French fries might be the most debated item on any fast-food menu. Ask a group of Americans which chain has the best fries and you’ll likely get a dozen different answers, backed by passionate Reddit threads, YouTube rankings, and endless customer reviews. This guide takes a look at the fries that fast-food fans praise the most, and the ones that leave diners wishing they’d ordered something else.
McDonald’s Fries
McDonald’s fries have earned widespread acclaim from the millions of diners who have given them a try. The combination of being thin, crispy, and salty is exactly what many expect when eating fries. User thisfilmkid commented: “What makes them so great is the heat of the fries, the salt and the right amount of oil. When unsalted, they taste more like potatoes than anything else.”
Chick-fil-A Waffle Fries
Chick-fil-A tried to differentiate itself from the competition by developing waffle-shaped fries as a signature item, mimicking traditional fries. This unique shape gives them a distinct texture, making them ideal for topping with sauces. They’re thicker and retain heat longer, so they last longer while maintaining a pleasant flavor. They’re undoubtedly among the most recognizable fries on the market, but they also receive complaints that they’ve overcooked and don’t reach the perfect crispness. Even so, they’re generally considered one of the best on the market. Reddit user Zetin24-55 commented: “I noticed last time I went that their fries were crunchier than usual. I normally get chips instead because I didn’t like their fries. But this new fries stay as crispy as the ones I had, I’ll be getting fries every time going forward.”
Arby’s Curly Fries
Those who regularly eat at Arby’s say their fries should be set apart from other fast-food fries because their spiral shape and seasoning create a striking and instantly recognizable flavor. That seasoning isn’t just salt; they’re par-cooked and frozen with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika and also a touch of cayenne pepper for a mild kick. Arby’s customers don’t choose this chain for its sandwiches, but they would definitely place Arby’s at the top when it comes to fast-food French fries. Top Charity Reddit user commented: “Its curly fries are unmatched in the fast food restaurant industry. It’s one delectable and unique differentiators that separates it from its competitors.”
Five Guys Fries
What you won’t escape at Five Guys are the generous portions, even of their fast-food French fries. Customers often receive far more fries than they expect, which enhances the brand’s reputation. These fries are cut from fresh potatoes and cooked in peanut oil, giving them a unique texture and flavor. On the other hand, those who aren’t big fans of them mention that they are very soft and greasy compared to others. Flibiddy-Floo on Reddit wrote: “I’ve busted out the scale and weighted a customer’s fries because they were complaining and I knew that they were actually overfilled because I’m the one who filled the box.”
Culver’s Crinkle-Cut Fries
Culver’s Crinkle-Cut fast-food French Fries are appreciated by customers even though they aren’t as flashy as curly or waffle fries, and they don’t receive as much national attention. However, in the Midwestern United States, many families consider them the best fries on the market. Silly-Ad-856 commented on Reddit: “In my city, they are always warm, crispy and perfectly salted. The cheese curds are amazing too but I just can’t begin to get the gate on the perfect crinkle cut fries.”
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Checkers & Rally’s Seasoned Fries
Checker & Rally’s chooses to season their fries generously to set them apart from the competition. And customers have embraced this approach, describing them as some of the tastiest fries on the market. The seasoning Checker & Rally’s uses is a batter made with flour, starch, and over 15 herbs and species, including garlic, onion, paprika and celery. Reddit user TheFranticGibbon mentioned: “I dip these in some Romano ranch dressing and it’s next level good. Highly recommend.”
Wendy’s Natural-Cut Fries
What’s remarkable about Wendy’s is that over the years they’ve modified their potato chips to improve their crispiness while maintaining their consistent quality. This fast-food French fries they currently sell receive both positive and negative reviews, such as those who appreciate the potato chip flavor but find they don’t stay crisp for very long. User Plastic_SI commented on Reddit: “I first tried them when they were running a $3 breakfast promo that came with the sandwich, didn’t care much for the sandwich but I’ve been back just to get the potatoes.”
In-N-Out Fries
In-N-Out makes its own fries on-site, meaning the potatoes are fresh and ready to be prepared, unlike other fast-food restaurants that use pre-cut, frozen bags ready to fry. Customers appreciate these fast-food French fries for their simplicity and transparency, although some mention a lack of crispiness and consistency. In fact, there are many memes about In-N-Out fries. User ChefBowyer commented on Reddit: “In-N-Out take the fresh potato, runs in through the machine to slice it into fry shapes and immediately cooked in sunflower oil”.
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Shake Shack Fries
Shake Shack’s signature fast-food French fries are crinkle cut fries, which have sparked quite a debate because they’re different from the fries the chain used to make. Their texture is achieved by freezing and then cooking a potato. Customers of this fast-food chain rave about them when paired with ShackSauce, a creamy, tangy sauce made with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, ketchup, and pickle brine or juice. Reddit user YourDadThinksImCool indicated: “Their fries need some more color, but cheese fries are elite! I like them, and the shakes, better than the burgers!”.
Freddy’s Shoestring Fries
Freddy’s management opted for ultra-thin fast-food French fries, offering diners a unique experience, as most fast-food restaurants serve thicker fries. This is why they are crisp and highly snackable. Being so thin, they are easy to chew and eat quickly, to the point that some compare them to McDonald’s, a favorite among many. Others, however, mention that the difference with Freddy’s Shoestring Fries lies in the creamy, tangy, condiment that blends mayo, ketchup, spices and pickle juice sauce. RonDFong reddit user commented: “They taste good, but dipping them and eating is a bit difficult for me, can’t just grab a single fry”.
Popeyes Cajun Fries
Popeyes has developed a Cajun fries that have gained popularity, even though the chain is known for its chicken. The seasoning of these fast-food French fries sets them apart from the competition, thanks to the inclusion of smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, dried oregano and dried thyme. Customers say they are one of the best side dishes at any fast-food restaurant. “They better not change nothing! Their fries are 80% of the reason I go there” SkRu88_kRuShEr commented on Reddit.
Del Taco Crinkle-Cut Fries
Del Taco isn’t a nationally recognized chain, but its crinkle-cut fries have gained some popularity as a side dish for Mexican-American meals. Diners appreciate this fast-food French fries because they feel value on their own, not just as an extra. Del Taco may not garner as many positive reviews as the other contenders on the list, but in the regions where they have locations, the fries are highly regarded.
So Which Fry Actually Wins?
The reason the French fry debate never ends is because each customer tends to prefer their own favorite chain, although McDonald’s has proven to be the exception. But above all, when it comes to evaluating tastes, impartiality is never guaranteed, so there’s no single clear winner. The important thing is that many of these fast-food chains make some of the best fries in the world, and you can continue trying them and drawing your own conclusions about flavor, texture, consistency, freshness, and so on. Which of these fast-food French fries do you like the most?
