There are few sides more important in American cuisine than the French fry. They’ve been around for a while too. According to records, Thomas Jefferson had potatoes cooked French style during a dinner at the White House in 1802. In addition to being found paired in sit-down restaurants with everything from hamburgers to sandwiches to expensive steaks, fries are a dominant force within the fast food industry.
The side item could be the reason why a customer comes to your fast food place, so eateries are always trying to one up each other when it comes to their potato offerings. Below are the 9 eateries doing the best job.
1. Arby’s
Fries come with an awful lot of meals, not just at fast food restaurants, but in sit-down dining establishments as well. And while fried spuds are almost always delicious, sometimes you are in the mood for something a little bit different. And if that’s the case, Arby’s has you covered.
Arby’s, a sandwich chain with over 3,300 locations across the United States, is one of the few fast food places offering curly fries. Curly fries crisp differently than standard fries, and Arby’s coats its fries in a delicious seasoning. So head their way next time you’re in the mood for a roast beef sandwich and curly fries.
2. Del Taco
Del Taco has delicious food that many people haven’t had the chance to taste, as the restaurant’s nearly 600 stores are primarily located on the West Coast. Those people may not realize that this Mexican-style restaurant also has outstanding French fries.
The fries at Del Taco are crinkle-cut and go well not only with a burger but also with tacos and burritos. Even better, they offer fries with various toppings. In addition to chili cheddar fries, Del Taco also offers spuds topped with carne asada, diced tomatoes and house-made guacamole.
3. Burger King
As one of the most prominent fast food places in the country, Burger King consistently has to compete with massive chains like McDonald’s and Wendy’s. To do so, Burger King takes some interesting steps with its potatoes.
To create a crispy coating, Burger King sprays a tempura-like batter on its fries after they are freshly cut. So when the side item comes out of the fryer, it is much crispier than that of its competitors. Burger King is also one of the few restaurants to offer an alternative to its fries, with onion rings available as well.
4. Chick-Fil-A
For many years, only people in the Southern region of the United States knew about Chick-Fil-A. But the brand’s delicious sandwiches are now available to almost all people as the chain now boasts more than 3,200 locations in 48 states.
It’s not just chicken that the restaurant does well as their fries are also delicious. Chick-Fil-A is one of the few chains to offer its fries in waffle form. French fry purists may not feel like this is playing by the rules, but they do offer a nice change of pace.
5. McDonalds
If you were to take a nationwide survey of Americans about their favorite fast food French fry, McDonalds would almost certainly win. The brand has been doing it as long as any other company and it’s fair to wonder if they have perfected the process.
A batch of hot and fresh fries from Mickey Dee’s are salty and incredibly crispy on the outside while being pillowy soft on the inside. Even people who don’t regularly patronize fast food places will gush about them. Amazingly enough, they used to be even better as in the early days of the chain, the potatoes were cooked in beef tallow.
6. Wendy’s
Another giant in the industry, Wendy’s boasts just under 6,000 restaurants in the United States. First, Wendy’s should be lauded for being one of the few fast food places to offer a baked potato, which is a nice option if you ever find yourself french-fried-out.
When it comes to fries, Wendy’s has a strong offering there as well. The main differentiator in their potatoes is that they leave the skin on potatoes, offering different taste and texture. Wendy’s also used sea salt on their fries, creating a more savory and long lasting taste.
7. Nathan’s Famous
Nathan Handwerker first opened a hot dog stand in Coney Island back in 1916 and the hot dog joint has 198 locations in the US. Thanks to a Hot Dog Eating Contest held every 4th of July, the hot dog is well known nationally. But the hot dog isn’t the best thing at Nathan’s, the fries are.
Nathan’s fries are crinkle cut and come to you browned to perfection. Served on a plate with a little red spear, the only thing that can make the fries taste better is opting for the cheese sauce topping.
8. In-And-Out
In-And-Out has a fantastic reputation for fresh and delicious food. In fact, many people visiting the West Coast make having a meal at the burger mecca an important part of their trip. While the chain is rapidly growing, there are still only 418 locations in the United States.
The brand prides itself on freshness and is willing to prove it to you as you can often see the fries being hand-cut in the store. Fried only once, In-And-Out’s potatoes are softer than other fast food options. Many fans of the chain choose to order them Animal Style, with onions, cheese and special sauce.
9. Five Guys
Five Guys is another restaurant that prides itself on freshness with hand cut and never frozen French fries. You can taste the freshness in the fries which are coated in a good bit of seasoning, great for some, a turn off for others.
The French fry portion sizes at Five Guys are gigantic as they are served in a boardwalk style cup and inside a bag that gets an additional scoop of potatoes. Thanks to the portion size, one order can serve as the side for a couple of people.