French Fry Frenzy: The Quest for the Ultimate Fry

The humble french fry. Timeless and delicious. The perfect accouterment to any fast-food feast. But in today’s highly concentrated fry climate, it can seem somewhat overwhelming to choose amongst the dense variety without the constant, gnawing doubt that you may be missing out on an even better fry experience. But despair not, for this guide shall serve as your devoted fry sherpa, to lead you up the treacherous slopes of fry Everest, without whom you would inevitably perish and forever adorn the mountainside with your frozen corpse, until you emerge triumphant upon the summit with the newfound knowledge of the one fry to rule them all.

1. Zaxbys

•  Zaxby’s fry with spicy zax sauce. The ultimate fry. A seasoned, crispy outside, with a light fluffy middle. On its own, it is a little lacking in flavor with the seasoning being very hit or miss at times, but within the Zaxby’s menu, there exists a hidden gem that perfectly compliments all of the fry’s good attributes, while perfectly balancing all of its drawbacks and allowing it to truly shine: Spicy Zax Sauce. The spicy zax sauce is absolutely flawless, the perfect sauce which blends smoothly with the fry flavor while adding a light kick. 
• Average Scores

Plain: 6.5

With Sauce: 9.55

      2. McDonald’s

• Thin. Piping Hot. Crispy. Delicious. The perfect fry, period.
•  Average Scores

Plain: 9.5

       3.  Chick-Fil-A

• We were expecting the classic Chic-fil-a fry and sauce combination would come in first or second. Although it performed well, it wasn’t enough to outcompete the quintessential McDonald’s fry, or the spicy zax sauce and fry combination. Despite this, it is still an incredible fry, and is undoubtedly a great choice in any fry situation.
• Average Scores

Plain: 7

With Sauce: 8.5

      4.  Jack in the Box 

• Jack in the Box stood out with its seasoning, as they include both salt and black pepper flakes. This was actually the only fry we came across that included pepper, and we found that it adds a nice bite to the fry eating experience. Surprisingly, this flavor combination allowed the fry to come through in a big way, and secure an unexpectedly high spot on our list. Additionally, the BBQ dipping sauce is a nice touch, but doesn’t add that much.
• Average Scores

Plain: 8

With Sauce: 8

        5.  Culvers 

• Served fresh out of the fryer, the Culver’s fry is relatively bland except for a hint of salt. That being said, it has essentially the perfect texture. An extremely crispy outside with a light, airy, center. The consistency and texture of the fry greatly outshine the underwhelming taste. This texture serves as its greatest asset when paired with Culver’s best fry accompaniment, the milkshake. This is by far the best fry-shake combo of any fast food establishment and is a high-quality experience. 
• Average Scores

Plain: 6

With Sauce: 8

       6.  Wendys 

• A distinctly middle-of-the-road fry; good flavor and texture, but lacking a certain je ne sais quoi that would otherwise allow it to stand out amongst its competitors. Despite this, it is in no way disagreeable and with the addition of a frosty as a dipping accompaniment, Wendy’s provides a strong contender, but one that is clearly inferior to the higher-ranked fries.
• Average Scores

Plain: 7

With Sauce: 7.25

       7.  Cookout

• Very soft, possibly even soggy at times. No attempt at forming a crust, making a much different type of fry. Cookout sauce has a great flavor, however, it does not make up for the shortcomings of the fry
• Average Scores

Plain: 5.5

With Sauce: 6.25

       8. Arbys

•  Arby’s opts for a nonstandard fry approach, having incorporated the curly fry as their style of choice. Unfortunately, this uniqueness does little to compensate for the general lack of quality that you get with these fries. Despite having a nice crunch, these greasy, poor tasting rings 
•    Average Scores

Plain: 6

With Sauce: 6.25

       9. Bojangles  

• The fries were thick and some were crunchy. Overall, the shape, feel, and even taste varied between each fry. The Bo-Sauce added to the fry,  however, the horseradish could be overpowering at times.
• Average Scores

Plain: 6

With Sauce: 6.5

      10.  Burger King

• No crunch. Fry is bland and criminally boring on its own. The barbeque sauce makes them bearable, but does not redeem them in any way. As you eat each fry, it starts with an underwhelming crunch before being hit with a mild hint of dirt.
• Average Scores

Plain: 4

With Sauce: 6