We put these fast-food milkshakes to the test

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ATLANTA SUMMER GUIDE

We put these fast-food milkshakes to the test
Krystal, Wendy's and Chick-fil-A have new shakes for summer

By ELIZABETH LEE
Published on: 06/12/08

Shake it up, baby. Summer's here, and there's a slew of new chilled drinks to slurp down. Our favorite is Krystal's MilkQuake, an ice-cream-based shake. The new, limited-time flavors are Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, which was the testers' favorite, and Banana Pudding, a frothy concoction with bits of Nilla wafers blended in. (Vanilla, chocolate and strawberry are also available.)

There are some things you can't fake, and a milkshake is one of them. When they're made with real ice cream, they taste better. That's why these stand out. Good-quality mix-ins also boost the appeal. The peanut butter shake is a yummy blend of chocolate and peanut butter, just like the candy bar. The banana shake uses flavoring, not actual bananas, but tastes much closer to the real thing than most banana drinks. If you're looking for drinkable banana pudding, this fits the bill.

By the numbers: Split these with a few friends: The banana pudding shake has 1,060 calories, and the peanut butter cup has 1,010. A 20-ounce cup is $2.79.

Wendy's: Flavoring syrup overwhelms

The Frosty is going through another kind of shake-up at Wendy's. What was once just a frozen chocolate dessert, then expanded to a vanilla flavor and then to candy mix-ins, is also now a shake. (You can still get the original, eat-with-a-spoon Frosty.)

We tried the new Frosty Shake in Strawberry and Vanilla Bean. And the minute the clerk started pouring the bright red strawberry flavoring into a cup of shake base, we got a bad feeling. Sure enough, it tasted harsh and artificial. The sauce does contain some real strawberries, according to nutritional information on the Wendy's Web site, but doesn't taste like many made it into the final product. The Vanilla Bean, also supplemented with a flavoring syrup, was only slightly better.

By the numbers: A large, 16-ounce shake contains 520 calories; suggested retail is $3.19.

Chick-fil-A: Too much of a sweet thing

Chick-fil-A's summer shake flavor is Coffee Caramel, a supersweet concoction that's around through early August. The flavor is similar to Quik-Trip's Frozen Cappuccino, creamy with a mild coffee flavor.

It's pleasant enough at first, but the highly sweetened drink wears out its welcome after a few sips. And with a 19-ounce shake the only available size, that leaves a lot of drink still to slurp.

By the numbers: One serving is 810 calories, another argument for splitting with two other coffee lovers. $2.89.

Your turn: Have you tried them?

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Comments

By M & T

Jul 23, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

Well, we're in to the sweet stuff (fat or not) - we'll go try one and let ya know..

By katie

Jun 23, 2008 3:18 AM | Link to this

People are so fat in this country...not because of milkshakes...but because people don't work out or go out and do physical stuff. In the 60's malts were totally in...and people were skinny? They also didn't have internet...widly spread and attaonable cars..ect.

P.s. Banana milkquake is the bomb. I'm 5'3 125 lbs and I have one once a week...there goes yall argument.

By Gravy Brown

Jun 17, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this

This is the reason America is so fat u guys talk about what u eat like it is a child. u are all so fat. Milkshakes are good and i eat them everyday, but i only weigh 165 pounds its because i actually move and dont sit on my lazy *** all the time like you lazy americans. This is the reason the US is so fat

By Renee

Jun 15, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

I love the Krystal banana shake,and agree with Edward.

By Dee

Jun 15, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

And, we wonder why adults and kids are obese!

By Mike In Woodstock

Jun 15, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

Okay, what's happened at the AJC blog boards. They run a blog about milkshakes for 4 days straight but do not have one about the riot in downtown last night (Which by the way they totally neutralized in their report!).

By Mighty Joe Young

Jun 15, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

With possible flavors like banana or watermelon or fried chicken you would think select KFC locations, especially those down below I-20, would server milkshakes.

By Edward

Jun 15, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

If you have to worry about the calories, you don't need to be ordering a milkshake to begin with. As in everything else, moderation is key. The occasional milkshake isn't going to hurt you.

Personally, the shakes at Woody's on the corner of Monroe Dr. and Virginia Ave. in midtown are some of the best. Steak 'n Shake are also super. Johnny Rocket's makes a mean shake, as well.

The fast food chains, while sometimes passable (Arby's Jamocha for instance), just aren't in the same class.

By Sharisse

Jun 14, 2008 7:09 AM | Link to this

Hmm, I don't think a watermelon milkshake would be very good. And fried chicken?? You must be making fun!! You silly! But seriously, we really don't need to be eating those high calorie milkshakes. My husband and I buy child size shakes/ice creams on the rare occasiona when we do indulge, then we split that!!

By sheila

Jun 14, 2008 6:58 AM | Link to this

I never read anything raciest!I read the whole thing. Just give it a break, get over yourself. You are not owed anything.

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