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

12. Dairy Queen

Here’s the thing about Dairy Queen. People don’t go there for fries. Multiple food critics and ranking sites confirm that Dairy Queen consistently ranks at the absolute bottom of every major reviewer’s list when it comes to french fries. At their worst, the fries are limp, cold, and under-salted, and at their best, they’re forgettable. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had a decent Dairy Queen fry experience, which tells you everything you need to know.

Customers report that it takes mere seconds for fries to go from fine to absolutely disgusting once they’re out of the fryer, and wildly different products arrive at different locations. The consistency alone should disqualify them from any serious competition.

11. White Castle

White Castle’s fries are nearly always limp, saltless, and devoid of any crispiness. The crinkle cut should work in their favor because that style has potential, yet somehow they never deliver on texture or taste. I think part of the problem is that White Castle focuses so heavily on those iconic sliders that the fries become an afterthought.

Let’s be real, most people only hit White Castle when they’re really craving those little burgers. Discussions on Reddit suggest that White Castle fries have apparently gotten worse over time, with debates about whether the chain changed their recipe around 2020. The bland flavor profile makes these fries instantly forgettable.

10. In-N-Out Burger

I know this is controversial. Really, I do. For as feverishly popular as In-N-Out is, especially for its burgers, it remains true that the fries are divisive, to put it mildly – for every chef endorsement, there’s another list ranking them among the worst. In-N-Out topped one Yelp-based ranking with an average rating of 3.86 out of 5, based on over 7,500 reviews, with their fresh-cut fries prepared in-store daily garnering praise, yet the texture issues remain a huge problem.

The fact that they’re infamously averse to frying them twice or blanching them ahead of time ensures that they turn into stale, room-temp matchsticks in mere minutes. Ordering them well done helps a bit, though honestly, a good fry shouldn’t need special instructions to taste decent.

9. Sonic

One frustrated customer on Reddit felt compelled to use all caps to declare that Sonic’s fries are the worst in everything except desserts, with complaints about a strange chemical aftertaste. That’s brutal, though I can’t say it’s entirely wrong. Sonic recently introduced new fries described as hot, crispy, perfectly salted, and made with deep grooves, with mixed reception – one review called them a solid upgrade while critics on social media decried the decision to replace the original fries.

The overwhelming size of their menu means not everything gets proper attention. Their tater tots are actually pretty solid, which makes you wonder why they don’t just lean into those instead.

8. Burger King

Burger King has been tinkering with its fry recipe for years, rolling out a potato-based batter in 1998, launching a thicker fry in 2011, and changing tacks again in 2013 with a purportedly healthier fry with fewer calories. All these changes tell you something isn’t quite right. Burger King scored a 1.92 average rating from hundreds of reviews, reinforcing ongoing criticism of its fries despite repeated recipe overhauls.

They have the reputation of being boring, soggy, and not nearly as crispy or as flavorful as the fries from their biggest rival. I’ve had better fries from the frozen section at my local grocery store, which is saying something for a major fast food chain.

7. Shake Shack

This might surprise some people because Shake Shack gets a lot of hype overall. Every single batch of Shake Shack fries tastes like rancid cooking grease, possibly due to the soybean oil they use in the fryers or their cooking technique. I’ve been to multiple locations hoping for a better experience, yet that greasy quality follows me everywhere.

Shake Shack’s crinkle cut fries stand out as some of the best according to some rankings, earning top marks in taste tests for a perfectly crispy shell and being soft and light on the inside, salty without being too salty. Still, my personal experience hasn’t matched those glowing reviews. Maybe it’s location dependent, though consistency should matter.

6. Chick-fil-A

Earlier in 2024, the chain inadvertently stoked panic when a TikToker posted that the chain was doing away with its timeworn Waffle Fries, a beloved menu staple since 1985, and the social media response was swift, which speaks to the devout following these fries have. Here’s my issue with them, though. Execution varies wildly from location to location. While the texture is decently crispy, the fries are frequently undersalted, and without enough salt or sauce to boost their flavor, they just fall flat.

The waffle shape is fun for holding sauce, which is their saving grace. I think part of the appeal is nostalgia and brand loyalty rather than pure flavor excellence.

5. Wendy’s

Wendy’s switched to a Hot and Ready fry back in 2021, measuring about 6.5mm by 9.5mm, which keeps them thin but provides a little extra bulk for dipping, served fresh and still crispy, though if anything they were oversalted. I actually enjoyed the extra salt, honestly. The Natural-Cut Fries are skin-on and seasoned with sea salt, with a large order costing around four dollars.

They have that homestyle appeal with the skin still on, which makes them feel slightly more authentic than your typical fast food fry. Wendy’s fries don’t blow me away, though they’re solidly dependable.

4. Arby’s Curly Fries

Claimed by many as the best fast food French fries, Arby’s iconic curly fries are simply exquisite, with a delicious blend of spices that give them a bold, savory flavor beyond the signature spiral shape. The seasoning is what really sets these apart. The crispiness and the crunch make this fry amazing, with the perfect mix between the crunchy outside and soft inside making it a quality fry.

The curly shape isn’t just a gimmick. It actually creates different textures throughout each fry, with some parts getting extra crispy while others maintain that fluffy potato interior. I’d drive out of my way for these.

3. Popeyes

The texture of these spuds is really pleasing, thanks to a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy middle, with that crispy texture holding up even after the fries sat around for an hour. That staying power matters when you’re eating in your car or taking food home. The salt levels are perfect, though it’s hard to single out any specific flavors in whatever seasoning blend they use.

Popeyes fries deliver a satisfying crunch without being overly greasy. The Cajun seasoning adds just enough flavor without overwhelming the potato taste, which is the balance I’m always looking for.

2. Five Guys

Five Guys is the rare burger chain that is equally esteemed for its spuds as its patties, because these boardwalk-style fries are the stuff of legend – fresh-cut with crispy skin-on edges, cooked twice in peanut oil to ensure the exterior is salty, golden-brown, and crunchy while the inside remains light and fluffy. Cooked boardwalk-style, these tasty treats are hand cut and cooked twice in peanut oil before getting doused in a generous shake of Cajun spices, with the extra scoop of fries in the bag always a nice surprise.

The peanut oil makes a noticeable difference in flavor that you just don’t get with other oils. Yes, they’re greasy and among the least healthy options out there, though sometimes you need that indulgence. The Cajun seasoning option elevates them even further.

1. KFC

KFC’s fries were super salty and flavorful in a way that’s rarely experienced at major fast-food chains, with the seasoning from the secret blend of herbs and spices creating a perfectly crispy texture on the outside with a soft, fluffy middle. I never expected KFC to top this list, which made the discovery even better. One look at KFC’s fries left no doubt that they were perfectly cooked and seasoned, with a deep golden brown color from the spices and their time in the fryer.

The fact that they use their iconic herb and spice blend on the fries is genius. It creates this addictive savory quality that keeps you reaching for more. These fries prove that fried chicken expertise translates beautifully to potatoes.

So there you have it. My definitive ranking after sampling fries from twelve different chains taught me that reputation doesn’t always match reality. Sometimes the most unexpected contender steals the show, while beloved classics disappoint. What’s your take on the great fry debate?