Shakin’ to the Beat of Milkshakes

“My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and they’re like, it’s better than yours… I could teach you, but I have to charge.”

So, of course, this song Milkshake by Kelis has been stuck in my head for days, and this week, I had to take it upon myself to feature all things milkshakes!

Well, guess what? Lady Luck was on my side, as the following Ono, You Know establishments have once again brought me to their “yards” with their delectable milkshakes.

Ono readers, it’s time to shake things up with some of the best milkshakes around. Be it strawberry, Oreo, classic vanilla or even avocado — each milk-shake is absolute pure delight. Grab a straw, there’s definitely enough to go around! Are you ready to shake, rattle and roll?

Big City Diner

What’s not to love about Big City Diner? This place is literally a bustling hot spot offering just as many onolicious finds as any metropolitan city, such as New York City or Los Angeles. Hungry for burgers? Big City Diner’s got you covered. A Loco Moco? Check. A Fire-Roasted Portobello Mushroom Salad? Check. This eatery has it all!

With five locations islandwide, Big City Diner first opened for business 13 years ago in Kaimuki under the direction of president and owner Lane Muraoka. Since then, a dedicated team of employees has come on board providing you with exceptional service and tempting cuisine, including the creamiest of milkshakes that pair perfectly with almost everything on the menu.

On my most recent visit to my favorite eatery, Waipio district manager Alex Pedi wasted no time in whipping up a couple of their most-requested milkshakes for me. I was seriously drooling over the irresistible Oreo milkshake and chocolate milkshake. I would simply call it milk-shake madness at its finest!

“A good milkshake begins with good ice cream, and that’s why we use Bubbie’s ice cream,” Pedi says.

It doesn’t take much to make a magnificent shake, in fact a few scoops of ice cream, a bit of milk, and of course, a mountain of whipped cream, and you’re good to go. Oh, and we must not forget the cherry on top!

Big City Diner offers your classic flavors of chocolate, strawberry and vanilla, but also caters to eclectic tastes with raspberry, mocha and Oreo shakes. A small shake is priced at $4.99 and a large shake costs $5.99.

“The Oreo shake is our most popular,” Pedi adds, noting that it’s topped off with whipped cream, bits of Oreo cookie and the signature cherry.

And for those 21 and over, the buzz is spreading about Big City Diner’s Beer Shake ($7.50). Available only at the Pearlridge and Waipio locations, this unique shake is a concoction of Guinness beer and chocolate ice cream. Believe me, this is not your typical root beer shake!

“A lot of love goes into our shakes,” Pedi explains. No wonder Big City’s shakes taste so good!

Teddy’s Bigger Burgers

Burgers and fries and shakes, oh my! Nothing beats an epic meal like this, let me tell you — and here at Teddy’s Bigger Burgers you can feast like a king on a daily basis! Founded in 1998, this burger joint with a ’50s theme and a simple menu of burgers, fries and shakes has undoubtedly made a name for itself when it comes to quality food and customer service. All items are made to order, and Matt Stula, operating partner of the University location, says its extra thick shakes ($5.29 each) are some of the best by far.

Imagine a rainbow of flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, strawberry peanut butter, chocolate peanut butter, dreamsicle or pineapple to awaken your senses — oh, and forget counting calories — sometimes ignorance is bliss!

Anxious to get my “dairy fix,” I couldn’t wait to slurp up Teddy’s amazing pumpkin shake and chocolate shake. According to Stula, the pumpkin shake has been named Shake of the Month and for good reason — this festive shake is like a slice of pumpkin pie in a cup.

“The pumpkin shake is my personal favorite,” Stula states. “It has a great pumpkin and nutmeg flavor, and we’ve received great feedback from it. As far as our chocolate shake, it’s easily one of our most popular shakes. You really can’t go wrong with a classic.”

Now, this was my very first time sippin’ on the pumpkin shake, and like all Teddy’s shakes, it was divine. And listen up, here’s the inside scoop: Dip Teddy’s delicious fries into any smooth and creamy shake of your choice. With the first bite, you’ll notice that the sweet and salty combination is a match made in heaven! Now, if only Kim Kardashian’s marriage could’ve lived up to that.

“Our shakes are homemade and hand-scooped with Dave’s ice cream and a bit of milk,” Stula says. “That’s why you’ll notice extra chunks of ice cream in the shake itself.”

So, go ahead and spoil yourself with this sinful indulgence, the holidays are approaching and you deserve it!

Pho My Lien Vietnamese Restaurant

Pho My Lien’s authentic Vietnamese cuisine is drawing crowds from all over to its “phobulous” location in Aiea’s Westridge Shopping Center. From piping hot bowls of pho to crispy spring rolls and chicken salad, customers can sample a taste of Saigon, thanks to owners Tommy and Lien Dang.

And as much as I love original Vietnamese culinary concepts, this week it was all about Pho My Lien’s splendid milkshakes ($4.50 each) which showcase a bit of Vietnamese flair.

“The shakes here are all made from Lien’s mother’s recipes,” says Walter James, who serves as financial adviser for the establishment. “What’s unique about our shakes is that they contain all healthful products and consist of no heavy creams — fresh fruit is the main ingredient, and the flavors depend on the types of fruit available at the time.”

On this particular visit to Pho My Lien, Tommy expertly blended ratios of fresh fruit, crushed ice, secret seasonings, milk and condensed milk, resulting in some of the freshest dessert drinks I’ve ever had. Before me was a colorful array of eggnog, strawberry, papaya and avocado shakes.

Tommy himself is a big fan of the eggnog shake, whereas I prefer strawberry.

“A lot of people aren’t aware that Pho My Lien serves shakes,” James says. “We also have a monthly special going on featuring Vietnamese Chicken for $4.99.”