Milkshakes became a popular treat in the United States around the beginning of the 20th century and evolved into a staple of ice cream shops, diners, and drive-ins across the country. The combination of ice cream and milk blended together with a variety of flavorings — sometimes including malted milk powder, which makes a shake a malt — is a simple concept with undeniably delicious results.
To assemble a list of the best shakes in every state, 24/7 Tempo considered ratings and reviews of shake purveyors on Yelp and TripAdvisor and on local food, travel, and review sites for every state. Sample shakes are drawn from each venue’s online menu or Facebook page. (Besides the places on our list, you’ll find shakes at most, if not all, of the the best ice cream shops in every state.)
Though the 1950s may have been the milkshake’s heyday, this list shows that shakes are still taken seriously all over America. Like many classic foods, they started simply but have often evolved into masterpieces that are more dessert than beverage, with not only flavorings but also elaborate toppings added.
Click here to see the best shake in every state
A good shake, especially one that isn’t too complicated, also remains the ideal accompaniment to a good old-fashioned burger and fries. Though many traditional diners and drive-ins have been replaced over the decades with the same cookie-cutter chains stretching endlessly across the land, those that remain channel the spirit of an earlier era through their ambience and menus — with shakes most definitely involved. (Check out the best diner in every state.)
Source: Courtesy of Oscar Moon's Milkshake Shop
Alabama
> Place: Oscar Moon’s
> Location: Huntsville
> Sample Shake: Bourbon chocolate pecan pie
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Alaska
> Place: Burger Queen
> Location: Ketchikan
> Sample Shake: Macadamia nut
Source: Courtesy of Erika M. via Yelp
Arizona
> Place: The Stand Arcadia Burger Shoppe
> Location: Phoenix
> Sample Shake: Salted dulce de leche
Source: Courtesy of The Purple Cow Restaurants
Arkansas
> Place: The Purple Cow
> Location: 3 in Little Rock, 2 elsewhere in Arkansas
> Sample Shake: Famous Purple Vanilla
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California
> Place: Shields Date Garden
> Location: Indio
> Sample Shake: Date
Colorado
> Place: Milkbox Ice Creamery
> Location: Denver
> Sample Shake: Toasted coconut
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Source: Courtesy of A.C. Petersen Farms
Connecticut
> Place: A.C. Petersen Farms
> Location: West Hartford
> Sample Shake: Coffee
Source: Courtesy of Farmer & the Cow
Delaware
> Place: Farmer & the Cow
> Location: Wilmington
> Sample Shake: You’re Killing Me Smalls (marshmallow, graham crackers, chocolate)
Source: Courtesy of Cousteau's Waffle & Milkshake Bar
Florida
> Place: Cousteau’s Waffle & Milkshake Bar
> Location: Saint Augustine
> Sample Shake: Electric Jellyfish (vanilla with homemade fresh blueberry compote)
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Source: usdagov / Flickr
Georgia
> Place: Leopold’s Ice Cream
> Location: Savannah
> Sample Shake: Honey almond and cream
Source: Courtesy of Rock Island Café - Honolulu
Hawaii
> Place: Rock Island Café
> Location: Honolulu
> Sample Shake: Coca-Cola
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Idaho
> Place: Fanci Freez
> Location: Boise and Meridian
> Sample Shake: Peppermint
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Edzo's Burger Shop Evanston
Illinois
> Place: Edzo’s Burger Shop
> Location: Evanston and Chicago
> Sample Shake: Nutella
Source: Courtesy of Gordon's Milkshake Bar
Indiana
> Place: Gordon’s Milkshake Bar
> Location: Indianapolis
> Sample Shake: Pumpkin Cream Pecan (seasonal)
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Source: Courtesy of Hamburg Inn No. 2
Iowa
> Place: Hamburg Inn No. 2
> Location: Iowa City
> Sample Shake: Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
Source: Courtesy of Cookee's Drive-In
Kansas
> Place: Cookee’s Drive-In
> Location: Pleasanton
> Sample Shake: Pineapple
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Source: Courtesy of Tolly Ho
Kentucky
> Place: Tolly Ho
> Location: Lexington
> Sample Shake: Banana Pudding
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Genny A. via Yelp
Louisiana
> Place: Original Deaman’s Soda Shop
> Location: Baton Rouge
> Sample Shake: Dreamsicle
Source: Courtesy of Corinne K. via Yelp
Maine
> Place: Duckfat
> Location: Portland
> Sample Shake: Sea-Salted Duck Fat Caramel
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Source: Courtesy of Hoffman's Home Made Ice Cream & Deli
Maryland
> Place: Hoffman’s Home Made Ice Cream & Deli
> Location: Westminster
> Sample Shake: Cake batter
Massachusetts
> Place: Tasty Burger
> Location: Boston (five locations)
> Sample Shake: Green Monster (mint chocolate chip)
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Michigan
> Place: Don’s Drive-In
> Location: Traverse City
> Sample Shake: Cherry
Source: Courtesy of The Malt Shop Restaurant
Minnesota
> Place: The Malt Shop
> Location: Minneapolis
> Sample Shake: Fig
Mississippi
> Place: Brent’s Drugs
> Location: Jackson
> Sample Shake: Ginger Finger (Butterfingers, ginger syrup, vanilla ice cream)
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Missouri
> Place: Crown Candy Kitchen
> Location: St. Louis
> Sample Shake: Johnny Rabbit Special (banana malt with whipped cream, nuts, and nutmeg)
Source: Courtesy of Big Dipper Ice Cream
Montana
> Place: Big Dipper Ice Cream
> Location: Missoula (two locations)
> Sample Shake: Espresso Heath
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Source: Courtesy of Erika H. via Yelp
Nebraska
> Place: Bronco’s Hamburgers
> Location: Omaha
> Sample Shake: Chocolate
Source: Courtesy of Beefy's Reno
Nevada
> Place: Beefy’s
> Location: Reno
> Sample Shake: Lavender chai
Source: Courtesy of Brgr Bar
New Hampshire
> Place: Brgr Bar
> Location: Portsmouth
> Sample Shake: Sea salt, caramel, and pretzel
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Source: Courtesy of Holstens's Brookdale Confectionery
New Jersey
> Place: Holstens’s Brookdale Confectionery
> Location: Bloomfield
> Sample Shake: Coffee Chip
Source: Courtesy of Shake Foundation
New Mexico
> Place: Shake Foundation
> Location: Santa Fe
> Sample Shake: Mexican chocolate Adobe Mud
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Source: Courtesy of Nin H. via Yelp
New York
> Place: Harlem Shake
> Location: New York City and Brooklyn
> Sample Shake: The Harlem (red velvet)
Source: Courtesy of Matthew T. via Yelp
North Carolina
> Place: Tony’s Ice Cream
> Location: Gastonia
> Sample Shake: Grape
Source: Courtesy of The White Maid Restaurant and Bar
North Dakota
> Place: The White Maid
> Location: Napoleon
> Sample Shake: Crème de menthe
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Source: Courtesy of Tommy's Restaurant
Ohio
> Place: Tommy’s
> Location: Cleveland Heights
> Sample Shake: Root beer
Source: Courtesy of Joe H. via Yelp
Oklahoma
> Place: Domenico Coffee & Dessert Bar
> Location: Oklahoma City
> Sample Shake: Chocolate All the Way (chocolate ice cream, truffles, chips, shards, cream, etc.)
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Source: Courtesy of Jen K. via Yelp
Oregon
> Place: Mike’s Drive-In
> Location: Oregon City and Milwaukie
> Sample Shake: Coffee mocha
Source: Courtesy of Gerald S. via Yelp
Pennsylvania
> Place: Flip City Shakes
> Location: Southampton
> Sample Shake: Apple pie
Source: Courtesy of Newport Creamery
Rhode Island
> Place: Newport Creamery
> Location: 10 locations in Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts
> Sample Shake: Outrageous Awful Awful (Oreos, ChocO Nutter, strawberry, banana chip, chocolate mint chip)
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Source: Courtesy of Kaminsky's Dessert Café
South Carolina
> Place: Kaminsky’s Dessert Café
> Location: Charleston (2 locations) and Columbia
> Sample Shake: Mint Chocolate Chip
Source: Courtesy of Phillips Avenue Diner
South Dakota
> Place: Phillips Avenue Diner
> Location: Sioux Falls
> Sample Shake: Whatchamaycallit (chocolate, caramel, Rice Krispies, peanuts
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Source: Courtesy of The Legendary Milkshake Bar
Tennessee
> Place: The Legendary Milkshake Bar
> Location: Nashville
> Sample Shake: Sippin’ Pretty in Music City (rocky road and sea salt caramel ice cream, crushed peanuts, mini marshmallows, Goo Goo Cluster, and more)
Source: Courtesy of Chill Milkshake & Waffle Bar
Texas
> Place: Chill Milkshake & Waffle Bar
> Location: Spring and Magnolia
> Sample Shake: Chocolate chip banana bread
Source: Courtesy of Dairy Keen - Home of the Train
Utah
> Place: Dairy Keen
> Location: Heber City
> Sample Shake: Horchata
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Source: Courtesy of Mariko M. via Yelp
Vermont
> Place: The Spot
> Location: Burlington
> Sample Shake: Maple
Virginia
> Place: The Dairy Bar Diner
> Location: Richmond
> Sample Shake: Peachy peach
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Source: Courtesy of Mary Lou's Milk Bottle
Washington
> Place: Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle
> Location: Spokane
> Sample Shake: Huckleberry
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Bramwell Corner Shop & Soda Fountain
West Virginia
> Place: Bramwell Corner Shop & Soda Fountain
> Location: Bramwell
> Sample Shake: Peppermint Patty (chocolate ice cream, peppermint and chocolate syrups)
Source: Courtesy of Ardy & Ed's Drive In
Wisconsin
> Place: Ardy & Ed’s Drive In
> Location: Oshkosh
> Sample Shake: Butterscotch
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Source: Courtesy of Johnny J's Diner
Wyoming
> Place: Johnny J’s Diner
> Location: Casper
> Sample Shake: Chocolate banana pineapple
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