D.C.'s burger wars continue with yet another expansion from Shake Shack. The New York–based chain opens its fourth D.C. location today in Union Station, joining its outposts in Dupont Circle, Penn Quarter, and Nationals Park.
In addition to the usual ShackBurgers and flat-top hot dogs, the new burger joint has some location-specific frozen custard concretes featuring ingredients from local bakers. Among them is the Busy Bee with vanilla custard, strawberry puree, and a “bee sting bar” with sliced almonds and honey from Baked & Wired. Another concoction called the Beaux-Arts Banana contains vanilla custard, caramel sauce, banana, and graham crackers from local baked goods business Pollystyle. Five percent of sales from the Beau-Arts Banana concrete will go to local nonprofit Casey Trees, which aims to protect the tree canopy in D.C.
The two-story Union Station Shake Shack is located in the West Hall of the transportation hub. The spot also boasts lots of recycled and sustainable materials, an energy-efficient kitchen, and tabletops made from reclaimed bowling alley lanes.
Shake Shack, 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE, shakeshack.com. (Jessica Sidman)