Where to find shamrock shakes

IHOP debuts new restaurant called Flip'd. Beginning February 15, the fan-favorite milkshake as well as an Oreo Shamrock McFlurry will go on sale at US restaurants for a limited time. These temporary offerings, which include not only holiday items but also specials such as the McRib and celebrity meals, help McDonald's create buzz and boost sales. McDonald's first started selling the Shamrock Shake in Over the years, the burger chain has brought back the original as well as variations like the "Shamrock Sundae" in , a chocolate version in and the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry in The Shamrock Shake first went on sale nationally in Fast food chains are constantly competing for customers' dollars and attention, and specialty offerings are a way to try to cut through the noise.

McDonald's MCD has unveiled lots of items in this category in recent months, including spicy chicken nuggets and celebrity meal deals with singers J. Balvin and Travis Scott. The offerings create "menu excitement that keeps customers engaged," CEO Chris Kempczinski said on McDonald's most recent earnings call. The opportunities for real discovery are fewer and farther between. The Shamrock Shake is a minty green frozen dessert that packs calories in every ounce serving.

This is where the hunt comes in. Among the many bastardized versions of Irish folklore recirculated in North America around St. The mythical creatures were indeed said to guard hidden treasures, but the link to the rainbow, and the idea that the meteorological arc could serve as a sort of treasure map for humans seeking gold, is an American invention.

Similarly, the hunt for an Irish-themed milkshake is peculiarly and particularly American. By , technology had taken the nationwide obsession to a new level, with online trackers like ShakeLocator.

On those, hunters chronicled their heartbreaks and triumphs. This year, Shamrock Shake hunters have a new tech tool at their disposal. Shakes in Canada and Ireland are not included. But with new technology comes new disappointments. One week after its launch, the app had less than two stars in the iOS App Store and 69 reviews, most of them scathing. It is indeed a very confusing tool. It opens not as an independent app but as an extension in your text messages, presumably so users can send findings to fellow shake lovers post-haste.

When I tapped on the tiny green shake in the App Drawer, all I saw at first was a blank beige screen. Then a grid appeared. The grid turned into a map of the US. And then, after a few seconds, green bubbles blossomed across America. Last year, the popular shake was not available in many markets, so it was frustrating not having one near me. Did you celebrate St. Now that St. The shake arrived on Feb. The famous shake features a yummy vanilla soft serve that is blended with Shamrock secret flavors and topped with whipped cream.

Is it one of the Shamrock shakes or another seasonal item? Image courtesy of McDonald's. Guilty Eats 7 months The best foodie deals for St. Patrick's Day Guilty Eats 8 months How healthy is your matcha drink from Starbucks? Streaming More Netflix News ». More Amazon News ».