Fast-food chain that began as a hot dog cart, and what this puzzle's circled letters do?
Editorially verified for the Aug 19, 2026
59 Across
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Clue explained
Shake Shack is the fast-food chain that grew from a hot-dog cart in New York City. The clue adds a playful theme reference to the circled letters, which are said to “shake.”
- Clue type:
- Pun or wordplay
LA Times Crossword
This clue's Wednesday, August 19, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Fast-food chain that began as a hot dog cart, and what this puzzle's circled letters do?” in the LA Times crossword is SHAKESHACK — a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 19, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 59-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.
“Fast-food chain that began as a hot dog cart, and what this puzzle's circled letters do?” answer
SHAKESHACK (10 letters)
Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is SHAKESHACK.
When else has “Fast-food chain that began as a hot dog cart, and what this puzzle's circled letters do?” appeared?
LA Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.
August 19, 2026 (most recent) → SHAKESHACK. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Fast-food chain that began as a hot dog cart, and what this puzzle's circled letters do?”?
The answer is SHAKESHACK, a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 19, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Fast-food chain that began as a hot dog cart, and what this puzzle's circled letters do?”?
10 letters: SHAKESHACK.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the LA Times crossword on August 19, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 59-Across.
Can “Fast-food chain that began as a hot dog cart, and what this puzzle's circled letters do?” have a different answer?
Yes — LA Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.
Where can I find the rest of this day's LA Times answers?
The full grid for August 19, 2026 is on the LA Times answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
LA Times Crossword is published by Los Angeles Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.
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