CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2018	Mar. 29, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Shack sales	$ 96,089	$ 74,155
Licensing revenue	3,027	2,594
TOTAL REVENUE	99,116	76,749
Shack-level operating expenses:
Food and paper costs	26,955	21,174
Labor and related expenses	26,687	20,460
Other operating expenses	10,759	7,665
Occupancy and related expenses	7,675	6,176
General and administrative expenses	11,809	8,470
Depreciation expense	6,498	4,748
Pre-opening costs	2,029	2,415
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	190	13
TOTAL EXPENSES	92,602	71,121
OPERATING INCOME	6,514	5,628
Other income, net	228	195
Interest expense	(565)	(303)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	6,177	5,520
Income tax expense	1,198	1,658
NET INCOME	4,979	3,862
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	1,471	1,595
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAKE SHACK INC.	$ 3,508	$ 2,267
Earnings per share of Class A common stock:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.09
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.09
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	27,039	25,376
Diluted (in shares)	27,822	25,955