One of the quickest ways to start an argument is to ask a group of people which fast food restaurant has the best French fries. Folks take their fries very, very seriously.
So, if you want to begin some bickering, USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards are a great place to start. For the third year in a row, a fast food franchise that many Americans don’t even have access to has taken the top spot for best French fries in the United States.
According to USA Today editors, a “panel of French fry fanatics,” and the publication’s readers, Tex-Mex chain Del Taco has the best fast food French fries in America. Del Taco also took the top spot in 2025 and 2024. McDonald’s took the top spot in 2023, the first year the poll was taken.
Del Taco is headquartered in Lake Forest, California and has approximately 595 locations in 18 states. That means the fast-food chain isn’t even available in well over half of the country. So, to win the poll, their fries must be good.
“Known for its Mexican-inspired menu, Del Taco racks up plenty of fans with its crinkle cut fries. The shape holds salt and crispiness, which really helps if you order them covered in chili, queso, or carne asada,” USA Today explained.
The rest of the top 10 for best fast food French fries in 2026
Coming in second on the list is another fast food chain that many Americans aren’t familiar with: Farmer Boys. Farmer Boys, founded in 1981, operates primarily in California, but also has locations in Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada.
“The Always Crispy Fries at Farmer Boys are made from potatoes grown on family farms in the Columbia River Basin in Oregon and Washington, which has a climate and soil ideal for growing great-tasting spuds,” USA Today claims. “The company says the fries stay crunchy all the way home (if you can resist eating them in the car).”
In third place is a restaurant that might be a little more familiar: A&W. A&W has been around since 1923 and has locations all over America. However, the state with the most A&W restaurant locations in the U.S. is Wisconsin, with 51.
McDonald’s finished in fourth place. No explanation needed there. And Shake Shack took the fifth spot in the poll.
Rounding out the top 10 are (6) Five Guys, (7) Golden Chick, (8) Chick-fil-A, (9) Checkers and Rally’s, and (10) In-N-Out Burger.
Falling off the list in 2026 were Jack in the Box, which came in second place for best French fries in America in 2025, Arby’s (9th in 2025), and KFC (10th in 2025).