Let’s not fool ourselves—milkshakes are mostly ice cream, not milk. When drinking a milkshake, it’s socially acceptable to order dessert first—after all, who doesn’t love to start a meal by ordering a beverage before the entrée?
A shake is meant to be enjoyed with a burger and fries—and if you really love a salty and sweet bite, you dip your fries in your shake. From simple and pure vanilla to outlandish Crazyshakes, here are some fabulous vegan milkshakes that will truly be the maraschino cherry on top of your next plant-based meal.
PLNT Burger
1 PLNT Burger
Multiple locations
Not only is PLNT Burger the go-to spot for juicy vegan burgers, crispy vegan chicken sandwiches, and thick-cut fries, but it also offers a lineup of dairy-free shakes. Choose from indulgent flavors like Mint Cookies & Cream, Banana Crème Brûlée, and classic vanilla and chocolate. All are rich, thick, and completely plant-based.
Face Plant
2 Face Plant
Portland, OR
The Handspun Shakes are a must-try at Face Plant—right alongside the restaurant’s vegan nuggets and double cheeseburgers. Available in four classic flavors, Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, and Cold Brew, these creamy shakes are the perfect sweet finish to any meal.
Jerrel’s Betr Brgr
3 Jerrel’s Betr Brgr
New York City, NY, and Jersey City, NJ
Whether you’re heading to Soho or Jersey City, don’t miss Jerrel’s Betr Brgr’s mouthwateringly good oat milk shakes, available in Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Cookies N Cream, and Pineapple. For extra indulgence, pair one with some oat milk soft serve and all the toppings. Life’s too short to skip dessert.
Van Leeuwen
4 Van Leeuwen Scoop Shops
Multiple locations
The rumors are true: Van Leeuwen offers not one, but several vegan shakes at its Scoop Shop locations. Choose from crave-worthy flavors like banana bread pudding, chocolate chip cookie dough, dark chocolate fudge brownie, cookies and cream, and strawberry matcha latte. Sorry, we’re drooling too.
Veggie Grill By Next Level
5 Veggie Grill By Next Level
Multiple locations
Veggie Grill by Next Level isn’t short on indulgent sweet treats. Housemade carrot cake? Check. Organic ice cream? Check. Sundaes? Check. Shakes? Absolutely. During Pride Month 2026, for example, the chain is offering a Peachy Passion Pride Shake topped with vegan gummies and whipped cream.
HipCityVeg
6 HipCityVeg
Multiple locations
Like Veggie Grill by Next Level, vegan fast-food chain HipCityVeg regularly rolls out specialty shakes for Pride Month and other seasonal celebrations. But even when those limited-time offerings are gone, there’s still plenty to enjoy. Its classic vanilla and chocolate milkshakes are permanent menu staples, and they’re every bit as delicious.
Eighty7sweets
7 Eighty7Sweets
Atlanta, GA
This Atlanta spot is best known for its exceptional vegan ice cream, but don’t overlook the shakes. The menu features creative flavors like Spelman Strawberry & Mango, Biscoff, S’mores, Avocado, and plenty more. It’s a must-visit for anyone in Atlanta with a sweet tooth.
Fatburger
8 Fatburger
Multiple locations
Fatburger hasn’t gone vegan yet, but the fast-casual burger joint does offer a handful of vegan options to rival its animal-based menu. The strawberry, chocolate, Maui banana, and vanilla vegan milkshakes—made with Craig’s Vegan Ice Cream and dairy-free whip—are unfussy yet wholly satisfying. If you crave some texture in your shake, you can add Oreos by asking nicely (it’s somewhat of a secret menu item). Pair your treat with a vegan Impossible Burger and Fat Fries or crinkly sweet potato fries.
Nice Burger
9 Nice Burger
Multiple locations
This hole-in-the-wall California favorite serves up vegan renditions of fast-food favorites, and it doesn’t skimp on the milkshakes. Unlike some of the over-the-top burgers on the menu (looking at you, Big Guy Burger), Nice Burger’s Moo Shakes aren’t elaborate. Customers have their choice of vanilla or strawberry. Depending on location (there are four: in Irvine, Long Beach, Mission Viejo, and Santa Ana), additional milkshake flavors include chocolate and malt. Local tip: malt is the way to go—you don’t find a vegan malt every day.
Hummus & Pita Co
10Hummus & Pita Co
Multiple locations
This shake wins the award for most unique. The main ingredients may give you pause, but once you try it, you’ll understand the hype is real. True to its name, this vegan milkshake is made with chickpeas and tahini—otherwise known as hummus—and it’s not a savory shake. A frozen banana and dates are enough to mask the chickpea flavor, while the tahini adds an unexpected yet pleasant nuttiness. We highly recommend starting with the original, but the chain also offers chocolate, toasted almond, strawberry, butter pecan, pistachio, cold brew, and seasonal flavors.
The Straw
11The Straw Modern Milkshakes
Costa Mesa, CA
Milkshakes are the main event at this nondescript Orange County strip mall eatery, but be warned: the shakes here get a bit wild. Vegan options are available upon request, and thankfully, they’re not limited in creativity. Try Saigon Sin with durian and coconut cream, or maybe The Bear with brown sugar, chocolate chips, salted caramel, and mochi.
Spiral Diner
12Spiral Diner
Fort Worth, TX
When in Texas, a stop at the all-vegan Spiral Diner & Bakery is a must. The old-school-style diner serves its shakes in a tall, frosted glass, topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Flavors span the usual suspects—chocolate, vanilla, and cookies and cream—but the standouts are the peanut butter and strawberry cheesecake. Also, look for shake specials such as Salted Caramel or King’s Cake Shake.
Monty’s Good Burger
13Monty’s Good Burger
Southern California
Those who long for In-N-Out shakes can find solace at Monty’s Good Burger. This SoCal vegan burger chain features a streamlined menu of Impossible Burgers, fries, tots, and shakes—very similar to its non-vegan drive-thru muse. The brand does offer more involved flavors compared to In-N-Out’s trio of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Check out Travis’ Oat Matcha Latte Shake (a collaboration with longtime vegan Travis Barker), or any of the seasonal varieties at the chain’s Los Angeles or Riverside locations.
Plant Power Fast Food
14Plant Power Fast Food
Multiple locations
Monty’s may be the vegan In-N-Out, but Plant Power Fast Food has its claim as the vegan McDonald’s. The savory menu highlights handholds such as The Big Zac and a ‘Fish’ Filet Sandwich—both of which pair nicely with a vegan shake. Choose from classic flavors or opt for something a bit off-center with the horchata or cookie butter shake.
The Chicago Diner
15The Chicago Diner
Chicago, IL
More often than not, you can trust a diner to whip up a quality milkshake. This vegetarian and vegan-friendly Chicago institution offers an assortment of sweet, award-winning shakes made with Temptation’s oat-based soft serve. Choose from Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cookie Dough Peanut Butter, Ube, and more. The savory menu spans everything from Mexican to Thai, but we highly recommend pairing your shake with a plant-based burger or the spicy chicken quesadilla.
Veggie Galaxy
16Veggie Galaxy
Cambridge, MA
Tourists, be warned: if you ask for a milkshake in Boston, you’ll get a glass of milk that’s been shaken up. In Beantown, they call it a frappe. Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge serves up frappes alongside its extensive diner and bakery menu. The place only grew in popularity after being featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Expect flavors like Oreo, ube, and chocolate peanut butter, all made with locally produced FoMu vegan ice cream.
Watercourse Foods
17Watercourse Foods
Denver, CO
Denver locals flock to this comfort food haven for both its sweet and savory menu options. Shake flavors include the standard chocolate, vanilla, and peanut butter chocolate, as well as more off-the-cuff offerings like Dreamsicle and strawberries and cream. Serving sizes are manageable—12 or 16 ounces—making these milkshakes a perfect accompaniment to some of the heartier menu items.
4th & State
18 4th & State
Columbus, OH
As we said before, you can always count on a diner to deliver a great shake, and Columbus’ 4th & State is no exception. After digging into a vegan feast of stacked pancakes, French toast, or a juicy buffalo sandwich, save room for dessert. The shake menu features classics like vanilla and chocolate alongside more indulgent options like strawberry cheesecake, Thin Mint, and salted caramel.
Francis Burger Joint
19 Francis Burger Joint
Minneapolis, MN
When in Minneapolis, head to Francis Burger Joint. For a burger, of course, but also for one of the best milkshakes in the city. All of its vegan flavors—including strawberry, peach, lavender, and chocolate—come topped with housemade whipped cream and a classic cherry.
J. Selby’s
20 J. Selby’s
Saint Paul, MN
Another Minnesota vegan favorite is J. Selby’s in Saint Paul. Like Francis Burger Joint, it delivers when it comes to shakes. Thick and creamy thanks to the addition of oat milk soft serve, they come in a wide range of flavors, including mint Oreo, chocolate cherry, matcha, and classic vanilla.
Sealevel City Diner
21Sealevel City Diner
Wilmington, NC
North Carolinians, this one’s for you. Sealevel City Diner serves everything from vegan shrimp tacos to chili cheese fries, but many regulars flock to the popular spot for the shakes alone. The chocolate shake is a longtime favorite, but you’ll often find more creative flavors on the menu, too, like prickly pear.
Vertical Diner
22Vertical Diner
Salt Lake City, UT
Vertical Diner describes itself as the “world’s best plant-based diner,” so if it didn’t serve shakes, it wouldn’t be living up to the hype. Fortunately, it does. After digging into the Joaquin Phoenix burger or the Sunrise Burrito, treat yourself to a milkshake. Brownie, peanut butter, chocolate, chai—good luck choosing just one.
Bombay Food Junkies
23Bombay Food Junkies
St Louis, MO
This spot is a little different from many of the others on this list. Instead of serving classic veganized diner fare, it pairs its outstanding creamy vegan milkshakes with Indian street food. As it turns out, it’s a perfect combination. We’ll take a Belgian chocolate shake and a chik’n tikka naanwich, please.
SoulFully Vegan
24 SoulFully Vegan
Berlin, CT
This is one of Tabitha Brown’s favorite vegan spots, so you know it’s going to be good. Head to the Berlin food truck for crowd-pleasers like the Soulful Burger and the Chili Cheese Dog, but don’t leave without a shake in hand. Flavor options include Oreo Crunch, Birthday Cake, and classics like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.
Lucky Goose
25 Lucky Goose
Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque has vegan milkshake goodness, too, and it’s all thanks to Lucky Goose. No, you’re the lucky goose. Pair a serving of Lucky Fries and a Spicy BBQ Burger with a creamy Cookies and Cream shake, and you won’t regret it. The same goes for flavors like Thai Tea, Mexican Mazapan, or classic strawberry. You get the picture.
Mission Burger Ci
26 Mission Burger Co
Austin, TX, and Atlanta, GA
Mission Burger Co. has Austin and Atlanta covered, so wherever you are, you can indulge in one of its deliciously creamy milkshakes. The flavor lineup is classic (strawberry, cookies and cream, chocolate, and vanilla), but there’s nothing basic about these shakes. The secret is the dairy-free soft serve blended into every cup.
Vegan On The Fly
27Vegan On The Fly
New York, NY
New Yorkers, of course, you’re not missing out. Just like Jerrel’s, Vegan On The Fly has all your creamy vegan milkshake needs covered. Alongside the classics, you’ll find flavors like Reese’s PB Cup, Strawberry Shortcake, and Birthday Cake. We’ll take one of each.
VegOut Bethlehem
28VegOut Bethlehem
Bethlehem, PA
VegOut may be best known for its pierogis—available in flavors like Big Mac, Reuben, and Buffalo—as well as its lineup of mac and cheese dishes, burgers, and loaded sandwiches. (The jalapeño ranch mac is calling our name.) But it would be a mistake to leave without trying one of its shakes. Alongside classic flavors, the restaurant also offers an ever-changing Shake of the Week so there’s always something new to sip.
Earth Plant Based Cuisine
29Earth Plant Based Cuisine
Phoenix, AZ
Hypothetically, if we sat down for a meal at Earth Plant Based Cuisine in Phoenix, our order might look something like this: Boss Fries, a Baja Burrito, and Avocado Salsa. And, of course, a creamy shake on the side. The only tricky part is choosing a flavor. Fortunately, Earth Plant Based Cuisine has all the classics covered, so you really can’t go wrong.
Plantees
30 Plantees
Orlando, FL
Where better to round off this list than Plantees in Orlando? This burger joint arguably outperforms many mainstream fast-food chains when it comes to quality and variety, all without using any animal products. And no visit is complete without one of its hand-spun shakes, of course, available in flavors like matcha, vanilla, Oreo, and strawberry.
For more vegan restaurant bests, read:
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Tanya Flink is a VegNews writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.
