Nothing beats the crispy, golden perfection of freshly cut fries. Unlike frozen alternatives, these hand-cut potatoes deliver that perfect balance of crispy exterior and fluffy interior that fry lovers crave.
Fast food chains across America have caught on to our obsession with quality fries, bringing farm-to-fryer goodness to hungry customers everywhere. Here’s our countdown of restaurant chains where you can satisfy your craving for fries that were actual potatoes just minutes before hitting your plate.
1. Five Guys
Hand-cut daily and fried in peanut oil—that’s the Five Guys promise that has potato enthusiasts forming lines out the door. Their fries arrive steaming hot in overflowing cups, with skin-on edges that crackle between your teeth.
The secret? Those potatoes were swimming in cold water before their hot oil bath, removing excess starch for maximum crispiness. Regular or cajun-style, the choice is yours.
2. In-N-Out Burger
Watch the magic happen through the window at In-N-Out as employees transform whole potatoes into perfect fries before your eyes. These California icons slice russet potatoes on-site, creating fries that taste like actual potatoes—imagine that!
The transparent prep process shows exactly why these fries have a cult following. Crisp, light, and never frozen, they’re the perfect vehicle for the chain’s famous spread.
3. Shake Shack
Forget what you thought about crinkle cuts—Shake Shack’s version will convert even the staunchest crinkle skeptics. After a brief frozen-fry scandal in 2013, the chain returned to their fresh-cut roots with a vengeance.
These golden ridged beauties are cut from Yukon Gold potatoes, creating a buttery interior beneath that crispy exterior. The ridges? Perfect for catching every drop of their cheese sauce.
4. Elevation Burger
Health-conscious fry lovers, rejoice! Elevation Burger slices certified organic potatoes right in front of you, then fries them in heart-healthy olive oil. The result? A lighter, cleaner-tasting fry with none of the guilt.
These fries maintain a distinctive potato flavor that many competitors lose in the frying process. The olive oil creates a unique taste profile—slightly fruity with a delicate crispness that won’t leave you feeling greasy.
5. BurgerFi
BurgerFi takes the Belgian approach to fry-making—cutting their potatoes in-house daily, then double-frying them to crispy perfection. The first fry cooks the inside; the second creates that irresistible golden shell.
These hand-cut beauties come in both regular and jumbo “cry and fries” versions (the latter paired with onion rings). What really sets them apart? The selection of dipping sauces including garlic aioli and ghost pepper honey.
6. Mooyah
Mooyah takes potato commitment to new heights—they literally stamp “we ♥ Idaho” on their walls as a tribute to their fresh-cut fries’ origin. Each morning, employees transform 50-pound sacks of Idaho russets into hand-cut masterpieces.
These fries undergo a 24-hour process: cut, rinsed to remove starch, then chilled overnight before frying. This patience pays off with a distinct potato flavor and that perfect crisp-outside, fluffy-inside texture.
7. Smashburger
Smashburger’s fries aren’t just fresh-cut—they’re tossed in rosemary, garlic, and olive oil before hitting the fryer. This aromatic trio transforms ordinary potatoes into something you’ll be thinking about days later.
The skin-on russet potatoes get a thin, shoestring cut that maximizes the crispy surface area. Each batch emerges from the fryer with a delicate herb crust that crackles with every bite.
8. The Habit Burger Grill
The Habit doesn’t just slice potatoes—they elevate them with a whisper-thin tempura batter that creates the most satisfying crunch in fast food. These aren’t your typical french fries; they’re an experience.
Each morning, fresh potatoes meet The Habit’s custom cutting equipment, transforming them into perfectly sized sticks. The secret tempura coating creates microscopic bubbles when fried, resulting in an impossibly light texture that still holds up to ketchup.
9. Fuddruckers
Fuddruckers transforms the humble potato into a choose-your-own-adventure with their fresh-cut wedges. These aren’t just fries—they’re potato wedges on steroids, cut from whole spuds right in the restaurant.
The real magic happens at their legendary toppings bar. Load those freshly cut wedges with liquid cheese, pico de gallo, jalapeños, or whatever your heart desires. No two orders ever need to be the same.
10. Fatburger
Fatburger gives the people what they want: a choice between “skinny” and “fat” fresh-cut fries. Can’t decide? Order the “skinny fat” combo and experience the best of both worlds.
Their skinny fries—sliced thin and fried to maximum crispiness—shatter between your teeth like potato glass. The fat fries offer a more substantial bite with pillowy interiors. Both varieties come from potatoes cut in-house daily.
11. Whataburger
Everything’s bigger in Texas, including Whataburger’s commitment to fresh-cut fries. These aren’t just any fries—they’re substantial potato strips with a golden exterior that gives way to a fluffy center with actual potato flavor.
The chain’s special seasoning blend hits your taste buds with the perfect balance of salt and secret spices. Each location goes through mountains of potatoes daily, cutting and frying to order.
12. Runza
Nebraska’s beloved Runza chain might be famous for their stuffed bread pockets, but insiders know their fresh-cut fries deserve equal billing. These Midwestern marvels start as whole russet potatoes each morning before their transformation into golden perfection.
The signature “Frings” option delivers a basket half-filled with onion rings, half with fresh-cut fries—the solution for the indecisive. Their fries maintain a distinctly earthy potato flavor that frozen varieties can’t match.
13. Portillo’s
Portillo’s turns french fry making into performance art—watch through the glass as employees transform whole Idaho russets into perfect fries before your eyes. These Chicago-style fries come skin-on, revealing their fresh-cut heritage.
The secret lies in their two-stage frying process. After the initial cutting and soaking, these potato strips get a quick blanch in oil, followed by a rest period. The final fry creates that distinctive crackly exterior while maintaining a tender interior.
14. Bojangles
Bojangles calls them “Cajun Fries,” but don’t be fooled—these are fresh-cut masterpieces with a Southern accent. Each morning, whole potatoes meet their destiny in the chain’s signature seasoned batter before hitting hot oil.
Unlike traditional french fries, these seasoned beauties get a light coating of Bojangles’ secret Cajun spice blend mixed right into the batter. The result? A distinctive orange hue and a flavor explosion that makes ketchup entirely optional.
15. Penn Station East Coast Subs
Penn Station turns french fry preparation into theater—potatoes are cut, rinsed, and fried right before your eyes. This transparency isn’t just for show; it’s a quality guarantee you can literally watch.
These skin-on fries come in a single size: generous. The fresh-cut difference is immediately apparent in both texture and taste. Each batch emerges from the fryer with a golden exterior that gives way to a steamy, fluffy center.
16. Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Freddy’s takes the shoestring approach to fresh-cut fries, creating impossibly thin potato strands that maximize the crispy-to-fluffy ratio. These aren’t just thin—they’re practically potato threads, cut fresh daily and fried to golden perfection.
The paper-thin cut creates fries that are crispy all the way through, with edges that curl and twist for extra texture. Their signature fry sauce—a tangy, slightly sweet concoction—was made specifically to complement these unique fries.
17. Culver’s
Culver’s crinkle-cut fries shatter the myth that ridged fries can’t be fresh-cut. These Wisconsin favorites start as whole potatoes before meeting specialized crinkle-cutting equipment each morning.
The ridged design isn’t just for looks—those grooves create more surface area for the perfect crisp while holding onto more of Culver’s signature seasoned salt. The result is a heartier fry with both crunch and substance.
18. Wingstop
Who’d expect a wing joint to serve some of America’s best fresh-cut fries? Wingstop slices whole russet potatoes daily, then seasons them with a secret blend that’s become so popular they sell it separately in shakers.
Unlike competitors who rush the process, Wingstop gives their hand-cut fries a lengthy cold-water soak to remove excess starch. This patience results in fries with a distinctive crisp exterior and fluffy interior that perfectly balances their wing flavors.