blown away by. The burger had a great flavor, juicy, and had these great, tangy cherry peppers that added a little kick and acid to the burger. As a burger snob, I was actually quite impressed with the SmokeShack burger. I did try the regular ShackBurger, but it wasn't as tasty as the SmokeShack. The burger itself was a little bit tiny so I was disappointed in that and there are free refills on sodas but you have to bring the cup back up to the counter. What I thought was a bit funny was when I asked for a refill, they tossed out my old cup and put it in a fresh one. I assume it was for some health reason, but kind of defeated the purpose of a "refill" and I would have preferred not adding an additional cup into the landfill. In and Out will always be my number one, but Shake Shack does make a close second. read more

Having come from Washington with no In-N-Out or Shake Shack, I've got to say that both are pretty level in taste. I think they both have their unique properties. Particularly at this store, I ordered the Smoke Shack (double). And oh my goodness, it was one of the most delicious burgers I have had for a "fast food" place. The patty was cooked perfectly. There was some crispy burnt bits on the edges that made the patty taste so much better. The cheese was a perfect amount and bacon was thick and tasty. I also ordered the Red Velvet shake. I must warn you - a straw is useless. I could not suck anything out. No complaints though because a spoon works perfectly. The shake tasted delicious! It wasn't quite like a red velvet cake you would eat, but it has its own unique red velvet taste that I can't really describe. The fries taste good. You can never go wrong with crinkle cut! They weren't only and had just enough crunch to be satisfying. Overall, this is an experience that everyone must try when they come to the East Coast. Is it better than In-N-Out? I don't know. They each have their own merits. read more

Thank u Danny Meyer! I love this Shake Shack! The staff is always warm & smiling. The food comes out hot,.fresh and delicious! As a NYer i appreciate the missing long lines. I always stop here whn in DC. read more

The food is good but it's not worth the price. Burger, Fries, and soda $11-$13 per person. You can get just as good burger in the food court. read more