McDonald’s Fries Are Good, But My Family Prefers These 8 Fast Food Fries

Everyone loves French fries, and really, what's not to love? Crispy, golden, deep-fried potatoes can be prepared in a variety of styles, including traditional, waffle, shoestring, curly, crinkle-cut, and more. When it comes to the classic, traditional style, McDonald's generally takes the prize. People across the globe know and love the French fry that's marketed as World Famous Fries.

However, McDonald's fries aren't the only tasty fast food fries on the market. While McDonald's is a top choice for adults and kids alike, my family prefers the fries from these fast food restaurants. When it comes to deciding the best fries, a lot of it comes down to personal preference. Still, if you prefer a crispy fry, seasoned fry, or fry in a non-traditional shape, you'll have to go somewhere other than Mickey D's.

Next time you or your kids have a craving for something salty, check out the many alternatives that we prefer to McDonald's.

This post was updated in February 2026 to include updated information about fast-food fries and additional editorial enhancements.

It's no secret that Burger King is one of McDonald’s biggest competitors. You can tell by their cheeky marketing tactics, like Burger King coming up with the line, “Why eat with a clown when you can dine with the king?” Even though McDonald’s fries are a classic choice, many say that Burger King fries are superior to McDonald’s.

Although Burger King doesn't top our list in other areas, its fries beat McDonald’s on many levels. Burger King fries are not only thicker than McDonald’s fries, but they’re also crispier, which is an important quality for french fries. While there’s not necessarily anything unique about Burger King fries, they’re a solid choice if you’re looking for delicious and salty fast-food fries.

If you choose Checker’s for lunch over another fast food restaurant, it’s probably because of their fries. Their seasoned fries are so popular that you can even purchase them frozen in many major grocery stores across the United States. Whether you choose a burger or one of Checker's chicken sandwiches, you won’t be disappointed when you order a side of fries with your meal.

According to Checker's, their fries are “secretly seasoned.” Although they’re not spicy, they have a more diverse flavor than fries from places like McDonald’s. It’s no wonder that Checker’s fries have been voted some of the best fast food fries in national rankings.

The director of Research and Development at Checker’s says the secret is that the fries are coated in a seasoned fry batter, which gives the fries a unique flavor.

If you’re a fan of spicy fries, Popeye’s may be the best choice for you. Popeye’s offers its signature Cajun French fries, which have the perfect amount of seasoning and are bursting with flavor. You can't go wrong with some fried chicken, fries, and a biscuit.

Popeye’s not only has some of the best fried chicken of any fast food restaurant, but it also has tasty fries. If you’re tired of plain, salted fries, try the Cajun fries at Popeye’s for something a little different.

The fries at Popeye’s are tossed in a Cajun seasoning that gives them the right amount of spice. They also give you a decent amount instead of skimping on the fries like some other restaurants do. For the best experience, be sure you eat Popeye's fries hot.

Five Guys fries are a favorite among fast food-goers, but they’re different from the other fries on this list. If you prefer crispy fries, Five Guys fries may not be your top pick, since the fries here are less crispy than others. However, they have great flavor, and for the tastiest experience, it's best to eat them right away.

Five Guys may be more expensive than some of the other fast food or quick service restaurants on this list, but they do give you a good value for the fries. You'll usually find extra fries at the bottom of your bag in addition to those in the fry container. Five Guys fries are freshly cut, and you can order either regular or Cajun style. As of 2025, Five Guys says their fries are cooked in 100% peanut oil.

When it comes to the best fast-food fries, Wendy’s has to be on the list. Some will even argue that Wendy’s has the best overall fries out of any fast food joint. Even when it comes to their hamburgers, Wendy's uses fresh beef, never frozen. While this standard applies to their beef, their fries are also known for being hot and crispy when served fresh. Wendy's uses fresh, never frozen beef for hamburgers served in the contiguous United States, as confirmed as of May 2025.

Wendy’s provides one of the best fast-food fry experiences by selling perfectly salty and crispy fries. There’s nothing seemingly special about them, but when you get them fresh, they are the perfect classic cut fry.

Wendy’s changed their fry recipe back in 2021 and added the Hot & Crispy Guarantee. With this new recipe, their fries are always fresh and deliciously crispy.

When it comes to waffle fries, no one can make them like Chick-fil-A. The shape of the fries is one of the main things that makes Chick-fil-A fries stand out from the rest. They also taste great with Chick-fil-A’s wide range of dipping sauces.

Chick-fil-A is one of the few fast-food restaurants we can never get enough of. Their iconic waffle fries are some of the best out of all the fast food restaurants. They’re salty, crispy, and taste delicious dipped in Chick-fil-A sauce (or Polynesian, if you prefer). They pair perfectly with an order of Chick-fil-A nuggets and even one of their tasty milkshakes.

Unlike McDonald’s fries, Culver’s offers crinkle-cut fries that are always fresh. Although it’s difficult to choose between their fries and a side of their cheese curds, the fries are never disappointing.

Not everyone is a fan of the crinkle-cut fries, and that's okay. But if you are a fan, Culver’s has some of the best fries out of any fast food chain. The food at Culver’s is always fresh, so you know the fries are going to come out hot and crispy as well. If you want the full experience, we recommend ordering a side of their Wisconsin cheese sauce to dip the fries in. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

Shake Shack, like Culver’s, sells crispy crinkle-cut fries. These fries are perfectly crisp on the outside while still being soft on the inside. They pair perfectly with a Shake Shack burger and milkshake.

Out of all the fast food fries on the list, Shake Shack’s fries deserve to be at the top. Their fries are always crispy but never burnt. They have just enough salt to be delicious without being too salty. The texture of these fries is really what makes them one of the best.

Some people have strong opinions about fry shape, but if you’re a fan of the crinkle-cut variety, don’t miss out on Shake Shack’s fries.