12 best spots to grab a milkshake when you’re desperate to beat this heat

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

Full menu | Locations

The burger joint originated in Charlotte with its menu of over-the-top burgers and now has locations in 6 states across the country. You’re there for the burgers, but save room for the equally over-the-top shakes. Connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Favorite shake (Dilworth location): Cookies and Cream
Shake most likely to make your jaw drop: Chunky Elvis Shake (peanut butter, Ghiradelli chocolate, banana and walnuts)
Honorable mentions: BD Snickered Shake (Ghiradelli chocolate, peanuts and caramel), spiked milkshakes (flavors include Mud Slide, Irish Cream and Grasshopper)
Pro tip: Stop by each month for a new featured flavor. Past flavors include Coffee and Donuts, Luck of the Irish, Sweetheart and Apple Pie.

Big View Diner

Full menu | 16637 Lancaster Highway | Sunday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-11 p.m.

Expect a huge classic diner menu, reminiscent of New Jersey and New York, at this family-friendly restaurant and bakery. Connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Favorite shake: The simple ones – vanilla, chocolate, strawberry
Shake most likely to make your jaw drop: S’mores (chocolate ice cream, caramel, marshmallow cream, graham cracker crumbs)
Honorable mentions: Birthday Cake (cake batter ice cream, vanilla cake scraps, whipped cream, birthday cake clusters), Peanut Butter (vanilla ice cream, peanut butter sauce, whipped cream, peanut butter chips)

Cook Out

Full menu | Locations 

The fast-food restaurant, known for its stunningly low prices and meals in which things like corndogs and quesadillas serve as sides, is a staple in every high schooler’s late night, as most locations are open until 3 a.m. It’s a crime to leave without one of their 40+ milkshakes in hand. Connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Favorite shake (Monroe Road location): Strawberry
Shake most likely to make your jaw drop: Cheesecake (with real chunks of cheesecake; flavors include blueberry, caramel, cherry, chocolate chip and strawberry)
Honorable mentions: Peanut Butter Fudge, Peanut Butter Banana, Double Chocolate and Cobbler (peach or cherry)
Pro tip: The seasonal options are worth a stop. Look for Fresh Watermelon in the summer (July-August) and Egg Nog in the winter (December).

The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

Full menu | 4310 Sharon Road | Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Sushi and burger restaurant whose menu also includes burgushi and bento boxes. Connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Favorite shake: Cookies & Cream (vanilla bean ice cream, oreos)
Shake most likely to make your jaw drop: Gimmie More S’More Shake (vanilla bean ice cream, double dark chocolate, mallow cream, graham crackers)
Honorable mentions: The “All Shook Up” (peanut butter, jelly, banana, vanilla ice cream), Cara Shake (vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate, peanut butter, chocolate mousse, shaved chocolate, peanut butter candy), No Sleep Til Brooklyn (Myer’s Dark Rum, Kahlua, ice cream, malt, coffee concentrate, chocolate-covered espresso beans)

The Soda Shop

Full menu | 104 South Main Street, Davidson | Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

A Davidson tradition, the shop opened in 1951 across from the college with a classic menu that includes breakfast daily until 2 p.m., burgers, hoagies, sandwiches and, of course, diner menu-worthy shakes and floats. Connect on Facebook.

Favorite shake: Black and White
Shake most likely to make your jaw drop: Almond Joy (chocolate, coconut and vanilla ice cream)
Honorable mentions: Irish Crème (vanilla and syrup), Caramel (caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream and vanilla syrup)
Pro tip: Get your shake made extra thick for $.50.

Elizabeth Creamery

1535 Elizabeth Avenue | Tuesday-Thursday, 12-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 12-10:30 p.m., Sunday, 12-9:30 p.m.

You’ll find the homemade ice cream shop and family-run neighborhood staple slinging cones with flavors like ginger, brownie fudge and Oreo behind Carpe Diem. Connect on Facebook.

Note: There is no dedicated milkshake menu – each flavor can be made into one.

Favorite shake: Reese’s
Shake most likely to make your jaw drop: Ginger
Honorable mentions: Mint Oreo

Golden Cow Creamery

Full menu | Locations

The South End staple recently expanded to SouthPark and brought its small batch menu with it. Staple flavors are always available (Rich Chocolate, Creamy Vanilla, Fresh Strawberry, Mint Chocolate Chip, Salted Oreo and Dunkaroos), but don’t skip the rotating flavors, which change monthly.

Favorite shake: Salted Oreo
Shake most likely to make your jaw drop: Dunkaroos
Pro tip: Anything flavor the menu can be made into a shake

Mr. K’s Soft Ice Cream

Full menu | 2107 South Boulevard | Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

The burger stand and Charlotte staple just celebrated the 50th anniversary of its no-frills, classic menu that sticks to the basics like burgers, hot dogs, fries and soft serve. In truth, you only need $8 to understand why it’s still one of the city’s favorites. Connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Favorite shake: Chocolate
Shake most likely to make your jaw drop: Hot Fudge
Honorable mentions: Butterscotch, Dark Chocolate, Peanut Butter
Pro tip: You can cram as many flavors as you’d like into one shake for just $.65/flavor.

Ninety’s Sandwiches & Ice Cream

Full menu | 9009 JM Keynes Drive | Monday-Saturday, 12-10 p.m., Sunday, 1-9 p.m.

University City’s family-run ice cream shop is known for its drool- and Instagram-worthy menu items, which include macaron ice cream sandwiches, cookie dough pops and sweet bread stuffed with ice cream. Connect on Facebook and Instagram.

Favorite shake: Any of the cereal shakes (flavors include Fruity Pebbles and Froot Loops)
Shake most likely to make your jaw drop: Hot Chocolate
Honorable mention: Boom Choco-Lota Coconut (vanilla ice cream, coconut flakes, caramel syrup, chocolate syrup, shortbread cookies)

Park Road Soda Shoppe

Menus | Locations 

A 1950s-style diner with two locations serving up all the classics since the late ’90s. Connect on Facebook.

Favorite shake: Chocolate (hand-dipped vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup), Cookies and Creme
Shake most likely to make your jaw drop: Peanut Butter Pecan Malt with whipped cream
Pro tip: There’s a new featured flavor every month, which is the perfect excuse to go

Pike’s Old Fashioned Soda Shop

Full menu | 1930 Camden Road | Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

This retro soda shop in the heart of South End is known for its homestyle menu items, milkshakes, sundaes and splits. Catch it in the 2001 rom-com Shallow Hal. Connect on Facebook.

Favorite shake: Strawberry
Shake most likely to make your jaw drop: Black Cherry
Honorable mentions: Root Beer, Peanut Butter

Shake Shack

Full menu | 1605 East Woodlawn Road | Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

The New York City-based chain finally made its way to Charlotte this year and the city lost its mind over the well-known fries, burgers and classic shakes. Connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Favorite shake: Black and White (vanilla with fudge)
Shake most likely to make your jaw drop: Any of the featured shakes, which are served on a rotating basis; past flavors have included Apple Pie à la Mode, Red Velvet Chocolate Chip and Mint Cookies and Cream

Feature photo via Facebook