Gotta second the vote for Shake Shack... Here in SoCal charlie Palmers DG Burger does a pretty darn good job as well.

sounds delicious, I've FW'd to one of my nephews who lives in Boston.

Oh, and Peninsula Creamery in Palo Alto, CA.

Er, call me confused, but how can you have a chocolate shake made with vanilla ice cream?

Completely agree on the chocolate shake being made with vanilla IC and chocolate syrup. And nobody knows what malt is. Blank stares most of the time.

Lucky for you, everyone knows what Diet Coke is!

Have to give another vote for Aglamesis as I was just there this past weekend, treated my brother's family. Niece & nephew had choc shakes (made w/vanilla ice cream) and my brother & his wife decided to try my choc soda w/vanilla ice cream. Both of them gave an approving look & went up to counter to each order one.

While some in Cincinnati prefer Graeter's, my brother's family & myself prefer Aglamesis.

It's a bit off the beaten path, but Chaney's Dairy Barn, just south of Bowling Green, KY (http://www.chaneysdairybarn.com/) has great shakes. They make their own ice cream and whether you want a cone, a sundae or a shake it is worth a stop if you are in the area.

I will teach you, and I won't even charge

A proper chocolate shake or malt is always, always made with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup. If chocolate ice cream is used, the chocolate syrup adds too much chocolate flavor. Since your typical shake maker has no training or intelligence, you will need to carefully instruct, or better yet buy a Hamilton Beach and make 'em at home.

Some fast food chains have improved their milkshake offerings, notably Carl's Jr./Hardee's and Jack In The Box.

You might live near a Steak & Shake restaurant, a source of excellent and many-flavored shakes and malts. OP, there are many of these in the Chicago area and throughout the Midwest.

To make malts at home, buy some Carnation Malted Milk mix and add milk and syrup to taste.
.

It's all about the syrup. A chocolate sundae is also made with vanilla ice cream.

You don't have to go through MLI to get to anywhere, so
kind of out of the way for the 'travelers' that frequent FT, but, if you happen to be in the QCA (Rock Island, Moline, Davenport) area, you might try Whitey's Ice Cream. Locally owned and made in Moline.
Not cheap , only the best. http://www.whiteysicecream.com/ourmenu.asp

2 places here in STL-

1. Crown Candy Kitchen in Old North St. Louis. Delicious shakes and malts, made with house made ice cream. Come in a 24 oz tin so you'll have plenty for your friends.

2. Pi restaurant in Kirkwood. They have a milkshake bar with some amazing upscale milkshake options.

What about Ted Drewes? I've only had concretes there, but I would think they'd have good shakes and malts. No?

Ted Drewes is custard only IIRC, good but Kopps was better IMO. Custard can make a good shake, personally I prefer ice cream for great shakes.

I do know that Culver's makes an excellent strawberry shake, so I have no reason to think that Ted Drewe's wouldn't (or at least couldn't) also.