There is something special about milkshakes. You can’t drink a milkshake in a bad mood - I challenge you to drink one while upset, it’s like riding a jet-ski with a frown - impossible. So, where do we get these wonderful mood-changers around the ‘hood? Hopefully, this post will help you out. I’ve split them into types, in case you have a preference for flavor.
A Note on Judging
This one is pretty straight-forward. There are only two categories I will be judging on: 1) Thickness and 2) Flavor. For thickness, I base it on how many pulls from the straw I need to get it up to my mouth. Also, how long it stays on my tongue without running off the side. For flavor, its all about natural flavors, nothing abnormally strong or fake tasting. I want quality ingredients (usually real fruit, for example). That’s it! Let’s get to it!
Vanilla
#4 Cafe Footloose
A single option for this place, the vanilla is very milky. It comes with an Oreo cookie in it, and since the vanilla was lacking, I crushed up the cookie for a makeshift Oreo shake. Not worth the price - 10.
Scores: Thickness - 6 Flavor - 6
#3 Burger B
This standard milkshake is pretty good. It isn’t too thick (two pulls) and isn’t too strong on flavor though. It has a more watery disposition to it than the others. Price: 7.5
Scores: Thickness - 7 Flavor - 7
Brooklyn's Vanilla
#2 Golden Burger Republic
This shake comes in a traditional tin (though only half full) and takes a good three pulls in a thick straw. It has a nice flavor. It also comes with a spoon for eating it like back in the states at a diner. Price: 7.5
Scores: Thickness - 8 Flavor - 9
#1 Brooklyn
There is no sacrificing for being in Korea here. There is no, “it’s the best in Korea”, excuses. This is just a damn good vanilla shake - period. It even comes with a cherry on top. Come on! Price: 6
Scores: Thickness - 9 Flavor - 9
Strawberry
#4 Butterfingers
This is the most expensive and least thick of the bunch. Though it is the largest. It is a decent shake, but doesn’t quite have the freshest ingredients taste that the other two have. Price: 10.9
Scores: Thickness - 7 Flavor - 6
#3 Brooklyn
This is a really nice shake. It has bits of real strawberry in it and has a nice whipped feel. It’s thickness is a nice three pulls and holds on the tongue for a few seconds before melting down. Price: 7
Scores: Thickness - 9 Flavor - 8
#2 Burger B
This was my favorite shake. I did a blind taste test last year with a few of the shakes in the neighborhood and this was the one I picked as the most flavorful and textured the nicest. Perhaps it most resembles my favorite shakes back home, no matter. Like I said, you can’t really go wrong with any of these shakes, but when I have a choice, this was my favorite strawberry shake of the lot until I drank the #1 shake. Price: 8
Scores: Thickness - 9 Flavor - 9
Gilbert's Classic Strawberry
#1 Gilbert's Burger & Fries
This was a real nice surprise. This shake was just as good as the Burger B shake, but it was presented better and came with a little more shake. It had nice big chunks of strawberry in it and it needed a spoon to finish causing a bit of an annoyance with straw blockage, but overall it was nicely done. The numbers are the same as Burger B, but I give the edge to this shake based on size and presentation.
Scores: Thickness - 9 Flavor - 9
Chocolate
#3 Golden Burger Republic
This one is a double chocolate shake and way too rich. I couldn’t even finish it. If you want really rich chocolate, then this is for you. I, however, am not that guy. Price: 7.5
Scores: Thickness - 8 Flavor - 5
Brooklyn's Peanut Butter Chocolate
#2 Burger B
This is a nice shake. Decent thickness and decent flavor. It is way better than GBR, but just not quite as good as the Brooklyn.
Scores: Thickness - 9 Flavor - 8
#1 Brooklyn
A smooth chocolate shake with a nice ‘three pulls’ of thickness, this shake also comes in a second flavor with a hint of peanut butter. Both shakes are the best chocolate milkshakes around here.
Scores: Thickness - 9 Flavor - 9
Oreo
#2 Brooklyn
This Oreo is wonderful and comes with a full Oreo cookie in it. It’s thickness and flavor are both spot on. The cookie bits are small enough that you don’t get them stuck in the straw and have to constantly fight with your, now broken or flattened, straw. It just doesn’t have the x-factor that makes me give the other one the edge. Price: 7
Butterfinger Blast
Scores: Thickness - 9 Flavor - 9
#1 Butterfingers
The Butterfinger Blast is not something you should drink regularly (like I do) if you care about your health. However, shakes aren’t ever healthy choices, are they? This monstrosity is basically an Oreo shake with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and Skittles - yes, Skittle bits sprinkled on top. This is like what I would have designed when I was 8 years old - and damn it - I still feel 8 years old drinking this thing. Price: 10.9
Scores: Thickness - 8 Flavor - 10
Blueberry
#2 Butterfingers
Blueberry Cream Cheese ‘Silk Shake”
The subLIME Blueberry shake is a nice change of pace for flavors. It had a strong blueberry taste (a little too strong, I think), but it wasn’t bad. If you like blueberry, I would think it would be a nice option to have around. Price: 10.9
Scores: Thickness - 7 Flavor - 7
#1 Deli Heinzburg
The Blueberry Cream Cheese ‘Silk Shake” is a really nice surprise. It is a vanilla base with blueberry accenting and gave the first impression of a blueberry-sicle. It was a good flavor combination that kept me coming back for more - until the blueberries (perfectly sized) would stick in the straw and cause blow-back. Other than the slight annoyance of the blueberry stoppers, it was a wonderful shake.
Scores: Thickness - 8 Flavor - 9
Honorable Mentions
Gilbert's Monkey Business Shake - A vanilla, banana, peanut butter shake with small bits of marshmallow in it that was really tasty.
After Thought
This was a really awesome challenge to partake in - trying all these shakes. There are probably more shakes out there, and more to come, so this post will be updated as I find more shakes to find and try. If you have any suggestions let me know. I hope you enjoy your milkshakes!!
Drink up Apgujeong!