SANDY — Food is good. And in Utah, we love good food. Any time a new restaurant opens up, we’re lining at the opening of a new place, ready to get a taste.

Utah’s first Shake Shack opened this week, and to say people are excited is an understatement. The New York-based gourmet burger chain is legendary among many Utahns and out-of-staters. Evidence of this is the signature around-the-corner lines outside many of the franchises.

I must admit: I’ve never had a Shake Shack burger, or shake or anything on the menu. Ever since Shake Shack announced that they were coming to Utah, some of my friends and even colleagues at KSL.com consistently told me how great the food is there.

For me, I just want a tasty burger with some hot fries and a nice soda or shake to wash it down. So with this in mind, and my curiosity piqued, a few KSL.com colleagues and I decided to go down to Sandy and see what all the hype — merited or not — was about.

As soon as we got to Shake Shack, located at 11020 S. State Street, it was clear they had pulled out all the stops.

It felt like we were attending the opening of a nightclub — music and all. The place was packed: People were sitting, laughing, talking and most importantly, eating. The restaurant features a few ping-pong tables, board games and an outdoor patio. The restaurant is open and bright. It makes sense: Shake Shack wants customers to feel like the restaurant is an experience, not just a place to eat.

That being said, it was time to eat.

Shakes

We started off with a tasty peanut butter-flavored shake.

It was different than what I had expected, and was much richer than other shakes I’ve tasted before. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on what you like. I liked the shake, but it was on par with other shakes I’ve had before.

Shake grade: B-

Fries

When we got the fries at the table, they kind of reminded me of school lunch fries — except these fries were hot and not stone cold. The fries were not too salty nor too greasy. There really wasn’t much seasoning to them, so I can’t say they were mind-blowing. However, the Shake Shack fries were filling and delicious.

Fries grade: B

Burger

All right, we’re getting to the main course, if you will. The Shackburger is the main burger, and it’s an all-beef patty with lettuce, tomatoes and topped with Shacksauce.

And the verdict is: very good.

What I liked about it was the fact that it struck a fine balance between greasy and not too greasy. I’ve had other burgers in Utah that were seemingly nothing short of a patty dipped in a grease trap. The Shackburger is not that. As my colleague and KSL.com reporter Jacob Klopfenstein said, the Shackburger is a bit like a diner hamburger, but with better spices.

“There’s a seasoning on it that’s a little peppery. It’s a pretty good, to be honest,” he said.

KSL.com journalist and social media manager Yvette Cruz also tasted the Shackburger and enjoyed the fact that the burger was not too over-the-top.

“It’s a very simple classic burger,” she said.

I agree. The Shackburger was tasty and, in my opinion, just as good as an In-N-Out burger (don’t @ me).

Shackburger grade: B+

Chicken sandwich

Next up: Chick’n Shack, their take on the chicken sandwich. Going in, I preferred Chick-Fil-A as my go-to for a tasty chicken sandwich, but was hopeful Shake Shack had just as good of a sandwich.

And I was wrong. Shake Shack’s Chick’n Shack sandwich was amazing!

The chicken breast was cooked just right: the breading was not too much, and the buttermilk herb mayo wasn’t overpowering and really gave the sandwich a delicious taste.

While the Shackburger was good, the Chick’n Shack sandwich was the best thing on the menu on this day, and quite frankly, I’ll likely be coming back to Shake Shack for another taste of that sandwich.

Some of you may be wondering: Is the Chick’n Shack better than the Chick-Fil-A sandwich? Yes, it’s better. Plus, if in case you want a Chick’n Shack on a Sunday, the Sandy Shake Shack will be open. Just saying.

Chick’n Shack grade: A

VIP in the house

While I was at Shake Shack, one of my colleagues noticed a VIP in the house.

And not just any VIP. It was arguably the VIP of Utah VIPs: Governor Gary Herbert. I had to walk over and ask the governor what his thoughts were now that Utah has a Shake Shack.

“It's nice to have one here,” Herbert said. “I don’t remember quite the excitement, except for when Krispy Kreme came here for the first time. There’s a lot of hype, but that’s because they’ve had a good product. It’s been well known from around the country and literally around the world. So to have one here on the Wasatch Front now is good. I hope this is the first of a number of others that will come into Utah.”

When asked about why more regionally-known companies from other parts of the country are now coming to Utah, Herbert said it’s because the state is business-friendly and the continued population growth.

“We are the most healthy, diverse economy in America today, which means now people come here for our great quality of life and they can find a job. That’s a great combination,” he said. “Growth is a big factor. The more people that want hamburgers and milkshakes, the more opportunity for places like Shake Shack and others to come here and make a good living and have their success.”

I had to ask Governor Herbert one last important question: What’s your favorite menu item?

“I’m a chocolate shake and hamburger guy,” he said. “If you got a hamburger in one hand and a shake in the other, life is good.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself, Gov. Herbert.

My overall grade for Shake Shack: B+

Whether you have been to Shake Shack before or not, and you can handle the lines, I say head to Sandy when you can and check out Utah’s newest dining experience.

Related topics