Juicy burgers
The burgers are repeatedly described as juicy, fresh and flavorful, with the SmokeShack a particular standout.
Shake Shack
Al Barsha
Shake Shack is a counter-serve hamburger restaurant in Al Barsha, serving fast-food classics with a more gourmet angle. Reviews most often point first-time visitors towards the juicy SmokeShack Burger, crispy cheese fries and thick shakes, with a drive-through also available at the Al Barsha branch.
Reputation Score
4.2
★★★★☆
1,444 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
SmokeShack hit
The SmokeShack's melted cheese, cherry pepper and signature sauce create a particularly memorable combination.
Crispy fries
Crinkle-cut fries are a reliable side, while cheese fries are the more enthusiastically praised choice.
Thick shakes
Customers regularly enjoy the creamy shakes, including the Black & White and chocolate versions.
Fresh orders
Several reviews describe food arriving hot and freshly made, including made-to-order burgers.
Rewards help
Staff can explain the Aura rewards programme and help customers redeem points through the app.
Drive-through
The Al Barsha branch has a drive-through, useful when you want burgers and fries without finding a table.
What to Eat at Shake Shack How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Shake Shack, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Shake Shack, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 3
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Cheese fries Net +4
“I ordered cheese fries too but it was I guess a bad decision, they weren't bad, but not value for money I must say.”
Positive 4Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered cheese fries too but it was I guess a bad decision, they weren't bad, but not value for money I must say.”February 2023
“Cheese fries for the win!”November 2025
-
Smokeshack burgers Net +4
“and the food… don’t get me started… ordered the smokeshack burgers and they were divine!! food was hot and fresh and i could dream about it… would definitely recommend!!”
Positive 4Negative 0
Review excerpts
“and the food… don’t get me started… ordered the smokeshack burgers and they were divine!! food was hot and fresh and i could dream about it… would definitely recommend!!”April 2026
“SmokeShack Burger is, without a doubt, the best burger around based on personal preference. It’s packed with flavor, incredibly juicy, and consistently delivers on quality.”May 2025
-
Crinkle-cut fries Net +2
“The burgers are juicy and flavorful, the crinkle-cut fries are always crispy, and the shakes are super creamy.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The burgers are juicy and flavorful, the crinkle-cut fries are always crispy, and the shakes are super creamy.”November 2024
“The crinkle-cut fries and shakes are the perfect complement to the meal.”October 2024
Honorable mentions (14)
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Bbq mushroom cheeseburger Net +1
“I ordered the BBQ mushroom Cheeseburger, and it was delicious! The burger was juicy, and the BBQ sauce had a perfect balance of sweetness and smokiness. The bun was fresh and held everything together without getting soggy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered the BBQ mushroom Cheeseburger, and it was delicious! The burger was juicy, and the BBQ sauce had a perfect balance of sweetness and smokiness. The bun was fresh and held everything together without getting soggy.”October 2024
-
Cheeseburger meal Net +1
“We ordered 2 cheeseburger meal The buns were extra soft Burger was tasty and fries were really good, not too oily nor salty!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered 2 cheeseburger meal The buns were extra soft Burger was tasty and fries were really good, not too oily nor salty!”January 2025
-
Chicken truffle burger Net +1
“Back (07'25) get the fries. The chicken truffle burger was on point too.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Back (07'25) get the fries. The chicken truffle burger was on point too.”November 2025
-
Creamy coleslaw Net +1
“The sides were equally good—crispy fries that weren’t overly greasy and a creamy coleslaw that complemented the burger nicely.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The sides were equally good—crispy fries that weren’t overly greasy and a creamy coleslaw that complemented the burger nicely.”October 2024
-
Crispy hot chicken burger Net +1
“Then the crispy hot chicken burger was also excellent. Super crispy and juicy. Loved the pickles in the burger.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Then the crispy hot chicken burger was also excellent. Super crispy and juicy. Loved the pickles in the burger.”March 2023
-
Dubai chocolate bar sundae Net +1
“Loved the new Dubai chocolate bar Sundae.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Loved the new Dubai chocolate bar Sundae.”April 2025
-
French fries Net +1
“We ordered ShackBurger: AED 30 (700 tk) Cheese Fries: AED 24 French Fries: AED 17 Lemonade (large): AED 16 Iced tea (large): AED 16 Everything was spot on except the drinks.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered ShackBurger: AED 30 (700 tk) Cheese Fries: AED 24 French Fries: AED 17 Lemonade (large): AED 16 Iced tea (large): AED 16 Everything was spot on except the drinks.”November 2021
-
Hot chocolate Net +1
“If you like hot chocolate they serve a really good one and it’s actually quite economical.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“If you like hot chocolate they serve a really good one and it’s actually quite economical.”May 2022
-
Peanut butter milkshakes Net +1
“Personally love their peanut butter milkshakes and my brother loves their chocolate milkshakes the most”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Personally love their peanut butter milkshakes and my brother loves their chocolate milkshakes the most”March 2021
-
Red velvet concrete Net +1
“If you're coming from the states, make sure you get a red velvet concrete because that's something you can't get back home.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“If you're coming from the states, make sure you get a red velvet concrete because that's something you can't get back home.”August 2018
-
Shack meal Net +1
“My friend and I visited this place to celebrate their 10 years anniversary in Middle East and enjoyed our Shack meal. The food was very delicious and service is just outstanding!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My friend and I visited this place to celebrate their 10 years anniversary in Middle East and enjoyed our Shack meal. The food was very delicious and service is just outstanding!”April 2021
-
Strawberry twist Net +1
“Their Strawberry Twist was AMAZING!! One of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted in my life!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their Strawberry Twist was AMAZING!! One of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted in my life!”June 2024
-
Truffle fries Net +1
“The truffle fries were the highlight—crispy, flavorful, and just addictive.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The truffle fries were the highlight—crispy, flavorful, and just addictive.”May 2025
-
Regular shack burger Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“Then we tried the regular shack burger and it was ok.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 4
-
Chocolate shake Net +3
“Went there on my sister’s referral and it was worth going there had their chicken burger and veg falafel burger and their chocolate shake trust me the falafel burger was better than chicken and the shake was so so so thick that i had to throw the straw and drink it directly so the main thing is its worth going there”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Went there on my sister’s referral and it was worth going there had their chicken burger and veg falafel burger and their chocolate shake trust me the falafel burger was better than chicken and the shake was so so so thick that i had to throw the straw and drink it directly so the main thing is its worth going there”April 2022
“I tried the Black & White Shake and Chocolate Shake. Both were just awesome.”May 2024
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Black & white shake Net +1
“I tried the Black & White Shake and Chocolate Shake. Both were just awesome.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I tried the Black & White Shake and Chocolate Shake. Both were just awesome.”May 2024
-
Cappuccino Net +1
“The cappuccino I had was exquisite.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The cappuccino I had was exquisite.”January 2024
-
Shake shak double Net +1
“I got a shake shak double on the recommendation of their staff member as I was trying their burger for the first time. It was quite good. Juicy, well cooked and the spices level was also good. Cheese was melted and the taste was a little different and good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I got a shake shak double on the recommendation of their staff member as I was trying their burger for the first time. It was quite good. Juicy, well cooked and the spices level was also good. Cheese was melted and the taste was a little different and good.”February 2023
What to Avoid (5)
Food 1
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Cheeseburger with veal bacon Net −1
“I had a cheeseburger with veal bacon. The burger meat itself was very dry, lacking juiciness. While eating, I came across a very chewy piece of meat, which turned out to be the veal bacon. In my opinion, the burger is way too overpriced for its quality.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I had a cheeseburger with veal bacon. The burger meat itself was very dry, lacking juiciness. While eating, I came across a very chewy piece of meat, which turned out to be the veal bacon. In my opinion, the burger is way too overpriced for its quality.”November 2023
Drinks 4
-
Dubai chocolate milkshake Net −1
“But the Dubai chocolate milkshake? A bit of a disappointment. If you’ve tasted real Dubai chocolate, this one falls flat. The flavor was more milky than chocolaty, with barely a trace of pistachio or kunafa. At around €9, it’s definitely not worth it in my opinion.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“But the Dubai chocolate milkshake? A bit of a disappointment. If you’ve tasted real Dubai chocolate, this one falls flat. The flavor was more milky than chocolaty, with barely a trace of pistachio or kunafa. At around €9, it’s definitely not worth it in my opinion.”May 2025
-
Ice tea Net −1
“We ordered ShackBurger: AED 30 (700 tk) Cheese Fries: AED 24 French Fries: AED 17 Lemonade (large): AED 16 Iced tea (large): AED 16 Everything was spot on except the drinks.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We ordered ShackBurger: AED 30 (700 tk) Cheese Fries: AED 24 French Fries: AED 17 Lemonade (large): AED 16 Iced tea (large): AED 16 Everything was spot on except the drinks.”November 2021
-
Special drinks floats Net −1
“Their special drinks floats are not very refreshing.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Their special drinks floats are not very refreshing.”July 2019
-
Lemonade Net −2
“2ndly their lemonade, was over sour extra sour it catched my throat and let me tell you I do not have sensitive throat.i didn't like their lemonade it's good if you order their burgers only.”
Positive 0Negative 2
Critical review excerpts
“2ndly their lemonade, was over sour extra sour it catched my throat and let me tell you I do not have sensitive throat.i didn't like their lemonade it's good if you order their burgers only.”January 2025
“We ordered ShackBurger: AED 30 (700 tk) Cheese Fries: AED 24 French Fries: AED 17 Lemonade (large): AED 16 Iced tea (large): AED 16 Everything was spot on except the drinks.”November 2021
Tips for a Better Visit
Check hours. Confirm closing time before a late visit; one customer arrived at 11pm while the branch was already closing.
Avoid peak times. Choose a quieter period if you dislike mall noise or crowded seating.
Try SmokeShack. For a first burger, consider the SmokeShack; reviews specifically praise its juicy meat, cheese, cherry pepper and signature sauce.
Use drive-through. At the Al Barsha branch, use the drive-through if you want takeaway without dealing with the dining area.
Skip lemonade. If you are sensitive to sour drinks, consider another beverage: one reviewer found the lemonade sharply over-sour.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Mall Of Emirates
Al Barsha First - Al Barsha, Dubai
| Mon | 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM |
| Tue | 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM |
| Wed | 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM |
| Thu | 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM |
| Fri | 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM |
| Sat | 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM |
| Sun | 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Small portions
Some customers feel the burgers and fries are undersized for the price, especially beside larger fast-food competitors.
Higher prices
Multiple reviews describe the food as expensive or poor value, particularly the fries and combo-free individual ordering.
Crowded seating
The mall branch can become noisy and crowded, with one review mentioning children running and screaming nearby.
Hours mismatch
One customer found the branch closing at 11pm despite Google Maps showing a 1am closing time.
Mixed drinks
The Dubai chocolate milkshake was called overly milky, while another reviewer found the lemonade excessively sour.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Shake Shack in Al Barsha is a counter-serve burger stop for a quick meal, with takeaway and a drive-through at the Al Barsha branch. The strongest recurring choices are the juicy SmokeShack Burger, ShackBurger and Fries, cheese fries, and thick shakes. It sits above basic fast food in price, but the food quality is what keeps many customers returning.
The burgers are usually praised for being hot, fresh and flavorful. The SmokeShack gets especially specific approval for its melted cheese, cherry pepper and signature sauce, while the crinkle-cut fries are often crisp. Chicken options receive mixed attention, though one review found the crispy hot chicken burger excellent and another praised the chicken pieces.
Value is the main reservation. Some diners found the portions small for the price, with fries and cheese fries singled out as poor value. There is also no meal bundle according to one review, so individual items can add up.
Reported prices included AED 30 for a ShackBurger, AED 24 for cheese fries and AED 17 for fries. The mall setting can be crowded and noisy, so off-peak visits are more comfortable. Check opening hours before going late, as one customer found the branch closing at 11pm despite a later online listing.
Drinks are less consistent than the burgers, particularly the Dubai chocolate milkshake and lemonade.