Last night we were too tired to go anywhere seriously for food after a 16 hours long haul flight from Hong Kong to New York and then another few hours to New Haven by car. So we dropped by the same old Shake Shack we went about ten years ago when we first visited Yale and New Haven.

The Shake Shack shop today still stands firm on Chapel Street in downtown New Haven, sending a clear message to all its guests — yes, I survived during the pandemic (because many other shops on the same street were already closed and empty now).

The story of Shake Shack is also a story about globalisation. Ten years ago, Shake Shack only operated in the US. People came to the US for Shake Shack (and Blue Bottles, etc) and many Chinese and Hong Kong celebrities liked to take selfies with Shake Shack burgers to prove they were abroad.

Not any more!

Today Shake Shack already has dozens shops in Mainland China, and of course in Hong Kong too. It was treated by the local more as a sort of ”high-end version of McDonald’s.”

I might be biased. How come I feel Shake Shack burgers tasted much better in New Haven than in Hong Kong? Or perhaps it is true because more fresh ingredients like beef and vegetables we got here in the US? Hmm…

And inflation is another issue. It’s a global phenomenon. Don’t let me start. The prices were much higher than about ten years ago. I know, even McDonald’s these days.

Shake Shack New Haven
986 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06510