Best Fast Food Fries, Ranked

For many of us, fast food fries are more than just a comforting side dish; they’re a fun topic to debate. Debating which fast food chain serves the best fries has become a favorite pastime for some, with opinions varying widely based on factors such as crispiness, flavor, texture, and even the dipping sauces offered. What makes a fry truly stand out can be subjective, encompassing everything from the type of potato used to the specific cooking technique.

To settle this delicious debate once and for all, we’ve embarked on a flavorful journey to rank the best fast food fries, considering all the elements that contribute to making each fry unique and irresistible.

A&W’s golden fries offer a crispy exterior and fluffy interior, providing that classic and simple but tasty fry experience that pairs perfectly with the chain’s burgers and root beer floats. The popular chili cheese fries is another story though, smothered in meaty chili and topped with melted cheese, transforming the humble fry into a meal unto itself. The savory chili and creamy cheese complement the crispy fries and is prefect for those who prefer their snacks loaded and flavorful.

The chain replaced the popular potato wedges to make room for the secret recipe fries, which are seasoned with the same blend of 11 herbs and spices used on their famous chicken, creating a unique flavor profile unmatched by traditional fries. These fries are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and infused with a distinctive taste that’s both savory and slightly spicy. The combination of the secret recipe seasoning and the perfect frying technique makes these fries a must-try.

Sonic Drive-In’s classic fries come in regular or seasoned varieties, offering a satisfying crunch and potato flavor that pairs perfectly with the chain’s burgers and hot dogs. Served hot and fresh, they provide a simple yet satisfying fry experience.

Appreciated by many for their light and airy texture, with a crisp exterior that’s not too thick, ensuring that each fry is golden and crunchy. They’re lightly salted, allowing the natural flavor of the potato to shine through, making them an excellent side to DQ’s array of burgers and Blizzard treats. The simplicity of DQ’s fries, focusing on the basics of what makes a good fry, underscores their appeal as a classic fast-food side.

Jack in the Box’s seasoned curly fries are beloved for their spiral shape and zesty seasoning, providing a satisfying crunch and spicy kick with every bite. Their fun shape and bold flavor set them apart from traditional fries, making them a popular choice for those looking to add some excitement to their fast-food meal.

Burger King’s thick-cut fries are known for their hearty potato flavor and fluffy interior, encased in a crispy golden shell. They’re coated with a light batter before frying, which gives them a unique, slightly crunchy texture and a golden appearance. This method also helps the fries retain their warmth and crispiness longer, making them a hearty companion to Burger King’s flame-grilled burgers.

Famous for their ‘shoestring’ style fries, which are very thin and crispy, offering a delightful crunch with every bite. The slender size means you get a higher ratio of crispiness to potato, making them highly addictive and perfect for dipping into milkshakes, a signature move for Steak ‘n Shake customers. The light seasoning enhances the natural potato flavor, ensuring these fries can stand alone or complement one of the chain’s classic steakburgers.

Whataburger Fries are cut thin and fried to a golden crisp, seasoned with just the right amount of salt to enhance the natural potato flavor without overpowering it. Their simplicity is their strength, offering a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior that’s consistently satisfying. These fries are a staple for Whataburger and are appreciated for their straightforward and delicious taste that perfectly complements their burgers.

Checkers seasoned fries stand out for their bold seasoning and satisfying crunch, offering a flavorful and spicy kick with every bite. The use of a seasoned batter before frying creates a crunchy, flavorful exterior that’s unmistakably theirs. Providing a memorable taste experience that keeps customers coming back for more.

Popeyes Cajun-seasoned fries are renowned for their bold and flavorful seasoning, offering a flavorful southern twist to the classic French fry. The batter provides an extra layer of crunch, while the seasoning ensures that every bite is packed with flavor. The result is a standout side dish that perfectly complements the chain’s famous fried chicken offerings.

Culver’s crinkle-cut fries made from North American potatoes are a hearty and delicious choice, offering a satisfying crunch and potato flavor. The crinkle-cut shape ensures an even crispiness while maintaining a tender interior. Often praised for their consistent quality and classic taste, embodying the appeal of traditional fast-food fries with a home-cooked feel.

Zaxby’s Crinkle fries are seasoned with a signature blend of spices that adds a kick to the traditional crinkle-cut potato, making them a flavorful and addictive side to their chicken dishes. The fries’ texture is a perfect balance of crispy edges and soft centers, enhanced by the spicy seasoning for an extra flavor dimension. These fries stand out for their bold taste and satisfying crunch, offering a distinctive take on the classic crinkle-cut style.

In-N-Out’s fresh-cut fries cooked to order provide a simple yet satisfying potato experience, with a focus on freshness and quality. While not as crispy as some other fries, they stand out for their flavor and customizable options, such as ordering them “well-done” for extra crispiness, appealing to fans of traditional, no-frills fries.

Arby’s seasoned curly fries are a favorite for their unique spiral shape and distinctive seasoning blend, offering a flavorful and slightly spicy kick with every bite. Their crispy texture and distinctive seasoning blend make them a standout among fast-food fries, providing a satisfying crunch and savory taste that keeps customers coming back for more.

Raising Cane’s crinkle-cut fries stand out for their perfectly seasoned profile, offering a crisp exterior and a tender inside that’s ideal for soaking up the chain’s famous Cane’s sauce. The wider surface area of the crinkle-cut provides more texture and flavor, making them a satisfying side to the restaurant’s focused menu of chicken fingers. Consistent quality and the perfect blend of saltiness make them a standout side dish.

Shake Shack’s crinkle-cut fries made from Yukon Gold potatoes are a standout, offering a crispy and golden exterior with a fluffy interior. Fried and seasoned to perfection to achieve a golden exterior with a satisfying crunch, contrasting with the potato’s natural sweetness. The crinkle-cut form not only enhances the texture but also makes these fries ideal for scooping up condiments, making them a must-try.

Five Guys Cajun Fries stand out for their bold seasoning, offering a spicy kick that complements the natural potato flavor. These fries are hand-cut, skin-on, and fried in peanut oil, which adds to their rich taste and crispy texture. The generous serving, often overflowing from the cup into the bag, combined with the hearty seasoning, makes them a meal in themselves.

Wendy’s revamped its fry formula to create natural-cut Fries with sea salt, featuring skins-on for a more natural and hearty texture. These fries are designed to stay crispier longer, especially when dipped in ketchup or Frosty, making them a reliable and enjoyable side. Their slight coating ensures a golden exterior while retaining a fluffy interior, striking a balance between crispy and soft.

Chick-fil-A’s waffle-shaped fries stand out with their perfect balance of crispy exterior and soft interior, providing a delightful texture with every bite. What makes this fry unique compared to others is the waffle cut, allowing for more dipping sauce to cling to each fry. This combination perfectly complements Chick-fil-A’s chicken offerings, making them a favorite among customers.

McDonald’s fries are iconic for their perfect balance of crispiness, softness, and addictive salty flavor, achieved through their unique cooking process and seasoning blend. The fries are cut from whole potatoes and fried in a blend of vegetable oils for a golden finish. Their distinct taste and texture come from being coated in a sugar solution before frying, creating a unique flavor profile and a satisfying crunch.

When in the debate over which fast food chain offers the best fries, it’s clear that personal preferences play a significant role in determining our favorites. From the crispy, golden strands at one establishment to the seasoned spirals at another, each chain brings something unique to the table, catering to a wide array of tastes and preferences. Ultimately, our rankings celebrate the diversity and creativity found in fast food fries, acknowledging that whether you prefer them thin and crispy or thick and fluffy, there’s a perfect fry out there for everyone.