The milkshake—a key component of the quintessential, American meal alongside burgers and fries—is part beverage, part dessert and entirely delicious. Austin’s milkshake scene is varied: from the classic, hand-blended diner shake to fancy, innovative blender concoctions. Here’s a list of the five best milkshakes south of the University of Texas. 

1. Nau’s Enfield drug store: 1115 west lynn st.

Swiveling around on a barstool in the back of an almost 60-year-old drug store puts you in the ideal state of mind for the perfect chocolate milkshake, and Nau’s doesn’t disappoint. While you drink the shake—a thick blend of Blue Bell ice cream, chocolate syrup and milk mixed lovingly with an old-fashioned milkshake mixer—it’s easy to feel like Austin is a small town, and you just hopped into the neighborhood corner store. More important than the atmosphere, and equally impressive, the shake tastes just right. With a consistency you expect at a price you can afford, Nau’s milkshakes ring in at $3.50, unless you splurge for banana or pineapple ($4). And if you want a real challenge, you can go extra thick for $1.50 more. Soda Fountain and Grill hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Grab a delicious burger while you’re at it.

2. Alamo Drafthouse: 1120 south lamar blvd.

The Drafthouse, with multiple locations around town, gets bonus points for atmosphere. As members of a generation that grew up eating dinner in front of the television, most of us are suckers for chowing down while watching the latest feature film. The shakes here are kind of a splurge if you go vanilla, chocolate or strawberry, so I went for the Midnight Espresso Shake. At first sip, it seemed more like an iced latte, but I got sweeter on it as the movie went on. Topped with chocolate covered espresso beans, the milkshake delivers taste alongside a caffeine kick. At a hefty $5, this may not be the place for a milkshake with a meal, but it works as a snack with a matinee.

3. Katz’s deli & bar: 618 west sixth street

If you’re looking for a milkshake to fit into the dessert part of your meal, bring a friend and grab dinner at Katz’s. Their Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake—or heart attack in a glass, as they lovingly refer to it—is as delicious as the combination of words implies. It’s one of those rare sweets that you can finish so quickly you don’t have time to think about the repercussions of your quick-drinking actions. So bring a friend to keep you honest and split the bill. Ringing in at $7.50 and featuring an entire slice of cheesecake, this is not a milkshake to be conquered alone.

4. 24 diner: 600 north lamar blvd.

The newest 24-hour diner on the Austin scene has an entire section on their menu devoted to milkshakes. They have the basics but add some flair, including a roasted banana and brown sugar milkshake ($4.95). The bananas are roasted fresh daily, and the shake includes five scoops of ice cream in addition to the brown sugar. Despite the heavy load, it tastes deceptively light and healthy; surely the bananas are guilty for this crime. It sounds terribly unhealthy, but it is a milkshake, and you can’t ask for much more than the delicious flavor this innovative concoction provides.

5. P. Terry’s burger stand: 404 south lamar blvd.

With possibly the only truly cheap ($1.85/$2.45) shake that maintains a delightful flavor and a traditional consistency and texture, P. Terry’s is the perfect place to go for a burger, fries and shake. The small milkshake at P. Terry’s, whether you opt for vanilla, strawberry or chocolate, doesn’t make you too full to finish off your burger and fries and leaves you satisfied. Other diners around town keep their milkshakes cheap at the expense of flavor and texture, but P. Terry’s gets everything just right.

Honorable Mention: Amy’s Ice Cream

I’m almost certain Amy’s Ice Cream has made every “best milkshakes in Austin” list ever compiled. However, this reviewer was sorely disappointed. I understand the appeal of make-your-own shakes, but I was not a fan of the overpriced (nearly $7, with a St. Edward’s University discount), over-blended, soupy shake that came as a result of me trying to get creative. Perhaps a little less milk and would have moved this local, deeply loved ice cream shop up the list. It belongs here, because despite the disappointing consistency, the shake’s flavor was top-notch.