Nothing — absolutely nothing — is wrong with a good serving of fries. In fact, there isn’t a person alive with functioning taste buds who doesn’t enjoy them.
They may be delicious, but nutritionally, fries are rarely a smart choice — and while none of them are exactly ‘health’ food, some are far worse than others.
Online healthcare service PlushCareanalyzed 23 fast-food chains, ranking their fries based on calories, fat, sugar, and sodium, identifying sodium and fat as the biggest contributors to unhealthiness.
Here are the 23 unhealthiest fast-food fries
23. In-N-Out Burger – French Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 6
- Energy: 4
- Fat: 1
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 1
In-N-Out’s fries are the one menu item that actually splits its cult following. Love ’em or hate ’em, the West Coast darling puts serious effort into their prep — hand-cut fresh in-store daily and never frozen.
Unlike most fast-food fries, they aren’t double-fried, which explains why they rank as the “least unhealthy” option on this list. Of course, they’re still fries, so your doctor won’t be recommending them anytime soon — but when choosing between two evils, this is the lesser one.
22. McDonald’s – Medium Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 7
- Energy: 3
- Fat: 2
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 2
Given that multiple generations (mine included) grew up on these fries — and many will die on the hill that they’re the best chain fries ever — we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Metaphorically speaking, of course. Again… fries. A medium order of these universally loved, once-fried-in-beef-tallow-now-beef-flavored fries has 365 calories, 17 grams of fat, and 246 milligrams of sodium, which is lower than many competitors.
18. (Tie) Church’s Chicken – French Fries (Tie)
- Unhealthiness Score: 9
- Energy: 2
- Fat: 1
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 6
Church’s Chicken fries are surprisingly salty, which explains their ranking of #18 on the unhealthiness scale, according to the Plush study. They aren’t the greasiest, and are surprisingly low in calories — 200 per serving — but the sodium content — 620 mg — is through the roof, and you’re already pairing them with fried chicken, so you’re in for a serious salt overload—but at least they’re crispy.
18. (Tie) Whataburger – Medium Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 9
- Energy: 4
- Fat: 3
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 2
Whataburger fries are often compared to McDonald’s in taste, but when it comes to unhealthiness, they rank lower on the list — which is surprising, considering they’re made from fresh potatoes rather than frozen.
18. (Tie) Raising Cane’s – Crinkle Cut Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 9
- Energy: 4
- Fat: 2
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 3
Raising Cane’s crinkle-cut fries tie with Church’s Chicken at #18 on the unhealthiness scale, according to the Plush study. They aren’t overly greasy, but they don’t hold back on the salt, making them a high-sodium sidekick to an already indulgent meal. The crinkle-cut shape gives them a nice bite, but let’s be real — you’re here for the sauce.
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18. (Tie) Burger King – Medium Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 9
- Energy: 4
- Fat: 2
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 3
The most forgettable of the bunch, taste-wise, Burger King’s medium fries share the #18 ranking with Whataburger, Raising Cane’s, and Church’s Chicken. In 2011, Burger King revamped their fries, opting for a thicker cut designed to hold heat longer and stay crispier. They’re fried in vegetable oil, lightly salted, and while they aren’t the worst health offenders, they’re no prize either.
14. (Tie) A&W – Regular Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 11
- Energy: 3
- Fat: 3
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 5
A&W’s regular fries don’t get much hype — except maybe among boomers — but when it comes to unhealthiness, they rank higher than you’d expect, which is not exactly a good thing, but nevertheless. A medium serving has 312 calories, 13 grams of fat, and 464 mg of sodium, which we guess puts them in the purgatory of french fries: not great, not terrible.
14. (Tie) Arby’s – Crinkle Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 11
- Energy: 4
- Fat: 2
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 5
Arby’s fans were rightfully furious when, in 2021, the chain swapped out their beloved potato cakes for crinkle fries. Turns out the outrage was justified. A medium serving has 390 calories, 19 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, and 460 mg of sodium — nothing extreme, but nothing that made ditching the potato cakes worth it either. (Thankfully, Arby’s has since brought back the potato cakes for good.)
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14. (Tie) Dairy Queen – Regular Fries (Tie)
- Unhealthiness Score: 11
- Energy: 3
- Fat: 2
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 6
Dairy Queen’s regular fries score an 11 on the unhealthiness scale, with 3 energy points, 2 fat points, and 6 sodium points. They may not be the greasiest or most calorie-dense fries on this list, but the sodium content is surprisingly high for how plain they are.
14. (Tie) Chick-fil-A – Waffle Potato Fries (Tie)
- Unhealthiness Score: 11
- Energy: 4
- Fat: 2
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 5
Chick-fil-A’s famously soggy waffle fries share the #14 spot on the unhealthiness scale with Arby’s, A&W, and Dairy Queen. While they may look substantial, a medium serving has 420 calories, 24 grams of fat, and 240 mg of sodium.
11. (Tie) Wendy’s – Medium Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 12
- Energy: 4
- Fat: 2
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 6
Wendy’s skin-on fries are forgettable at best — but according to the ranking, they do leave a mark in the form of increased blood pressure. A medium serving comes in at 365 calories, 16 grams of fat, and 244.24 of sodium.
11. (Tie) Zaxby’s – Regular Crinkle Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 12
- Energy: 4
- Fat: 2
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 6
The extra seasoning comes at a cost for Zaxby’s regular crinkle fries, sharing the #11 position on the unhealthiness scale with Wendy’s. A serving has 330 calories, 14 grams of fat, and 580 mg of sodium, making them one of the saltier fries on the list.
11. (Tie) Culver’s – Crinkle Cut Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 12
- Energy: 4
- Fat: 2
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 6
Culver’s has solid-tasting fries, but nutritionally, they come at a cost. A medium order contains 350 calories, 22 grams of fat, and 650mg mg of sodium.
8. (Tie) Fatburger – Skinny Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 15
- Energy: 4
- Fat: 3
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 8
Funny you should call them skinny when Fatburger’s fries come loaded with 410 calories, 18 grams of fat, and 990 mg of sodium.
8. (Tie) Sonic – Medium Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 15
- Energy: 4
- Fat: 3
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 8
A Cherry Limeade might be the best thing to wash down Sonic’s medium fries, which come loaded with 410 calories, 18 grams of fat, and 990 mg of sodium.
8. (Tie) Jack in the Box – Medium Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 15
- Energy: 5
- Fat: 2
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 8
At 410 calories, 18 grams of fat, and 990 mg of sodium, Jack in the Box’s medium fries are one of the saltier options out there, sharing the #8 spot with Sonic and Fatburger.
5. (Tie) Shake Shack – Regular Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 17
- Energy: 5
- Fat: 4
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 8
Shake Shack’s crinkle-cut fries have a cult following, but doctors probably have one as well — for all the wrong reasons. A medium order contains 470 calories, 22 grams of fat, and 740 mg of sodium — 32% of the recommended daily intake.
5. (Tie) Carl’s Jr. – Medium Natural Cut Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 17
- Energy: 5
- Fat: 3
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 9
Carl’s Jr. Medium Natural Cut Fries may sound wholesome, but nutritionally, they’re anything but, packing 420 calories, 21 grams of fat, and 850 mg of sodium in a single serving. Hope you’ve got a drink handy.
5. (Tie) KFC – Secret Recipe Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 17
- Energy: 3
- Fat: 2
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 12
The only secret to KFC Secret Recipe Fries is that they include enough sodium to make the Dead Sea seem bland. While a medium order isn’t particularly outrageous in calories at 320, it has a staggering 1,100 mg of sodium — half of your recommended daily intake.
3. (Tie) Smashburger – French Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 18
- Energy: 4
- Fat: 5
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 9
Smashburger’s French fries may be thin and crispy, but they don’t get off easy in the unhealthiness rankings, landing at #3. A serving comes in at 370 calories, 20 grams of fat, and a hefty 870 mg of sodium — 38% of the recommended daily intake, making them one of the saltiest options out there.
3. (Tie) Bojangles – Seasoned Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 18
- Energy: 5
- Fat: 9
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 4
Bojangles’ fries come heavily seasoned, — so it’s surprising that their sodium level is relatively low at just 4 points. That doesn’t mean they’re a light option. With 9 fat points and 5 energy points, they still rank among the unhealthiest fries.
2. Steak ‘n Shake – Medium Fries
- Unhealthiness Score: 19
- Energy: 5
- Fat: 4
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 10
Coming in as the second unhealthiest fast-food fries, Steak ‘n Shake fries may seem thin and unassuming, but these suckers absorb oil like a sponge and disappear by the handful before you realize what happened.
1. Five Guys – Regular Five Guys Style
- Unhealthiness Score: 28
- Energy: 11
- Fat: 7
- Sugar: 0
- Sodium: 10
Fries with a “go big or go home” mentality, Five Guys wins the unhealthiest title by a landslide, coming in 50% more unhealthy than other fast-food chains. A serving runs anywhere from 530 to 1,310 calories, depending on whether you pretend to share or just accept your fate. You’re also looking at 131 grams of carbs, 41 grams of fat, and a sodium bomb of 962 mg — because apparently, Five Guys thinks moderation is for the weak.
