I Sampled French Fries From 12 Fast-Food Chains – Ranked Best to Worst

French fries are the unsung hero of any fast-food meal. Sure, burgers get the glory and chicken sandwiches steal headlines, but let’s be real: a mediocre burger with great fries is way better than an amazing burger with awful fries. I decided to embark on a greasy, salty, crispy quest to find out which fast-food chain truly deserves the fry crown. Armed with nothing but my appetite and a serious sodium tolerance, I hit up twelve different chains in one glorious (and slightly nauseating) afternoon. Here’s the thing, though: your local execution can vary wildly. What I’m ranking here is based on what landed on my tray that day, fresh from the fryer.

12. Dairy Queen

Let’s start at the bottom, shall we? Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from Dairy Queen since most people roll through for a Blizzard, not a side of fries. These fries arrive in a cute little DQ box looking golden and crispy, but my teeth simply cut through them as if they were strips of butter, with my tongue searching for something resembling flavor. They’re soft when you want crunch, bland when you crave salt, and just forgettable. They’re not memorable for their failure; they fit wholly within the “forgettable” category, which is a fate worse than failure.

11. In-N-Out Burger

This one hurts to admit because I genuinely love In-N-Out’s burgers. For as feverishly popular as In-N-Out is, especially for its burgers, the fries are divisive, with chefs ranking them among the worst. The fries are julienned and fried right before your eyes, but the sum total is a box of dismal, mealy-textured sprigs with textural issues. They’re infamously averse to frying them twice or blanching them ahead of time, ensuring they turn into stale, room-temp matchsticks in mere minutes. You can order them “well done” or Animal Style, but a good fry shouldn’t need that much help.

10. Burger King

Burger King’s fries have the reputation of being boring, soggy, and not nearly as crispy or as flavorful as their biggest rival. Burger King fries are fine – they’re crispy enough, salty enough, and taste good enough. They won’t make you angry, but they won’t make you happy either. Burger King has been tinkering with its fry recipe for years, over the years, which honestly makes me think they still haven’t figured it out. Sometimes consistency is more valuable than constant reinvention.

9. Shake Shack

Here’s where things get controversial. Shake Shack has a cult following, and their crinkle-cut fries look perfect on paper. They’re crispy, well-seasoned, and have that classic diner vibe. But there’s a massive problem. Every single batch of Shake Shack fries tastes like rancid cooking grease. The frying technique and seasoning blend leave an unpleasant, unpalatable film on your tongue, meaning you constantly have to wash it down with soda. It’s hard to ignore that funky oil taste, which completely overshadows everything else.

8. KFC

KFC is obviously known for its chicken, not its fries, so I went in with low expectations. The fries are thick-cut and have a decent golden color. KFC’s fries are compared to chips, with a crispy exterior and a mashed potato-like interior, offering a unique texture but being somewhat bland. They’re not terrible, just uninspiring. If you’re at KFC, you’re there for the Colonel’s secret recipe, not these potato sticks. Still, they do their job as a serviceable side without embarrassing themselves.

7. Jack in the Box

You can get regular or curly fries at Jack in the Box, and both french fry varieties are perfectly crispy. I appreciate the options here. The curly fries have that nice seasoned kick, while the regular fries are solid if you want something classic. Curly fries imply a smoky, paprika-forward barbecue flavor profile, and Jack in the Box delivers, though the flavors are a bit muted, with a lightly breaded texture that’s nice and crispy. They’re headed in the right direction, even if they don’t quite reach the peak.

6. Wendy’s

Wendy’s switched to a “Hot and Ready” fry back in 2021, and honestly, it’s a mixed bag. Skin-on fries are often cut too large and never achieve the right amount of crispiness, but Wendy’s fries were the most solid skin-on offering. In a national taste test, 56% of people chose Wendy’s skin-on fries over McDonald’s 39%. The natural potato flavor is there, and they’re usually hot and fresh. Where they fall short is in the flavor department; they could use a touch more salt to really make them pop.

5. Popeyes

Popeyes fries are criminally underrated. The texture of these spuds is really pleasing, thanks to a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy middle, and that crispy texture held up even after sitting for an hour. Execution is everything with Popeyes fries, and it’s wildly inconsistent – when they’re done right and not left to steam in the box, they’re excellent, but undercooked or steamed ones become soggy and terrible. When you catch them fresh, they’re genuinely great. The Cajun-spiced version adds a nice kick too.

4. Five Guys

Five Guys is famous for their fries, and the portion sizes are absolutely insane. They’re delicious and consistent, with Five Guys only dropping a basket of fries once you order them, resulting in the absolute best quality control. The fries are cut thicker than most fast food chains, resulting in a deep potato flavor that is moist and tender inside while crisping enough outside. These fries are certainly not lacking in flavor, but we find Five Guys’ fries to be a bit much – a little too salty, a tad more greasy than preferred, leaving us feeling a little gross. They’re great, just a touch overwhelming.

3. Arby’s Curly Fries

Now we’re talking. Arby’s curly fries are the perfect fries and very iconic. There’s a nice, seasoned flavor that’s enough to enjoy on their own without any addition of condiments. The spiralized shape creates varying textures throughout each fry, with some parts extra-crispy and others maintaining that perfect potato softness. The problem with Arby’s is you get like three full curlies and the rest are sad little crunchy bits. When they nail the execution, though, these are absolutely top-tier.

2. Chick-fil-A Waffle Fries

Chick-fil-A’s Waffle Fries have been a beloved menu staple since 1985, and earlier in 2024 a TikToker posted that the chain was doing away with them, sparking swift and stark social media response. Recently, Chick-fil-A added pea starch to make the fries stay crispier longer, and they do stay crispy for the entire meal with an audible crunch, though they don’t taste the same as before. Made from whole potatoes sliced into their signature waffle pattern, they maintain their crispiness longer than traditional cuts. Those little waffle squares are perfect for holding sauce, making every bite a textural delight.

1. McDonald’s

Was there ever any doubt? McDonald’s World Famous Fries topped Eat This, Not That’s list of the best fast food french fries for 2024. The secret to their enduring appeal lies in their perfect balance – crispy exteriors giving way to fluffy, potato-y interiors, made from Russet Burbank potatoes chosen for ideal starch content. McDonald’s fries are always crunchy on the outside while staying delightfully fluffy inside, cut into the ideal size and shape, and always nicely seasoned – they’re nearly perfect. McDonald’s has worn the French fry crown for decades, with more than 40% of people liking their fries more than other fast food fries. They set the standard that everyone else chases.

So there you have it. Twelve chains, one clear winner, and a stomach full of regret. What’s your take on the fry hierarchy? Did your favorite make the cut, or do you think I’m completely off base? Drop your thoughts below, because honestly, fry opinions are almost as important as the fries themselves.