Millions of Americans love fries, and for good reason. Fries are the classic accompaniment to a burger, but they’re served with so many other foods for lunch, dinner, and snacks. Some make their own fries, but most get them from chain restaurants, and there are plenty to choose from. But who has the best fast food fries?
Arby’s Curly Fries
These coiled fries are so good that some people go to Arby’s even though they prefer sandwiches at other places. They’re great on their own but try combining them with Arby's Sauce for even more flavor.
Five Guys
Warning: if you hate greasy fries, these are not for you. The regular salted fries and the cajun fries at Five Guys are stellar. They’re made from hand-cut potatoes sourced from Idaho farms, and the serving size is always huge.
McDonald’s
No other restaurant has done more to elevate fries in American cuisine; the fry is even part of the iconic logo. Fresh from the fryer, they’re thin and crispy, but not too thin or too crispy.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s fries recently got a recipe makeover, and they’re better than ever. One of the bummers about fries is that by the time you get to the end of them, they’re limp and cold. The new recipe engineers them to retain heat and crispiness.
Chick-fil-A Waffle Fries
Waffle fries aren’t everyone’s thing, but Chick-fil-A has managed to pull it off with waffle fries that are crispy outside and warm and soft inside. Their shape makes them a little tricky to dip into a sauce packet, but don’t let that stop you.
Checkers
Comparable to Popeyes fries in taste and texture, these seasoned fries are a little bulkier. The result: few little broken pieces at the bottom and more real fry to enjoy.
Burger King
Burger King has long been the top McDonald’s competitor in many things, including fries, always seeking not to imitate but to set itself apart. These standard, natural-cut fries strike a good balance between crispy outside and soft inside.
Wingstop
If you want something different from the standard salted fry, try Wingstop’s fries. They’re seasoned with salt, paprika, garlic powder, and a tiny bit of white or brown sugar.
Portillo’s
Like waffle fries, crinkle-cut fries aren’t for everyone; the main complaints are that they’re too soggy and not crispy enough. That’s usually because they’re short and thick. Portillo’s solved this by serving long, thin, crinkle-cut fries.
Popeyes Cajun Fries
These are not the crispiest fried, but they’re among the tastiest. That’s thanks to black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika seasonings. Catching on: adding them as a topping to the popular Popeyes Chicken Sandwich.
Whataburger
Popular in the South and Southwest, Whataburger serves fries that are a lot like McDonald’s fries. These crispy, shoestring-style fries are so loved that you can even find dried potato stick versions in grocery stores.
Arby’s Crinkle Fries
Since 2021, the legendary Arby’s Curly Fries has had in-house competition from this menu item. Arby’s made the ridges sharper and the valleys between them deeper to attain superior crispiness over traditional crinkle-cut fries.
Nathan’s Famous Fries
Here’s another brand known for its hot dogs that also has outstanding fries. These crinkle-cut fries are thick and short, making them soggier than most others, but fans say the seasoning more than makes up for it.
There’s no rule that fries can only be salted and enjoyed with ketchup or other sauces. Taco Bell proves that. These fries are heavily battered and seasoned with chili powder, paprika, salt, and garlic powder. They’re best enjoyed with cheese sauce. One catch: they have a history of going on and off the menu.
Steak ‘n Shake
Thin, crispy shoestring fries are on order here. If you like thicker choices like crinkle-cuts and steak fries, these won’t be for you, but if you don’t mind a handful being a mouthful, you’ll probably like these fries.
Carl’s Jr. Criss-Cut Fries
First, all the fries at Carl’s Jr. are great. The Criss-Cut Fries are a blend of waffle fries and crinkle-cut, going for the best of both while minimizing the worst.
Jack in the Box Curly Fries
Like at Carl’s Jr., all the fries here are awesome. The curly fries are crispy, slightly battered, and seasoned with garlic, onion powder, and black pepper. If they were less greasy, they’d be higher on this list.
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