Cuisine Scene: Milkshakes

There’s a particular craving that only a milkshake will quench. It’s somewhere between a drink and a dessert, and while it goes great with a burger and fries, it can also stand alone as a snack unto itself. Whether you love a classic shake from your favorite diner or want to try an over-the-top creation worthy of posting for all your friends online, Long Beach has a milkshake for you.

KOOLBERRY

Yes, you can order a healthful acai bowl topped with granola at the Koolberry (3768 Long Beach Blvd #100) stand adjacent to SteelCraft Long Beach, but you can also get a milkshake as well as a Freak Shake, which includes tempting crumbles and drizzles and an indulgent dessert perched on top. The Biscoff Freak is a shake flavored like the famous cookies topped with whipped cream, crumbled cookies, caramel drizzle, and a slice of Biscoff cheesecake.

HUG LIFE

Those who are lactose intolerant or vegan won’t be left out of the tasty world of shakes in Long Beach. Hug Life (2707 E 4th St), a plant-based ice cream shop, lists six milkshakes on its menu and also offers customers the option to build their own from any of their ice cream flavors and oat, soy, or almond milk. The S’mores milkshake mixes marshmallow, chocolate, and cinnamon toast flavors with a hint of nostalgic campfire bliss.

DALE’S DINER

At Dale’s Diner (4339 E Carson St) you can order a picture-perfect malt or milkshake, topped with a swirl of whipped cream and a cherry. There’s the typical (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry) and the atypical (pineapple, blueberry, and mint). If you order the Dale’s combo–burger, fries, and salad–on Fridays between 4 and 9 PM, you get a shake for free.

POLLY’S PIES

Serving classic American fare, housemade pies and coffee in Long Beach since 1972, Polly’s Pies (3490 Atlantic Ave) will make any slice of pie into a custom shake, blending your slice with milk and ice cream for a drinkable dessert perfect for pie lovers. Try it with the Banberry pie, made with banana cream filling and fresh strawberries.

LA MICHOACANA HELADERÍA TRADICIONAL

Let your imagination run wild at La Michoacana Heladeria Tradicional (1168 E Anaheim St), which offers a huge variety of ice cream flavors for making malteadas (Spanish for milkshakes). From banana with nutella, pistachio, and Irish cream, to Mexican flavors like mazapan (peanut candy), rompope (rum raisin), and piñon (pine nut), you can create a custom shake exactly to your taste. Or try one of their preset shake selections, like strawberry cheesecake.

About the Author

Claire Atkinson

Claire Atkinson is a Southern California native who has lived in Long Beach for nearly 20 years. She spends her free time visiting local parks, farmers markets, and museums, and loves learning about Long Beach history and culture.