Burger fanatics, you better sit down for this one: Shake Shack’s highly-anticipated eatery in the heart of Little Italy officially has an opening date and it is so, so soon.
San Diego's newest Shake Shack location – at 2008 India St. – will swing open its doors at 11 a.m. on April 28. This marks the fourth Shake Shack to open locally since the fall of 2017; the others are at Westfield UTC in La Jolla, Mission Valley, and the One Paseo complex in Carmel Valley.
The Little Italy Shake Shack has been in the works since February 2018 as the chain began its tasty takeover of San Diego's burger scene. This 2,680-square-foot eatery is housed in a free-standing building at the prime intersection of India and Grape streets, in the heart of the community known for its thriving food culture.
The space features a dog-friendly patio and "eco-friendly construction." The company said as part of its commitment to staying green, the Little Italy Shack’s tabletops are made out of reclaimed bowling alley lanes, while the booths are made using lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Shake Shack began in New York City in 2004 as a humble little food cart. In 15 years, Shake Shack has become a global brand, expanding to 26 states across the U.S. and 70+ locations internationally.
The company is known for its classic menu of high-quality Angus hamburgers including the "ShackBurger," a single or double cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato and beloved ShackSauce, and the "SmokeShack," a single or double cheeseburger topped with Applewood smoked bacon, chopped cherry peppers and ShackSauce.
Local
Fans also flock to Shake Shack for its crinkle-cut French fries (you can top them with cheese and/or bacon, because dreams really do come true), Flat-Top Hot Dogs, hand-spun milkshakes and frozen custard "concretes" featuring sweet treats mixed in.
The Little Italy location’s menu will offer the brand’s classics, plus some San Diego-centric extras like craft beer from favorites including Modern Times Beer, Stone Brewing, AleSmith Brewing Company and Thorn Brewing.
On the sweet side of the menu, fans will find a unique selection of frozen custard treats including the Pie Oh My (vanilla custard mixed with a slice of Four & Twenty Blackbirds seasonal pie), the Caramel Cone (vanilla custard, salted caramel, sugar cone pieces and chocolate sprinkles), and the Shack Attack (chocolate custard, fudge sauce, chocolate truffle cookie dough, Mast Brothers dark chocolate chunks, topped with chocolate sprinkles). Shake Shack said it’ll donate 5 percent of sales from the Pie Oh My concrete to local organization, I Love a Clean San Diego.
Patrons will also find the California-exclusive Roadside Double on this menu, a double-Swiss cheeseburger topped with Dijon mustard and onions, simmered in bacon and beer.
By the way, it seems Shake Shack is already getting cozy with at least one of its neighboring restaurants: Juniper & Ivy.
Shake Shack has teamed up with Juniper Ivy’s executive chef, Anthony Wells, to recreate the brand’s limited edition ShackMeister burger, which boasts two patties made from a mix of hanger, short rib and chuck from Flannery Beef, stacked on a house-fermented potato roll and topped with beer-infused raclette cheese, shallots and a rendition of the traditional Shack Sauce.
That burger is available at Juniper & Ivy from April 22 to April 28.
