CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – In a new ranking based on tens of thousands of customer reviews, one fast food chain has officially been crowned the king of fast-food fries in America.
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The study, conducted by Seating Masters, analyzed over 40,000 Yelp reviews mentioning fries across 21 major fast-food chains.
In-N-Out topped the list with an average rating of 3.86 out of 5, based on 7,595 reviews across 25 locations. The California-based chain’s fresh-cut fries, prepared in-store daily, garnered the highest praise from customers–despite its limited geographic footprint compared to national giants.
Shake Shack claimed second place with a 3.7 average from 17,018 reviews across 45 locations. The chain’s crinkle-cut fries, which were temporarily removed from the menu in 2013 and brought back due to popular demand, have since regained favor among customers.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers rounded out the top three with a 3.59 rating, based on 2,396 reviews at 47 locations. Known for its thin, crispy shoestring fries, Freddy’s earned high marks for flavor and texture.
Bojangles, a Southern regional favorite, landed in fourth with a 3.51 rating, while Chick-fil-A followed in fifth place with 3.4. The chicken chain’s waffle fries, beloved for their dippable design and crispy bite, continue to be a standout menu item.
Raising Cane’s, Zaxby’s, Arby’s, Hardee’s, and Checkers/Rally’s completed the top 10 list. Notably, Arby’s curly fries helped secure its eighth-place finish with a 2.89 average rating.
Top 10 Fast-Food Chains for Fries:
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Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers – 3.59
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Raising Cane’s – 3.24
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Checkers/Rally’s – 2.84
On the opposite end of the spectrum, KFC was rated the worst for fast-food fries, earning an average of 1.77 from 175 reviews across 50 locations. Despite its status as a fried chicken powerhouse, the chain’s side offering left much to be desired, according to customer feedback.
In a surprising result, McDonald’s–the brand long synonymous with fast-food French fries–ranked second to last with a 1.91 rating from 1,381 reviews. Burger King followed closely behind with a 1.92 average from 623 reviews, reinforcing ongoing criticism of its fries despite repeated recipe overhauls.
Church’s Chicken and Popeyes also found themselves in the bottom five, scoring 1.9 and 2.0,8, respectively.
Bottom 5 Fast-Food Chains for Fries:
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Church’s Chicken – 1.9
The study looked specifically at reviews that mentioned fries and aggregated data from various locations nationwide to provide what it calls the most comprehensive snapshot to date.
While chains like McDonald’s and Burger King may dominate in scale, it’s the regional favorites and quality-focused brands like In-N-Out that are winning over fry lovers with freshness, flavor, and consistency.
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