Bay Area Shamrock Shake sightings?

[rworange]

Per a yelper the McDonald's SS has been spotted at Prospect and Lawrence in San Jose.

Any others?

Yeah. Shamrock Shake. It's been a few years since they've been spotted in the bay area. Looking forward to putting together a McGrasshoper ... half shamrock shake and half chocolate shake.

This better not be a time yelp plays with me. If I drive all the way to San Jose for a shamrock shake and there is none, my seasonal Irish eyes won't be smiling. Hopefully someone will spot one nearer the East Bay.

[kcchan]

The location on Fremont Blvd. (at Mowry) in Fremont has them; the one by Newpark Mall in Newark does not.

[Bunson]

McDonald's McCarthy Ranch. 41 Ranch Drive N. McCarthy Blvd. Milpitas, CA 95035

Confirmed! Got mine today, and it was oh so good.

[boxerma]

It is that time of year again. I noticed the Shamrock Shake sign up at the McDonald's on Shoreline Drive in Alameda. I would have stopped, but 8:15 a.m. seemed a tad too early for a shake.

[Ruth Lafler]

Shakes are great for breakfast. Just think of it as a smoothie (do you know how many calories are in the average smoothie?)

[wolfe]

Shamrock Triple Thick® Shake (12 fl oz cup) 420 calories.

[Ruth Lafler]

Well, that's more calories than I usually consume for breakfast, but not outrageous.

[Scott M]

I agree, especially considering how many calories some Starbucks coffee concoctions contain.

[Debbie M]

They had them at the McD's in Hayward, on Hesperian, past A Street.

[jillyju]

Today I discovered that the McD's on Ocean, near City College in San Francisco has the SS. I can't vouch for whether it's a good version, as I was only there to collect my Penguin Happy Meal (kidding!).

[hhc]

It's time again for shamrock shakes. Yelp friend said he saw it McD in Fremont @ Hwy 680/Mission Blvd.

[tomatoaday]

Saw it listed at the McDonalds at South Shore in Alameda yesterday, 2/15. Sorry, make that Alameda Town Centre or whatever pretentious name it has adopted - at the back edge of the mall, near the post office, facing Crown Beach.

[rworange]

Thanks for the heads up. The Richmond location on 23rd and MacDonald is selling it.

Sadly, this shake was a mess. I'm hoping the location just made it wrong because if they put too much mint in .... ick, ick, ick.

Shamrock Shake 2010
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/689003

[eatoutsr]

Marin County started in the beginning of March with 4 of the 5 McDonalds carrying them. Today (St Patrick's Day) only the Novato location at 7340 REDWOOD HWY is the only one that still has them and I got one today, but it tasted more vanilla than mint. I am not sure if they cut down on the mint to make it last longer.

All lovers of the Shamrock Shake should send a comment to McDonald's. I got this reply from them "Since it's ultimately our customers who decide what products are offered at McDonald's, your comments are especially important to us". Let them know we want them to contnue to offer the green mint shakes at every McDonald's every year.

[abstractpoet]

The one from the Hegenberger location was satisfyingly minty, so I guess it varies from location to location.

[eatoutsr]

You are so right. It does vary by location. I had gotten a Shamrock shake at the Novato McDonald's earlier and I seem to remember it tasting mintier - and I thought that it also looked greener. Maybe I should drive to Hegenberger for dessert tonight.

[Scott M]

There are 6 Marin locations, did you miss one?:

Redwood Blvd
Merrydale Rd
Nave Drive
4th Street
Northgate Mall
Corte Madera Town Ctr

[abstractpoet]

The Hegenberger branch in Oakland (near the airport) has them, and the one at International and 98th starts selling them on St. Patrick's day proper (the 17th).

Never had one of these, so I was excited to pick one up! Hit the spot. Got a medium for $1.95 plus tax (and got a medium chocolate too so I could try the combo).

Dunno if it's just this branch, but as you can see, the price was much cheaper than what someone had posted earlier for a San Fran branch.

[abstractpoet]

Update: International and 98th didn't know what I was talking about today, so I guess I was misinformed.

[Rivercat0338]

Also at the San Ramon McD's at Crow Canyon and San Ramon Valley Blvd by Safeway. I asked the girl at the drive-thru window how long they'd be around and after consulting with another worker behind her, she replied, "They're minty, I think." Alrighty, then.

[rworange]

They usually last through St Patrick's day and until the restaurant runs out. I'll probably get one on St. Patty's Day and spike it with some Irish Whisky. What kills me is I really don't usually like the taste of creme de menthe ... except in grasshoppers ... and this shake.

The McDonald's nearest me refuses to carry it. Their special this month is an eggnog shake ... how trifling is that?

[Dave MP]

I just got one at the McDonald's on Bayshore @ Oakdale in SF, just off the 101. I am drinking it now.

It's pretty tasty, although I don't think it's much better than their other flavors. I wonder if they would consider doing a half chocolate/half shamrock shake....I think that would be tastier (though the color would probably be awful).

[srr]

That's what RW mentioned in her post. I wonder if you have to buy two shakes or if they will do half and half?

[Dave MP]

Ha, you're right, I didn't read that part till afterwards. I should have asked for one. But I don't see why they couldn't do it, since the shakes come from a machine where they are premade....it'd be easy to fill up the cup halfway with one, then the other half with another flavor.

[Rivercat0338]

Theoretically, except they use those auto-fill machines where they push the button for sm, med, or lg drink and walk away. Trying to do half and half might disrupt the whole System.

[rworange]

Yeah, I didn't ask. A long time ago someone mentined you could ask for it, but I didn't want to go through the hassle. I bought a small size of each, did my own mixing and stored one in the freezer for later.

[elliora]

I had just assumed you were getting yours mixed in store, so I asked at the counter for a half chocolate shake, half Shamrock shake and they didn't bat an eye. Mine tasted great but it might be fun to get two so you can experiment with different ratios.

[ken ivorous]

On 3/17, tried to score at the Bayshore & Oakdale location on and they'd run out. I also checked at Ocean Ave. near City College, as well as South Airport Blvd near the SFO Costco. They had also sold out. Then finally broke the 3 - 4 year shamrock drought at the Gellert Blvd location across the street from Serramonte Center .. and had another one today too. Hopefully the fact they are selling out quickly will have them stocking more next year.

[rworange]

Thanks all ... especially hhc who alerted me to the first SS sighting. The McDonald's on San Pablo in Albany is carrying them. I had one. It tastes the same that I remember ... my honorary Irish eyes are smiling.

[Porkboy]

I stopped at this branch at noon (03/15) and saw no evidence of the Shamrock Shake. I asked the counter help and was met with a blank stare and a robotic "Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry."

What gives?

[rworange]

Maybe they ran out, though you would think the staff would have heard of it. They had a sign up on the drive thru when I went. Glad I snagged my shake when I did.

[elliora]

Found one at Sunvalley mall in Concord today. Have heard about them for years but this was my first time finding one, it was very exciting. And thank you rworange for the McGrasshoper tip. I tried a little bit of the plain shamrock shake off the top and it was not nearly as good as when I mixed the chocolate in.

[hhc]

RW, I was looking for you and found out the McDonald's in SF: 609 Market St (near Montgomery Bart Station, by Stacey's bookstore) has it!

I had to try one for myself. I got the small $2.45 + .21 tax = $2.66. It's like you said "creme de menthe". I shared it w/ the hubby and still couldn't finish it after a big lunch.

Medium $2.89; Lg $3.39 before tax.

The cashier said today, Sun 3/1/09, was the first day. Don't know for how long they'll have it, so hurry!

Pics attached.

-----
McDonald's
609 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94105

[rworange]

Thanks. I'll be in SF next week.

I was so close to the promised shake today. Valleo had it. I ordered one chocolate shake and one shamrock. Pay my money.Drive to pick up window and hear ... sorry we don't have the Shamrock shake today. Sigh.

Well, if not Vallejo or SF there's Alameda. Glad it is looking like I don't have to drive to SJ. Seems like McDonalds is doing some sort of promotion for charity with the shake. No SS at Richmond or El Cerrito though.

[Ruth Lafler]

That's funny -- I was going to Stacy's and stopped in that McD's and they didn't have it, but that was before this weekend.

[Ruth Lafler]

To clarify, there's a McD's right next to Stacy's that does not have the shakes -- they don't sell shakes at all (it's sort of a mini-Mickey). The McD's at 609 Market is in the next block, and they have the Shamrock shakes (according to the sign, through 3/22). They wouldn't do a half and half, though.

[DmltnMn]

I spotted the shamrock shake at the MickeyDs in Mountain View. Rengstorff exit across the street from In-N-Out.

[Jumbo_Jack]

Shamrock Shakes rock! It's the ultimate in Gen-X nostalgia food. Now if we could only get them to McFlurry it with Oreo's...

Alameda now has the Shamrock Shake. It's your duty to go out and try some. From previous conversations with McDonald's managers, the Shamrock Shake kinda comes and goes out of fashion. McDonalds doesn't seem to advertise it much, and it almost died with that whole stupid Shrek (green) tie-in before.

Anyhow, one of the managers told me he ordered a bunch one year, didn't sell much, and after St. Patrick's day had huge amounts he couldn't move and took a loss. That's why some places only order a small amount or none at all. (Most of the McDonalds out here are independently owned)

Alameda McDonalds
715 Central Ave
Alameda, CA 94501

FYI on Uncle O'Grimacey
http://www.theshamrockshake.com/uncle...

[Hunicsz]

Oh wow, I kind of wish I didn't know this. I live about two blocks away from that McDonalds, and I'm pregnant and all about milkshakes at the moment. Hmmmm. . .trying to decide if I can justify a quick run. It's for the baby, right?

[Carrie 218]

I forget - were they actually flavored differently or just vanilla with green food coloring?

[rworange]

They taste like creme de menthe. It was a unique taste. They tried to replace it one year with the god-awful Shrek shake. Not the same thing at all. It has been a dry spell for a few years. The East Bay isn't exactly a hot bed of Irish actiivity so at least in my Latino nabe ,... nobody cares all that much about St. Patty's so the local McDonald's don't have them.

[Munching Mark]

McD's in Lafayette (Mt Diablo Road) has them

Are they truly that hard to find?