Every Fast Food French Fry, From Worst To Best antpkr – Getty Images
Whether a fast food chain specializes in burgers, chicken sandwiches, or tacos, you can reliably roll up to any drive-thru and find fries on the menu. The side too often plays a supporting role, but for me? It’s the main act. Name another menu item that can pair perfectly with ketchup, cheese, and milkshakes. I’ll wait.
Another reason to appreciate fast food French fries is that they’re often too inconvenient to make at home. And unless you invest plenty of time painstakingly perfecting your frying technique, the drive-thru will usually do it better anyway. When they’re done well, fries are the side that upstages the rest of your meal. But when they’re done poorly? They become a soggy, disappointing footnote.
Fries can come in so many shapes: classic, crinkle, curly, or waffle. They can also differ in how they’re cooked, too (the differences between peanut oil, vegetable oil, and beef fat are staggering). And don’t even get me started on seasoning (if you’ve ever had the misfortune of eating an under-salted fry, you get it).
If, like me, the quality of your fries is a major factor in choosing which drive-thru to visit, this ranking is for you. I’ve tried fast-food fries from some of the most popular chains—from regional spots to international giants—to determine which are truly the best. And my number one pick just might surprise you.
In-N-Out
In-N-Out Burger is highly regarded for many things, but its fries aren’t one of them. The regional chain prides itself on making its fries from scratch using fresh potatoes (you can even watch employees cutting spuds while you sit in the drive-thru!). But that commitment to freshness ultimately compromises the end product.
In-N-Out fries are consistently limp and a little too soft. Sure, you can ask for them “well done” or order them Animal Style. But I firmly believe a good fry should be delicious as ordered, no substitutions or alterations required.
In-N-Out
Shake Shack
Shake Shack has the makings of a good fry: crinkle-cut, super crispy, and well-seasoned. But there’s one factor that completely ruins it: the oil.
I’m not sure whether it’s the oil itself or the cooking technique, but every single batch of Shake Shack fries tastes like old cooking grease. The same goes for the fried chicken. The smell even seems to linger in the restaurant. Hard pass.
Shake Shack
Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr.
Do you remember where you were the day they announced they were changing the fries at Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.? Because I do. The burger chain swapped its classic fast-food-style fries for a “natural cut” version, which is thicker and leaves the potato skins intact.
Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. initially advertised the natural-cut fries as premium, restaurant-style potatoes. In reality, they’re just less crispy and less satisfying.
Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell may not be slinging burgers, but it does offer its own rendition of French fries for limited stints throughout the year. The nacho fries have even garnered a bit of a cult following. What sets these spuds apart is Taco Bell’s signature seasoning blend. It’s cheesy, savory, and nicely spiced.
But… they don’t exactly scratch that French fry itch. Don’t get me wrong, I love cheese fries. It’s just that the nacho cheese sauce and Doritos Locos-esque seasoning aren’t what I have in mind when I want fries. And honestly, in the context of Taco Bell’s menu, a side of French fries feels a little out of place.
Taco Bell
Arby’s
Arby’s earns bonus points for being one of the few fast-food joints that serve curly fries. I love the texture you get from all that extra surface area. And let’s be real: curly fries are just fun!
They aren’t without their flaws, though. Something about the frying technique and the seasoning blend leaves an unpleasant, unpalatable film on your tongue. I constantly have to take a sip of soda between bites, and it makes me want to brush my teeth right away afterward.
Arby’s
Burger King
Burger King fries are fine. They’re crispy enough, salty enough, and taste good enough. I’m certainly not going to be upset when I roll up to the BK drive-thru, but I’m also not going there specifically to eat the fries.
The chicken fries, on the other hand? Worth the trip every time.
Burger King
Wendy’s
Normally, I’m skeptical of skin-on fries. More often than not, they’re cut too large and never achieve the right level of crispiness. The fries at Wendy’s are by no means perfect, but they’re the most solid skin-on offering of the bunch.
Wendy’s
Five Guys
The boardwalk-style fries at Five Guys are fried in peanut oil and sprinkled with either salt or a hearty dose of Cajun seasoning. Each order comes in a 12-ounce cup, plus an extra scoop of spuds dumped into the accompanying paper bag.
These fries are certainly not lacking in flavor, but for me, they’re usually a bit much. A little too salty. A tad greasier than I’d prefer. And finishing a serving tends to leave me feeling a little gross. I’m not expecting fries to be a light, refreshing snack by any means, but Five Guys’ version is just too heavy.
Five Guys
Chick-fil-A
Waffle fries may be a polarizing cut, but I think we can all admit that Chick-fil-A does them well. There’s plenty of surface area for maximum crispiness and for dunking in the chain’s wide variety of sauces.
Chick-fil-A’s waffle fries are always nicely salted and actually taste like potatoes, not stale fryer oil.
Chick-fil-A
Raising Cane’s
The menu at Raising Cane’s isn’t exactly extensive. So odds are you’ll end up with crinkle cut fries in your basket no matter what combo you order, which means there’s even more pressure for them to be delicious.
Thankfully, Raising Cane’s always delivers. Add a side of Cane’s sauce, and I’m a happy camper.
Raising Cane’s
Del Taco
I’m going to make a bold claim: no crinkle-cut fries taste as good as the ones at Del Taco. They’re exactly what I want: crispy, fluffy, and perfectly salted. And unlike some of their competitors (cough cough), they don’t have that unpleasant, old oil aftertaste.
Del Taco
McDonald’s
I’d be delusional if I didn’t place McDonald’s near the top of the list. I’m still sad they swapped out beef tallow for a proprietary oil blend, but at least carnivores and vegetarians alike can now enjoy them.
McDonald’s fries are crunchy on the outside while staying delightfully fluffy inside. The potatoes are cut into the ideal size and shape, they’re always nicely seasoned, and they’re nearly perfect.
McDonald’s
Checkers/Rally’s
I have a dark-horse contender taking first place: Checkers (or Rally’s, depending on where you live). But before you break out the pitchforks, hear me out. The fries at this chain are beer-battered and seasoned with a savory, salty spice blend. They’re so crispy, so flavorful, and so satisfying. There’s a reason these fries are sold in the supermarket freezer aisle; they’re just that good.
Checker’s/Rally’s
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