You'll definitely want fries with that
French fries might just be the absolute classic accompaniment of all, pairing with everything from burgers (of course) to steak, and pretty much everything in between. Done right, they're crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and irresistibly, perfectly seasoned. And, at some restaurants and fast food spots around the US, the fries are so special, they're much more than a side dish – they're the main event. We've analyzed the data to hunt down the tastiest French fries across the US, state by state.
Florida: The Salted Fry, Mount Dora
The best fries in Florida are, perhaps surprisingly, found away from the busy tourist areas and major cities, and instead are at a small gluten-free restaurant on the edge of Lake Dora. The Salted Fry serves up perfectly crisp and fluffy fries, which are delicious on their own or as a side to one of the incredible sandwiches. The restaurant also has options to fancy up its fries, either with truffle oil and Parmesan. Whatever you choose, everyone who tries the fries here agrees that they’re the best around.
Georgia: Fred's Meat & Bread, Atlanta
The name of this restaurant may already be long, but it really should include '& Fries' as well. There are five different combos of seasoned fries and dips at Fred’s, from classics like garlic fries and ranch, to BBQ fries with a white BBQ dipping sauce. Always freshly made for guaranteed fluffy potato with a crunchy outside, the fries at Fred’s are just one of the reasons it received a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2023.
Illinois: DMK Burger Bar, Chicago and Oak Brook
There's only one thing you need to know about the fries at DMK: the king of America's casual food scene, Guy Fieri, dropped by and announced that these Parmesan and truffle fries were some of the best he’d ever tasted. Anywhere. It's all thanks to the complex frying process which DMK uses, guaranteeing crispy, fluffy fries every time. With other flavors on offer, too, the fries at DMK are not to be missed.
Iowa: Django, Des Moines
Django is one of the best French restaurants in Iowa, if not the entire US, so it should come as no surprise that the fries here are sublime. While also available as a side, the true star is the Duck Frites appetizer. Freshly fried in duck fat, these decadently crispy fries come with three dipping sauces to complement their rich, salty flavor perfectly: béarnaise, harissa aioli, and curry ketchup.
Kansas: Joe's KC Bar-B-Que, various locations
Joe's KC Bar-B-Que has three locations across Kansas, and all of them serve these incredible fries as a side. Habit may say to go for the slaw or mac 'n' cheese instead, but it's absolutely worth breaking from tradition for fries this good. Fresh out of the fryer, the crisp fries are dusted with a special house seasoning, which makes them stand out as the best in all of the Sunflower State.
Minnesota: Fresh French Fries, Minneapolis and St. Paul
For fry fans in the Land of 10,000 Lakes there is only an agonizingly short window where the best French fries are available. Each year at the State Fair – held in the run-up to Labor Day, at the fairgrounds between the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul – the Fresh French Fries stand takes just-harvested local potatoes and turns them into some of the crispest and fluffiest in the country. These fries may only be available for 12 days a year, but are so popular, the stall gets through more than 400,000 pounds of potatoes annually.
Missouri: Black Sheep, various locations
What makes Black Sheep really stand out is the amount of effort that goes into producing its perfect fries. In an interview with Missouri Life, co-owner Mike Jalili explained the extensive process they use. It includes blanching, freezing, then frying the potato sticks, along with using a specialized fridge to ensure that everything is kept at just the right temperature. That amount of attention creates an unbeatable fry.
Nebraska: Bronco’s Hamburgers, Omaha
Bronco’s Hamburgers consistently turns out crisp, fluffy fries at both of its Omaha locations; they're so good, in fact, that Omaha Magazine also declared them the best in the Cornhusker State. There are also waffle-cut Laredo fries on offer, with extra seasoning. Or try something a little different with Potato Rounders, a cross between hash browns and chicken nuggets.
French fries might just be the absolute classic accompaniment of all, pairing with everything from burgers (of course) to steak, and pretty much everything in between. Done right, they're crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and irresistibly, perfectly seasoned. And, at some restaurants and fast food spots around the US, the fries are so special, they're much more than a side dish – they're the main event. We've analyzed the data to hunt down the tastiest French fries across the US, state by state.
Florida: The Salted Fry, Mount Dora
The best fries in Florida are, perhaps surprisingly, found away from the busy tourist areas and major cities, and instead are at a small gluten-free restaurant on the edge of Lake Dora. The Salted Fry serves up perfectly crisp and fluffy fries, which are delicious on their own or as a side to one of the incredible sandwiches. The restaurant also has options to fancy up its fries, either with truffle oil and Parmesan. Whatever you choose, everyone who tries the fries here agrees that they’re the best around.
Georgia: Fred's Meat & Bread, Atlanta
The name of this restaurant may already be long, but it really should include '& Fries' as well. There are five different combos of seasoned fries and dips at Fred’s, from classics like garlic fries and ranch, to BBQ fries with a white BBQ dipping sauce. Always freshly made for guaranteed fluffy potato with a crunchy outside, the fries at Fred’s are just one of the reasons it received a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2023.
Illinois: DMK Burger Bar, Chicago and Oak Brook
There's only one thing you need to know about the fries at DMK: the king of America's casual food scene, Guy Fieri, dropped by and announced that these Parmesan and truffle fries were some of the best he’d ever tasted. Anywhere. It's all thanks to the complex frying process which DMK uses, guaranteeing crispy, fluffy fries every time. With other flavors on offer, too, the fries at DMK are not to be missed.
Iowa: Django, Des Moines
Django is one of the best French restaurants in Iowa, if not the entire US, so it should come as no surprise that the fries here are sublime. While also available as a side, the true star is the Duck Frites appetizer. Freshly fried in duck fat, these decadently crispy fries come with three dipping sauces to complement their rich, salty flavor perfectly: béarnaise, harissa aioli, and curry ketchup.
Kansas: Joe's KC Bar-B-Que, various locations
Joe's KC Bar-B-Que has three locations across Kansas, and all of them serve these incredible fries as a side. Habit may say to go for the slaw or mac 'n' cheese instead, but it's absolutely worth breaking from tradition for fries this good. Fresh out of the fryer, the crisp fries are dusted with a special house seasoning, which makes them stand out as the best in all of the Sunflower State.
Minnesota: Fresh French Fries, Minneapolis and St. Paul
For fry fans in the Land of 10,000 Lakes there is only an agonizingly short window where the best French fries are available. Each year at the State Fair – held in the run-up to Labor Day, at the fairgrounds between the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul – the Fresh French Fries stand takes just-harvested local potatoes and turns them into some of the crispest and fluffiest in the country. These fries may only be available for 12 days a year, but are so popular, the stall gets through more than 400,000 pounds of potatoes annually.
Missouri: Black Sheep, various locations
What makes Black Sheep really stand out is the amount of effort that goes into producing its perfect fries. In an interview with Missouri Life, co-owner Mike Jalili explained the extensive process they use. It includes blanching, freezing, then frying the potato sticks, along with using a specialized fridge to ensure that everything is kept at just the right temperature. That amount of attention creates an unbeatable fry.
Nebraska: Bronco’s Hamburgers, Omaha
Bronco’s Hamburgers consistently turns out crisp, fluffy fries at both of its Omaha locations; they're so good, in fact, that Omaha Magazine also declared them the best in the Cornhusker State. There are also waffle-cut Laredo fries on offer, with extra seasoning. Or try something a little different with Potato Rounders, a cross between hash browns and chicken nuggets.
