In the fast food world, few items are as beloved as the humble French fry. With a perfectly crisp exterior and pillowy inside, they’ve become a universal comfort food, with plenty of unique twists worldwide. Fries can make or break your fast food feast – and we think they deserve a moment in the spotlight. That's why we've tracked down the very best fries from fast food restaurants all over the world. Whether you like them thin and crispy, boldly spiced or thick and crinkled, there’s a perfect fry for everyone.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the tastiest fast food fries of all time, counting down to the best of all.
Our ranking is based on reviews, accolades and the popularity of each type of French fry, taking into account sales, longevity and the reaction to each product at the time of its release. This list is unavoidably subjective.
The regular fries at Burger King have their fans, and some people rave about the Chicken Fries (which are disqualified from this ranking). But if you're lucky enough to live in New Zealand, Germany, Malta or a few other select countries, you'll know the curly fries are where it's at. Often only a temporary addition to the menu, Burger King's cult-favourite curly fries are crispy, fluffy and seasoned to perfection – and they have a fun shape that everyone loves.
Chicken Licken is a South African fast food chain that rivals KFC with its fried chicken and tasty soul food. But, while the chicken might be the main event, that doesn't mean the sides and fries should be overlooked. The Soul Fries are chunky, crispy and well seasoned – perfect for dipping into the chain's fiery sauces. Customers could also treat themselves to a Licken Loaf and create the ultimate Soul Fries sandwich.
In 2023, Australian fast food fans voted for their favourite hot chips (or fries) as part of a Statista survey. Grill'd made the top three, snagging a large portion of the vote. While the chain might argue with the 'fast food' label – it likes to think of itself as the healthier solution to typical fast food joints – there's no arguing that its thick-cut fries are a highlight of its menu. The Famous Grill'd Chips come showered in the restaurant's signature herb salt, and they're perfect for dipping.
Brazilian American tennis champion Bob Falkenburg founded Bob’s in 1952, four years after winning the Wimbledon men's singles title. Bob’s brought American-style fast food to the country – and the chain's almost 800 restaurants are still beloved for their hamburgers, chicken burgers and signature fries. The Potato Sticks are essentially crispy string fries, although you could always add an extra flavour hit by getting them loaded with Cheddar sauce and diced bacon.
In November 2024, delivery company Deliveroo released its ranking of the 100 top trending dishes ordered around the world. One of the meals that made the list was a Giant burger and large fries from Belgian chain Quick, which also has outlets in France. The fries from Quick are the old-school fast food variety, made using local potatoes and fried until crisp and golden. Sometimes, you can't beat the classics.
A popular menu hack is to order your Five Guys fries 'extra well done' to ensure they have the perfect amount of crunch. But really, the Cajun Style fries are pretty perfect just the way they are. Cooked 'boardwalk-style', these tasty treats are hand cut and cooked twice in peanut oil before getting doused in a generous shake of Cajun spices. The extra scoop of fries in the bag is always a nice surprise, too.
Supermac’s is an Irish institution, with more than 100 outlets throughout the country. Its Mighty Mac burger stole all the headlines after fending off a trademark battle with McDonald's, but the fries are really the star of the show. They're seriously chunky, more akin to what you'd get in a British fish and chip shop than a fast food restaurant. Best of all, Supermac's offers a range of tasty toppings, including curry, taco, cheese and garlic sauces.
If you're ever in coastal Maryland or Delaware in the USA, Thrasher’s French Fries is a must-visit. Fries are pretty much the only thing this small chain sells – so, understandably, it takes them very seriously. The first stand opened in 1929, and since then it's been delighting diners with its freshly sourced potatoes fried in peanut oil. Thrasher's takes great pride in the flavour of its fries, displaying signs that say, 'We serve no ketchup!' However, the chain does allow customers to add salt and apple cider vinegar.
Hesburger was once the biggest fast food chain in Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, even eclipsing McDonald’s at one point. It still has nearly 500 outlets in Europe, and customers rave about its fries and signature mayonnaise-based sauces. After all, fries are the perfect vehicle for a healthy dollop of dip. Its most popular mayo flavour is paprika, but other varieties include cucumber, chilli and curry.
Bembos has more than 100 restaurants throughout Peru, having first won the hearts of locals in 1988. The fries here bear a resemblance to those from McDonald's – they're long, thin and crispy – but what sets them apart is the dips they come with. Like other Peruvian fast food spots, Bembos serves the pepper-based sauce ají on the side. You can also opt for mayo or ketchup, if you like.
Chick-fil-A's waffle fries have a huge surface area, so they're seriously dippable. In 2021, Chick-fil-A revealed that these unique fries are the most-ordered item on its menu, even edging out its milkshakes and famous chicken sandwich. In good news for fast food fans outside of the USA, Chick-fil-A will be bringing its tasty Waffle Potato Fries to locations in the UK and Asia in the coming years.
Local potatoes are hand cut, part baked, then cooled before being slotted into cones at Frietboutique locations in the Netherlands. Cooked to order, the fries are crispy on the outside and fluffy in the centre (like any good fry should be). The chain's choice of sauces is just as exciting – and if you're not full after all those fries, you can treat yourself to a scoop of the chain's artisanal ice cream.
Founded in 1932, Sibylla started out by serving Swedish classics like meatballs with mashed potatoes and lingonberries. However, these days, it's a more general fast food chain, with over 150 restaurants and kiosks across the country. Locals and tourists alike adore the brand's crispy crinkle-cut fries, although even Sibylla admits that enjoying them without a dip 'is like love without kisses'. The chain has plenty of sauces on offer, from Béarnaise to black garlic.
Frittenwerk specialises in poutine, serving its fries with plenty of delicious toppings – from chicken shawarma to barbecue pulled meat. But as this is a German chain, we're going to say the Currywurst Special is the one to beat. This dish combines crispy fries with currywurst, fried onions, mayo, currywurst sauce, curry powder and parsley. You can also enjoy the excellent fries and toppings separately, if you prefer not to get too messy.
Sonic Drive-In's Groovy Fries rolled out nationwide in June 2024, and they quickly became a hit with fans of the retro drive-in chain. What makes the fries (quite literally) 'groovy' is their deep ridges – perfect for picking up every last drop of Sonic's sauces and dips. The Groovy Fries go particularly well with the complimentary Groovy Sauce (a tangy combination of ranch and sriracha).
Ask 100 Canadians who serves the best poutine in the country, and you're likely to get 100 different answers. The dish is practically a national treasure, and everybody has an opinion about it. But it's hard to see how you could go wrong with a stop at the Fritz European Fry House in Vancouver. You can't have good poutine without a good base of fries – and the 'Fritz' served at this takeout-only joint are so good, they've won awards. To make the classic Canadian comfort dish, the soft and crispy fries are drowned in a dark, meaty gravy and melty cheese curds.
When Japan Today asked 1,000 people, 'Which fast food restaurant makes the best French fries?' the overwhelming answer was... well, McDonald's. But MOS Burger can be proud of its second-place ranking, especially since it doesn't quite have the same global reach as its Golden-Arched rival. Taste testers commended the MOS Burger fries as being 'fluffy' and 'thick', and said that they had 'the true taste of a potato'. They're best served with the chain's unique honey mustard Golden Dip.
Any burger you order from British chain Honest Burgers comes with a portion of Rosemary Salted Chips – but these elevated fries are so good, you might want them on their own. The fries are made from different potatoes throughout the year to ensure customers are served only the best seasonal produce. As soon as they escape the fryers, they're immediately hit with rosemary salt for maximum flavour. And of course, they're always fresh and never frozen.
Red Rooster is – as its name suggests – a chicken shop, but its fries are also worth clucking about. In a Statista survey from 2023, Australians voted Red Rooster's chips the second-best tasting in the country, behind global giant KFC. TV news website Nine also noted that a large portion of these fries is excellent value for money compared to other leading brands. That's a win-win in our book!
Shake Shack is best known for its juicy burgers and, well, shakes, but don't overlook its signature crinkle-cut fries. Fans rave about the crispy, golden exterior and light, fluffy interior of this next-level side. And if you really want something special, order the cheese fries. You'll get all the salty goodness of the regular fries, topped with Shake Shack's secret sauce – made with a melty combo of Cheddar and American cheese.
NomNomNom Poutine landed itself on Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat in Canada 2024 list, with customers voting its Smoked Meat Poutine as one of the best things on the menu. This food stall in Toronto offers eight varieties of the Canadian speciality, covering almost any type of meat-and-cheese combination you could ever hope for. The fries themselves are the stars of the show though, staying nice and crisp whatever the topping.
Lotteria opened its first store in Tokyo in 1972, and now there are outlets all over East Asia. On the menu you'll find a range of American fast food staples, including burgers, nuggets and (of course) fries. Its fries are similar in size, shape and style to those served at McDonald's, but they've won plaudits from taste testers for their saltiness and texture. To take them to another level, order a bag of flavoured French fries, which you can shake with your favourite seasoning. Popular options include green curry and burnt butter soy sauce.
Lord of the Fries claims that its Classic Fries are 'the one and only fry you’ll ever need', and the good people of Australia tend to agree. This chain started as a mobile chip truck in Melbourne in 2004 and has now expanded around the country and into New Zealand. All its fries are made from seasonal Aussie potatoes, and they're 100% vegan. They're cut thicker than some, and they retain their skin for extra flavour.
If you're in need of a late-night snack in Halifax, there's no better option than Willy's, which is open until 4am. It specialises in poutine, fries and burgers, which is exactly the kind of food you're probably craving at that time of the night/morning. The fries are fresh cut and delicious, coming in two sizes: small and large. Looking for something extra? The Donair – fries topped with onions, tomatoes and Donair sauce – is a popular choice.
In 2021, Wendy's revamped its fries for the first time in 11 years. The new improvements included an updated battering system and superior fry baskets to ensure that customers got 'hot and crispy' fries every time. The chain was so confident in its new salty, skin-on fries that it guaranteed diners a no-questions-asked replacement if they were unhappy with their order. For more of a good thing, Wendy's fans go for Baconator Fries, which are topped with cheese sauce and bacon.
100 Montaditos has branches in Spain, Italy and Portugal, yet its French fries are only available in Italy and Portugal. Head into one of the chain's restaurants in Spain, and the closest thing you'll get is Bravioli (patatas bravas with aioli); however, visit one of its Italian or Portuguese branches, and you'll be rewarded with some of the tastiest fast food fries going. Opt for the classic fries, and top them with Cheddar sauce and bacon – always a winning combination.
Pleasingly chunky, the plain fries served at Germany's Peter Pane Burgergrill & Bar are perfectly delicious. But why settle for plain, when you can elevate a bowl of simple fries by adding a healthy dose of truffle? The popular chain's Trüffelfritten take things to another level with the addition of truffle oil, fried onions and truffle cream – and the result is a fan-favourite side dish.
Nacho Fries debuted in the US in 2018, and they instantly became Taco Bell's best-selling limited-edition menu item ever. So, every time the chain brings Nacho Fries back, the news hits the headlines pretty fast – bringing widespread joy to the chain's loyal fans. The fries themselves are heavily seasoned French fries, served with a cheese sauce (and they're normally devoured in just a few mouthfuls).
Leon's mission is to make fast food that tastes good and is also relatively good for you. So, flying in the face of fast food French fry tradition, Leon bakes its much-loved Waffle Fries instead of frying them in lots of oil. The lightly seasoned cross-cut fries still retain that essential crispiness, making them perfect for dipping. They're so good that Leon released a frozen version for UK supermarkets that fans can cook at home.
In-N-Out Burger's Animal Style fries are known by fast food fans all around the world – even though In-N-Out only has locations in the USA. Part of the not-so-secret menu, they're essentially hand-cut fries topped with grilled onions, a signature spread, melted American cheese and pickles (if you ask for them). If you're outside the US and want to try them at home, there are any number of copycat recipes online.
Zeus Street Greek was born from three Greek Australian friends' desire to bring authentic Greek dishes to Sydney's food scene. So, instead of serving Greek-inspired recipes or Greek meals with a modern twist, Zeus Street Greek slings straight-up Greek food the way yiayia (grandma) used to. Yiayia's Chips are thick-cut beauties made from locally sourced potatoes, and they're seasoned with pink salt and oregano. They're delicious both on their own or stuffed into a gyros with grilled meat and vegetables.
Friteries – fast food restaurants, kiosks or vans specialising in fries – are a big deal in French-speaking Belgium and Northern France, and they all have something unique to offer. Fry fans will all have their favourites, but one friterie that's consistently proven to be worth its weight in fried gold is no-frills spot Friterie chez Bryan Aubange. The users of food review website Les Friteries ranked it the best in Belgium in 2023.
In July 2024, USA Today experts rounded up what they thought were the best-tasting fast food fries, then asked readers to vote for their favourites. In what might have been a shock upset, Del Taco's crinkle-cut fries came out on top – beating better-known rivals such as McDonald's and Five Guys. The secret could be those deep-set grooves, the ideal vehicle for holding seasoning and sauce.
Manneken Pis is named after a famous fountain in Brussels – but fortunately, the landmark (which features a cheeky sculpture) isn't commenting on the quality of the fries at this popular Dutch fast food chain. The Flamish Fries served at Manneken Pis outlets throughout the Netherlands are par-fried and cooled in the morning, then fried again when the orders start rolling in. That way, its customers are guaranteed a cone of fresh, hot, crispy fries to eat on the go.
Choosing the best friterie in France is perhaps a fool's errand, as foodies could undoubtedly argue over the finest fries in France forever. However, according to the users of review website Les Friteries, the highest ranked friterie in France in 2023 was Dunkirk's Chic Frite. There were 1,488 friteries ranked in the list altogether, so it's a good sign that you'll get something special if you make the trip here.
You could say McDonald's French fries are the original fast food fries – after all, they introduced the world to the simple deliciousness of a fluffy-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside staple. When CivicScience ran a 2024 survey to discover which fast food French fries Americans prefer, McDonald's received a whopping 46% of the vote. The original is still the king.
Now discover the incredible story of how McDonald's conquered the world