Picture it: MAHA champagne is flowing, RFK Jr. is sworn in, and suddenly, everyone is on a mission to make America healthy again. And what’s the first target in this brave new world of wellness? Fast food, obviously—the sacred land of late-night regret meals and drive-thru decisions we pretend we didn’t make.
And yet, somehow, tallow fries (yes, as in beef fat) are at the center of this revolution. Wild.
The Phoenix Rises? Steak ‘n Shake in Grandville, MI—a locally owned spot that’s been through it. The exterior? Let’s just say it’s seen better days. But inside? The place is buzzing like a comeback tour. Could this be the beginning of a second life for the chain?
Now, the last time I stepped into a Steak ‘n Shake, it was pre-COVID glory days—smiling hosts, actual human servers, and the faint hope that my meal would arrive before my will to live faded. Now? We were greeted by a line of customers, a row of touchscreens that require an aggressive amount of force to function, and the realization that I’d have to place my own order like it’s an airport kiosk.
Fine. Whatever. We punched in our request: one medium fry, two milkshakes. Because let’s be honest—this was our second snack of the night (Holland had already fed us dinner).
While waiting, we struck up conversations. Turns out, almost everyone in the place was there for the fries. A solid 80% of customers were on the same mission. Owen, 20-something, Bass Pro Shops hat, exuding I-heard-about-this-on-TikTok energy. He ordered the fries. No questions needed—he came for the tallow.
Then there’s Chris, the overworked yet upbeat store manager. He walked up, saw us loitering, and asked if we needed anything. “I’ve been on drive-thru all day, they just don’t stop coming,” he said, half laughing, half exhausted.
“Since we switched to tallow fries, it’s been nonstop. We’re gonna have to hire four or five more full-timers just to keep up.”
A quick glance outside? The drive-thru had a permanent lineup of 3-4 cars. Inside, the fryers were beeping like a life-support machine—assuming all of them were cranking out nothing but tallow fries.
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After a 15-minute wait, our order arrived in waves—first the shakes, then the glorious, fresh-from-the-fryer tallow fries.
First impression? Hot. Like, be-careful-you-might-lose-your-tastebuds hot. Not surprising, considering the fryer probably hasn’t stopped since sunrise.
Second? Not greasy. Unlike those vegetable oil fries that sometimes feel like they’ve been soaking in regret, these had just the right amount of crisp without the extra slick.
Third? They upgraded. Still that classic shoestring style, but a little thicker, crispier, and—dare I say—more flavorful.
Steak ‘n Shake might just be onto something. People aren’t just curious about tallow fries—they’re obsessed. And if this level of chaos continues, they’re gonna need to double their staff, fortify their fryers, and maybe put some respect back on their name.
Is this the future of fast food? Maybe. Is it delicious? Absolutely. Are we going back for round two? Try and stop us.
And just when you think Steak ‘n Shake is done making moves, the internet rumor mill is swirling—and this one’s actually interesting.
Tesla is allegedly eyeing a partnership for charging diner experiences. The idea? You pull in, charge up, and eat while your car powers up. Efficiency at its finest.
And then there’s the wildest part: Steak ‘n Shake’s official account literally tweeted at Elon Musk, telling the world’s richest man to “make an offer.” Bold move. Desperate? Maybe. Entertaining? Absolutely.
But let’s be real—Steak ‘n Shake aligning itself with MAHA and the broader cultural commerce shift isn’t just a random trend. We’ve seen this strategy pay off before. If they keep leaning into this parallel economy, expect them to stay relevant, scale up, and actually compete in the new wave of “healthy” eating (or at least, cleaner fast food).
Because if there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that competition in both food and EV markets is about to get wild. Tallow fries today, Wagyu burgers and superchargers tomorrow? It’s only a matter of time.
Eric McKee is a lifetime resident of West Michigan. Married with two energetic boys, he spends his days balancing work with dad life. Also, a firm believer that Almond St. Claus Windmill Cookies are the ultimate snack (and maybe a little too good).
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