Let’s face it: diving into these posts one by one is time consuming. At some point, you’ll likely throw your hands up and think, “Okay, I get it! Fries are crispy, golden, and delicious, but for the love of all fried variations of potatoes, which one reigns supreme? ” We totally get it! You’re not here for a novel on potatoes; you’re on a quest for the holy grail of fries. And we believe settling that debate is an essential part of the core mission of this blog. So here's our list of America's best fries and their rankings. A Running Leaderboard Typically, many comparison reviews choose a handful of brands and do a one-time ranking. Our approach is different. We believe in the quest for greatness in the art and science of deep-fried potatoes and do not think that it is possible to review hundreds of fries in a short period of time. Thus, from our very first review, we have set the benchmark with McDonald's and taken a principled approach with clear dimensions of the ideal fries. Plus, given we will be reviewing hundreds, we did not want our readers to wait for years before we put it all together into a single rank. The only way for us to continue our mission while defining fries supremacy was to keep a running leaderboard. So without further ado, here it is. Rankings updated on 2/17/2026 with Checkers and Rally's Rank Maker / Creator / Restaurant Score 1 Five Guys 8.2 2 Johnny Rockets 7.0 2 Lazy Dog Cajun Fries 7.0 2 A&W 7.0 5 The Cheesecake Factory 6.8 5 Sonic 6.8 7 Popeyes 6.6 7 Wingstop 6.6 9 Taco Bell 6.4 9 KFC 6.4 9 Habit Burger Grill 6.4 12 Jack in the Box 6.2 12 Raising Cane's 6.2 14 McDonald's • Benchmark 6.0 15 Shake Shack 5.6 15 DQ (Dairy Queen) 5.6 17 Habit Burger Grill Sweet Potato Fries 5.4 17 Arby's Curly Fries 5.4 17 A&W Chili Cheese Fries 5.4 20 Dave's Hot Chicken 5.2 20 Carl's Jr. 5.2 20 Jack in the Box Curly Fries 5.2 23 Wendy's 5.0 23 Five Guys (Australia)    🇦🇺 5.0 25 MOS Burger    🇯🇵 4.8 25 Checkers and Rally's 4.8 27 Super Duper Burgers 4.6 27 McDonald's (Australia)    🇦🇺 4.6 27 Hungry Jack's    🇦🇺 4.6 30 Chick-fil-A 4.2 31 California Pizza Kitchen 3.8 32 McDonald's (Korea) 🇰🇷 3.6 32 Burger King 3.6 32 Wendy's Baconator Fries 3.6 35 Lotteria    🇰🇷 3.4 36 Lotteria Seasoned Fries    🇰🇷 3.2 37 In-N-Out 3.0 37 McDonald's (Japan)    🇯🇵 3.0 39 Jollibee 2.8 Share Your Thoughts with Us Yes, we understand that judging flavors can be subjective. You may not agree with some of our reviews, or perhaps different branches of the same chain may have varying quality. Also, you might be screaming right now that we have not reviewed a particular restaurant. Please leave us comments on your thoughts or which fries we should review next! We are on a mission. And we will continue on this journey for all of us.

Checkers and Rally’s, focusing their products on hotdogs and chicken, have come a long way since the merger in 1999. Checkers was more dominant in the Northeast and Southeast while Rally's commanded the Midwest. The merged brand, focused on super fast food via drive-thrus, grew and became successful. Now we have been dying to visit one as we have heard about their cult-like following for their seasoned fries , self proclaiming that they are the "#1 Most Craveable Fries". So we were super excited to finally find a Rally's up in Sacramento, CA. Rally's inside Walmart in Sacramento, CA. "Rally's" represents the Midwest and California. And to echo the rumors, they proudly hung this banner near the entrance. Apparently, Restaurant Business magazine has given them the " #1 Craveable Fries " award multiple times. Well, this is why The Fries Blog exists. Are Checkers & Rally's fries still one of the best in 2026? Here is our review of Checkers and Rally's fries. They were really setting a high expectation for themselves! Texture (6/10) The exterior was golden and had a great crunch, with visible crisped edges. The crisp was also quite nice, which complemented the following crunch after, as a batter was probably fried over the fry’s skin. The interior however did not balance the exterior, as it was dry and lifeless, and it felt like there was no filling to begin with. Due to this imbalance, every stick that was longer than a finger wilted and flopped. Perhaps we are being a bit generous here with a 6 for texture but we definitely see potential here and how the original receipe might have intended the fries to be. Golden texture with some crunch is visible but the sticks wilt lifelessly due to lacking innards. Flavor (4/10) The fry had an eminent peppery flavor, and had spice and seasoning mixed into the crispy shell, giving a boost to the otherwise lifeless interior. Although the spices did elevate the fry, there was no salt whatsoever, which really left a void in the flavor balance of the fry. This was such an odd ommission that we thought perhaps there was an error in the kitchen preparing the fries. Again, this was an opportunity for these fries to have been great but the flavor as we tasted were disappointing and incomplete. Shape (4/10) The fries were generally long and covered with fried batter, which sometimes caused them to be a little deformed, but that was not common. Although the shape itself was not incredibly bad, the fries were very floppy, and the weak structural integrity of the fry almost made it fall apart in your hands. Again, every stick longer than a finger drooped like a lifeless flower. Finally, to add to the wound, the length lacked consistency as there were fries that were so short you couldn't grab it by the edge and get a decent bite. It may look a bit gross but the relatively short A&W fries are covered in chili cheese. Presentation (6/10) The fries were served in a tall cup which made grabbing them easier and more accessible. They were injected vertically which we appreciated. Although the cup did help grabbing them with fingers, the fries themselves defeated the purpose as they were floppy and did not maintain their orientation. The only other restaurant that has served fries in a cup was Five Guys and we still cherish the memory of enjoying these beauties. The same could not be said about Checkers & Rally's because as the upper fries were consumed, you had to dig deeper to grab the short wobbly sticks. Eventually we ended up just pouring out whatever remained in the cup. The same trend continues here: the approach and intent seems to be fine but we just experienced a poor execution of it. Checkers and Rally's serves their large fries in a cup! Experience (4/10) Along with the fries, we also got hotdogs and a chicken sandwich, but the fries did not help elevate the experience of those products. The peppery flavor did not do much to complement the other items. Given that the fries themselves were not enjoyable by themselves, we cannot say the experience was great. The food also came out really slow and we were able to see the painful preparation of everything straight from a freezer. A single employee working in the kitchen probably was the cause. The saving grace was the price - $4.69 for a large set of fries - and their Funnel Cake Fries (not officially "fries" per se but we will give them credit). You really cannot screw up Funnel Cake Fries! Texture 6 Flavor 4 Shape 4 Presentation 6 Experience 4 Overall 4.8 / 10 Conclusion The fact that the interior did not complement the exterior texture, further worsened by the fact that there was no salt on the fries but pepper to cause a gap in the flavor, already is a recipe for creating an imbalanced offering. Also, the shape was weak, causing the fry to flop about, literally falling apart in the hand. There is no way such a concoction could be the "#1 craveable fries" in America as we have seen better many times over. Combined with the slow and non-complementary experience, we left the restaurant highly disappointed. We were sad because we actually see the potential embedded in the original receipe and intent, and perhaps this one branch got many aspects wrong. Perhaps in the future when we visit the East Coast, we may give Checkers a try. The store inside Walmart in Sacramento, CA had a minimal set up. You can see every part of the kitchen. Everything was stored in that freezer to be heated up, fried, or prepared into the diverse menu atop.

A&W's regular fries were great , coming in at 2nd place in our leaderboard. Their magical butter crunch was unique to say the least. Now, what would happen if you pour chili on top of those golden sticks? The concept sounds great. At The Fries Blog, our past experiences show that flavored fries, especially those that just sprinkle seasoning on top of their regular offering, do not rank well. Check out our reviews of Wendy's Baconator Fries or Lotteria Seasoned Fries . We appreciate those that take the extra effort to craft genuinely flavored fries (like Popeyes fries ) and feel just throwing seasoning on top is a bit lazy. A&W has amazing fries. So let's see if their Chili Cheese Fries take it to the next level. Chili cheese dips go well with pretty much everything. Will A&W make it work with their fries? Texture (5/10) Because the chili and cheese were heavy on the fries, the fries sagged under the weight. The strong crunchy base quickly gave way to the chili's moisture and got very soggy. The original texture was entirely ruined and we had to use forks to eat the fries as they could not be picked up horizontally. At least there was some saving grace with the fries that were towards the bottom of the box. These had their crispiness intact because they were not touching the chili. And these, when "dipped" with the chili cheese struck a good balance. But overall, much of the texture got ruined by the sauce. Perhaps the chili cheese wasn't thick enough. The fries became very soggy. Flavor (7/10) The chili cheese tasted great, and the sauce even had some meat chunks every now and then, enhancing both the flavor and chewing experience. But, because the fries were already quite salty, when combined with the chili cheese, it was an absolute overload of sodium. Again, we were extremely happy when the flavor between the fries and the chili was balanced but because the runny sauce was layered on the top, the top fries were completely dunked into the chili while the bottom ones were left dry. In other words, it was difficult to find enough fries that struck the balanced flavor profile. Shape (5/10) It was a little bit hard to get a clear look at the shape, because the fries were submerged in chili, but what we did see is that the fries started to bend and split because of the weight of the sauce. As with the regular A&W fries, they were not long nor too thick, which did not help make the sticks standout in the sea of orange and yellow mud. It may look a bit gross but the relatively short A&W fries are covered in chili cheese. Presentation (4/10) The fries were served in a cardboard bowl that reminded us of a takeout container. We understand that in order to pour over the chili, it had to be flat. But the thing that was ironic was the very definition of how to prepare chili cheese fries was also what made it look messy. It felt like a dump of yellow and orange goo all over the fries. Typically with thick chili carrying a lot of meat, the topping may stay on top in a self-contained way. No with these fries. Also, there is no other way to consume the fries without using a fork and stabbing the fries, and when you're with a lot of people, things get messy quickly. We actually think that putting the chili cheese as a dip on the side would've worked better as it prevents the messy, soggy friest while some can enjoy the fries plain if they want a break from the chili. We understand the motivation but it gets messy quickly. Experience (6/10) Priced at a dollar above the regular fries, we believe the value you get for the money is good. There's a good amount of quantity and they certainly do not skimp on the amount of chili and cheese. The largest blemish of the experience is obviously the fact that you have to use utensils to eat fries, which we believe is a blasphemy. Honestly, we believe A&W can really make this into a great experience. All the ingredients are there. They just have to think this through a bit more. Texture 5 Flavor 7 Shape 5 Presentation 4 Experience 6 Overall 5.4 / 10 Conclusion Staying true to the tradition, A&W Chili Cheese Fries was not as great as the original buttery crunch. But this degradation is different than the others where insincere effort to add seasoning marred the overall offering. The base fries are great and so is the chili that is quite tasty. We believe the biggest thing that A&W needs to improve on is how they serve the fries, because they get soggy really quickly. Nobody wants to dig through a potato mush mixed with chili and cheese. If A&W can find a way to serve the chili cheese on the side, that would solve a lot of the issues. One more aspect was it being a bit too salty as both the fries and the chili would fare well with salty individually. We commend A&W for take a swing at the Tex-Mex classic of chili cheese fries. It really could be great. They just need a bit more tuning.

A&W is well known for its root beer. Started in 1919 by Allen as a simple root beer stand selling his home made root beer, A&W is one of the oldest fast-food chains. It has a nostalgic vibe with quality food made with great ingredients, and of course, centered around their signature root beer served in the iconic mug. With over 900 locations across the world, and about 430 locations in America, they are not your largest chain but still maintains a loyal following. And yes, they have fries. So we absolutely had to check it out. In the San Francisco Bay Area, A&W branches are typically merged with KFC and they share the same kitchen resulting in the same fries (just put in different packaging). So to ensure that we review authentic A&W fries, we traveled far to San Rafael where they indeed have a standalone A&W. A stand alone A&W branch is difficult to come by. This is in San Rafael, CA. Texture (8/10) The fries were very crunchy, almost to a degree that we initially thought they were battered. We had to check the surface multiple times and scratched our heads on how A&W was able to make the potato burst with a crackle. We suspect this could due to the type of oil they use. The fries were stuffed pretty well, so they held up against the heavy dipping of ketchup. The crisp was also present, which added a nice texture. Overall, we believe these fries had really good texture. One call out is that the innards was a bit pasty in certain pockets, again pointing towards high temperature, short time frying. The texture was excellent. The crunch was unbelievable. Flavor (9/10) The fries were very well salted, with enough saltiness to be flavorful, but not so much that your throat gets really dry. But what made these fries special was this movie-theater butter flavor that was prominent with every bite. We think that butter was added to the oil, or they were coated before they were served. Given butter also can fry at higher temperatures, it corroborates with our high temperature frying theory. There was no seasoning, but we think that the flavor was pronounced and sufficient to be very tasty. You really can't go wrong with salt, butter, and potatoes! Shape (6/10) The fries were not very long, and the length was not always consistent, but at least the width was quite consistent. Their slender shaper does give an illusion that they are longer than their actual length. Even though the fries weren’t very thick, the exterior crisp and prominent flavor make it feel thicker in your mouth. Perhaps if these fries were cut thicker, they may have overwhelmed the palate with each bite so we think these thinner fries are an intentional decision. These fries look longer than their actual length due to the slender thickness. Presentation (5/10) The fries are served in a wax paper bag that is like the McDonald's large fry bag. It is brown, and there is a swirly '&' on the front. It holds about as many fries as the McDonald's large fries. Although the golden fries were well packed into the bag, this was not as impressive. We think that more thought and effort could have been put into the presentation. This is the bare minimum. The score could have been lower if the fries were packed messily. We appreciate the intentional insertion of the sticks in the paper bag. Experience (7/10) The fries came out pretty slow, but the actual texture, taste, and components of the fries well made it worth the wait. The fact that we were scratching our heads on where the crunch came from, and the subtle yet bold butter taste put a smile on our faces with each bite. The fries are priced at $4.30, which is a good deal for the quality and quantity, and they well balanced out the sweetness of the root beer which we washed it down with. All of use really enjoyed eating A&W fries. Texture 8 Flavor 9 Shape 6 Presentation 5 Experience 7 Overall 7.0 / 10 Conclusion A&W’s fries are great, being super tasty, crunchy, and enjoyable. These are one of the best fries we have reviewed. They appear basic but we can absolutely sense the thoughtfulness in the recipe. The butter truly adds a flair and taste that we hadn’t experienced before. Even though areas like presentation and shape may need some more work, these are truly great fries. Thank you A&W for putting such an effort in creating a masterpiece. A&W's mascot seems to be a bear with a root beer. This statue in the store added to the nostalgic decor.

With over 50 restaurants all over America, Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar is a fast-growing casual dining chain with a rustic and warm atmosphere, making it a great place for families and large groups to eat. Many also say that the menu is quite diverse, from comfort food to burgers, and more fast-food like meals, and that the prices are not too expensive and appropriate. Yes, here at The Fries Blog we typically do not review fries from single location sit-down restaurants but given The Cheesecake Factory coming in at #3 in rankings , we could not just ignore Lazy Dog. Casual dining restaurants like Lazy Dog typically do not have a dedicated fries dish, but rather have it as a "side" to main dishes. And another criteria for us to review, the fries must be ordered by itself. For Lazy Dog, the only fries that was independently available to order was their Cajun Fries. We tried it out, and to our surprise, it turned out to be one of the most unique fries we have ever reviewed. Lazy Dog has a mountain ski-lodge-like interior. Lazy Dog trophy cabinet in San Mateo, CA location. Texture (8/10) The fries were really crispy and crunchy, and there was definitely a batter that coated the fries, adding to the texture. It seemed like these were natural cut, but due to the heavy batter layer and the dusty crunch, we had to debate whether they truly were natural. The abundant seasoning on the outside adds to the dusty sensation. The stuffing inside the structure was well cooked as well, soft and filling. Overall, we have to say that the texture was execellent. The dusty exterior with heavy seasoning can be visually seen. The structure of these fries are solid. Flavor (7/10) When you first look at the fries, you think, “Oh, there's a quite a bit of seasoning on them” with the orange dust and green parsley bits. You wonder whether the seasoning would be delightful. But when you actually bite into the fry, your pupils widen as you are smashed with a super sour and slightly spicy fry, almost doused in chili lime. It was so much to a degree that we all cringed at the thought of going for the seond stick. But though we originally thought the fries weren’t tasty, we realized that when paired with the somewhat sweet dip that comes with the fries, they form this weird balance and the two start to work together. Also, the flavor really grows on you, and it gets easier to eat and enjoy the fries the more you eat. It was strange. We were getting more addicted each and every bite. Shape (5/10) The fries are short, but we were also disappointed in their lack of consistency. One stick might be average length, but then the very next is shorter than your thumb. Though the length is definitely shorter than average, the thickness of the fries and also how much stuffing is in them is redeeming. The fries aren’t floppy or thin and again, their structure holds up really well, bite after bite. If the length had been just a bit longer and more consistent, we would have given a much higher raing for their shape. The fries are really short but with solid structure. Presentation (8/10) The fries are served in a metal tray lined with parchment paper, which definitely adds to the rustic and warm vibe they have going on. The tray is pretty big and circular, about the size you would serve a medium-sized pizza on. The fries are tossed on the tray carefully to form a mound, and there are some parsley leaves that are sprinkled on top that adds to the mouth-watering visuals. The green leaves contrast the heavily orange seasoning quite well as a color accent. The semi sweet sauce also is placed within the tray. If this was a fast-food restaurant, we would have given them a near perfect score on presentation but we took into account the price point as well as the different type of dining environment. Even so, this was a solid presentation. The fries were carefully placed in a round tray with a glowing orange dust and green parsley leaves. Experience (7/10) Lazy Dog's mountain lodge interior and its rustic and warm vibes all play into the sit-down experience. The fries are served for $10.95, which we think is a pretty good deal, considering how good the fries are and the large quantity. The fries go okay with the rest of the food but clearly these cajun fries were meant to stand on their own. The sour spice will absolutey punch you in the face and wake you up, and we think this is unique and refreshing. The fries came out quite fast after ordering, and the service was great. Yes, it is difficult to compare an intentional sit-down restaurant vibes to a more traditional fast-food chain but we quite enjoyed the ambience Lazy Dog provides. Texture 8 Flavor 7 Shape 5 Presentation 8 Experience 7 Overall 7.0 / 10 Conclusion Lazy Dog Cajun Fries is one of the most unique fries we have reviewed. Overall, these fries were pretty good in many ways, except for the shape which they could improve by making the fries longer and consistent. We have never tasted such sour fries ever before, and could not have imagined ourselves sucking the last bit of seasoning off our fingers as they plate became empty. If you are a fries enthusiast, you must try these fries whenever you pass by a Lazy Dog. Lazy Dog really leans into the canine motif.

Recently founded in 2017, Dave's Hot Chicken (DHC) started in the West Coast of the US - a parking lot in East Hollywood - and has now grown into hot stuff if you love spicy chicken. With over 348 locations in the US locations and a handful global outposts like Candana, UAE, UK, and the Middle East, they are going through an explosive phase of grwoth. They may be known for their Nashville-style hot chicken, but do their fries stack up? Can Dave’s Hot Chicken keep up the heat as we compare their fries against various other contenders? Here is our review of their crinkle cut fries. Dave's Hote Chicken in Sunnyvale, CA. As a young brand, their story is proudly displayed in the store. Texture (7/10) There is an evident crisp on the exterior of the fry, especially on the tips, and you can get a guaranteed crunch on every single bite. To back it up further, their interior is nice and soft, but not too mushy as to overpower the pleasant exterior skin, which creates a very good balance difficult to find in such thick fries. One aspect holding it back however, is that the ridges are not as crispy as the rest of the fry. We believe that is a must-have criteria to hit the pinnacle of a crinkle cut fry. But again, the texture is solid. Crinkle fries with a decently golden texture. It is difficult to get the texture right for fries of such thickness and DHC pulls it off well. Flavor (6/10) The fries were nicely seasoned, evident with the bold orange and red dust particles spread lightly all over the fries. We appreciated the fact that the seasoning was sprinkled evenly and consistently across all the sticks. The seasoning itself was a combination of what tastes like pepper, paprika, and garlic. However, it was a bit disappointing that the density of the seasoning was sparse as it left larges patches of blandness on a given stick. Also, these were not natural cut fries but rather crinkled fries made with ground potatoes, which often then is seasoned in the innards as well. However, the potato pulp was absolutely bland, making it feel like the flavor was not engraved into the soul of the fry. We could see what Dave's Hot Chicken was going for, but it felt emotionless. Good approach, but it lacked passion. Shape (5/10) These crinkle cut fries are not naturally cut to create their ridges. This is fine, however, the ridges fail to do the job they are supposed to, which is to make a crispier surface and make a larger surface area to put the seasoning in for. These ridges do not contribute to either of those purposes, making them just a visual tease. On the other hand, the shapes were straight and consistent, as with any pulp-based fries should be but due to the manufacturing method, we cannot give bonus scores there. Giving a score of 3 here could be a bit harsh but considering that they could have molded perfect shapes, we are considering this as somewhat being negligent. The shape isn't too bad. But given the method to mold and create, they get a bit of a penalty. Presentation (3/10) The presentation was nothing special, and almost disappointing yet we understand the pragmatism. Typically, when you to a takeout, you get fries in the regular container (carton or cup) in a brown bag. As for Dave's Hot Chicken, it came in a black to-go box which was placed in a regular plastic bag. There were no logos, no ads, no special meaning to any of this. Now, when we judge the presentation, we like the flare of the restaurant to be embedded into a visually pleasing package. But there was literally zero of that. We do praise the pragamatism as to the fries were easily accessible from all around the table. Also, they were visually verifiable in their color and degree of seasoning. And perhaps the black to-go box accentuated the orange hue of the fries. But this is literally a "random" box containing fries that we may not have known where it came from. The chain seriously needs some work here. The black to-go box container surprised us. Never have we seen anything like this in a fast-food chain. Experience (5/10) The experience was mediocre, even as fries itself was quite good and they did give a lot of fries for their single-sized option, which was priced around $5.49 and we thought it was a great deal. The reason for mediocrity comes from the fact that the chain boasts a lot of character, whether it is their founding story, their funky looking chicken logo, and their colorful brand theme and interior, yet the entire fries munching experience was vanilla at best. We think they could have made the entire fries experience into something more unique and special. And perhaps that's what they do for their chicken. Unfortunately, the fries experience was forgettable. Texture 7 Flavor 6 Shape 5 Presentation 3 Experience 5 Overall 5.2 / 10 There's a lot of character in the brand. This is one of the walls in the Sunnyvale, CA store. Conclusion Overall, the fries, which seem good on paper due to their nice texture and flavor, do not succeed in the main goal of the fry which is to create a better experience for the consumer and enhance the brand. It had poor presentation, and a mediocre experience, as it forgot to treat these fries as a main subject and highlight of the restaurant identity and chain. Dave's Hot Chicken is a funky and exciting brand that is going through explosive growth. We believe the core substance of their fries is there. They just need to pay a bit more attention in placing their fries in a way that is in tune with the rest of their "heat" and we think we will have something special here. We love the psychedelic vibe of the brand. This is the visualization for their heat.

We started the mission to shine the spotlight on fries on April 2025. It has been quite a journey so far and now that the year is ending, we want to look back on both the good and bad of all the fries we have reviewed so far. We will go over the top and bottom three on our rankings leaderboard , to see which fries actually dominated (and which fries didn’t) over the past year. Using the end of year as a checkpoint, for these top and bottom three, we will be re-reviewing them next year to see if things change. But as of today, here are the winners (and losers). Worst Fries of 2025 ▸ 3rd: Lotteria Seasoned Fries In 3rd place is Lotteria Seasoned Fries from Korea, with a score of 3.2. The seasoning actually worked against the score, being served like instant-ramen flavor packs. You are expected to pour the seasoning in your bag and shake to coat the fries. The texture was the smallest amount of crunch with no crisp and mushy insides. Also, the actual seasoning, while smelling great, didn't really add much flavor. The fries itself were greatly disappointing, but the seasoning added salt to the wound. Worst Fries of 2025 ▸  2nd (tie): In-N-Out Burger Fries Next up is In-N-Out , with a disappointing score of 3.0. The dryness of the skin and the floppy texture was horrible, and the bland flavor was also unacceptable, not to mention the flop of the fries due to minimal stuffing. Even though they go somewhat well with the juicy burgers, it’s not going to save them from disgrace. The carton was not great either. There was not enough effort put into the fries or attention given, so you have a juicy delicious burger with flimsy, bland, and deflated potatoes. Worst Fries of 2025 ▸  2nd (tie): McDonald's Japan Fries at McDonald’s Japan , with a score of 3.0, is as horrible as In-N-Out. The texture is floppy due to a hollow inside, and they can barely stay straight even without the weight of the ketchup. There was barely any salt, even though Japan is abundant with soy sauce. Also, the shape is small and skinny, making the standard carton look large. There's not much to say other than that these fries were a huge letdown. Though Japan has many so many great foods like sushi and yakiniku, their fries did not meet the expectations. Worst Fries of 2025 ▸  1st: Jollibee And Lastly, we have the fries from Jollibee , with an outrageously low score of 2.8. We do not believe fries can get worse than this. Though they have a jolly smiling bee as their logo, they have genuinely sad fries. No crisp, floppy, cold, and flavorless with no salt, with the only possible positive being a bit of crunch on some fries. We don’t think we’ve ever given a score of one for any category on any reviews but Jolliebee managed to receive 1 out of 10 for flavors. The only thing worse than these fries is a raw potato cut up and served in a kitchen towel.   Moving on to the top our stack, these are those that bested most of the others in the leaderboard with strengths in certain categories but also being a great all-rounder. They all have very high scores and have seldom found an equal match. Each one commands respect and is worthy of the podium. Best Fries of 2025 ▸  3rd (tie): Sonic Starting us off, we have Sonic, with a score of 6.8 , achieved through a solid balance between taste, texture and shape. Their crispy caverns of ridges, nicely salted and steamy hot, create a wonderful balance. They could have only improved in the areas of presentation and experience, as the fries themselves were good, but they didn’t elevate other parts of Sonic’s menu in both taste and visuals. Still, these groovy fries were impressive. Best Fries of 2025 ▸  3rd (tie): The Cheesecake Factory Sharing the 3rd place podium is The Cheesecake Factory, also scoring a 6.8 . They excel at being an all-rounder in every single field. The Cheesecake Factory is typically not a fast-food chain we would include in the rankings but our principles of repeatable, mass-serving fries still holds true. And as a sit-down restaurant, their fries were surprisingly great. The only blemish was the experience, where the speed of serving was too slow. Regardless, these were amazing fries. Best Fries of 2025 ▸  2nd: Johnny Rockets In 2nd place, we have one of our first reviewed fries, Johnny Rockets with a score of 7.0 . Having a supreme texture compared to other fries due to its very soft innard while sustaining a crispy and crunchy exterior, already is miles ahead of most of the competition. Pair that with a seasoning of a blend of salt, pepper, paprika, and some sweetness, these fries leap ahead all other fries. The only area they didn't score well was in the presentation department. But we really are nit picking here. Johnny Rockets has fries that are special in so many ways. Best Fries of 2025 ▸  1st: Five Guys And finally, the top fries (so far) in The Fries Blog 2025 rankings is Five Guys with a score of 8.2 . They crush their competition with their score of a perfect 10 for texture. Yes, we do not believe texture of fried potatoes can be better than this. They keep the fire blazing by having a nice salty flavor with peanut oil based frying, while maintaining a long shape, longer than your hand for almost every stick. Their innovative presentation in a tall cup also enables great containment while easy carrying, and another bagful in the brown bag for customer love. Lastly, their overall contribution to a meal is what puts this fry in the top spot of any fry we have reviewed, perfectly complementing their burgers but also standing tall on their own. In our quest for The Fries Blog this year, Five Guys is the best fries we have reviewed. Our Mission Continues in 2026 The Fries Blog has always reviewed each fries with respect and curiosity, meticulously standardizing the methodology and trying to achieve an objective comparison and scoring. And we are proud to have delivered over 30 fries reviews to you in 2025. As we think about next year, we also want to apply some of the learnings we have had. We need to recalibrate the benchmark using McDonald's each year We have realized that even McDonald's is not consistent and our tasting standards have also evolved. We do not think that McDonald's today may score the same 6.0 as we have given it in 2025. Restaurants keep innovating with their fries We have seen presentation methods change, special limited edition seasoning appear, and various attempts made by the creative minds of fast-food chains. This means that there will be new contenders in 2026 and we welcome their attempt. Many fast-food chains are regional We have heard great things about Checkers & Rally's, White Castle, and other regional chains that are simply not available on the West Coast. This just means we need to travel more next year! Subscribe to our blog and we shall see you in 2026!

Our highest ranking fries that we have reviewed so far is Five Guys . They scored a whopping 8.2 and have held that position now for over 7 months. So when we saw Five Guys in Australia, we had to check out how these fries stacked up to their cousins across the ocean. We felt strongly obliged to share what’s happening to our best fries half-way around the world. Are they better or worse? Do they have the crisp and the crunch? And are they served in the signature white paper cup with plenty spillage in the bag? What about the peanuts? We had so many questions. Here is our review of the fries at Five Guys in Australia. There are only 2 Five Guys locations in downtown Sydney: George St. and Martin Place. There are only a handful of Five Guys in Australia so far in 2025. Texture (5/10) Disappointing. The fries were definitely not as crunchy, golden, and crispy compared to their counterparts in America. When you bite into the fry, the inside was closer to a raw potato rather than a cooked soft mush. In America, Five Guys definitely has a bit of batter creating a crunch but it seems the receipe here is totally different. However, what was most disappointing is that we were doubting whether these were completely cooked, which cannot happen at a fast-food chain of such reputation. Like America, the potato skin was prominent but they could not bring out the crisp either. Already these fries are not off to a good start. Natural cut fries with plenty of skin. However, when undercooked, the skin can be chewy and not crispy. Flavor (6/10) The fries were pretty well salted, maybe even too salty, and there was no extra flavor or seasoning. It’s just pure potato with salt, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The flavor profile was pretty similar to the original fries in America, but something was just not the same. We were wondering if Five Guys in Australia used peanut oil as we believe that is a key method in producing the American version. The fries were not consistently salted, and there doesn't seem to be much care put in. The flavor was not as disappointing, but the difference was apparent. Shape (3/10) Long fries turned into short stumps in Australia. While in America the fries were beautifully long, taking at least 2 large bites to finish a single stick, here, you can gobble up 7 fries in 2 bites. They weren’t overly thick, and some would flop and fall apart in your hands. This was truly disappointing, considering the shape was a very high scoring category in the American review. We came expecting long strips of potato, but we got the quarter version. This was the longest stick we could find. Look at all the small bits in the bag. Presentation (6/10) Here, there is no tall white cup to reach your hand in, and instead, we have a brown paper bag that’s thin, flimsy, and greasy. There were some bag fries, which is the only thing that’s really over the bar. The quantity was not great, and the presentation was not up to standards compared to those in America. It was disappointing and sad to see the unique tall and sturdy cup, with generous extra pouring of fries into the brown bag, had turned into this. At this point, we were very confused why Five Guys would not bring over their best traits. Experience (5/10) It was a normal fast-food restaurant experience, which again feels subpar. The American Five Guys have sacks of roasted peanuts in the store provided for free that customers can enjoy. Not in Australia. The fries were okay with the burgers, the food was served at average speed, and the employees were not extra friendly nor engaging. Texture 5 Flavor 6 Shape 3 Presentation 6 Experience 5 Overall 5.0 / 10 Conclusion Here at The Fries Blog, we have extremely high opinions of the fries from Five Guys and are fans of it. We came expecting quality, quantity, and everything that the original Five Guys fries had to offer but unfortunately, we left disappointed. The length, texture, and experience were all average or below, and the presentation and flavor only scored a 6. It was clear that fries were not being taken as seriously here in Five Guys Australia, and more effort was definitely put into the burgers than the potato sticks. It seems like the franchise has just landed and is now starting expand in the country (just a handful stores). It might be a good time to take a flight over to the US and remember what made Five Guys in America successful.

Burger King is one of the dominating fast food franchises in the US. Their burgers make them an icon and a part of the delicious US fast food culture that we know today. But is its Aussie subsidiary as essential to the culture of its country as Burger King is to the US? We wanted to find out via its fries or "chips" as the Aussies will say. So why the name "Hungry Jack's"? Apparently, when Burger King tried to launch in Australia in 1971, the name was already trademarked by a local restaurant. So its founder Jack Cowin naturally selected a name with his own name in it. Hungry Jack's has now grown to over 400 locations in Australia. Earlier in the year, we reviewed Burger King's fries and quite frankly, they did not score well (unlike their burgers). Well we are hoping that Hungry Jack's Thick Cut Chips do better! Here is our Hungry Jack's chips review. Hungry Jack's at Pitt & Park in downtown Sydney. The logo definitely looks like Burger King! Texture (5/10) The Australian cousin started off with a shaky texture, as the fries had a light crisp and a similarly light crunch. The balance between the crisp and crunch was well done, although there could definitely have been more of both to complement the interior. The interior however, was quite soft and a bit mushy, which overpowered the crisp and crunch, creating a weird texture overall. We understand that they were going for "thick cut" fries but if so, you really need to approach it with the appropriate cooking method. The exterior by itself was decent, but combined with the mushy innards, it is not as pleasant. Flavor (4/10) It went even more downhill from the texture as it was evident that there was definitely an attempt to season the fries with what feels like a blend of spices and some pepper. But the seasoning was applied in an unequal fashion, which made some fries much more prominent in flavor than others. On top of that, there were no defaults like salt, which made some fries absolutely bland. Due to the severe inconsistency from fry to fry, we cannot give a high score on the flavor. Shape (6/10) The fries improved slightly on the shape though, as they were sturdy and did not fall apart. They were easy to grab being a medium length, and were relatively thicker than other fast-food chains, making them, very accessible. Again, being thick cut, they should be a hybrid between a wedge and a classical stick, which we believe they attempted it well. One thing holding them back though, was the quite large variation in the sizes of the fries. Presentation (4/10) The presentation was for the most part, standard to what many fast-food chains do. The fries were placed in a carton, which was placed in a brown bag. The presentation was nothing special, but the carton was a bit small for the regular size of fries ordered. And given the thick cut nature of the product, perhaps the number of sticks makes it even look less, which made the untidy placement more prominent. Also, we definitely recognize the care employees place when "inserting" the fries in the carton - think of those vertically standing long yellow sticks - but we did not see much of that. Perhaps the could have been more care placed in packing the fries in a vertical alignment, especially when there are fewer sticks due to each thickness. Experience (4/10) The fries themselves did not taste very good by themselves, let alone elevate the other foods to enhance the experience. Also, there weren't that many sticks, which makes one question if the price is worth it. Yes, they may be thick cut fries. But naturally, shouldn't the container be larger to compensate for the huge gaps in between? Let alone, more effort could have been spent in placing the few sticks neatly so that more could be packed into the same space. Overall, we believe it was a subpar experience, even comparing that to Burger King's in the US. Texture 5 Flavor 4 Shape 6 Presentation 4 Experience 4 Overall 4.6 / 10 Conclusion Overall, Hungry Jack's Thick Cut Crisps failed in doing multiple things. The texture of the exterior and interior was imbalanced, accentuating the randomly seasoned flavor and its inconsistency. And although the shape helped a bit, it too was inconsistent. And to put the nail in the coffin, the fries did not not complement nor enhance the rest of the meal. Oh did I mention the poorly presented thick sticks and came in small quantities? Based on this review, we can make a definitive conclusion that these fries were not up to par with the Burger King's flame grilled Whoppers across the Pacific. We do recognize that Burger King's fries in the US got an overall score of 3.6 so we could say it is an improvement. But we do have high hopes for "chips" in Australia. The "Whopper" brand is missing but they do emphasize frame grilled.

This week, we're in Australia, the home of cute koalas, tall kangaroos and "fish n chips" - apparently, "chips" in Australia means "fries". Given how widespread fries are in this country, we wanted to start with our global benchmark McDonald's. We were seriously curious: Would the fries be better than America ? How do they compare to those from Japan and Korea ? The answers surprised us. Here is our review of McDonald's fries in Australia. McDonald's at Circular Quay, Sydney. Texture (4/10) Surprisingly, there was absolutely no crisp nor crunch, and the fries were floppy, with barely any stuffing. The fries felt soggy and weak, and it was like chewing potatoes that had had a fight with the employees behind the counter. The texture reminded us a little bit of those from Korea, similar amounts of flop and unsatisfying amounts of innards. You could tell that the employees did not treat the fries with care as many of our fries were bent completely like fishing poles. Given that McDonald's is known for providing a consistent quality no matter where in the world, we were very disappointed with the Australian fries and their texture. The color seemed a bit too yellow, indicating that it could've been fried more. The sticks were just "weak" overall. Flavor (6/10) The fries were pretty well salted, maybe even too much salt on some parts, which was great. As the standard McDonald's recipe goes, there was no extra seasoning and the fries weren’t greasy nor used any unique oils. The flavor was exactly your standard McDonald's fries except for the abundance of salt. Now one unique mishap, and we really think it was just a mistake, was that there were no ketchup in the takeout brown bag. This caught us by surprise because the McDonald's fries were designed to be consumed with ketchup and thus in America, ketchup packets are inserted by default. We see this as a critical miss, and we did not have the willpower to walk back just for ketchup. We are scoring this giving the benefit of doubt. Shape (4/10) Only about half of the fries were a good long length, while the others were much shorter. We typically expect a much higher ratio of longer sticks. Also, the fries were on the thinner side, and the lack of stuffing made them even worse. The fries bent over like canes and they were hard to eat because of that. Oh, there wasn't even any ketchup included so our standard evalution of the sticks being able to hold up the weight of the dip didn't happen. Again, these fries definitely are shaped like your standard McDonald's variant. And we are giving a lot of benefit of doubt. But definitely, these do not fare well compared to their American counterparts. The fries may look standard but they are thin and weak. Look at those that bend over their own weight. Presentation (4/10) Unlike the American McDonald's, in Australia the fries were served in the classic red carton with the yellow arches in the middle. However, the actual amount and the way they were served was subpar at best. The short fries stopped at three quarters of the height of the carton, which we didn’t appreciate because not only was it so little, the presentation did not look right. We looked deep into the takeout bag to see if some of the sticks had spilled and that was not case. So McDonald's genuinely did not pack the crisps to the classical overflowing brim. Even after 2 large cartons, we were still hungry for more. We were not sure if this was just the busy employees being careless but we do not think this level of presentation should not be acceptable at a McDonald's. There are no fries spilled in the bag. Look at how much space is left in the carton. Where are the long golden sticks peeking out, laying on the back sleeve? Experience (5/10) It was a standard experience, and there was nothing special to take note of. The employees were normal, the burgers paired as expected with the fries. The experience was pretty much identical as America, but just in Australia. Due to the location in Circular Quay, where we believe will have a lot of foot traffic, we saw many self-ordering machines. Though we aren’t disappointed, we were somewhat hoping for something a bit more local, like in Japan. Perhaps we should've tried the Frozen Fanta? Digital payements seems to be lot more prevalent in Australia. Texture 4 Flavor 6 Shape 4 Presentation 4 Experience 5 Overall 4.6 / 10 Conclusion Although Australia is a great spot for zoos, wildlife, beaches and fun, McDonald's isn't a specialty for fries, or "crisps" as the locals say it. Every aspect of the fries were mediocre or worse. Though the fries were not as bad as those of McDonald's in Korea or Japan, we could not help but feel disappointed. We were not able to observe much effort, especially in the presentation. We suggest that if you ever go to Australia, go for the koalas and the kangaroos, but feel free to skip the fries from McDonald's. The kitchen design is exactly the same. The green color comes from the Grinch promotion, which makes it look a bit off given we were looking for the McDonald's red.

With a score of 6.2 on their regular fries, Jack in the Box impressed us with a solid set of potato sticks. So we were super excited to return to check out their curly version. Now here at TheFriesBlog, we are no strangers to curly fries (we recently reviewed Arby's curly fries ). From the pictures, these definitely looked like proper curly fries, seasoned to an orange hue, and a bumpy texture with batter. So how to these fries stack up? Here is our review of Jack in the Box's curly fries. Jack in the Box in San Carlos, CA. Texture (8/10) The curly fries had a clear crisp and a meaningful crunch, and we saw that there was a batter coating, which resulted in little bumps of joyful crisps that covered every single fry. Theses were a nice golden-orange color from the seasoning, and you could feel every layer of batter, sking, and the potato innards as you munched through. Because they were curly and coiled, the crisp was exemplified as you bit through more of the skin per bite. We think this texture was even better than the original fries, let alone being one of the best in the industry. The orange batter texture is consistent. The innards are on the lighter side, but definitely not flimsy. Flavor (8/10) We are happy to say that instead of just a regular pinch of salt, Jack In The Box took it a huge step further by adding a flavorful seasoning on top. This seasoning was quite magical, adding a tiny bit of sweetness and even an ever so gentle spicy kick at the end. We thought the balance between the salt, the seasoning, batter, and potato was near perfect. Depending on your tastebuds, the amount of salt may be slightly bland, but it absolutely makes you reach for another handful of fries before you even finish your first. All of this, without the need of ketchup! And yes, they are on the greasy side but it just makes the taste profile deeper in our opinion. Shape (3/10) The shape is where these curly fries started to disappoint us. The fries were broken and many coiled up bundles fell apart when we pulled them out of the paper bag. While on the menu, the fries looked perfectly curled and springy, the fries we received were a bit floppy and quite small as the biggest fries were only about 3 inches long. We think that the fries were broken from longer strands because they were not thick enough. Essentially, you have a bag full of semi-circle potato curls that somewhat look like shrimps. This was pretty disappointing, especially because the texture and flavor were top notch. The fries are all short and look even smaller curled. Oh, look at those regular fries that were mixed in by accident. Presentation (2/10) Like their regular fries, Jack in the Box does not put too much effort in their presentation. The fries were placed in a carton and just dumped into the brown paper bag. We appreciate them filling it to the brim of the carton but that just results in half the fries spilling out to the bag. Given curly fries are somewhat all entangled, a lot of fries fell out of the carton, which made the overall presentation look even worse. Since we weren't going to pick up all the individual fries from the bottom of the bag, the only way to consume was to tear open the brown bag. We are extremely surprised and disappointed that the fries were treated with this type of care. Why create great fries yet just dump it in a bag without care? The carton of curly fries are just dumped into a deep brown bag. Almost half the fries are spilled out to the bag. The only way to eat this is to tear open the brown bag. Also, the carton design almost resembled a popcorn container. There is nothing wrong with this, but it falls short in two dimensions. Having no U-shaped cutout in the front does not show off the fries well. Also the short "headrest" makes it difficult to grab the carton out of the brown bag as there's nothing to hold. We think simple thoughtfulness can definitely improve the presentation. We like the playful messages, on brand to the fast food chain. Experience (5/10) The food came out pretty fast, but other than that, the experience was average, fitting of a standard fast-food chain. There was nothing that really stood out to us, and the fries went okay with the burgers and sandwiches. At $4. 29 for the large carton, we think the price is fair. However, one interesting note is how there were a few regular fries mixed in the batch. We understand that perhaps both the curly and regular versions are prepare in the same fryer. But this just feels a bit unprofessional. We just don't think there was care put into preparing these fries, especially with the regular fries in the mix. Texture 8 Flavor 8 Shape 3 Presentation 2 Experience 5 Overall 5.2 / 10 Conclusion Though the taste and texture were great, all the other categories didn’t quite meet the bar. With broken curls of potatoes, and even the wrong type of fries, we were disappointed because this would have had the potential to be one of our top fries. The regular fries were a solid all rounder but its the curly sibling was a half-step down. We believe that if Jack in the Box just cared a bit more in preparing and presenting these fries, it could receive a lot of laurels. Pro tip: when you are at a Jack in the Box, we recommend that you get the “Halfsies” fries, which is a mix of the regular and curly fries so that you can taste them both! Jack in the Box has a diverse set of menu items. We're impressed on how the kitchen keeps up with the numerous items yet prepares it fast.

Raising Cane's was founded in Louisiana in 1996 and is popular for their signature chicken fingers. They have over 900 locations but compared to other well known fast-food chains, they seem relatively less known. We have never been to one so we were excited to visit one, curious as to what the raving reviews were about with their chicken, Texa toast, and of course their crinkle-cut fries. Would it lean towards premium? How would their focus on chicken fingers manifest itself in fries? This is our review of Raising Cane's fries. We had never seen this logo before. This is Raising Cane's in Hayward, CA. We like the boldly written message of ONE LOVE! Texture (7/10) Raising Cane's has crispy fries, though the crunch is a bit lacking, and we found certain sticks not cooked all the way through to perfection. However, the stuffing on the inside is not too mushy or pasty, rather firm yet soft. This is very difficult to achieve so we were impressed by this. There is a consistent innard in most of the fries which is a positive, though sometimes, a few were deflated and not full causing them to flop. We felt and tasted really fresh fries, and we think they used fresh, high quality potatoes. The texture was not perfect but it was quite good and quality was felt throughout. The crinkle ridges add to the solid texture. Flavor (6/10) The fries have a great amount of salt, and this really highlights the fresh potato flavor. The fries don’t have that much grease or oil as far as we could tell. There was no twist or extra seasoning to the fries, and even though they were plain, they still gave you the feeling that makes you want to grab another fry and keep munching. As far as the flavor goes, these are quite standard fries. Shape (8/10) The fries had great length that made it fun to pick up, and even though they were not very thick, they still were very filling and tasty. The sticks are consistent and straight, which almost gave a feel of unnatural, factory-made vibes. They really look good and we think if it was just fried a bit more to be golden, it would have received prefect scores. Yes, there were smaller pieces and curver tips but that gave us the relief that these were cut from potatoes, and not synthetic. Rasing Cane's has great shaped fries! Fries of this shape, length, and consistency are only possible from large, high quality potatoes. Presentation (3/10) When you dine at Raising Cane's, the fries come placed at the side of the tray, next to the “main attraction” of sandwiches or chicken fingers. They are not placed very intentional and organized, and rather messily. Raising Cane's doesn’t have a customized or branded carton, and uses standard boxes for their takeout orders. There is no creativity here, and we would like to see some more effort placed for fries. Yes, this is a fries review but we do have to call out that the overall tray presentation was mouth-watering. The fries complement the sandwich well with its placement and color. Just look at the picture below! The overall presentation is nice. But we do have to call out that the fries are essentially a decorative sidekick and were not the focus point of the presentation. Experience (7/10) Raising Cane's entire motto of ONE LOVE and serving amazing, high quality chicken fingers shines through the food and experience. Everything was above average or higher quaity and you can clearly see their focus is not about just cheap, factory-made fast-food. The interior decor has a "local" vibe to it and they are proud to tell their founding story. We love such focus and dedication. The food comes out pretty quickly, and there was a ton of music blasting (we felt it was a bit too much). The servers are nice, and the tables and chairs were fairly clean. The tray looked Instagram-ready and the fries go well with the other main venue such as the chicken fingers or sandwich. It was definitely a good fast-food experience, almost inching towards a sit-down restaurant. Texture 7 Flavor 6 Shape 8 Presentation 3 Experience 7 Overall 6.2 / 10 Raising Cane's original store had a brick wall. We love the fact that they brought this wall to the store. Conclusion Raising Cane's has basic, high quality, tasty crinkle-cur fries that are enjoyable. They were able to create a delicious side dish that highlighted their dedication to love and quality, without any superficial garnish or seasoning, and staying truthful to their mission. These fries are filling, crispy, plentiful, and so much more. We really liked these fries. We just wish they put more center stage spotlight on them. With just a bit more attention to detail, we feel there's a new star that may be born. We love chains that are proud of their heritage.