Kyle Grace Trinidad/Tasting Table Add Tasting Table on Google: Preferred Source Google Discover It's a truth universally acknowledged: No self-respecting fast food chain, whether it deals in burgers or chicken wings, would leave french fries off the menu. But though the french fry is a ubiquitous drive-thru side item, each incarnation is separated by a world of differences, from batters to seasonings to the oil it get's fried in. Today, even the classic rectangular shape has gotten a revamp, with the crinkle fry, waffle fry, and curly fry all becoming more prevalent options. With all of these choices flooding the market, it can be difficult to determine which ones truly deserve the fan fare.
To build an elite list of french fry heavy hitters, I set out to try as many fast food french fries I could, from traditional McDonald's fries to the wacky Taco Bell nacho option. Admittedly, fry preferences can be subjective. One person can find the batter-dipped fries from Checkers to be an oily abomination, while another would make a midnight pilgrimage to the chain just to get a small taste of said fries. With that in mind, I tried to highlight a wide variety of different french fry stars, from a thick and fluffy waffle cut to a perfectly crisp classic. Basically, if it was an expertly tasty option of a deep fried potato, I added it to the list. Without further ado, here are the chain restaurants that are serving up the best fries, full stop.
Kyle Grace Trinidad/Tasting Table Here's what I like about Arby's when it comes to the fries. First off, the curly fries are iconic. Those deep-fried coils have been a fast food mainstay since 1988, offering a welcome departure from the classic rectangular formula. Are they even remotely enjoyable 15 minutes after buying? No, but very few fries on the planet are edible once cooled from the fryer. It goes with the territory.
While the chain could have traded on those fries alone, it decided to add crinkle fries to the mix as well. These aren't phoned in crinkle fries, either. They're crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and have a nice coating of salt. I'd put them on the same level as other heavy hitters like Raising Cane's or Culver's crinkle fries. Basically they're better than they have any right to be. If a fast food franchise is going to offer two solid french fry options to the average consumer, then it's earned a spot among the greats.
Kyle Grace Trinidad/Tasting Table Though it once was an isolated Texas-based chain, Whataburger is expanding like never before. That's great news for burger fans — I'd pick it's Patty Melt over most other chain's signature burgers in a heart beat — and even better news for traditional french fry lovers. At first glance, these fries look, taste, and feel like a more famous fast food rendition of the side item, i.e. the classic McDonald's french fries. But there's one glaring difference between the two.
These taste a thousand times better than McDonald's. There, I said it. While it may be controversial to dethrone the Golden Arches for one of its most famous items, comparing the quality between the two fries shows how McDonald's has backslid considerably. Whataburger serves up a crunchy, medium-cut fry that has a pleasant, mildly salty aftertaste. In a word, they're perfectly, compulsively delicious. It's offers the kind of easy enjoyment that McDonald's used to specialize in, but now I'll be heading to Whataburger to get those deep fried potato kicks.
Kyle Grace Trinidad/Tasting Table If you were under the impression that Popeye's didn't serve fries, join the club. When I was drawing up the of places to review, Popeye's Cajun Fries (along with Taco Bell's ill-conceived Nacho fries) seemed to be the most random entry on the list. But, man, am I glad that I got acquainted with these deep fried delights.
Part of the charm to these fries is the method in which Popeye's makes them. These are double fried, first at a lower temperature (about 300 degrees Fahrenheit) so the interior gets cooked properly, then at a higher one (about 350 degrees Fahrenheit) so that the exterior can get supremely golden and crunchy. This process makes the fry crust extra craggy and crunchy, perfect for picking up all of that delicious Cajun Seasoning. Which brings me to the second standout feature of these fries: the seasoning. Punctuated by a blend of garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and a number of other spices, this hits all the best notes in the Cajun repertoire without being overly salty or spicy. Now, I increasingly find myself dreaming not of Popeye's fried chicken, but the chain's perfect side dish of Cajun Fries.
