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.)
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
Arizona
> Place: The Stand Arcadia Burger Shoppe
> Location: Phoenix
> Sample Shake: Salted dulce de leche
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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Connecticut
> Place: A.C. Petersen Farms
> Location: West Hartford
> Sample Shake: Coffee
Delaware
> Place: Farmer & the Cow
> Location: Wilmington
> Sample Shake: You’re Killing Me Smalls (marshmallow, graham crackers, chocolate)
Florida
> Place: Cousteau’s Waffle & Milkshake Bar
> Location: Saint Augustine
> Sample Shake: Electric Jellyfish (vanilla with homemade fresh blueberry compote)
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Georgia
> Place: Leopold’s Ice Cream
> Location: Savannah
> Sample Shake: Honey almond and cream
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
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Illinois
> Place: Edzo’s Burger Shop
> Location: Evanston and Chicago
> Sample Shake: Nutella
Indiana
> Place: Gordon’s Milkshake Bar
> Location: Indianapolis
> Sample Shake: Pumpkin Cream Pecan (seasonal)
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Iowa
> Place: Hamburg Inn No. 2
> Location: Iowa City
> Sample Shake: Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
Kansas
> Place: Cookee’s Drive-In
> Location: Pleasanton
> Sample Shake: Pineapple
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Kentucky
> Place: Tolly Ho
> Location: Lexington
> Sample Shake: Banana Pudding
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Louisiana
> Place: Original Deaman’s Soda Shop
> Location: Baton Rouge
> Sample Shake: Dreamsicle
Maine
> Place: Duckfat
> Location: Portland
> Sample Shake: Sea-Salted Duck Fat Caramel
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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
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)
Montana
> Place: Big Dipper Ice Cream
> Location: Missoula (two locations)
> Sample Shake: Espresso Heath
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Nebraska
> Place: Bronco’s Hamburgers
> Location: Omaha
> Sample Shake: Chocolate
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Nevada
> Place: Beefy’s
> Location: Reno
> Sample Shake: Lavender chai
New Hampshire
> Place: Brgr Bar
> Location: Portsmouth
> Sample Shake: Sea salt, caramel, and pretzel
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New Jersey
> Place: Holstens’s Brookdale Confectionery
> Location: Bloomfield
> Sample Shake: Coffee Chip
New Mexico
> Place: Shake Foundation
> Location: Santa Fe
> Sample Shake: Mexican chocolate Adobe Mud
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New York
> Place: Harlem Shake
> Location: New York City and Brooklyn
> Sample Shake: The Harlem (red velvet)
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North Carolina
> Place: Tony’s Ice Cream
> Location: Gastonia
> Sample Shake: Grape
North Dakota
> Place: The White Maid
> Location: Napoleon
> Sample Shake: Crème de menthe
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Ohio
> Place: Tommy’s
> Location: Cleveland Heights
> Sample Shake: Root beer
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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Oregon
> Place: Mike’s Drive-In
> Location: Oregon City and Milwaukie
> Sample Shake: Coffee mocha
Pennsylvania
> Place: Flip City Shakes
> Location: Southampton
> Sample Shake: Apple pie
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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South Carolina
> Place: Kaminsky’s Dessert Café
> Location: Charleston (2 locations) and Columbia
> Sample Shake: Mint Chocolate Chip
South Dakota
> Place: Phillips Avenue Diner
> Location: Sioux Falls
> Sample Shake: Whatchamaycallit (chocolate, caramel, Rice Krispies, peanuts
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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)
Texas
> Place: Chill Milkshake & Waffle Bar
> Location: Spring and Magnolia
> Sample Shake: Chocolate chip banana bread
Utah
> Place: Dairy Keen
> Location: Heber City
> Sample Shake: Horchata
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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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Washington
> Place: Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle
> Location: Spokane
> Sample Shake: Huckleberry
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West Virginia
> Place: Bramwell Corner Shop & Soda Fountain
> Location: Bramwell
> Sample Shake: Peppermint Patty (chocolate ice cream, peppermint and chocolate syrups)
Wisconsin
> Place: Ardy & Ed’s Drive In
> Location: Oshkosh
> Sample Shake: Butterscotch
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Wyoming
> Place: Johnny J’s Diner
> Location: Casper
> Sample Shake: Chocolate banana pineapple
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