It’s a typical day at school or work, counting down the hours until you can kick back and relax at home, and maybe if you’re lucky and finish all your work before bed watch an episode of that Netflix show that you’re dying to know the end of. You know, it’s been a hard day…maybe you will even allow yourself to get a treat, and what would be better than a milkshake? Yes, you decide you deserve that creamy, delicious milkshake and immediately head over to your local Chick Fil A. Apparently everyone had a bad day, because the line is taking forever. You decide to venture over to McDonalds, but it’s just as crowded! You look around and see a sign for Five Guys. You remember the time you last had a burger there – yum. But as you squint you see under the big sign it says “milkshakes.” Five Guys has milkshakes? Who knew. It’s a day to try something new. After you order, you try a sip of your new treat and realize IT’S AMAZING! That’s the moment when you ask yourself, “why didn’t I come here before?”

If you are looking for something new to spice up (literally and metaphorically) your milkshakes, try a milkshake at Five Guys. You will be utterly surprised by the extensive amount of flavors they offer – no more just chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry. You can choose from coffee to peanut butter, and not only that but you can add mix in flavors and toppings, completely free of charge! Ok, so now that you have decided to go with the malted milk shake, you have to choose what size. Are you the kind of person whose eyes are too big for your stomach, so the decision to order a large always is regretted after with a massive stomach ache to pay for it? Well, you’re in luck because there is only one size – a simple 12 ounce cup for $4. No more debating in your head if you really need that large or you’re just hangry.

While doing some research, I was able to compare Five Guys shakes to competing food chain smoothies, such as Burger King, Chick Fil A and McDonalds. By comparing these, I found some major similarities and differences for the delivery, cost, and calories of each shake. For starters, delivery times, while mostly around the same time, vary.

If you are ordering from Chick Fil A, they have started a strategy where employees take your order as you drive up, that way by the time you get up to the actual ordering menu, your food is already being made. Another technique of allowing customers to order online before arriving or calling in is being used by Burger King. McDonalds has jumped on the bandwagon, along with many other popular food chains like Wendy’s, into allowing its food to be delivered through UberEats. One downside of Five Guys, is like most others, you are able to order your food online – but it is not a drive thru. So, while service time is about the same for all places, it seems as some have an upper hand to advancement in their delivery of shakes.

As for comparison of price, medium shakes in each place are about $3.00-$3.50, besides Chick Fil A who only has small and large sizes, which range from $3.50-$4.00. Although some restaurants’ shakes may be cheaper, Five Guys offers more variety of flavors and free toppings, so it’s your choice what you want to spend your money on.

Lastly, when comparing the calories, Five Guys is consistently at least a hundred less than the other main food chain restaurants. Given, this all depends on the flavor that you order. For example, when purchasing a chocolate milkshake the calories add up to about 760 at Burger King, 710 at Chick Fil A, while McDonald’s is tied with Five at 670 calories.

With all these facts considered, Five Guys shakes, while it has some downsides versus other food chain restaurants, is a great option for changing up where you get your milkshakes. The variety of flavors and toppings is sure to please all of your weird, atypical cravings late at night, or for a middle of the day pick-me-up. So swing by your local Five Guys to be surprised by a new kind of shake.