The Best Milkshake in Every State

At this old-fashioned soda fountain, a rich and creamy chocolate malt will cost you less than $4. Cue the nostalgia.

1915 Hoover Ct., Hoover; 205-822-1151 or Yelp

Fact: It’s never too cold for a milkshake. Pop by this Anchorage restaurant for fried chicken and an old-school shake. Sweet and savory perfection.

1033 E. Fifth Ave., Anchorage; 907-272-3454 or Yelp

We found our pot of gold and it’s this Lucky Charm Marshmallow milkshake.

4001 E. Bell Rd. #102, Phoenix; 602-535-4930 or paradisevalleyburgercompany.com

The purple vanilla shake is a local legend for a reason.

Multiple locations; purplecowlr.com

Each shake comes with a freshly baked mini doughnut on the straw. Yeah, we thought that would get your attention.

Multiple locations; greatshakesps.com

Chocolate dipped bacon, cinnamon toast crunch and honey vanilla chai are just some of the enticing items on the shake menu.

2637 W. 26th Ave., Denver; 303-433-0080 or sassafrasamericaneatery.com

The name says it all. You're best off ordering the complete trifecta at this hole-in-the-wall joint with locations in Greenwich and Darien. The options are simple--good ol' vanilla, chocolate and strawberry plus a few more flavors--but they're everything we want in a shake. 

Multiple locations; burgersshakesnfries.com

Let’s talk about spiked shakes, like the Dirty Kitchen Sink, made with pretzels, peanut butter, butterscotch, caramel, potato chips and…chocolate vodka!

4737 Concord Pike #810, Wilmington; 302-358-2455 or grubburgerbar.com

The Be Still Cody—chocolate ice cream with a shot of espresso and mocha sauce—is the perfect sweet refreshment in the hot Florida sun.

15 Hypolita St, St Augustine; 904-342-5627 or wafflemilk.com

This upscale burger joint makes a Nutella milkshake topped with burned marshmallows. Need we say more?

Multiple locations; flipburgerboutique.com

Your bikini body never stood a chance.

2400 Koa Ave, Waikiki, Honolulu; 808-888-9939 or volcanoshakes.com

Looks like we’re washing down our eggs with a chocolate shake at this old-school breakfast spot. Hey, we’re not complaining.

712 W Idaho St. Boise; 208-385-0472 or Yelp

This Evanston mainstay serves griddled burgers, loaded hand-cut fries and its famous “five-dollar milkshakes.” It’s in your best interest to order one of each.

1571 Sherman Ave., Evanston; 847-864-3396 or edzos.com

A huge selection of build-your-own burgers and inventive shakes await you at Big Four’s two locations.

Multiple locations; bigfourburgers.com

What could be bad about a milkshake that comes in flavors like peanut butter M&M or bourbon pecan pie?

214 N. Linn St., Iowa City; 319-337-5512 or hamburginn2.com

This marble-countered soda fountain has been serving comfort food and standout shakes in Wichita since 1932.

604 E. Douglas Ave., Wichita; 316-264-6500 or Yelp

Craving comfort food? Stop by this Lexington favorite 24 hours a day for a burger, cheese fries and, of course, a Nutella shake.

606 S. Broadway, Lexington; 859-253-2007 or tollyho.com

Head to this bustling NOLA brunch spot for eggs Benedict with fried oysters and pair it with a White Russian milkshake because #yolo.

547 St. Ann St., New Orleans; 504-587-0093 or stanelyrestaurant.com

Come for the hand-cut Belgian fries; stay for the original Duckfat milkshake, made with gelato, crème anglaise and fresh Tahitian vanilla beans.

43 Middle St., Portland; 207-774-8080 or duckfat.com

The flavors here are as eclectic as the knickknacks in this diner—bacon chocolate or black sesame and honey?

227 W. 29th St., Baltimore; 410-889-4444 or papermoondiner24.com

Sure, these guys cook up some of the best burgers in town, but no meal is complete without a milkshake (or #FreakFrappe). Order the The King, blended with vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, banana and bacon. 

Multiple locations;  bostonburgerco.com

Bacon cheese fries and chorizo-topped burgers are all well and good, but it’s not a meal until you add a shake into the mix. The Hummer, made with Kahlua, dark rum and vanilla ice cream, is a crowd favorite.

2163 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-964-5000 or mercuryburgerbar.com

Don't miss the wild cherry shake. (And the burgers aren't half bad, either.)

313 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis; 612)-379-0744 or Yelp

This iconic Jackson soda fountain has been around since 1946. Despite receiving a recent makeover, this spot still screams nostalgia. Pull up a seat and order a grilled cheese with a chocolate shake.

655 Duling Ave., Jackson; 601-366-3427 or Facebook

This retro St. Louis spot has been around since 1913, which means it’s doing something right. PSA: If you can drink five malts in 30 minutes, they’re on the house. Do you have what it takes?

1401 St. Louis Ave., St. Louis; 314-621-9650 or crowncandykitchen.net

You might need a spoon to make a dent in the thick milkshakes served at this retro diner in Missoula.

120 N. Higgins Ave., Missoula; 406-542-2449 or Yelp

Skip the burgers and sandwiches and go straight for dessert at this Omaha neighborhood eatery.

5914 Center St., Omaha; 402-551-0552 or petrows.com

Naturally, the best shakes in Vegas are boozy. Stop by this glitzy restaurant in the Cosmopolitan for a serious burger and a Drunken Monkey—a lethal concoction of Reese's, banana, malt and hazelnut liqueur.

3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas; 702-692-7940 or holsteinsburgers.com

This menu features build-your-own burgers and adult milkshakes—what more could you ever want?

34 Portwalk Pl., Portsmouth; 603-294-0902 or brgr-bar.com

You might recognize this old-school ice-cream shop from the finale of The Sopranos. Well, the 77-year-old Bloomfield institution happens to blend some serious shakes.

1063 Broad St., Bloomfield; 973-338-7091 or holstens.com

It’s hot down in the desert. Cool off with an Adobe Mud Shake.

631 Cerrillos Rd., Santa Fe; 505-988-8992 or shakefoundation.com

Brave the extra long wait just to Instagram your $15 cotton-candy milkshake. Everyone’s doing it.

Multiple locations; blacktapnyc.com

Say what you will about fast food, but we can’t get enough of these milkshakes. They come in about 40 flavors, and thanks to the drive-throughs, you don’t even have to leave your car to get your hands on one.

Multiple locations; cookout.com

This German-American restaurant has four locations throughout the state that serve old-fashioned, tin-cup milkshakes.

Multiple locations; sitdownandeat.com

In Cleveland and Columbus, B Spot is popular for its seasonal burgers and craft beer list. But the regulars keep coming back for the milkshakes. Chocolate Banana Marshmallow spiked shakes, anyone?

Multiple locations; bspotburgers.com

These hand-dipped shakes may be simple (they come only in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and a daily special), but Tucker’s proves that sometimes simple is best.

Multiple locations; tuckersonionburgers.com

This cozy diner has shakes to satisfy traditionalists and more adventurous milkshake seekers (read: bourbon salted caramel and maple bacon).

300 SW Sixth Ave., Portland; 503-546-2666 or originaldinerant.com

This burger-and-shake empire makes its shakes with homemade ice cream from a local dairy farm. The creations range from classic shakes like Campfire S’mores to alcoholic shakes like Grand-Dad's secret (bourbon and caramel). Trust, they’re out of this world.

Multiple locations in Pennsylvania; burgatorybar.com

Here’s the first rule of thumb: In Rhode Island, milkshakes are called frappes or cabinets. And Newport Creamery’s version of a frappe is the notorious Awful Awful. It’s a Rhode Island tradition made of whole milk, flavored syrup and ice milk.

Multiple locations; newportcreamery.com

We expect big things from a dessert café, and Kaminsky’s doesn’t disappoint with flavors like vanilla bean and Butterfinger.

Multiple locations; kaminskys.com

Milkshakes are the star of the menu at this retro Sioux Falls diner. It has some adventurous concoctions, but we prefer the classic flavors topped with whipped cream, cherries and a mini cookie for good measure.

121 S. Phillips Ave., Sioux Falls;  605-335-4977 or phillipsavenuediner.com

The menu at this Nashville joint is broken up into three sections: Burgers, beer and shakes, and you’d be mistaken not to try one of each. With about two dozen shakes (both spiked and original), there’s something for everyone.

Multiple locations; burgerrepublic.com

Austin’s favorite burger shop is expanding around Texas and across the country, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Truffle Fries and Vanilla Birthday Cake shakes could be coming to your neck of the woods.

Multiple locations; hopdoddy.com

This homey diner is a necessary pit stop when driving through Red Rock country. A thick and creamy chocolate shake should hold you over until you arrive at Arches National Park.

189 S. Main St., Moab; 435-259-4006 or moabdiner.com

OK: This adorable Burlington spot is primarily a coffee shop. But once you try the Muddy Shake, made with chocolate gelato and espresso, you’ll never go back to your normal coffee order.

184 Main St., Burlington; 802-658-0466 or Yelp

On Saturday nights, this downtown Bristol institution stays open until it runs out of food. Most famous for its burgers, it also serves a serious shake.

8 Piedmont Ave., Bristol; 276-466-6200 or theoriginalburgerbar.com

With three locations in Washington state, the “lab” serves about a dozen chocolate- and vanilla-based shakes, plus a handful of eccentric, boozy ones like the Cinnamon Toast Crunk spiked with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.

Multiple locations; lunchboxlaboratory.com

This classic American diner has two restaurants in the capital. Shakes come in a dozen traditional flavors plus a handful of adult concoctions like the White Russian and bananas Foster. Don’t forget to slurp one down with a homemade pop-tart on the side.

Multiple locations; tedsbulletin.com

Inventive shakes are the main reason to stop by this ’50s-style eatery, where the frozen treats are served in Styrofoam Coca-Cola cups.

417 High St., Morgantown; 304-225-2535 or Facebook

We’re doing breakfast, lunch and dinner at Mickies Dairy Bar so we can try every flavor of milkshake.

1511 Monroe St., Madison; 608-256-9476 or Yelp

Ever try a custard milkshake? No? Then head to Jackson, Wyoming, ASAP.

160 North Cache, Jackson; 307-200-6071 or givemelibertyburger.com