It's been over a year since Shake Shack opened its doors to Atlanta and the lines have not ceased. Drive past the Buckhead Atlanta complex on any given night -- tables are filled with people and lines are consistently out the door. Droves of burger lovers dine here and keep coming back. We thought the lines would eventually taper after the newness wore off, but that hasn't been the case here. A northern establishment successfully establishing roots in the south is no easy feat, but Shake Shack did it. Is it the ingredients, the atmosphere, the menu or the online gear keeping up the hype? Atlanta Eats investigates why you can't stop eating Shake Shack burgers and mountains of cheese fries.

About the Author

Featured

A father and daughter ride bikes along 10th Street in Atlanta on a frigid Dec. 15, 2025, days before winter's official start. While forecasters predict overall warmer weather this winter compared to the norm, we still can expect some properly cold days interspersed throughout the season. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren