The No. 1 Fast Food Fries in America, According to More Than 2,500 Diners
Key points
McDonald’s fries ranked No. 1 in a survey of more than 2,500 Americans, earning an average score of 7.3 out of 10 and taking the top spot in 36 states.
Five Guys, Chick-fil-A, and Arby’s rounded out the top four nationally, though preferences varied by region, with chains such as Bojangles winning in individual states.
Thin or shoestring fries were the most popular fry style, preferred by 35% of respondents, while ketchup was the favorite dipping sauce for nearly half of those surveyed.
For many Americans, a trip to the fast-food drive-thru isn’t complete without sneaking a french fry or two on the way home — or making sure every last stray fry at the bottom of the bag is accounted for. But when it comes to fast-food fries, not every chain delivers the same experience. A new survey asked thousands of Americans which ones they like best.
Credit card payment processing company High Risk Pay surveyed more than 2,500 people across the U.S., asking them to rate fries from 20 fast-food chains on a scale of 1 to 10. Respondents rated only fries they had personally tried. And because this wasn’t a blind taste test, the results reflect diners’ own experiences and preferences rather than a side-by-side comparison.
The results suggest Americans have a pretty clear favorite — and it’s one of the biggest names in fast food.
McDonald’s french fries are the most popular fast-food fries
One fast-food chain stood out in both the national rankings and state-by-state results. Survey respondents gave McDonald’s french fries an average score of 7.3 out of 10, putting them in first place nationwide. The chain’s thin-cut, salty fries also took the top spot in 36 states.
The 10 highest-rated fast food fries in America | |
|---|---|
RANK | FAST FOOD CHAIN |
1 | McDonald’s |
2 | Five Guys |
3 | Chick-fil-A |
4 | Arby’s |
5 | Wendy’s |
6 | Checkers / Rally’s |
7 | Popeyes |
8 | In-N-Out Burger |
9 | Shake Shack |
10 | Culver’s |
Familiarity may have played a role: Nearly every respondent (99.7%) had tried McDonald’s fries. The chain also has a much broader U.S. footprint than more regionally concentrated competitors such as In-N-Out Burger and Culver’s. Still, the results add to the evidence of McDonald’s fries’ enduring popularity and the chain’s broader appeal.
The race for second place was closer. Five Guys and its hand-cut fries narrowly edged out Chick-fil-A’s waffle fries, while Arby’s seasoned curly fries rounded out the top four.
State-by-state rankings reveal a few regional fry favorites
While McDonald’s topped the rankings in 36 states, a handful of states in the West and South favored other chains.
Five Guys took the top spot in Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho, as well as Tennessee and Arkansas. Despite being headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the chain didn’t claim the top spot in its home state.
Advertisement
Related: There’s a New No. 1 Fast Food Chain in America, a New Report Finds
South Carolina was the only state where Bojangles came out on top with its Cajun-seasoned Bo Fries. Meanwhile, Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A — which held the title of America’s favorite fast-food chain for 11 years in a separate customer satisfaction survey — ranked first for fries in just two states: Utah and Delaware.
“McDonald’s was the only chain to win in every major part of the country,” the report says. “Still, the scattered wins from Five Guys, Arby’s, Chick-fil-A, and Bojangles show that fry preferences can shift depending on region, chain availability, and local loyalty.”
Customers prefer shoestring fries and ketchup
The survey also asked respondents about their favorite fry styles. Thin-cut or shoestring fries led the pack, with 35% naming them their favorite. That preference may help explain McDonald’s strong showing, though the survey doesn’t establish a direct connection.
Related: This Is America’s Favorite Fast-Food Chain, According to 48,400 Diners
Sweet potato fries finished last, with just 5% of respondents choosing them. Another 12% said they had no preference when it came to fry shape. And while thin-cut fries were the most popular style overall, the four highest-rated chains serve distinctly different fries — a reminder that there’s more than one way to make a crowd-pleasing batch.
America’s favorite types of french fries | |
|---|---|
Fry style | Preference |
Thin-cut or shoestring fries | 35% |
Curly fries | 16% |
Thick-cut or steak fries | 13% |
Waffle fries | 13% |
No preference | 12% |
Crinkle-cut fries | 10% |
Sweet potato fries | 5% |
As for dipping sauce, ketchup was the clear favorite, chosen by nearly half of respondents. Ranch came in a distant second at 12%.
“French fries may seem simple,” the survey report said, “but the results show just how much variety exists in one of fast food’s most familiar menu items.”
Read the original article on Food & Wine
