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.

Sonic, unlike most fast-food restaurants, has no dine-in option. It is purely a drive-in, which makes for a faster pick-up. It seems you can eat in your car and there are some outdoor seats for those that need some fresh air. With over 3,500 locations across 47 states, Sonic should not be hard to find. It was interesting to learn that Sonic serves crinkle fries, named Groovy Fries. We also know that great crinkle fries are difficult to come by. So we were excited to drive out to a Sonic. Now , we all like fast service, but even if the food comes out in Sonic the Hedgehog speed, we do want to see quality as well. How groovy are the potatoes at "America's Drive-in"? The drive-in bays surround the restaurant building. We appreciated the fact that it was roofed and shaded. Each drive-in bay has its own ordering kiosk. Very convenient! Texture (8/10) We were genuinely impressed by the texture. The ridges of the crinkles are crispy throuhgout all the grooves and we have not seen any other restaurants deliver crinkle fries of this caliber. Even with any battered coating, Sonic as managed to create the crunch as well, thanks to the intense grooves. When you bite into the fries, you can feel that the ratio between a crunchy, crispy, golden-brown skin and the warm stuffing is perfect. Sonic Groovy Fries nears perfection in terms of texture. We have never seen crinkle fries with texture of this caliber. We were blown away. Flavor (7/10) Sonic fries have great flavor, with the appropriate amount of oil that makes it not too dry, but not moist or soggy either. Though there could have been a bit more salt, the fries were still good. And as a drive-in, we were able to immediately enjoy the steaming fries straight out of the fryer as it was delivered promptly. Even without any dips, the core flavor - potato, oil and salt - on its own still tasted fabulous. We were all scratching our heads to determine if there was something more added, whether seasoning or other spices, but we concluded that it was just straight up basic fries. * Apparently, we were supposed to try the Groovy Sauce with the fries but we had no idea when we ordered. Shape (8/10) These fries are longer than the average fry. And knowing crinkle cut fries are more difficult than straight, kudos to Sonic for going for the higher bar. The ridges are stable and solid, and they don’t collapse or droop when you take a bite. Rather you can actually feel every single one of the ridges in its crispy state. The fries are decently thick, and very uniform. Obviously, these are not natural cut fries and but we don't think they were molded from potato puree. Either way, these are fabulously shaped fries. These are great looking fries. Consistent thickness, and length. Presentation (5/10) There was nothing much special here. The fries came in a standard McDonald's style carton, which was packed in a brown paper bag. The carton was shaped almost as a cup, which we think was intentional as it llikely has to fit into cupholders in cars. Even with such pragmatism, we do not think that much effort in the presentation was given. Sonic could have used some more creativity here, perhaps leaning heavily into "eating in the car" and explicitly theming around it. The navy blue did make the golden brown fries pop out visually. The carton feels a bit small as it is shaped in a cup. Sonic tried to vertically insert the sticks although it doesn't show well for the fries on the top. Experience (6/10) The Sonic experience was new to us, since we had never been to a drive-in only restaurant before. Ordering at the kiosk was seamless and the food was delivered promptly. It was a bit strange to just sit and wait in the car until the food arrived but we quickly got used to it. Our team munched through the fries straight away in the car but we don't think we would want to do that each and every time. Yes, this first experience was new and decent but we worry that the food will get cold by the time that you arrive home or whever you plan on eating. We strongly recommend that if you are heading to Sonic, being prepared to eat in the car. Texture 8 Flavor 7 Shape 8 Presentation 5 Experience 6 Overall 6.8 / 10 Conclusion Sonic's Groovy Fries definitely has all the key elements down to being one of the top fries with its crisp, crunch, flavor, and more. We honestly didn’t know what to expect when we were driving into the bay, but left really impressed. Crinkled fries are not easy to master as the increased surface area may be an opportunity for extra crispiness but also hold you back with structure. Sonic has managed to produce perhaps the best crinkled fries we have reviewed on this blog. We'll be back next time to try the Groovy Fries with the Groovy Sauce. Sonic at Hayward, CA. The yellow logo was quite visible with a crisp blue sky as the backdrop.

Headquartered in Atlanta with over 3,300 store internationally, Arby's is known for its roast beef sandwiches that pack loads and loads of meat between their buns, making their buns look miniscule compared to the stacked protein. And although these maxed out sandwiches capture everyone’s attention on billboards and marketing, we hope their fries should be just as eyecatching and tasty. Arby's slogan is “We have the meats.”. Well, we want to ask: do they have the fries? Arby's has two fries variants - curly and crinkled . Today, we are reviewing Arby's Curly Fries. Look at those stacked roast beef sandwiches. Yes, there is meat! Texture (7/10) The texture was nothing short of great. These fries definitely were dipped in some batter or coating which enhances the texture. The edges and exterior sides were at a very good crisp, and the crunch from these wacky curly fries has been superior to most other fries. As soon as you crunch into these fries, the innards of the fry are soft and welcoming. The issue though was the consistency throughout the serving portion. Many fries were half burnt, half twigged, and these just ruined what could've been a perfect texture. The curly fries have phenomenal texture, if you are lucky enough to get a decent piece. Many pieces were incomplete or twigs broken from the original curly sticks. Arby's needs to think about quality control and consistency. Flavor (6/10) There was a nice attempt at making the flavor of these fries fitting with the meat of their sandwiches. There was a good mix of bold seasoning, most likely including onion, pepper, and maybe some paprika. They definitely have an attitude and we like it! Also the seasoning was blended into the batter rather than spinkled on the outside, again, being more intentional. However, Arby's was not able to balance the salt levels well. The flavor feels just a bit off with minimal salt, but that ends up making the flavor boring very quickly. Shape (3/10) While some of these fries were nice and curly, just like their promise, a few too many were burnt, broken, tiny bits and pieces of potato and batter, that all snapped instantly when touched. Consistency here is low. On the other hand, there were also some globs of tangled potato, batter, oil, and fat all clumped together in huge chunks, making them hard to consume, creating lukewarm pockets in the middle, and have a hollow and mushy texture inside. We feel this is just carelessness and ruins what could've been amazing curly sticks. For the normal fries, that were intended by the original design, were not floppy nor did they have any structural issues. The entangled curly fries, bonded with batter, create these massive globs. Unforunately, the oil does not get to the center creating undercooked pockets without crisp or crunch. This should not be happening. Presentation (7/10) The fries came in a tall carton that looked like it was designed for straight fries. Although there's nothing wrong with this, the carton was not very effective in holding the fries in itself. Given the curl, we were hoping that a wider container may be used as it is difficult to pack curly sticks well. However, they looked great, especially as the large amounts of fries naturally spilled out in a potentially intentional overflow. The way that the fries naturally were laid out, created by the momentum of the carton tipping over, certainly was more picture-worthy than most fries. We like how the container was tipped over with momentum to create this natural spill. Experience (4/10) The texture was quite nice at first, but was drowned out by all the little twigs and massive clumps of fries that were just pure batter and burnt or undercooked potato. The flavor started off quite nicely but died down quickly, as it was not interesting enough and got old very quickly, making it hard to finish each bite of the large quantity that was given. We were excited by the way it came out on a tray, but realized all the shortcomings as we munched through. With just a bit of changes and attention to detail, we think this could have been an amazing experience. Texture 7 Flavor 6 Shape 3 Presentation 7 Experience 4 Overall 5.4 / 10 Conclusion In the end, Arby’s had a very strong strive to make a solid, if not industry-leading fries. We can definitely see that the original design and intent should have resulted in an amazing experience - the curls, the crunch, the bold flavor, and even the presentation. But all of these strengths are drowned out by the lack of attention to detail and coming short in many areas, whether it is inconsistency or missing salt, making the fries quite difficult to fully enjoy as it was originally intended. Overall, Arby’s has created a phenomenal menu item. Unfortunately, the poor execution makes the entire stack fall. We hope this is just a one-off incidence with this particular branch or this batch. We love the bold pride. We love the ethos. Hope that we can ring the bell next time.

Founded in 1978 in the Philippines, and now with over 1,700 locations across the globe, Jollibee is known to blend Western fast food with Filipino flavors. Their crown jewel is their Chickenjoy fried chicken, whether in a sandwich or a bucket. Similar to MOS Burger and Lotteria which fused Japanese and Korean accents, we were intrigued with what Jollibee would offer. We had a lot of questions and really was curious how their fries would be. Fortunately, there are a few locations in the Bay Area . So , this weekend, we visited Jollibees to review their fries. Jollibee in Serramonte Center, Daly City, CA. The line was long. Texture (2/10) The fries were not crispy, rather soft and small, with almost no stuffing. Even worse, they were not warm, with the only acceptable aspect being a tiny bit of crunch on a handful of the fries. The innard was dry, and there was no outer skin, making for some dry, unfilling and disastisfactory fries that are not enticing nor pleasant to munch through. The sticks are thin with non-existent crisp. The structure and innards are unsatisfactory. And that burnt tip! Flavor (1/10) There was no salt, making for a very bland fry, especially because they were undercooked. And there were no extra dips of any sort that came with the fries. The overall flavor profile is dry, bland, and the outer layer is a bright yellow because the fries were so undercooked. Surprisingly, some of them were also burnt. This was truly disappointing. There's a lot to work on, Jollibee. Shape (3/10) Though the fries were quite uniform, they were small, thin, and flopped easily because of the lack of stuffing. The fries look like small potato worms that were not treated with care. You can finish a single stick in one bite, because of how small they are. Honestly, we do not know what is going on here as we feel just even a small amount of effort could drastically improve the fries experience here. But what we reviewed was quite pitiful. We appreciate the consistency. But these really are not ideal fries. Presentation (5/10) The presentation overall is slighty below average. The fries are tossed into a McDonalds-style carton (we would say near identical), and then into a brown paper bag. The fries are too short to be vertically placed so they are just "dumped" into the container. This somewhat defeats the purpose of having a carton sleeve. However, the real problem here is the serving size. Jollibee's large fries in equivalent or smaller than McDonald's regular fries. This is the large fries. It may look bigger than it actually is as we zoomed in. The fries are radomly dumped into the container. The sleeve carton is identical to McDonald's, except there is a massive downsizing. The large is smaller than McDonald's regular size. Experience (3/10) The line to order at the Jollibee in Serramonte Center was long. We understand that it was peak lunch hours during the weekend. However, having to wait for 20 mins just to order, you want the food to be great, let alone the fries. However, the overall experience made us feel it was a waste of time; we were very disappointed that we waited so long for bottom of the barrel fries. Even worse, they didn't even go well with the chicken sandwich we ate it with. And we felt cheated with the underwhelming amount. This wasn't a great dining experience. Texture 2 Flavor 1 Shape 3 Presentation 5 Experience 3 Overall 2.8 / 10 Conclusion It is clear the fries is not a priority for Jollibee. We hope it was just this location and we got unlucky with a novice personnel behind the kitchen counter. But based on what we reviewed, the fries were disappointing at best. With no texture, no flavor, small sticks and underwhelming quantities, these fries have received the lowest score we have ever given any review (the previous bottom was In-N-Out ). We came in excited, but left disappointed and confused. How could an international chain have this caliber of fries? We feel that just with small changes and tweaks, Jollibee can massively improve their fries. Jollibee and their ketchup red is prominent throughout the dining experience. The ube pie was an interesting take on the classical apple pie served at McDonald's.

Founded in 1940, and with over 7,700 restaurants in more than 20 countries, Dairy Queen (DQ) has built a highly successful brand around its wonderful and sweet dairy treats, like its Blizzards, sundaes, and soft serves. Although DQ’s reputation was constantly built upon and improved by these various products, they still do sell fries, which makes DQ all the worthy contenders they have to be. Will DQ’s fries uphold the brand’s reputation that was built off dairy treats, or will they serve nothing but deadweight in DQ’s supremacy? This is DQ's fries review. DQ in Campbell, CA. This one is called DQ Grill & Chill. Texture (7/10) The fries were lightly crisped, with a soft and subtle exterior to go along with it. They had a decent enough crunch, though, which would upgrade their texture because of the maintained balance with the interior of the fry. Because while the outside was lightly crispy, the inside was not too overly mushy and soft. Basic they were, but these were solidly created sticks of potatoes. Honest and to the point. The fries look almost text-book basic but deceptively well made with a joyful texture. Flavor (6/10) The fries felt warm the entire time. These fries were made to the very last details of the very basic Fries 101 textbook, clearly with no seasoning nor other frills of any sort. However, in this case, you cannot make a mere puny attempt at some salt to the bare potato. Although the texture corresponds nicely to the basic flavor profile, there was little to no effort trying to make these fries any special in flavor. Perhaps they could also consider frying with distinct oils but again, this was Fries 101. Shape (5/10) The fries were pretty uniform and even, being close to the same lengths and thickness as each other. Although they were consistent, the fries lacked the typical length we are accustomed too. Somehow every one of them felt like they were cut in half and was short, only allowing a single ketchup dip comfortably. Also, it was weird that the sticks were not square but a rectangle in their cross section. We weren't sure if this was on purpose or whether it helps grabbing the potato between the fingers. Consistently short and "flat" fries. Not too ideal for enjoying it with ketchup. Presentation (6/10) The fries were presented in a rectangular and horizontal carton, which was not too tall and laid out widely. This made the fries look abundant but given their shorter lengths, they were all over the place randomly scattered in the bucket, making the grabbing of the sticks a bit hectic. In general, the carton did its part containing the fries, but it wasn’t outstanding or special in any ways that could help it stand above other brands or be memorable. DQ fries are randomly dumped into a horizontal carton. Visually looks abundant but it is not tightly packed. Experience (4/10) The quantity in which the fries are given is quite numerous considering the small carton you receive them in. However, the fries are all short and not neatly packed aligned which prevents from a lot fitting in. Combining this with the hefty price of $5.49 and we cannot help but feel they are overpriced. Furthermore, as we stated above, these are the most basic fries one could ever create. Nothing wrong with this, but again, you need to charge standard prices then. Texture 7 Flavor 6 Shape 5 Presentation 6 Experience 4 Overall 5.6 / 10 Conclusion In the end, although DQ had a smashing success in well… exactly what it promises, which are its dairy products, its fries are not winning awards anytime soon. They are not that far behind though, and we can see them possibly holding both the center stage light and being complementing any meal. DQ has definitely created a solid and robust fries, sticking to the basics, and executing them well. We just hope they can refine this over time, caring a bit more about their flavors and presentation. Clearly DQ is an ice-cream shop. We love their pride in thick shakes: "Made to Defy Gravity"!

Wingstop is a fast-growing chain, only founded in 1994 but already reaching over 2,500 locations worldwide. Known for their spicy, mild, and flavorful wings, there's no doubt that many visit whenever they’re feeling adventurous or just craving some good chicken wings. To complement their bold flavors, Wingstop serves Seasoned Fries as their standard side. Given the popularity, we were curious to see how these fries compared to the rest. This is our review of Wingstop fries. Wingstop in San Carlos, CA., located in San Carlos Marketplace. Texture (6/10) The crisp was great, with a very nice color to it thanks to the seasoning. The crunch sound could have been better though. There was a good balance between the firm yet warm and soft inside with the crispy and golden brown outer skin. The fries hold their shape well too. Again, we cannot emphasize enough on the lack of crunch, which indicates the thinness of the outer coat. Overall, pretty well done. The crisp is pronounced well but as your can see, the crisp layer is thin and lacks the crunch. Flavor (6/10) Given the seasoning, we were extremely excited about the flavor profile of the fries. As you bite into the potato stick, you feel a bit of spice, and a hint of sweetness too. You can detect traces of paprika, pepper and sugar. It was very tasty and flavorful, well complementing the wings. Unfortunately, and surprisingly, after the first bite or two, the flavor fades away and leaves a seasoning vestige on your tongue. Somehow, the seasoning is not completely smeared into the fries, but just acting as a gimmick on the surface. Again, it's tasty, but shallow in execution. Shape (8/10) The fries have great stability and sturdiness, and mostly don’t flop. The only blemish we could find was a slight bend but in general, the fries are really tall and thick. Given these are natural cut fries with skins on the tip corresponding to the curvature of the potato, Wingstop must have used really large potatoes. The ends are crispy, and the none of the fries are small or broken off pieces. The outside is great, and the inside mush isn’t pasty, but smooth enough to go down nicely. Wingstop did amazing. Consistently straight and thick, rare to see in natural cut fries. Presentation (7/10) The fries are served in their own plastic dark green container, like the ones some restaurants serve their sliders in. There is some paper underneath the fries to keep the oil from leaking. They are not pushed to the side of the carton, rather are left to shine in their dark green home, waiting to be eaten. The green contrasts well with the orange-golden fries. The down side is that since the container is short, if you are eating them in a car or outside on a windy day, the fries may slide out. The Wingstop green contrasts well with the orange-golden fries. Experience (6/10) Considering a pseudo fast-food restaurant, the wait was pretty long for the fries; about 12 minutes. Again, the fries were pretty good. The restaurant staff didn’t show any extra kindness, though they weren’t hateful either. During our visit, we did not order any wings so we can only imagine how it may complemented the overall meal. The atmosphere was welcoming but there was nothing truly special about the experience. Texture 6 Flavor 6 Shape 8 Presentation 7 Experience 6 Overall 6.6 / 10 Conclusion For a chain that is known for its bold chicken flavors, Wingstop's seasoned fries are quite solid. The fries are sturdy and well shaped, with decent crisp and flavorful seasoning. However, they do come short of being truly special and delightful. We do think that Wingstop, if they tried just a bit more, could really hit it out of the park.

Today, we have an unusual restaurant chain for our fries review - The Cheesecake Factory. Founded in 1978 in Berverly Hills, California, The Cheesecake Factory today boasts over 300+ restaurants across the nation, known for their massive cheesecakes and their encyclopedia-like menu with hundreds of dishes. It certainly is a unique dining experience eating amidst orange marble pillars and faux Renaissance decor. And of course, the restaurant serves fries. So how do they stack up? Can they stand on their own amongst the eccentric cheesecakes? Let's find out. Cheesecake Factory at Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo, CA. Texture (7/10) There is definitely a nice crisp to the fries, though they do lack a bit of crunch. The fries start out pretty warm though they do get cold quite fast, probably because they weren't fried as long to raise the inner temperature. The inner stuffing has not been beaten to a pulp and not being pasty, rather it’s very soft and complements the crisp well. The color of the fries is a wonderful golden brown. Cheesecake Factory did well on texture. The fries have a solid crisp and shine golden brown. We like the natural innards. Flavor (8/10) The first bite into the fries delivers a gush of satisfaction. Alongside the great texture, the fries are well salted and it complements the high quality potatoes well. These weren't seasoned in any other way. These were the most basic fries one could make but they managed to really bring out the essence of a great French fries flavor. And of course, the flavor is absolutely elevated with ketchup, so much so that they give you two small cups of it. It is rare that we give such a high score on flavor when they are just basic fries. But The Cheesecakse Factory has near perfected the flavor profile. Shape (6/10) The fries are quite uniform and straight. And due to the decent amount of natural stuffing, they aren't floppy nor do they droop. Combine this with their relatively long length, they are ideal to dip it into the bowl of ketchup until the very last bite. Overall, the shape really makes the plate of fries look tasty and is a pleasant sight to see. The fries are straight and sturdy to accommodate heavy ketchip dipping. Presentation (8/10) As a sit-down restaurant, the fries are served on an actual plate. Here at The Fries Blog, we are accustomed to getting our fries in cartons or paper bags so for a change, we appreciated the presentation on a plate. The fries were nicely piled and not just scattered or dumped on a flat surface. And having two cups of ketchup, one on each side, was thoughtful - functional and aesthetically pleasing. Some restaurants pack fries in a cone-shaped basket so that the sticks are easier to grab but we actually think this plate method works better as all of us could dig in in parallel. Presented on a plate with two cups of ketchup on each side. Everyone around the table can reach in and dip with ease. Experience (5/10) Despite serving great fries, the experience takes a hit due to a few reasons. First, we had to wait 30 mins to get our fries. We understand this isn't a fast food restaurant, but half an hour is way too long and perhaps that was the reason why the fries cooled off fast. And then, it cost $8, which is an extremely high price for fries. We think it is mostly worth it but purely from value perspective, we're not entirely convinced. Of course, the atmosphere was nice and the servers were very kind and friendly. Texture 7 Flavor 8 Shape 6 Presentation 8 Experience 5 Overall 6.8 / 10 Conclusion The Cheesecake Factory has solid fries. There are no artificial frills, no random improvisations, or superficial garnish. They are just great fries, made with good potatoes, salted to perfection. With the shape and texture optimally designed for a healthy dip of ketchup, we don't think the "basic" fries can get much better. And we can confidently state that these fries can stand out on their own from the book of menu listings to order. If it wasn't for the 30 mins of wait, I think these would've been one of the top fries in our list.

Habit Burger & Grill started off with humble beginnings, being a small family owned business founded in 1969 in Santa Barbara, California. As it gained popularity and gradually spread nationwide, it saw continuous praise over its delectable shakes and signature charbroiled burgers. From day one, Habit Burger has given its focus on quality and has positioned themselves well above a traditional fast food chain but not as hefty as a full sit-down restaurant. As seekers for the best fries, we were extremely excited to try out Habit Burger's fries; would they be of the highest quality? This is our review of Habit Burger Grill's regular fries. We love the mission of Habit Burger. They are proud to serve great food! Texture (7/10) These fries are decently thick compared to many other fries. There's definitely a heft and they do not come across flimsy or floppy. In contribution to its plump size, is the amount of innards this fry contains. It has more insides than your average fry, but these innards are nice and soft, and does not feel over-stuffed, well complementing the exterior. The outside of the fries are slightly crispy, followed up by a full, genuine crunch as you bite into it especially at the tips. This nice blend of textures will be sure to support some of the fries' other attributes. The texture absolutely speaks towards quality, although they may not be at the absolute top. The texture is solid and the fries definitely are of high quality. Flavor (6/10) All of the fries are lightly salted, and do not enter the "bland" zone. The salt could've been spread a bit more evenly as it did get saltier towards the bottom, but all within the acceptable range. Its flavor in general is nice and mellow to the palate, and they do not contain any extra seasoning. These are genuinely wholesome and robust tasting fries, almost following a textbook. If there was a textbook on fries, this would be the perfection of chapter 1. Standard, but wholesome. Shape (7/10) The fries are not consistently the same length, but in a natural way. This isn't about careless cutting or fries breaking in pieces. The shape definitely has an intentional bend while the thickness and texture provides the sturdiness. They are able to hold after and before you crunch down on their potato bodies, even with a healthy amount of ketchup. Again, the keyword here is quality. You can see it with every stick. Naturally consistent even to the slight bend. These fries hold their shape well. Presentation (6/10) Your fries are placed in a small horizontal container, unlike the vertical cartridges that most other fast food restaurants have their fries placed in. This open topped container provides better reach for everybody. Now the downside of the boat is that the fries can look messy in its presentation. But thanks to the meaningfully sturdy and long sticks, the presentation holds well. Although not special in a particular way, this is probably as solid as a horizontal boat container fries can be. Experience (6/10) The fries pair well with the burgers which are rich in flavor. It seems very clear that Habit Burger Grill gently balanced a burger companion but also ensured that there was enough for the fries to stand alone. However, we highly recommend eating these with ketchup. Again, these are quality fries. Honest to the potato, no frills or smoke and mirrors. Just some well made potato sticks. The amount of fries you get might seem a bit small, considering the price of $4.99. But in general, these are great fries. Texture 7 Flavor 6 Shape 7 Presentation 6 Experience 6 Overall 6.4 / 10 Conclusion Overall, Habit Burger Grill has done a good job with their fries. Staying truthful to their mantra of "There's No Substitute for Quality!", indeed, their fries showcase the best textbook version of the basic fries. Each fry is meaninful and sturdy, crunchy and crisp, which supports the lightly salt seasoned skin. Although the presentation is average and the price is a bit higher than other fries, its overall quality pulls it through as a solid fry. With such respectable execution of the base version, next up is a review of their sweet potato fries ! Even the packaging itself is above the regular fast food chains.

We recently reviewed Habit Burger's regular fries and their focus on quality shone through. Given the chain also offers sweet potato fries, definitely not common in other fast food restaurants, we had to check it out. Now these sweet siblings by default are mandatorily served with their signature ranch sauce, which further intrigued our curiosity. Why woudl they do this? Will these inventive and fresh sweet potato fries stand tall next to its well rounded sibling? This is our review of Habit Burger's sweet potato fries. This literally stared into our eyes next to the order kiosk! I love their bold awareness campaign. Texture (5/10) The sweet potato fries have a weak crisp, but maintain an acceptable amount of crunch. This is accomplished through a batter coating on the outwards that give it a bumpy texture. These bumps are indeed crunchy, but somehow they feel disjointed from the actual potato stick. The fries feel a bit weak, laden by the clumps of fried batter, and also are dry in the mouth. The innards of the fries are slightly mushy but feel a bit deflated. We're not sure if this is because of the type of the potato. The fries have a batter cover which clumps on the exterior. Perhaps the sweet potatos don't fill the inside well? Flavor (6/10) The fries are definitely more sweet than the regular ones (as they are made with sweet potato) but still lacked the basic level of salt, just like their regular counterparts. This, combined with the deflatet texture, makes them quite bland and dry with only a momentary sweetness to counter the large body of flavoress mush. The saving grace was absolutely their signaure ranch and we finally understood why the sauce was provided by default. The ranch wasn't special by any means but definitely a bit more runny that made it easier to dip fries and not scoop up the sauce. The "siganture" ranch sauce is served with all sweet potato fries. You have to pay to get more. Shape (5/10) Most of the sticks are decently sized in length and this is expected as sweet potatoes are typically elongated in shape. Unforunately though, these fries are very wobbly and have a hard time staying straight and holding themselves together. We don't know if this is because of the nature of the sweet potato but they are very unstable and break down after being bit into. Many sticks also have a bumpy ugliness due to the batter fry. We don't mind if this is done gently but in the case of Habit Burger, they were like a stretched out summer squash. Naturally consistent even to the slight bend. These fries hold their shape well. Presentation (6/10) Fries are served in the identical carton to the regular fries, a boat-like tray, that carry the fries but absolutely help them jut out for easy grabs from all angles. Sweet potato fries though has a paper lining at the bottom of the carton to stop the fries from becoming too soggy in their grease. This is smart as the batter probably carries more oil than without. Experience (5/10) Habit Burger's sweet potato fries were good, but not exceptional in their job in improving the dining experience. They went well with the ranch and that was about it. There was nothing notable about them that contributed to the other items nor could it stand out on its own in a memorable way. To make matters worse, these fries were a whole dollar more expensive than the regular fries, and this definitely degrades the experience. Texture 5 Flavor 6 Shape 5 Presentation 6 Experience 5 Overall 5.4 / 10 Conclusion Habit Burger Grill had done a solid job on their regular fries, especially screaming high quality. But it is a bit hard to say the same for their more expensive sweet potato fries. The fries had a chaotic balance between its texture and flavor, while just barely being average on all other criteria. And without the signature ranch, it came dangerously close to being utterly disappointing. Even its quality of ingredients couldn't make it great. These fries are definitely not a failure, but also not something to lead with.

With just 17 locations around the San Francisco Bay Area, Super Duper Burgers is a local burger chain well known in the region. They focus on "fast food with slow food values", positioning themselves between a fast-food chain and a sit-down restaurant. From the moment you step in, they let you know clearly that they use organic, fresh, high quality ingredients; from their beef to eggs to even soft-serve ice-cream. Given their pride in their burger (calling it "Super Burger"), are their natural cut fries also super duper? Here's our review of Super Duper Burgers' fries. Super Duper Burgers feature wall. We love their attention to the highest quality ingredients. Texture (5/10) The innards of the sticks were not too bad, being warm and soft. However, the exterior was quite disappointing. Though there was some crisp, there was no crunch at all. Instead of being greeted with a nice large crunching sound, typical of natural cut fries with skin, the fry just collapses into mush where your tongue rolls over the small sheets of crisp. We think that the fries were either undercooked or fried in a temperature tad bit low. The facade looked great, but the texture just was not up to our expectations. Natural cut fries with skin attached. Not too crispy though. Flavor (3/10) While the fries may be naturally cut, Super Duper did not think of adding the natural best friend of fries: salt. The fries are absolutely tasteless. Literally just fried potato mush. Without ketchup or the rich flavored and somewhat salty burger, we do not think that we could have finished the fries. You certainly do taste the freshness of the potato, so we know they use high quality ingredients. It's just that they didn't bother with anything else. Shape (5/10) Based on our various reviews, we see that that naturally cut fries tend to be thicker than regular fries. This is perhaps to compensate for the various lengths and the curvature of the potato. Thus it is commendable how Super Duper has managed to cut a round potato into standard looking fries. They are fairly uniform, and quite long, again indicating that they purposly pick larger potatoes. There was nothing special about the shape though and perhaps it was on the thinner side to support the large amount of ketchup we had to dip. These are natural cut fries that look very much like standard fries. Presentation (4/10) The fries were served in a "boat" carton, just like In-N-Out fries and many others. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but also the fries were not placed thoughtfully. Rather, it looks like they just dumped a handful on a flat bed. And we are not sure whether this was intentional or not but the boat carton was too small and flimsy to hold many fries. As you can see in the picture above, it really looks as if the fries were just thrown on the main tray. Experience (6/10) Though the fries may not be the best on their own, they paired really well with the burgers. Super Duper burgers are a smashed patty variant with plenty of rich reasoning and salt. And since the fries were virtually tasteless, they complemented the rich flavor of the burger and also added a bit of varying texture of fried potatoes. At a price of $4.00, it's not obnoxiously expensive but also you don't get much. Texture 5 Flavor 3 Shape 5 Presentation 4 Experience 6 Overall 4.6 / 10 Conclusion Yes, just as the name suggest, the burgers are super duper. But unfortunately, the same cannot be said with the fries. With no flavor, subpar texture, and fries that don't exemplify the natural potatoes, you cannot expect much from these fries. We commend their attention to high quality and sustainable approach to ingredients, and thus feel justified paying their premium prices. We just hoped that the same attention given to their burgers were given to their fries. The burger is near impeccable. Fresh smashed patties with tons of flavor. And the veggies are packed like a magazine shot.