Milpitas is cluttered with fast food places perfect for quick bites at almost any time of day, and after any event. One food item seems to remain constant throughout the majority of these places: french fries, the ultimate side dish to any meal. They go well with burgers, tacos, sandwiches, and a meal of almost any kind. However, they also vary from place to place, in terms of crispiness, freshness, salt, and even the way they are cut. It is therefore essential to rank which fries in Milpitas present the most delightful bite.
First, I began with Wingstop, a fast-food restaurant known for its chicken wings, tenders, sandwiches, and fries. The fries came with a seasoning of choice, including cajun, garlic parmesan, lemon pepper, and spicy Korean. I went with the lemon pepper fries, paired with a hot honey chicken sandwich and a refreshing soda. I immediately noticed the temperature of the fries: warm, but not hot enough that they felt fresh. They were not the most crispy fries either, but the seasoning made up for both of these aspects. The lemon pepper seasoning provided the perfect balance, with a slight tang and a soft-hitting spice. This paired well with the sandwich, and the flavor was further enhanced when I dipped them into Wingstop’s famous ranch.
The next stop was McDonald’s, one of the most popular fast food chains in the world. Their fries came at the cheapest price of all the ones I tried, at $1 when I ordered through the app. The service was incredibly fast, and the fries were also piping hot during the first two minutes. With a subtle crunch and the perfect amount of salt, the fries were delectable. My main concern was the speed at which they lost heat. After 5 minutes, they had already gone cold and stale. However, in those first few minutes, they were some of the best fast-food fries I’ve tried.
I next made a stop at Chick-Fil-A, which took a unique turn, serving waffle fries instead of the classic french fries. They came fairly hot, but the quantity, in comparison, was a lot less for the $3.50 I paid . Though they were seasoned well, they had inconsistent thicknesses. The unevenness affected another major factor: while the thinner fries were crispy, the thicker ones were a lot softer, creating a soggy texture.
Next up was Burger King, the main rival of McDonalds. At $4, these fries were pricier but did not disappoint. They were on the thicker side, and they came out piping hot, perfectly cooked to a crisp, and very well-seasoned.
Lastly, I went to Dave’s Hot Chicken, where I bought my sliders with a side of fries, which had spice sprinkled over them; however, the spice did not have much of an effect on the actual taste. They were crinkle-cut, crispy, and well seasoned, complementing the rest of the meal very well.
Overall, I would have to rank the french fries I tried in the following order: Burger King, McDonald’s, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Wingstop, and lastly Chick-Fil-A. Burger King’s fries, without a doubt, took the lead due to the well-seasoned bite and the comforting temperature they were served at.