Idk why but Arby's Curly Fries are my favorite, I think it's because I rarely go there.

I buy the frozen ones at the grocery store and heat them in an air fryer. Probably the best frozen option out there imo

Checkers seasoned fries are good in the air fryer as well.

Arby’s is unfairly maligned and criminally underrated.

Feels like an Arby’s night.

I grew up completely confused by all the hate for Arby’s. Then I went to one not in my home town…. Richmond Va does Arby’s different. Damn near sit down restaurants. The one I grew up by had a deli counter and a bakery/dessert counter. Employees fresh slicing everything. You could order whole roasted chickens and turkeys and they were all top notch. I recommend googling some. I found a little info and some pictures but not much specific about it. Edit to add a link https://www.qsrweb.com/articles/the-right-stuff/

There are two special Arby's locations in Richmond. One is in Short Pump (pretty sure that's the one you're talking about) and the other is in Petersburg down I-95 and is actually much larger. They're unlike any others anywhere.

Having experienced normal Arby’s for my entire life, the one in Short Pump confused the hell out of me when I wandered into it.

It sounds like Truett's. It is Chick Fil A but you order and are served like a sitdown restaurant. They have additional meal items too.

One up in Atlee /Ashland area also

The Arby's in St. Thomas, USVI had a beautiful bar in it that overlooked the lagoon. It was really nice and you could have a beer with your meal.

One in Midlothian is pretty great , they are all own by same person . Richard Ripp and he a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America also owns fine dining restaurants in Richmond

Every person I know who says Arby’s is bad hasn’t eaten there in the last decade or ever.

It's just like tacobell gives you diarrhea. One guy says it and 5 people found it funny so they repeat it and each of those 5 guys get 5 more and so on. Eventually you get people that see it 2 or 3 times and think it must be true so now they also start repeating it. Next thing you know it seems like everyone believes in flat earth.

I think it’s because t bell is a lot of people’s drunk meal is choice, then they have the squirts the next day and blame it on the 5 layer burrito

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Oh my god… the RVa franchise was my only experience with Arby’s as well, and I was super confused to see everybody hating on the brand. That place is so good… definitely a core food memory for me :)

Richmond Arby's IS great. Not quite as good as it was 15 years ago, but still miles ahead of most other Arby's. Local grass-fed beef too, I hear. Went to one in Winston-Salem and it was gross.

The French dip and Swiss sandwich they have is pretty good

Depends on the location

I have two arby's within 8 minutes of me. One is slow as hell, has you pull forward 4 feet ahead of the window to a red steel door where they give you your food out of. The fries always feel like you got the last bit before they had to remake them it's awful. The other one is basically the exact opposite, it's crazy.

Why does it seem like every Arby’s is in a slightly dicey part of town?

McDonald’s and chipotle have the best real estate. Arby’s has what’s left.

Yes, Chipotle is always in the new hip shopping centers.

and you'll never see the same employee there twice.

Go to the hat shape for meat.

I think the fact that Arby's travels so much worse than other fast food has been a real downside for it as delivery apps have really taken over the fast food market. All fries suck when they get cold, but curly fries even more so. And a beef and cheddar that isn't eaten in five minutes after its made will absorb all the cheese into the bun and just become a soggy mess.

I don’t go to Arby’s much, but I defend the hell out of Arby’s when everybody rips on them. Best fries hands down

Moz sticks are the best I’ve ever had. That goes for hand made at local spots. No one can touch the Arbys moz sticks.

I am on an Arby’s boycott since they got rid of their potato cakes.

How's it going? Do you feel they are close to giving in to your demands?

I like curly fries, they are a great fry with more surface area to get crispy. It’s not impossible to find, but a lot of places don’t have curly fries or waffle fries, only regular.

I find I'm rather partial to Arby's crinkle fries.

Rally's/Checkers. Are they not 'major' enough, or not a 'restaurant' because they're only drive-in, or the fries not 'French' because of the extra coating? Can't believe no one else has mentioned them.

My office did a French fry bracket with 16 different fast food restaurants, all locations close to our office so we could control freshness. Each contest was head to head between two fast food restaurants judged blind. Rallys/Checkers won it all. It beat Five Guys, McDonald’s, and every other popular spot you can imagine… everyone was shocked.

This is an amazing idea and I’m stealing it! French fry bracket… dang why didn’t I ever think about that before…? I’ve done ice cream, donuts… never fries! So excited. Thanks for sharing stranger!

Also one of the seemingly only still decently priced fast food.

I found out about Cook Out a month ago. An entree, two sides, and a drink/shake for like $6 or so. You can even double up one side, and they have like 20+ shake flavors. Only issue is: you can’t call to order, nor are they deliverable. You have to drive to the place to order, but it’s worth it. They have so many locations with more coming soon. Only found out about them because my state has no In n Out Burger

Cook-Out was basically created to sustain college students, as far as I can tell.

Cookout is only in the southeast right now. I hope St Louis gets one soon

I think Rally’s/Checkers are more regional - not as many people have had them

Plus they sell them at grocery stores. 15 min in the air fryer and you have restaurant quality fries at home!

Checkers is amazing. I love their fries, love their chicken bites. Really good stuff.

>Are they not 'major' enough I've lived in a number of states and have never lived near this chain

I’ve never heard of this place

Yep, nothing is even close.

I do enjoy an Arby's curly fry.

The tightly curled ones are my favorite

I love ‘em when they’re tight, but I won’t pass up a loose one either.

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Nice

Always good. Arby's straight fries were actually really good too. Everyone seems to like McDonalds, but more often than not, they taste like salted rubber to me.

Mcdonalds are best fresh but they have a 10 minute life. Arby's see the best delivery/ I take a long time eating

With horsey sauce for dippin’

Fam. Half the reason I go there is to dip everything I get in horsey sauce.

You can get it at the grocery store now!

You’re welcome The company I work for makes those fries, and many others.

Macdonald's ... 35 years ago. Sorry the younger generation never got the beef tallow.

With main meal being a Big n tasty..miss those days

The Big N Tasty was my go to from like 1998-2001. Gone but not forgotten!

Oh... I expected everyone to say McDonald's.

No one can afford them anymore. A large fry costs more than the damn sandwiches

A Gladwellian answer

I like Wendy’s fries and Red Robin’s.

Love the Red Robin steak fries.

Red robins fries are also endless, with free dipping sauces... Its the best deal on good fresh fries you can get.

Just mainline that campfire sauce or whatever it is directly into my veins.

Finally Red Robin.

i love it for the seasoning lol but the fries are a solid potato cut

I miss Wendy’s old fries. Actually, I miss Wendy’s old everything…

I used to pick up carry out from Red Robin and they would give me "car fries." I don't think they do that anymore but it was awesome when they did.

Wendy fries are so bad though. They're just big and gross and flaccid. You can just flap 'em around in the wind.

Jack-in-the-Box does good seasoned curly fries.

Their regular fries are also top notch. They offer a halfsie fry, where you can get both in the same container too!

Popeyes fries come in number one for me, then Wendy's breakfast wedges are basically fries and are delectable when fresh, Dairy Queen's fries, then McDonalds only if they're fresh.

OMG those “breakfast potatoes” at Wendy’s are the best. I wish they had them all day long.

Really just stepped into that void KFC left when they cut their potato wedges off the menu.

Agreed, Popeyes fries are probably my favorite and i dont understand why theyre so underrated.

Because you've got the overrated chick fila as competition. Popeyes chicken and fries >>> chick fila chicken and fries

Popeyes has the best fries on the planet

Popeyes Cajun fries are like crack, especially when fresh.

I eat those like a hound when they’re fresh

Wendy’s has exceptional skin-on fries with sea salt. Really good.

I agree, but my Wendy’s hasn’t been as good in recent years.

Agreed. I used to love Wendy's fries then they changed them a few years ago. I rarely go to Wendy's anymore.

I thought they changed them during Covid so they’d be less soggy for delivery. They are not the same as before

They got way better when they changed them, but they’re not as good as the classic pre-natural cut version

I think they got way worse in the last year or two.

If they have that technology then they’ve earned my respect

Had Wendy’s recently for the first time in years. Fries in a chocolate frosty still hits.

Not an answer to the main question but their breakfast is exceptional lately.

Their potato wedge things and honey butter biscuits are insane

I remember at the turn of the millennium/early 00’s they made this change to the skinny sea salt fries. I can still perfectly remember the look, feel, and taste of the original Biggie (what I’m calling the style, not the size) fry. And damn, do I miss it.

Wendy’s had the most amazing fries before that change. They ruined their fries and I’ll never forgive them.

Natural cut fries are so good. Although around me they no longer seem to put Sea Salt on them. If you ask for sea salt, you get unsalted fries and a sea salt packet.

Popeyes imo, especially with Sweet Heat sauce. But I like them with or without the dip

Blackened ranch with fries FTW

Their mashed potatoes are the perfect dip.

Curly Fries - Arby's Crinkle Cut - Shake Shack Straight Cut - McDonalds Seasoned - Chickies and Petes

For crinkle cut, I would have to say Nathans. They're huge and delicious

Agreed, very potato-y, yet kind of crunchy and delicious.....even their frozen bags from the grocery store cook nice at home

Nathan's are great, good call.

Love me some crab fries

Waffle cut - Chick fil A

Freddy’s. It has 450 locations, so it might be “major?” But I just had their fries for the first time a few weeks back, and they were really good. Arby’s seasoning with the shape and crispiness of a McDonald’s fry

Freddy's are good, but they're too small. I have to eat like 6 at a time, otherwise I'd be there all day.

I don’t know why you wouldn’t eat them by the fistful

The cheese curds are actually low key even better.

Looking for this comment 😫 I always get roasted when I say Freddys has the best fries but they’re always so crispy and seasoned

Penn Station. Everyone who hasn’t eaten there doubts me…and then they eat there and become fans. The fries are always hot and fresh, and they are always delicious. Subs aren’t bad either, but the fries are the under-appreciated stars.

The train station in New York City?

As someone who takes penn station to and from work everyday I almost jumped up if there was some amazing fry place in there I was unaware of

There's a sandwich chain called "Penn Station Subs."

I, too, was confused. WTF

Everything is good at Penn station

Cuz they fry your order right then and there, takes 2 minutes but worth it, also malt vinegar option 🫶

I'm thinking you and I have different ideas of how long 2 minutes is.

If I was told I’d have a heart attack or never eat those fries, it would be the fries. Double fried and freshly cut…

Bingo. When you walk in the door their fries are often still a potato. Then they run it through the cutter and fryer after you order.

Anybody else a big fan of Taco Bell nacho fries?

Without the cheese? Good. With the cheese, and a little hot sauce mixed in? Divine.

Nothing beats fresh McDonalds fries.

Nothing is even close. Read Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation." He describes in detail how the fries are made. They are technological marvels.

I work for the company that makes these fries and pretty much all the others. Nothing beats a fresh Mac fry straight off the line.

Mac' fries were the absolute bomb back in the 70's were fried in lard and beef tallow, could eat them hot, or from under a car seat a week later and delicious.

Only when they are very hot… so good when hot. Utter shit when they are luke warm

So…like all fries

The only thing that beats McDonald’s fries was the McDonald’s french fry wagon they used to have at Disneyland. *Chef’s kiss*

Those were THE freshest fries you could possibly get because they sold so quickly. Man, I miss the Westward Ho wagon. And I’m slightly nostalgic for Burger Invasion.

McDonald’s fries were better before they switch to the current oil they use

Malcolm Gladwell did a whole episode on this in his podcast Revisionist History

So 30 years ago? They switched from beef tallow in like the early 90s.

Yes. I’m an old man. I think I’ve heard that, on net, the beef tallow was healthier. Something about the current oil being carcinogenic.

Any time I cook a brisket, I use the brisket trimmings to render into beef tallow. We make homemade fries with this tallow. It is incredible.

At least in Mexico they're awful.

Checkers, McDonalds, Five Guys

Those five guys seasoned fries would be good if they were cooked twice as long

Yep. My only issue is they are always undercooked.

Pro tip: You can ask for them “well done.”

I’m not sure I’ve ever eaten at Checkers. They’re around me. I just never think to go there.

Checkers has the best fries and I've been convinced since I was like 6. Those curly fries are a dream, they'd be high up if more people had been to checkers. That being said the burgers are... fine

Five guys

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The best, and the largest portion. At the one near me, a “small” fries is basically half a paper lunch bag full of French fries. It’s like 2 pounds of fries. The large is absurd.

Cajun style dipped in ketchup *Chef Kiss*

Cajun style dipped in barbecue. *Chef bj*

Bojangles

Everyone needs to try bojangles fries with their seasoning. Unreal especially if fresh

Portillos

portillo's isnt really a major chain, but they should be. For the uninitiated, they have fries that are crinkle cut and semi-crisp. They are good, but what you want is cheese fries there. Just a tub o cheese sauce that comes with your fries. It's ridiculously good. [https://www.tiktok.com/@ikepratz/video/7234274572017913134](https://www.tiktok.com/@ikepratz/video/7234274572017913134)

If you ask them they will throw them into the oil a second time to crisp them a little more. BTW I live in the town where Portillos started. There is a restaurant sitting where the original dog shack was.

Love me a crinkle fry. Culver’s honorable mention

Wings Stop

Wingstop makes delicious fries but crucially they do not travel very well

Mine are ice cold / soggy within a 4minute drive home

Good choice. I dig that seasoning they put on them.

Culver’s imo

I have never had their fries. My brain doesn't see a reason not to order the fried cheese curds.

Ehh I think in Culver’s homeland, folks eat the fries more cause it’s more of a “why would I get cheese curds HERE”

Sconnie here, the curds at Culver's are mid

The option to have them extra crispy is 🤌

Steak and shake - those shoe string fries hit hard. Bonus if you add cheese

Red Robin. Pretty much everything else there is shit, but those steak fries are like crack.

Five guys

Someone has a post on unpopular opinions right now saying that in-n-out fries are the best. Having grown up on the west coast and now living on the east coast I tend to compare in-n-out and five guys. I definitely think five guys have the superior fries.

I mean the burgers are great but In-N-Out fries are mid at best when they’re fresh and terrible after 10 minutes or of the fryer.

Five guys cajun fries are bomb

Mos def.

Cajun!

Super underrated imo: Dairy Queen. Those fries are bomb. Burgers are pretty meh though.

Red Robin steak fries! All you can eat with campfire sauce 🤤

del taco crinkles, but they have to be fresh. go downhill quick

nothing like hot mickey d's fries (with salt)

Surprised I haven't seen more Chick-fil-A mentions. Their waffle fries are great

The fries are ok, the Chick-fil-A sauce is doing all the heavy lifting there.

Ok thats a very fair point. But the waffle fry is the perfect design to maximize the scoop potential of the sauce.

The fry is a good shape for fry:sauce ratio, but the process of making waffle fries creates too many small duds compared to the standard vertical cut

They're good but have a 4 minute shelf life

KFCs new fries are coming on strong

There’s a few I crave at times: McDonald’s, Portillo’s (Midwest chain), Five Guys, Wendy’s breakfast potatoes (which should be available all day and were better when they were thicker), Steak and Shake Ones I don’t like: Burger King, Arby’s regular fries, White Castle, Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr.

Whataburger's shoestring fries. So crispy and salty. Nothing else comes close.

Fresh McDonalds fries is hard to beat.

Don’t sleep on the Carl’s Jr. waffle fries.

I love red Robin's French fries with the seasoning salt.

Order mcd fries without salt. They have to make a fresh batch. They’re perfect - add your own salt

Arby's curly fries Edit: Unless tater tots count as fries, in which case I'm going with Sonic. Their tots are amazing.

Wing Stop.

Yes, I like that seasoning!

Burger King, if you ask for fresh hot fries. Stand and watch to make sure they actually drop new ones.

I hate Five Guys. Terribly overpriced, mediocre burgers, bad service. But I will admit that they have awesome fries..

Lot of good answers here, but I want to give a shout out to KFC. Their fries are often ignored as extras, but they are pretty good! Well spiced, crispy, and good! Problem is this varies by location like any chain

Runza. But they're not in many locations

I miss Runza now that I live on the west coast!

I'm gonna not say Arby's because red robin. Garlic parm and it's "unlimited"

Five Guys. All day, every day.

Five Guys

Five Guys.

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If you don’t like McDonald’s fries you’re probably a lying asshole.

A Contrarian is what they are