The Absolute Best Milkshakes In The U.S.

Milkshakes are the ultimate blend of rich ice cream, whole milk, and delicious toppings. Once, these drinkable dreams were available in a limited range of flavors. Today, however, the humble milkshake has evolved past itself, towards glorious developments such as freakshakes, which are part drink, part dessert. You can now have your milkshake fully loaded, with a towering slice of cake, tons of chocolate garnish, marshmallows, cookies, or cereal. 

According to The Guardian, milkshakes took off in the early 1930s, when rampantly growing technologies such as electric kitchen equipment and enhanced refrigeration systems brought the milkshake to the masses. The milkshake also has an obscure but prominent place in the Teapot Dome Scandal, when Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall equated the poaching and drainage of oil supplies with drinking someone else's milkshake. 

Milkshakes have come a long way since they first appeared at soda counters and in anti-big oil legislation. These are the absolute best milkshakes in the country, perfect for sipping and savoring. Some are fancy, some are pared down, but all are decadent and delicious.

Seattle's Lunchbox Laboratory is the place to get mega salads, classic comfort-food appetizers, and some of the creamiest shakes that you'll find in the western part of the United States. Although you can opt for wacky and beautiful flavors like Banana Cream Pie and Boston Cream Donut, we like to stick to the classics whenever we visit one of their Seattle locations. Lunchbox Laboratory's classic Strawberry Shake has all of the elements of your ideal milkshake; the perfect ice cream to milk combination, fresh strawberry flavor, and just the right amount of whipped cream.

You can get your old-fashioned glass of nostalgia in a 12 or 16-ounce cup and add on a few extras like marshmallow cream, custard, or fudge. If you're feeling extra festive, you can always spike your shake with some of the good stuff, like whipped cream vodka or Malibu coconut. Whether you enjoy it boozy or virgin, Lunchbox Laboratory's Strawberry Shake is sure to put a smile on your face.

Husband-and-wife duo Logan and Chelsea Green created the concept for The Yard together. They opened the first store in Gulf Shores, Alabama, in 2017 to rave reviews. In 2019, the chain was featured on "Shark Tank," which attracted additional interest and investment (via The Advocate). 

The Yard Milkshake Bar takes the notion of freakshakes to astounding new levels with their mega-creations that drip with ice cream, chocolate, sprinkles, marshmallows, candy, and more. The Yard currently has 18 locations across the U.S., which indicates the sheer popularity of their whimsical drink creations. If you do decide to stop by, you should definitely try The Mermaid.

The Mermaid is a mammoth milkshake with a birthday cake ice cream base. The final product is crowned with pink and teal marshmallows, vibrant rock candy, edible mermaid jewels, and a chocolate tail. Although The Mermaid has a ton of components, all of them balance each other out, leaving you with an endlessly sippable shake that tastes as enchanting as it looks. Plus, there are plenty of different textures, from the chocolate mermaid fin to the rock candy and the silky shake itself.

It should come as no surprise that Las Vegas, Nevada, is the place to go for some of the most epic milkshakes in the country. True to the Sin City's style, the milkshakes at Holsteins Shakes and Buns are loaded with decadent ingredients with a decidedly adult twist. This premium burger and shake joint's Bam-Boozled Shakes are jam-packed with your favorite flavors plus a generous serving of spirits to make them all the more decadent.

Take the Frozen Grasshopper, for example. This delicately-green drink has wintergreen, dark chocolate, vanilla frosting, and a flurry of mint chocolate chips, plus peppermint patties, and whipped cream. The presentation is stunning and balanced, and the shake's boozy mix of chocolate vodka and crème de menthe is bound to leave you in high spirits. If you're looking for an intoxicating blend that'll fulfill all your sweet tooth cravings, head on over to Holsteins Shakes and Buns.

Oklahoma's S&B Burger Joint has the perfect dessert option for people who don't want to go full-on freakshake but would like a little pizzazz in their classic milkshake. Presenting the Space Cake Shake: A chocolate and peanut butter blast of flavor with cosmic brownie chunks and a sprinkle of chocolate candy. The whole thing is texturally masterful, from the crunch of the chocolate topping to the creamy sweetness of the whipped cream and thick chocolate shake.

It's ideal for people who love the taste of chocolate and peanut butter together. No two notes overpower each other in the Space Cake Shake. Instead, each satisfying gulp contains a perfect balance of flavor. This shake is one of S&B's premium offerings for a reason — it's just that good. S&B Burger Joint has locations all over the Panhandle State, giving you several options to find and claim that Space Cake Shake with your name on it.

If you want to take a break from heavy, sugary milkshakes and opt for something fruitier and lighter, Robert Is Here in Homestead, Florida, has you covered. This celebrated Sunshine State fruit stand is one of the top places in the country to pick up good quality fresh fruits. So get them whole, or ask the team at Robert Is Here to whip you up one of their unique, light, flavorful fruit milkshakes.

Although you can, and should, try all of their flavors, their Mango Milkshake is a clear winner in our book. This vibrant orange drink will send your tastebuds straight to the tropics. Robert Is Here's Mango Milkshake does an intricate precision dance with different flavors, ensuring that there's just enough sweetness to elevate the fresh mango and truly allow it to shine. The result is a fruit-forward, unexpected dessert that's as refreshing as it is lovely. So much yum!

The Field Burger and Tap's S'mores Shake takes a cherished childhood fave and liquifies it to great success. This State College, Pennsylvania institution famously transforms your comfort food staples with gourmet twists and new ingredients. So it's no surprise that they've taken on and transformed a campfire classic. The main key to this milkshake's success lies in the ingredients. The base is made of Hershey's vanilla ice cream, topped with chocolate and marshmallows.

Every sip will give you the richness of premium vanilla ice cream, plus a punch of chocolate and velvety marshmallow. Although you can go back to your childhood roots and enjoy this milkshake in its wholesome, virgin fashion, you can also spike it with a bit of sweet booze. The S'mores Shake contains a shot of whipped cream vodka for extra decadence, creating an adult twist on a classic treat.

Hamburg Inn No. 2's Pie Shakes might not be freakshakes, per se, but they do have a few of the elements that make freakshakes so irresistible. Specifically, they incorporate desserts into milkshakes. As the name might suggest, Pie Shakes are milkshakes made with the pie of your choice. It's an ingenious way to riff on pie a la mode. Each sip of the Pie Shake gives you delicious ice cream and bright colors, but in beverage form. 

Their Pie Shakes have elevated the Iowa City diner to cult status, and patrons flock to the restaurant from all over the state to sample the tart, sweet Pie Shake of their choice and enjoy some of Hamburg Inn No. 2's famous hospitality. This inspired and deceptively simple combination is a great way to shake up your classic desserts and traditional shakes while also getting the very best of all possible worlds in one simple milkshake.

If you've ever lived in or traveled through the southern part of the United States, then you know that Whataburger is truly beloved. Hailing from Texas, with locations in Alabama, Arizona, and Florida, to name a few, Whataburger has been cranking out delicious, high-quality comfort food since the 1950s. Their milkshakes are next level. Whataburger's traditional Chocolate Milkshake is undoubtedly a classic, but recently, they've upped the ante by introducing their new Chocolate Mint Shake.

This classic combination is a beautiful mix of Whataburger's original chocolate shake, plus a punch of cooling mint that gives it a unique and refreshing flavor. The result tastes a bit like an Andes Mint Chocolate or a Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookie but in drinkable form. If you want to step outside the chocolate box and try out something new, we strongly suggest that you pick up this epic offering from Whataburger. Like all of their shakes, it pairs perfectly with burgers and fries.

M Street Baking Company in Howell, Michigan, has no shortage of decadent, over-the-top shakes and desserts; however, there's one milkshake collection that you simply must try if you want to sample the best that this little bakery has to offer. Their quartet of Girl Scouts Shakes combines your favorite green-box cookie flavors with ice cream, sprinkles, and plenty of chocolate topping.

Through these shakes, M Street Baking Company pays homage to the classic Girl Scout Cookies. Each one of their shakes highlights a different beloved cookie flavor. The Thin Mint Milkshake, with its dark chocolate and fresh, minty flavors, is a brilliant riff on one of the most popular Girl Scout cookies. Their Tagalong Shake is also excellent, offering creamy peanut butter, chocolate, and fresh vanilla in every sip. They also have Samoa Shakes and Trefoil Shakes on the menu, and both embody the flavor profiles of their respective cookies. If you want to experience Girl Scout Cookies in a new and exciting way, try M Street Baking Company's shakes on for size.