Three Southern fast-food establishments had the greatest fries: tender but crunchy

The fries from Zaxby’s, Chick-fil-A, and Raising Cane’s were compared.

I sampled fries from three chains based in the South.
Jill Robbins

If you place a plate of fries in front of me, I will eat “only one” until every last fry is gone. Whether you dip your fries in ketchup or buffalo sauce, I believe they should be able to stand on their own.

There is no such thing as a terrible fry, in my opinion, but not all renditions of this classic side dish are created equal. I purchased this potato dish from Southern-based restaurants Zaxby’s, Chick-fil-A, and Raising Cane’s to locate the finest fries.

I examined the texture and taste of each serving of french fries to determine which chain was my favorite.

I started with fries from Zaxby’s.

The fries at Zaxby were thoroughly fried without being overcooked.

Jill Robbins

I began with Zaxby’s. Founded in Georgia in 1990, the business now has 920 sites in the United States, and I was thrilled when it arrived in Texas a few years ago.

I ordered a usual size of $2.39 crinkle fries from Zaxby’s.

Though some individuals are enthusiastic about waffle, curly, or steak-cut fries, I’ve never associated the flavor of the snack with its cut.

The crinkle fries from Zaxby have it going on.

The fries at Zaxby were crunchy on the outside and mushy on the inside.

Jill Robbins

I must say that I believe Zaxby’s is onto something with their crinkle fries, as they were crispy and crunchy on the outside but tender on the inside.

My meal of chicken and fries from Zaxby included a spicy marinade that complemented the equally excellent chicken. Copycat recipes for the fry seasoning call for a mixture of garlic and onion salt, black pepper, and oregano, but I’m not sure what it contains.

I could not identify any of these flavors when I tasted the fries, but I felt they were still tasty. I did not add salt to my fries, but I dipped them in ketchup and Zax sauce because I adore those flavors.

Next, I tried Chick-fil-fries. A’s

My Chick-fil-A fries container was not filled to the top.

Jill Robbins

Founded in 1946 in Georgia, Chick-fil-A has over 2,600 locations in the United States. Chick-fil-A is most known for its chicken-centric menu and Sunday closures.

I have frequently ordered waffle fries from Chick-fil-A as part of a meal. A medium order of Chick-fil-fries A’s costs $2.29 on its own.

To me, Chick-fil-chicken A’s sandwich is the centerpiece of the meal, so this is the first time I’ve actually considered how the fries taste.

I ordered my Chick-fil-A meal from the drive-through, brought it home to eat (a drive of eight minutes), and sampled the fries.

My Chick-fil-A fries were unimpressive.

The waffle fries from Chick-fil-A did not excite me.

Jill Robbins

Unfortunately, the fries I had did not impress me. I found the fries to be tasteless, mushy, and slightly greasy. My fries did not even fill the cardboard container that they were served in, therefore I deemed the portion to be inadequate.

Nonetheless, I will provide Chick-fil-A the benefit of the doubt. I believe my Chick-fil-A was having a bad day, as I typically have a positive experience with its cuisine.

I finally tried Raising Cane’s french fries.

Raising Cane’s fries resembled those of Zaxby’s.

Jill Robbins

Louisiana-based Zaxby’s has around 630 locations in the United States and a menu that consists primarily of chicken fingers and french fries. Texas, where I reside, has roughly 200 Raising Cane’s restaurants, the most of any state.

Raising Cane’s fries have a form similar to that of Zaxby’s. A serving of crinkle-cut fries from Raising Cane costs $2.29.

My Raising Cane’s fries were fresh and were presented really hot, so I waited a few minutes before eating them.

The fries at Raising Cane were flavorful but lacked crispness.

The fries at Raising Cane lacked the desired crispiness.

Jill Robbins

Even though Raising Cane’s fries resembled those of Zaxby’s, they lacked the same spice and crispness.

However, they were still golden and crispy, with a salty, savory flavor. They may have been somewhat less cooked than Zaxby’s fries, which could account for their lack of crispiness.

The fries from Raising Cane were great on their own, but they were even better when dipped in Cane’s Sauce, a menu item I truly enjoy.

I felt that Zaxby’s fries were the greatest overall.

I really enjoyed Zaxby’s crinkle fries.

Jill Robbins

Although both Zaxby’s and Raising Cane’s golden-brown crinkle-cut fries were delicious, I preferred Zaxby’s. The fries from the business were well-seasoned and had the ideal ratio of crisp surface to fluffy potato interior.

The fries from Raising Cane were delicious, but they lacked the crunchiness I was searching for.

In the instance of Chick-fil-fries, A’s which I’ve previously tried, I assume the chain may have been having a bad day, which explains why my order was mediocre. I’m curious to see what my Chick-fil-A fry experience will be like the next time I visit.

If I get a hankering for fries in the near future, I will visit Zaxby’s.