In my mind, there are two food groups: potatoes, and everything else that wishes it was potatoes. But not all potatoes are created equal. You can find hundreds, if not thousands, of online lists professing to answer the timeless question, “Which fast food restaurant has the best french fries?” But the answer is pretty subjective.
Of course, each writer will have drastically different preferences for french fries. So, a sample size of just one for this incredibly important question is just a no-go. So, let’s go for a sample size of 2,000, “How ‘Bout Dat?”
Side note: I was just informed where that phrase came from. I can’t decide if I’m more shocked that a guest on Dr. Phil invented a cultural revolution by yelling at an audience, or that Dr. Phil is still on TV in the first place. I digress.
Roughly this time last year, we launched the following question:
McDonald’s was the clear winner in the battle of the best french fries, followed distantly by Five Guys. Chick-fil-A came in third place.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BEST FRENCH FRIES TODAY?
BREAKING NEWS
It looks like taste in french fries remains more consistent than basically anything else in this country.
McDonald’s french fries still come in at first place, and Five Guys in second, with a yearly increase of 1% each.
Those who think In-N-Out has the best fries decreased this year over last by 2% – which is a larger drop than any other answer option. On the other side, Burger King saw a rise of 2% – though it still doesn’t put the restaurant in french fry ranking territory.
We track tons of fascinating, news-driven topics, though let’s be honest – we’re talking about french fries here. As much as I love them, they don’t exactly make the world go ‘round. So, let’s have some fun with it. Lord knows we all need it.
WHICH FRENCH FRY FANS ARE THE HEALTHIEST?
People who answered McDonald’s are 25% less likely than the general population to say they are “Very healthy,” while people who answered Chick-fil-A are 57% more likely to say they are “Very healthy.” On the other hand, fans of Burger King and In-N-Out are the most likely to answer, “I’m not very healthy at all right now.”
It’s also interesting to note that those think In-n-Out Burger has the best french fries are much more likely to exercise several times a week. Fans of Burger King seem to lag behind.
As a last point on this topic – people who think Burger King has the best french fries are 93% more likely to say they are more physically attractive than others their age or gender.
WHICH FRENCH FRY FANS ARE THE HAPPIEST?
French fries and happiness? Yes, we’re about to go there.
As you might notice, people who answered In-N-Out for the best french fries are more likely to say they are unhappy (by 109%, in fact). Fans of Arby’s are most likely to say they feel neutral (not happy, but not unhappy), while it seems the happiest french fry eaters belong to Wendy’s. Is it something they put in their french fry recipe? A secret ingredient, perhaps?
30-day Wendy’s french fry binge, anyone?
OTHER INSIGHTS ABOUT FRENCH FRY FANATICS
Unsurprisingly, there are many other fun insights that seem to correlate with ones’ preference for fast food french fries. Some might not shock you, like the fact that people who think In-N-Out has the best french fries are 3x as likely to live in the U.S. West. But how about the fact that those who prefer Wendy’s french fries are 98% more likely than everyone else to say they don’t like the singer, P!nk? Or maybe you’d be surprised that those who prefer Chick-fil-A french fries are more likely to earn over $100k each year. I could go on and on – so why not? Here are some other interesting insights.
People who prefer Arbys french fries are more likely to:
- be 18-34 years old.
- live in the U.S. West.
People who prefer Burger King french fries are more likely to:
- live in the U.S. Northeast.
- earn under $50k each year.
- like spicy food (by 55%).
People who prefer Chick-fil-A french fries are more likely to:
- live in the suburbs.
People who prefer In-N-Out french fries are more likely to:
- live in a city.
People who prefer Five Guys french fries are more likely to:
- want or own a VR product.
- save money vigilantly.
- eat most often at local independent restaurants.
- be 18-34 years old.
- have graduated college.
People who prefer McDonald’s french fries are more likely to:
- be women.
- dine regularly at upscale restaurants.
- be fans of TV dramas.
- follow music trends.
People who prefer Wendy’s french fries are more likely to:
- be under 18 years old.
And lastly:
People who answered that they don’t like any of these fries are much more likely to buy organic good (shocker).
So, did we profile you right based on your taste in french fries? Let us know!
Interested in other insights? Check out our past posts on personalities and movie genres, the everlasting debate on chicken wings, and the major differences between fans of Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks!
