The title above is “The Best Fast Food French Fries”, but I’m going to come straight out and acknowledge that “Best” is an extremely subjective concept. A better way to think about this is just a rough list of my favorite fast food fries based on my personal preferences. Some of this will be arbitrary, and it may also be highly dependent on the specific location, day, and personnel of my unique visit. Factoring in taste, temp, and the phase of the moon, I’ll assign a score out of 100. All that being said, this is a moving target, and I’ll come back and update it frequently. I’m also tracking in a spreadsheet for those that like that format more. I’m also curating a video playlist of all the reviews here.

Please comment and let me know if you think I’m on the right track or if your experience is different. Thanks!

#1 – Taco Bell

Score = 92. Straight Fajita. Taco Bell offers their Nacho Fries inconsistently, but they’re consistently good when they’re available. At about 10mm thick they’re soft and creamy on the inside with a medium thick crispy batter on the outside. I measured them at 138 degrees Fahrenheit and they held the temp for several minutes. They’re also generously coated in a cayenne-and-garlic-forward seasoning blend that borders on being too sweet, but compliments the cup of cheese sauce really well. At $2.49 for a medium with the cheese sauce these are a great deal. Avoid getting the loaded fries because they get soggy very quickly under a pile of toppings. 11/1/2025 (video review)

#2 – Culver’s

Score = 91. Crinkle Cut. Culver’s uses a high-quality crinkle cut fry that has a slight batter, and it fries up to a defined crust. The combination of that crust with the deep crinkles makes them a perfect vessel for fry sauce and cheese sauce (both of which Culver’s carries). There’s a lot of nice textural contrast, and the other sides (and root beer) help prop this one up for a high rating, even though they were only served at 137 degrees. $2.89 for a large. Visited the location in Twin Falls, Idaho. 8/4/2025 (video review)

#3 – Wendy’s

Score = 90. Oblong Skin-On. Wendy’s switched to a “Hot and Ready” fried back in 2021. They’re 6.5mm x 9.5mm which means that they’re oblong. This keeps them thin, but provides a little extra bulk for dipping. They were served fresh and still crispy. If anything they were oversalted, but I really enjoyed it. At $3.39 for a large this felt like a good value. I especially enjoyed the ghost pepper ranch for dipping. Served to me at 150 Fahrenheit. 1/20/2025 (video review)

#4 – McDonald’s

Score = 85. Straight Skinny. Distinct savory flavor (similar to tallow, but obviously not) with a medium crispiness and perfect salt level. 6mm thick, served to me at 129 degrees Fahrenheit. 12/20/2024 (video review)

#5 – Burger King

Score = 84. Straight Medium Mostly Skinless. Medium thick (8mm) and crispy with a pronounced potato starch taste (but not unpleasant). Ingredients show that they use a batter that contains potato starch and rice flour, plus dextrose and leavening. Very satisfying, perfectly salted, served medium warm, and maintained a reasonable texture while I ate the order. I consider this neck and neck with McDonald’s but I scored it slightly lower due to the high occurrence of fry nubbins in the box. Some were just scraps, some were mangled by the fry scooper. I think they last changed their fries in 2013. Or at least, that was the last media announcement. That puts them ahead of other chains of adopting a battered fry. They’re gluten free, but share a fryer with other gluten containing items. Served at 148 degrees. 2/28/2025 (video review)

#6 – Five Guys

Score = 80. Straight Medium Skin-On Fresh. Served modestly hot (144.6 Fahrenheit), well salted (both regular and Cajun). 8mm. The portions are massive, and when the fries are fresh they’re terrific, but they lose texture and flavor quickly due to the lack of batter and the steam from the bag. Fresh potatoes are admirable, but it introduces a lot of variability in outcomes due to fluctuations in moisture, starch, and sugar levels. May change the further you are from harvest season. 7/25/2025 (video review)

#7 – Dairy Queen (DQ Grill & Chill)

Score = 75. Straight Medium Skinless. A reasonable crust and well seasoned. Fried to a light blonde color and served at 172.9 degrees, but tasted a bit starchy and bland. 8mm. Dipping them in a BLIZZARD is an impulse I can’t resist (also tried a cup of their cone dip). I wouldn’t make a special trip, but they were okay. 4/24/2025 (video review)

#8 – Dave’s Hot Chicken

Score = 72. Crinkle Cut. I visited twice in two days to make sure I did a fair assessment. On my first trip I ordered the top-loaded fries that served the crinkle cuts in a bed of kale slaw, cheese sauce, Dave’s sauce, pickles, and fried chicken pieces. It was lovely, but the fries on their own were a bit bland and lacked a well-defined crust. I came back the next day, ordered the fries on their own, and came to the same conclusion. Although the were served at 158 degrees, the crust was the same as before (crispy, but shallow), the inside was starchy and bland, and the seasoning was inconsistently applied. The fries are fine, but not notable. 10/14/2025 (video review 1, video review 2)

#9 – Habit Burger

Score = 70. Straight Medium Skinless. A bit starchy, and not well seasoned. Fried well and served at 183 degrees, but maybe there’s not batter to create a true crust? 8mm. The fry sauce and peppers elevated them, and association with awesome onion rings also helped. 12/23/2024 (video review)

#10 – Kidd Valley

Score = 65. Straight Medium Skinless. Served piping hot (205 Fahrenheit), but absolutely zero salt and not even noticeably crispy. 8.5mm. The tartar sauce was great, but the onion rings were also a bit too flakey. This is a regional Seattle burger chain. 1/15/2025 (video review)

#11 – Shake Shack

Score = 50. Crinkle Cut – Yukon Gold. Purchased at the flagship location at Madison Square Park in New York City. Ordered with cheese (cheese fries) and they were served at an abysmal 96.9 degrees. I liked the 12mm thick cut crinkle style, but they were stodgy and bland. Very disappointing. 9/2/2025 (video review)