10 Fast Food Chains That Use Real Ice Cream in Their Milkshakes

Right after the burger, milkshakes are one of the better American inventions — the one-handed confectionary wonders you can slurp with a straw. ​​Milkshakes began in the late 1800s as an alcoholic eggnog-like drink with eggs, milk, and whiskey. By the early 1900s, soda fountains ditched the booze for syrups and malt powder. It wasn’t until the 1920s, with the rise of the electric blender, that ice cream became the base.  

Nowadays, many fast-food chains rely on soft-serve or mixes for their milkshakes, but a few stay true to tradition and make theirs with real ice cream.  

Here are 10 that do it right. 

Shake Shack frequents most of our "high-quality" real-deal lists since the chain has a knack for doing things right — and that applies to their milkshakes as well. Shake Shack uses in-house-made premium ice cream, which is actually frozen custard — a creamier version of ice cream that includes at least 1.4% egg yolks.  

Their custard ice cream is made fresh daily, using real cane sugar and cage-free eggs, in flavors like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookies and cream, tiramisu, and dreamsicle. 

Cherry Limeade is probably the obvious choice when you are at Sonic, but one shall not sleep on their shakes — because they’re worth the brain freeze. They’re seriously good, thick, creamy, and made with real ice cream, hand-mixed into a delicious shake with borderline ridiculous flavor options. 

Few things are as West Coast as the palm tree-clad cups at In-N-Out, especially when those cups are filled with their milkshakes. Made with real ice cream, these shakes are thick enough to challenge your straw but smooth enough to keep you coming back for more. 

The chain is famous for having only three classic flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, and for the adventurous tastebuds, there is the Neapolitan—a mix of all three. 

There are three things that make Culver’s a top-notch chain and a regional favorite: the ButterBurgers, the cheese curds, and their fresh Frozen Custard. While it’s technically not traditional ice cream, Culver’s Frozen Custard is close enough to count — and might even be better. 

Made with pasteurized egg yolks, a special ingredient first used by ice cream vendors on Coney Island in 1919, their custard has a velvety richness that takes shakes to another level. 

Just like Culver’s, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers uses freshly churned custard as the base for their milkshakes. Freddy’s churns its custard daily and mixes it with milk to create a thick, creamy shake that many argue surpasses traditional ice cream-based versions. 

Flavors are simple — vanilla, chocolate, or a mix of both — with the option to add malt for a little extra nostalgia.

As one of the oldest fast-food chains in the country—and with 'shake' right in the name—Steak 'n Shake knows how to put a straw to good use. Their milkshakes are made with real ice cream and fresh milk for a creamy texture. The menu includes classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, as well as options like Oreo, banana, birthday cake, and cotton candy.  

Each shake is hand-blended to order, giving you a thick, satisfying shake that lives up to its reputation. 

Potbelly may be known for its toasted sandwiches, but their milkshakes are a hidden gem. Made with hand-scooped real ice cream, these shakes are thick and creamy. Flavors stick to the classics of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, but they also offer fun add-ins like Oreo for a bit of variety. Each shake comes with a signature shortbread cookie on the straw. 

Johnny Rockets does retro right, and their milkshakes are no exception. They hand-dip real ice cream in classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, along with fun twists like Oreo, peanut butter, and seasonal specials. Each shake is blended to order and served in a frosty glass. 

What goes better with a roast sandwich than a milkshake? At Arby’s, you get the real deal. Their shakes, including the fan favorite Jamocha— a coffee and chocolate — are made with real ice cream.  

Given that it’s right there in the name, Bruster’s makes its milkshakes with its own freshly made real ice cream. They’re also not shy in the flavor department, with a rotating menu of over 150 options.