London UK Series: Shake Shack Leicester Square Review – 3 Things to Know Before Visiting

Shake Shack – Restaurant Overview

Leicester Square, 1-2 Coventry St, London W1D 6BH, United Kingdom

Shake Shack is a globally recognized burger chain that originally started in New York City. What began as a small hot dog cart in Manhattan’s Madison Square Park eventually grew into a major international brand known for its smash burgers, crinkle-cut fries, and milkshakes. Over the years, Shake Shack has expanded well beyond the United States and now operates locations across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

The Shake Shack location near Leicester Square in London sits in a busy part of the city close to Chinatown and the West End theatre district. Leicester Square itself is one of London’s most tourist-heavy areas, surrounded by cinemas, theatres, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Just a short walk away is Chinatown, which adds even more food options and contributes to the area’s constant energy.

Because of this location, the restaurant attracts a mix of tourists, theatre-goers, and locals looking for a quick meal before or after a show.

The restaurant itself is very casual. Like many modern fast-casual chains, ordering is done through a self-service touchscreen kiosk rather than directly with staff. After placing the order on the screen, you simply wait for your food to be prepared and then pick it up once your number is called.

This ordering system keeps things moving efficiently, especially in busy areas like Leicester Square where restaurants can see heavy foot traffic.

The interior design of the restaurant feels modern and clean, but it still maintains the casual vibe you would expect from a burger chain. Seating is simple and functional, and the overall experience is focused more on convenience than on creating a full-service dining atmosphere.

One interesting thing for Canadian visitors is that Shake Shack does not currently have any locations in Ottawa. The closest Shake Shack restaurants to Ottawa would be in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Because of that, trying Shake Shack in London can feel a bit more novel for visitors who don’t normally have access to the chain.

For this visit, the meal included a ShackBurger, crinkle-cut fries, and a cookies and cream milkshake, which together represent some of the core items Shake Shack is known for.

Would return? Yes.

ShackBurger, Crinkle-Cut Fries, and Cookies and Cream Milkshake

ShackBurger

7.5/10

The ShackBurger is the signature burger from the chain and follows the smash burger style, where the beef patty is pressed flat onto a hot griddle during cooking. This technique helps create a slightly crispy exterior while keeping the inside juicy.

The burger itself was quite good overall.

One of the standout elements was the sauce, often referred to as ShackSauce. The sauce adds a creamy, slightly tangy flavour that complements the beef very well. It helps tie the entire burger together and is a big part of why the burger feels satisfying.

The beef patty had that classic smash burger texture—thin but flavourful with a bit of crust from the griddle. Smash burgers typically emphasize flavour through caramelization rather than thickness, and that approach worked well here.

The bun was soft and slightly toasted, which helped hold everything together without overpowering the rest of the burger.

Overall, the ShackBurger delivered exactly what you would expect from a good smash burger: simple ingredients executed well with strong flavour balance.

While it may not be the most gourmet burger in London, it’s a very solid fast-casual burger that hits the spot.

Order again? Yes.

Crinkle-Cut Fries

The fries served with the meal were crinkle-cut fries, which are one of the more recognizable items on the Shake Shack menu.

Crinkle-cut fries have a distinctive ridged shape that gives them more surface area compared to standard fries. This can often help them become crispier and hold seasoning better.

In this case, the fries were enjoyable but had one noticeable issue.

The texture wasn’t quite as crispy as expected.

Looking at the fries, it was easy to see why they lacked crispness. They had a fairly pale colour rather than the deeper golden-brown colour that usually signals well-crisped fries. Because of that, the exterior didn’t develop the level of crunch that would have improved the overall experience.

Despite that, the fries were still good. The potato flavour came through nicely, and the crinkle shape makes them fun to eat.

If they had been cooked just slightly longer to achieve that golden-brown exterior, they likely would have been significantly better.

Order again? Maybe.

Cookies and Cream Milkshake

Shake Shack is also known for its milkshakes, so trying one felt like a natural addition to the meal.

The cookies and cream milkshake was decent but not particularly memorable.

The flavour itself was fine. It had the familiar combination of vanilla ice cream and crushed cookie pieces that you would expect from a cookies and cream milkshake. The sweetness level felt appropriate and the shake was thick enough to feel satisfying.

However, the experience was impacted by an unexpected issue with the paper straw.

The milkshake was served with a paper straw rather than a plastic one. While this is common now due to environmental regulations, the straw unfortunately didn’t hold up very well during the meal.

About halfway through drinking the milkshake, the straw began to soften and lose its structure. Eventually it became difficult to use because it was starting to break down.

Once that happened, finishing the milkshake became a bit awkward.

The milkshake itself was okay, but the paper straw issue definitely made the experience slightly frustrating.

Order again? No.

Atmosphere & Experience

The Shake Shack location near Leicester Square is designed for efficiency and convenience.

Because it sits in a very busy tourist area near Chinatown and the West End, the restaurant needs to handle a steady flow of customers. The touchscreen ordering kiosks help streamline the process, allowing guests to place orders quickly without waiting in long lines.

The overall atmosphere is casual and energetic. People are often stopping in for a quick bite before heading to nearby theatres, cinemas, or other attractions.

It doesn’t feel like a place where you would linger for a long time, but it works well for what it is: a fast-casual burger restaurant in a high-traffic part of London.

The global presence of the brand also adds a bit of familiarity. For travellers who have visited Shake Shack locations in other cities around the world, the experience here feels consistent with the rest of the chain.

Final Thoughts

Shake Shack in Leicester Square delivers a solid fast-casual burger experience in one of London’s busiest neighbourhoods.

The ShackBurger was the highlight of the meal, offering a well-executed smash burger with a very good sauce that ties everything together. The crinkle-cut fries were enjoyable but could have been crispier, as their pale colour suggested they might have benefited from slightly longer cooking.

The cookies and cream milkshake was decent in flavour but was negatively affected by the paper straw, which didn’t last long enough to comfortably finish the drink.

Overall, the meal was satisfying but not particularly standout.

If you’re in the Leicester Square area and want a reliable burger from a globally recognized chain, Shake Shack is a convenient option. Just keep expectations aligned with what it is—a fast-casual burger chain rather than a destination restaurant.