Sometimes, you crave the simplest things in life. When it comes to french fries, we’ve all felt the urge to chow down. Though many fries can help satisfy that urge, some fries out there will take you to the next level of fast food nirvana. Here are some easy and convenient fast food places to find the most delicious french fries worth every bite.
1. Five Guys
Others serve Cajun fries, but Five Guys’ version might be the best. These natural-cut fries are cooked to perfection in peanut oil and then seasoned with a Cajun-style blend that gives them a sensational flavor that always makes us crave more. Even better, Five Guys is always generous with their fry pour, so make sure to dig to the bottom of the brown bag to grab all the good stuff.
2. Arby’s
Years ago, Jon Stewart excoriated Arby’s and their many anything-but-good-for-you menu offerings on The Daily Show. Though Arby’s still serves anything but healthy food, we can’t help but crave those curly fries that taste so good we don’t care what anyone says about them. We care even less about what exactly is in that delicious orange seasoning blend that Arby’s coats their fries in.
3. Whataburger
Now that Whataburger is expanding nationwide, you no longer have to go to Texas to try them. Their fries are nowhere near the top reason to try Whataburger’s menu full of Texas-flavored offerings, but they are consistently salty, golden brown, and overall great. Whataburger’s simple yet scrumptious fries tend to taste much better than those oft-touted “animal-style fries” that a certain California-based burger chain serves.
4. Taco Bell
Like some other chains on this list, Taco Bell wasn’t always known for its fries. But now that Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries are officially back on the menu and saucier than ever, we’re feeling all the feels, not to mention the heat. Taco Bell’s latest and greatest version of Nacho Fries comes as a collaboration with the Portland-based company Secret Aardvark and features their fan-favorite Serrabanero sauce.
5. Portillo’s
Crinkle-cut tends to be an incredibly hot-button french fry controversy: Some hate them; others can’t get enough of them. If you dig crinkle-cut fries, you may really want to dig into Portillo’s fries. They’re long, thin, and expertly seasoned, so they tend to maintain good texture and flavor. And when paired with Portillo’s cheese sauce, these fries magically transform into one of the best fast food sides we’ve ever experienced.
6. Checkers/Rally’s
Regardless of whether you live in an area with Checkers or with Rally’s, when you order fries, you will get their Famous Seasoned Fries, and you can opt to top them with chili cheese or the “fully loaded” mix of cheese, ranch, and bacon.
But unlike some other places that rely on heavy-handed toppings to make their fries taste good, Checkers and Rally’s fries actually taste good without all those crazy toppings, and this is why we feel compelled to include them here.
7. Wendy’s
Like Burger King, Wendy’s struggled for a while to come up with the ideal recipe for french fries. In 2021, they finally hit the mark with their Hot & Crispy Fries, which boast great exteriors that make for a satisfyingly crispy texture. Plus, these fries are well-designed to stay warmer for longer. Bravo, Wendy’s, you finally did it.
8. Burger King
For years, fast foodies have been debating whether Burger King’s fries really are better than McDonald’s. While the debate is far from settled, we must acknowledge that Burger King has managed to up its fry game over the years. Though Burger King has notoriously changed their recipe over the years, all those changes ultimately resulted in better-tasting fries.
9. McDonald’s
Yes, we know the many surveys out there suggest McDonald’s has Americans’ favorite fries. Indeed, there’s something about McDonald’s fries that makes them strangely addictive. With this said, many other fast food joints have worked hard to create new fries that not only rival the classic McDonald’s fry but actually surpass them. So, we still respect the classic taste of McDonald’s fries, but we’re not convinced they’re still number one.
10. Popeye’s
Popeye’s makes it easy to “love that chicken,” but you may also fall in love with their signature Cajun fries, especially if you like your fries on the spicy side. Don’t worry, they’re not that spicy, but they definitely have enough of a kick to make you forget that you’re feasting on a lot of fried chicken that you got from a fast food joint.
11. KFC
Though some KFC enthusiasts continue to mourn the loss of their once-famous potato wedges, KFC now offers their “Secret Recipe Fries” that almost certainly feature many of the same herbs and spices used to season KFC’s signature fried chicken. They might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but we do appreciate KFC’s effort to create unique fries that stand out from the fast-food crowd.
12. White Castle
If you’re a stalwart crinkle-cut hater, you’ll almost certainly loathe White Castle’s fries. But if you enjoy crinkle-cut fries and happen to visit a White Castle that makes sure to give their fries ample time to fully cook, you may come to love their take on crinkle-cut.
13. Raising Cane’s
Yes, another fast food establishment that serves crinkle-cut fries. But when you’re looking for a little something extra to use that Cane’s Sauce on, you might as well order the fries. Though we’re not convinced that Raising Cane’s fries are the absolute best, they are great for handling that incredibly tasty sauce.
14. Steak ‘n Shake
While shoestring fries are usually not as controversial as crinkle-cut, they nonetheless tend to divide fast food aficionados into opposing camps. There may be nothing to convince you to try Steak ‘n Shake’s fries if you’re a hardened shoestring hater. But if you’re the opposite, you might find that these thin and crispy fries really do taste great.
15. Culver’s
Like several others listed here, Culver’s also serves crinkle-cut fries. Again, if you can’t stand crinkle-cut fries, you probably don’t want to order any from Culver’s. But if you like crinkle-cut fries, you may appreciate Culver’s hot and crispy take on the classic.
16. A&W
If there’s anything to say about A&W’s fries, it’s that they have a unique, curiously roasted flavor. This probably isn’t for everyone. But if you’re into skinny and well-seasoned fries, you may very well appreciate the different flavors of these skinny fries that pique our curiosity.
17. Wingstop
We’d probably rank Wingstop’s fries higher if they weren’t so greasy. That said, they do have good flavor. And when combined with one of their signature sauces, such as bleu cheese or honey mustard, these fries really slap. Also, Wingstop’s fries are thin and standard-cut, so crinkle-cut haters can rejoice that there’s a chicken place out here that does not serve crinkle-cut fries.
18. Shake Shack
While Shake Shack has a dedicated fan base who swear by their shakes, burgers, hot dogs, and lemonades, their fries tend to be divisive, to say the least. Yes, Shake Shack also does crinkle-cut fries, and they are thick, so crinkle-cut enjoyers may indeed ascend into fast food heaven once they start chomping into them.
If you don’t like crinkle-cut fries, you may really hate Shake Shack’s version, as they come with the risk of being too crispy and bland when eaten on their own. Fortunately, Shake Shack does offer toppings for extra.