The 14 Best Fast Food Fries, Ranked by a Food Editor

I’m no stranger to the fast food drive-thru. I’ve been idling in those ground beef -lined lanes for years, and no matter where I go, my main course usually comes with a side of fries. They may hit the spot in the moment, but what differences would I notice if I had spuds from various establishments one after the other? To find the best fast food fries that money can buy, I munched my way through 14 different chains in and around Philadelphia. Read on for details on all the contenders, ranked worst to best.

(Note: Prices may vary based on location or region. The prices below do not include tax.)

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14. Jollibee

Taryn Pire

• Style: standard (shoestring)
• Cost (regular): $2.69

Y’all…these fries made me sad. They were decidedly stale, sort of like old McDonald’s fries that have been languishing under a heat lamp for too long. Jollibee’s fries may be at the bottom of my list, but don’t let that keep you from the deliciousness that is the hand-breaded chicken sandwich and the viral peach mango pie.

13. Taco Bell

Taryn Pire

• Style: standard
• Cost (regular): $2.89

Taco Bell first launched Nacho Fries as a limited-time side in 2018. Since then, they’ve been revived nearly a dozen times. Despite their spiced appearance, the seasoning is mild. The fries themselves were unevenly dusted and leaned soggy. They came with lightly jalapeño-y nacho cheese for dipping. Fun, but nothing to write home about.

12. Arby’s

Taryn Pire

• Style: curly
• Cost (small): $2.49

Last I checked, Arby’s was more a deli than a fast food joint, but nowadays it has *all* the meats, including burgers . I tried both the curly and crinkle-cut varieties (you know, for science). The box of crinkle-cut fries was barely half full, but the fries were fresh. They were a bit under-salted, tender and kid-friendly, like what you’d get at the snack bar at a community pool. I preferred the curly fries because they were more robustly seasoned and crispy, although they were small and inconsistently shaped.

11. Burger King

Taryn Pire

• Style: standard
• Cost (small): $2.79

Long gone are the days when a paper crown compensated for a subpar meal (thanks for the memories though, BK). These fries weren’t the freshest, but they were well-salted and had a simple, mild flavor. Their texture was inconsistent—some soggy, some crunchy—but that may be a plus for some of you.

10. Chick-fil-A

Taryn Pire

• Style: waffle
• Cost (small): $2.25

I’m going to be honest…I don’t get the Chick-fil-A hype. But I gave these spuds a fair shake. Their flavor was similar to Wendy’s fries because the potatoes’ skin is partially left on. This alleviated some of their blandness, while the waffle cut ensured crunch in every bite.

9. McDonald’s

Taryn Pire

• Style: standard (shoestring)
• Cost (small): $2.79

In my vast experience eating at McDonald’s , I’ve learned that the fries are only good when they’re fresh. Old fries from other fast food chains are still pretty edible, but from McDonald’s? Stale, stiff and frigid in mere minutes. These tasted undeniably old (and the container was visibly underfilled), but they were evenly and adequately salted.

8. Shake Shack

Taryn Pire

• Style: crinkle-cut
• Cost (one size): $4.29

For Shake Shack’s fries being the priciest for their size, they weren’t exactly revelatory. These reminded me of freezer fries you can make at home (although the chain apparently ditched frozen spuds in favor of fresh, hand-cut russets in 2013). That said, they were very tender, lightly crisp on the outside and generously salted.

7. Raising Cane’s

Taryn Pire

• Style: crinkle-cut
• Cost (one size): $2.59

Another cult-favorite chicken spot I was psyched to try. Raising Cane’s fries are very similar to Sonic’s new Groovy Fries (more on those later), but they aren’t fried as hard and have a more vegetal, potato-y flavor. Their smaller size makes them generally crispier than the boardwalk-style crinkle-cut fries you may be used to. The coleslaw and Texas toast are more appetizing, if you ask me, but there’s nothing wrong with this side either.

6. KFC

Taryn Pire

• Style: standard
• Cost (individual): $3.69

I don’t really get the hype about KFC when Popeye’s exists…but I digress. Chicken aside, the chain’s fries are pretty impressive. They lean crunchy and well done and have a rustic flavor, sort of like potato wedges. Chalk it up to the ~secret~ blend of herbs and spices they’re seasoned with.

5. Checkers/Rally’s

Taryn Pire

• Style: standard
• Cost (small): $2.49

If you’re a waffle fry stan, you need to try these. The fries are super soft and fluffy on the inside yet superbly crunchy on the outside. Lightly coated in a punchy seasoned batter, the fries have a subtle funnel cake-like taste…and I’m not complaining. (BTW, these fries are so famous that you can buy them frozen at the supermarket.)

4. Popeye’s

Taryn Pire

• Style: standard
• Cost (regular): $3.29

There isn’t a single Popeye’s side that I won’t devour on sight, fries included. They lean soggy (I love a soggy fry), but there’s still crunch on every fry, likely due to the craggy coating of Cajun-seasoned batter. If you loathe bland, flavorless fries, these are sure to satisfy.

3. Wendy’s

Taryn Pire

• Style: standard
• Cost (small): $2.69

Personally, I love the earthy complexity of skin-on fries, so I’m partial to those from Wendy’s. While they do start frozen, Wendy’s fries are consistently fresh (take note, McDonald’s), especially since the chain launched its Hot & Crispy Fry Guarantee in 2021. Mine were also generously salted and piping hot.

2. Sonic

Taryn Pire

• Style: crinkle-cut
• Cost (small): $2.29

Sonic purists may stick with their usual tots (they are super crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, browned all around and consistently cooked, after all), but let me put you on the new Groovy Fries . They’re super crispy for crinkle-cut fries, which tend to go limp and soggy pretty fast. My guess is that because the fries are smaller and thinner than most crinkle-cuts, they turn out crunchier when cooked. They also come with Groovy Sauce for dipping, which is like a slightly spicy Big Mac sauce.

1. Five Guys

Taryn Pire

• Style: standard
• Cost (regular): $6.09

I knew in my soul that my go-to wouldn’t disappoint. These came to me fresh and steamy from the fryer with a mix of crisp and soggy fries alike. I love how much skin is left on them, giving them more flavor than the average frittered spud. Five Guys is not only beloved for its twice-cooked fries (the chain describes them as “firm on the outside and mashed potato on the inside”), but for their very generous portions. Just know that they’re cooked in peanut oil, in case you have a nut allergy.

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