And the fast food restaurant french fry winner in the United States of America is… McDonald’s. According to results from a survey conducted among 2,544 consumers in 50 states by High Risk Pay, a Ladera Beach, California-headquartered credit card payment processing company, the Golden Arches’ golden, think-cut fries featuring a crispy exterior and soft, potato interior are the best of all the rest.
Respondents rated fries from 20 different fast food restaurant chains, only evaluating fries they had personally tried. Key findings follow below:
• McDonald’s ranked #1 overall, earning the highest average rating at 7.3 out of 10. It dominated the state-by-state results, taking the top-rated spot in 36 domains. It was also the most widely tried chain by far, with 99.7% of respondents saying they had eaten McDonald’s fries before.
• Five Guys and Chick-fil-A were virtually tied for second place nationally, with both chains earning a rounded average rating of 6.7 out of 10. Five Guys performed especially well in the state-by-state results, while Chick-fil-A’s waffle fries helped the chain stay near the top nationally.
• Thin/shoestring fries were America’s favorite type of fry, chosen by 35% of respondents.
• Ketchup remains the classic dipping sauce favorite, with 42% of the survey sample choosing it as their preferred fry condiment.
The national top 10 highest-rated fast food restaurant fries on a scale of 10 ranked as follows:
McDonald’s — 7.3; Five Guys — 6.7; Chick-fil-A — 6.7; Arby’s — 6.3; Wendy’s — 6.1; Checkers / Rally’s — 6.0; Popeyes — 5.9; In-N-Out Burger — 5.8; Shake Shack — 5.8; Culver’s — 5.8.
Arby’s ranked fourth overall with a 6.3 average rating, proving that seasoned curly fries can still compete with the classic straight-cut style. Wendy’s rounded out the top five with a 6.1 average rating, while Checkers / Rally’s and Popeyes followed close behind.
The middle of the rankings included several chains known for distinctive fry styles. In-N-Out Burger, Shake Shack, and Culver’s all averaged 5.8 out of 10, while Burger King, Steak ’n Shake, Raising Cane’s, and Whataburger landed in the mid-5 range.
At the bottom of the national list were Zaxby’s, Bojangles, White Castle, and Cook Out. However, lower national rankings do not necessarily mean a chain lacks local popularity. Bojangles, for example, ranked 18th overall but still earned the top fry rating in South Carolina.
The Highest-Rated Fast Food Fry in Every State
When the results were broken down by state, McDonald’s once again dominated. McDonald’s earned the highest-rated fries in 36 states, making it the clear winner on the state-by-state map.
Some states were especially enthusiastic about McDonald’s fries. Respondents in Massachusetts and Alabama gave them an average rating of 7.9 out of 10, among the highest state-level scores in the survey. New Mexico, New Jersey, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Louisiana also gave McDonald’s fries especially strong ratings.
While McDonald’s had the widest reach, Five Guys was the only other operator with a major showing across the country. It earned the top fry rating in nine states: Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wyoming. Its strongest state-level performance came in Maine, where Five Guys fries averaged 7.6 out of 10.
A few other chains carved out smaller but notable wins. Arby’s came out on top in Alaska and Oregon, showing that curly fries still have a loyal following. Chick-fil-A claimed the highest fry rating in Delaware and Utah, while Bojangles stood out as South Carolina’s top-rated fry pick.
No surprises here: McDonald’s was the only franchise to win in every major part of the country. 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.
What Makes the Perfect Fry?
When Americans picture the perfect fry, they’re most likely thinking of a thin, crispy classic. Thin or shoestring fries were named the best fry type overall, earning 34% of the vote. That made them more than twice as popular as the next highest-ranking style.
Curly fries came in second at 16%, while thick-cut or steak fries and waffle fries were nearly tied, each earning 12% of the vote. Another 11% of respondents said they had no preference in fry shape, proving that for some people, a hot, salty fry is enough, no matter how it’s cut.
The full fry-type ranking was recorded as follows: Thin/Shoestring fries – 34%; Curly fries: 16%; Thick-cut/ Steak fries – 12%; Waffle fries – 12%; No preference in shape – 11%; Crinkle-cut fries – 10%; Sweet Potato fries – 5%.
Ketchup is Favorite Dipping Sauce
When it comes to dipping, classic ketchup still ranks first. Ketchup was America’s favorite fry dipping sauce, chosen by 42% of respondents. That made it more than three times as popular as ranch, which placed second at 12%.
A surprising number of people said fries do not need any flavor enhancement at all. “No Sauce Needed” ranked third, garnering 9% of the vote and beating out options like fry sauce, honey mustard, barbecue sauce, and cheese sauce.
Figures for the top dipping sauces are:
Ketchup – 42%; Ranch – 12%; No Sauce Needed – 9%; Fry Sauce – 8%; Honey Mustard – 8%; Barbecue Sauce – 5%; Cheese Sauce/Queso – 4%; Garlic Aioli – 4%/
So, what does America’s ideal fry order look like? Based on the data, it’s probably a hot batch of thin, crispy fries with ketchup on the side, unless the consumer is part of the loyal group that believes a great fry should stand on its own.
Complete survey details are available by visiting: https://highriskpay.com/best-fast-food-fries/
