25 Fast Food Fries, Ranked Worst To Best

Of all the polarizing food opinions out there, there's one that nearly every American can agree on: Burgers and french fries are a match made in heaven. It's impossible to fathom a time when people would eat a burger without the perfectly fried, golden, crispy side that is french fries, especially because the dynamic duo is ubiquitous at fast food chains across the country. It's even more unfathomable yet that french fries aren't an American invention, nor are they a French one — we have Belgium to thank for the crispy goodness of french fries, and how thankful are we for such a satisfying food.

While you can make your own fries in the comfort of your home, it's not easy to achieve that deep-fried perfection without, well, a deep fryer. So, many of us seek our french fry fix by way of fast food, and there certainly is no shortage of chains to choose from. Some fast food fries have proven to be more popular than others (McDonald's, we're looking at you), whereas others leave quite a bit of crispiness to be desired. We've compiled an extensive list of fast-food fries, and though it's impossible to objectively determine which chain has the best fries out there, we've given it our best shot. So, the next time a fry craving hits, keep this ranking on the back burner so you know which ones to seek out (and, more importantly, which ones to avoid). 

Any fast foodie knows that White Castle can be pretty hit or miss regardless of what you order. Sometimes, a slider is the tastiest thing you could possibly put in your mouth, and other times, it's lukewarm and feels like mush. Worse could be said about the fries, which are nearly always limp, saltless, and devoid of any crispiness. It's a shame, seeing as crinkle-cut fries have so much potential to be crispy. But, alas, White Castle's fries just don't accomplish this feat, and therefore are pretty low in this ranking.

These fries are the definition of just fine. There's nothing really bad to say about them — they're your standard natural-cut fry, so if that's your thing, then you probably like these fries quite a bit. But there's no pizzazz, and there's no real redeeming quality that sets these fries apart from the endless sea of natural-cut fast food french fries, so Carls Jr. and Hardee's ultimately rank pretty low due to forgettableness. 

Raising Cane's has garnered quite the following due to a popular menu item, and unfortunately, it isn't the fries. The fried chicken fast food joint is notorious for its popular sauce, which kind of makes the actual food items pale in comparison. Nevertheless, Raising Cane's fries are decent enough. Like many, many other fries on this list, they are of the crinkle-cut variety, though, unlike other fries, they're the longer, skinnier version. On their own, these fries are standard and forgettable, but paired with that Cane's sauce ... well, anything is delicious paired with that sauce.

Have you ever gotten an order of fries that somehow seems to be soggy through and through? If so, it was probably from Bojangles. Now, this isn't inherently an insult; there are plenty of people out there who prefer their fries on the soggy side. But ideally, there's some relief somewhere in there, and in this case, that relief would come in the form of a single crispy fry amidst the bunch. You're probably not going to find that crispy fry at Bojangles, but you will find crispy fried chicken, so there's a silver lining to the sogginess. 

Fans of crinkle-cut fries especially tend to enjoy Shake Shack's fries, which are a little bit thicker than your typical crinkle-cut. These fries are tasty on their own, and they definitely pair well with a Shack Burger. That said, they can sometimes be under-salted and possibly even too crispy. No one wants to bite into a hard french fry, but when the fries are short and stout, they start to fry a little too close to the sun. We can easily forgive the chain, however, for gracing us with the option of cheese fries, which immediately make the whole dish much tastier and more memorable.

KFC boasts its "Secret Recipe Fries," and while we don't know exactly what goes into the special recipe, we can attest that it tastes pretty good. KFC's fries are thin and crispy, and while they don't go where no fry has gone before, they don't need to. They're simply tasty fries, they're consistently crispy, and unlike other chains on this list, they actually come seasoned. These fries also hold their own amongst a plethora of other KFC sides like coleslaw, mashed potatoes, or corn — in fact, if you're going to opt for sides with your fried chicken, these fries are a safe bet.  

Adequately seasoned and surprisingly crispy, Taco Bell's Nacho Fries are higher on this list than one might initially suspect. The fries are served with nacho cheese by default, and it's pretty hard to mess up that combo. All that said, the nacho fries aren't always available on Taco Bell's menu — in fact, sometimes the fries are back and gone again in the blink of an eye. For that reason, and the fact that truly good fries shouldn't rely on any one sauce to complete them, these fries don't quite break the top 10.

You either love 'em or you hate 'em, but for those in favor of shoestring fries, Steak 'n Shake is definitely the best place to get them. These thin and crispy fries are consistently tasty and paired next to a classic steak burger, it really doesn't get much better than that. Of course, for those who are crinkle-cut or steak fry fans, shoestring fries are a total nightmare, especially when you need 10 fries just to make up an adequate bite. So, for the sake of objectivity, Steak 'n Shake breaks the top 10, but just barely. 

If there's one fast-food chain that gives McDonald's fries a run for its money, it just might be Whataburger. These skinny, shoestring-esque fries very much resemble the ultra-popular chain's golden fries, though they also deserve some recognition all on their own. Crispy with every bite, these fries really are tasty, and they pair well with a burger or patty melt. Of course, they'll never be quite as good as McDonald's fries, and this is where the similarities might become a nuisance. But, hey, if you're ever in the Southwest and want to give these fries a try, they're definitely well worth your time and money.

Burger King's fries have remained consistent over the years, so if you want a good batch of standard, natural-cut fries, then you can always rely on the popular chain. These fries also accomplish that ideal balance of being pillowy on the inside and crisp on the outside, making a truly ideal companion to a Whopper. If you're a fan of the classics and aren't looking to switch things up, then you'll definitely want to stick with Burger King to curb your fry cravings. Though, if you're looking for the truly superior fry from Burger King, the chicken fries are really where the money's at ... why not get both?

Five Guys Cajun fries steal the show, more so than the burgers themselves, though one taste proves why that's the case. These natural-cut fries are cooked to perfection in peanut oil, then seasoned to perfection in Cajun seasoning. To up the ante, no one has ever complained that Five Guys shorted them on fries; piled high into an unsuspecting white cup, a single order of Five Guys fries can satiate even the biggest of appetites. But, for good measure, the workers at Five Guys will dump even more fries into the bottom of the brown bag — and with fries this flavorful, no one is complaining about having too many.

Even those who seldom enjoy fast food could probably guess that McDonald's would be pretty high on this list. Securing the No. 2 position, McDonald's fries are as iconic — if not more so — than anything else on the menu. They're thin and crispy, and as long as they're served fresh, then they're pretty darn good fries. No Big Mac would be complete without a side of fries, and McDonald's fries hold their own against such an imposing entree.