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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A Shake Shack restaurant serving burgers and hot dogs

Clue explained

Shake Shack is the fast-food chain that grew from a hot-dog cart in New York City. The clue’s second reading is a thematic pun on the puzzle’s circled letters being made to “shake.”

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, August 19, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Cherubic god
  2. 6Spot for pore strips
  3. 10Jumbled mess
  4. 14Stunt show setting
  5. 15Significant work
  6. 16Syllables for a stage magician
  7. 17Social pariah
  8. 19Social media spammers
  9. 20Rectitude
  10. 21In flight
  11. 22Union agreement?
  12. 25"All Eyez on Me" rapper
  13. 28Film technique derived from the French for "to assemble"
  14. 30"Not answering email," briefly
  15. 31Foxy
  16. 32Capitol canvas for "The Apotheosis of Washington"
  17. 33Jilt
  18. 35Laughs during an "SNL" appearance, say
  19. 42Settle, as a debt
  20. 43Vibe
  21. 44"Future Nostalgia" singer Lipa
  22. 47Some Eng. degrees
  23. 48Truly fiendish
  24. 51Drawing toy that uses aluminum powder
  25. 54Opening day pitcher, typically
  26. 55SAT prep subj.
  27. 56"Thus with a kiss I die" hero
  28. 58Tirade in the Times, say
  29. 59Fast-food chain that began as a hot dog cart, and what this puzzle's circled letters do?
  30. 64Antler point
  31. 65FX drama about New York City's ball culture
  32. 66Magazine release
  33. 67Has a meal
  34. 68Serve a meal to
  35. 69Like a toddler mid-bath

Down

  1. 1Zin alternative
  2. 2Link destination
  3. 3Storied cause of royal insomnia
  4. 4Progress slowly
  5. 5Actress Fanning
  6. 6Pessimist's words
  7. 7"Fire Shut Up in My Bones," e.g.
  8. 8Litigate
  9. 9Ability to see what others can't
  10. 10"Se __ español"
  11. 11Paperless reads
  12. 12Foxy
  13. 13Bakery offering
  14. 18Nesting cozily
  15. 21Now, in Nicaragua
  16. 22Cinephile's site
  17. 23Cuckoo clock part
  18. 24"I'll pay this time"
  19. 26Manilow's "hottest spot north of Havana," familiarly
  20. 27Like a gooseberry
  21. 29Feature of some happy and sad emoji
  22. 33Slow to open up
  23. 34Org. for Sarah Strong and Hannah Hidalgo
  24. 36Shish __
  25. 37Ice bath spots
  26. 38Bourbon barrel
  27. 39Protein in some melts
  28. 40Comedian André
  29. 41"RuPaul's Drag __"
  30. 44Dedicate, as time
  31. 45Harmonious society
  32. 46Brogue, for one
  33. 48Amped up
  34. 49Peak
  35. 50Grad school hurdle
  36. 52Disney villain with hair of blue flame
  37. 53Wipe
  38. 57Quite a bit
  39. 59Tanning oil letters
  40. 60Weeding tool
  41. 61Red __ beet
  42. 62Chalice, e.g.
  43. 63Decryption need

The answer to “Fast-food chain that began as a hot dog cart, and what this puzzle's circled letters do?” in the The Washington Post crossword is SHAKESHACK — a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post 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?

The Washington Post 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 The Washington Post 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 The Washington Post 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 — The Washington Post 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 WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for August 19, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Washington Post Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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