Is there anything more magnificent than the potato? The starchy vegetable is native to the Americas and popular worldwide.
The potato’s humble beginnings are underground, but it becomes the uber tuber upon harvest, making its way into a variety of main and side dishes. One rendition reigns supreme, pleasing even the pickiest of eaters — the french fry.
It’s simple, really. Strips of potato, deep fried in oil, a little bit of salt, and voilà — you have the perfect starting point to create an epic addition to dress up or down any meal. It’s hard to go wrong with french fries, unless they are cold and soggy (but maybe that’s your jam?). They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and considering how many menus you can find them on, there’s room for debate about which french fry is the best (hand-cut from Bill’s Place, and I’ll be taking no further input).
OK, I let my preference take over there. Yakima Herald-Republic staff members have sampled a wide selection of fry options from around the Valley: criss-cut fries in Union Gap, crispy fries in Sunnyside and smothered with toppings and carne asada on Nob Hill Boulevard. There’s so many more we didn’t get to.
Readers, let us know your favorite local go-to stop for the delectable french fry. And help me find a solid steak fry from a local owned establishment. It’s my second favorite way to eat potatoes. (Do tater tots count as a fry or is that a whole other debate?)
Major’s Restaurant
1705 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima (also in Union Gap)
Idaho’s not the only place with “famous potatoes.” The Evergreen State grows more than its share, especially east of the Cascades, and if you want them fried to near perfection, Major’s Restaurant is recommended.
The locally-owned restaurants on West Lincoln Avenue in Yakima and at Third and Washington avenues in Union Gap offer a variety of sandwiches, loaded baked potatoes and seafood plates.
An order of sweet potato fries is paired with the Major’s Cheeseburger at Major’s Restaurant at 1705 W. Lincoln Ave. in Yakima. Also pictured are a basket of curly fries with ketchup, fry sauce and ranch dressing.
Joel Donofrio, Yakima Herald-Republic
But there’s a reason a giant burger, fries and cola are displayed on top of each location — those are the go-to choices for most Major’s customers, and there are a variety of fries to suit every taste.
Steak-cut fries can be cut from regular potatoes or sweet potatoes — my wife tried the latter with her burger on a recent visit, and she enjoyed the fact they were thick instead of shoestring style. You get a good bite of sweet potato inside the crispy outside.
I am a big fan of tater tots and onion rings, both of which are excellent at Major’s, but the best side order on the menu is the curly fries. Perfect for dipping in fry sauce, ranch or ketchup (all of which are included with an order), the curly fries were a perfect pairing with the homemade corn dog — a menu favorite that doesn’t skimp on either the batter or the hot dog inside it.
For a complete overview of the Major’s menu, which also includes breakfast items and a variety of ice cream flavors and concoctions, visit their website or go to their Facebook page.
— Joel Donofrio
Pepp’rmint Stick
4002 Main St., Union Gap
Reports of a Chik-fil-A coming soon to Union Gap may be exaggerated. Until all the necessary approvals and paperwork and announcements get completed by all the necessary officials and construction is finished and the doors open for business, there are always wonderful criss-cut fries at the Pepp’rmint Stick Drive-In.
The Pepp’rmint Stick, located at 4002 Main St., opened in 1948. It’s locally owned and operated, the staff is friendly even during busy times and the criss-cut fries are thick and slightly spicy. Some call them waffle fries; some call them potato waffles. Whatever the name, they can be challenging to find, so we appreciate that they’re available at The Pepp’rmint Stick.
A small order of criss-cut fries is $5.71 and a large order is $6.75. The large size includes enough fries to share a bit, depending on how hungry you are. They could come with ketchup, fry sauce, mayonnaise — or ranch dressing (which was my choice, a result of my Midwestern upbringing).
If possible, build in some time so you can eat your criss-cut fries at the The Pepp’rmint Stick. The interesting decor includes stories about Gary Puckett and The Union Gap, and you never know who might show up.
— Tammy Ayer
Burger Ranch
911 Summitview Ave., Yakima
Even though Burger Ranch’s South First Street restaurant has closed, Yakima french fry fans can still get their Bag of Fries fix.
The Summitview Avenue franchise is still open and providing the more-than-generous portion of crinkle-cut fries and fry sauce.
Burger Ranch’s iconic Bag of Fries, with fry sauce.
Donald W. Meyers/Yakima Herald-Republic
Unlike the shoestring potatoes usually found in major fast-food joints, Burger Ranch’s are slightly thicker and crinkle cut, but with just the right amount of crispiness for french-fry lovers.
The bag has enough fries to share between two or three people, or to make almost a meal by itself for one. And they’re salted enough to enhance their flavor, which can be further enhanced with the fry sauce, which comes in abundance with the order.
— Donald W. Meyers
Triple Cs Food Truck
located at Varietal Beer Company, 416 E. Edison Ave., Sunnyside
Triple Cs food truck (Instagram: @chriscookscarne) in Sunnyside is usually parked outside Varietal Beer Company, which was a great place to escape the summer heat on a weekday evening.
Their fries were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and most importantly, well-seasoned and served with a tasty fry sauce. The fries went nicely as a side to a butterfly shrimp po-boy. If I wasn’t about to go to a Sunnyside City Council meeting, I probably would have tried one of Varietal’s many options on tap. In hindsight, I should have had a pint beforehand.
— Questen Inghram
Taquería Los Charros
1106 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima
As a non-native Washingtonian and a Mexican food lover, I was excited to discover what The Evergreen State had in store when I recently moved here.
In this case, it was a family-run food truck.
Taquería Los Charros, 1106 W. Nob Hill Blvd., had just the carne asada fries to satiate my hunger and love for the cuisine south of the border.
My lunch for that day cost $12 and came in a to-go box. The bottom of the box was covered with golden fries and blanketed with melted cheese and pieces of tender steak.
The dish was topped with chopped onions and tomato. The icing on the cake — or plate — was a dollop of sour cream and guacamole.
An order of asada fries at Taquería Los Charros Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, in Union Gap, Wash.
Evan Abell / Yakima Herald-Republic
Although I took my food to-go, there’s a seating area for people who want to eat their food when it’s hot and ready.
For those not in the mood for asada fries, there are 56 other menu items and nine different meat options. Breakfast burritos and children’s options are available.
Portion sizes are large, so come on an empty stomach. I couldn’t finish the asada fries in one sitting as a 5’8, 180-ish pound male.
After lunch, I had the pleasure of washing everything down with an ice-cold horchata.
The taquería is open every day except Tuesdays. People who like to eat with their eyes first can check out the business TikTok page: tiktok.com/@charros.taqueria.
— Alexander Banks
Dining and Cooking