:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60669577/52115576759_960028e7e0_h.33.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69496012/1241554435.14.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61220303/1493907217.20.jpg)
January 1, 2020 is a date that many Chicagoans will remember and then forget. While Chicagoans are in the habit of forgetting, they might as well ditch their New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier. And what better way to destroy those diets than with the crispy, deep-fried goodness that comes from French fries? These fries come in varieties from shoestring, to thick-cut, to British style with curry and vinegar. They provide the perfect cure for any case of the munchies.
Read More:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59693629/1BA_9419.6.jpg)
The Top French Fries for Munchies in Chicago
Cure the craving for crunchiness with these prime buds
View as Map
Edzo's Burger Shop
Edzo’s in suburban Evanston serves up griddled and thick-patty burgers and crispy, skinny French fries. The spuds are great on their own, but Edzo’s also offers hand-cut fries in an arsenal of flavors, from garlic, to Cajun, to loaded. Watch for specials, which in the past included lobster fries that are as decadent as eaters would expect.
Also featured in:
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59976555/52638275524_e587b9d54e_h.41.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65009661/shutterstock_1536581648.7.jpg)
BopNgrill
BopNgrill uses a hefty portion of caramelized kimchi cooked with rendered pork fat, cheese sauce, bacon, scallions, sesame seeds, and truffle to make this side dish the star of the show. It’s just the right balance of spice, fat, and umami. The Korean fast-food restaurant has locations near Loyola and in Lakeview.
Also featured in:
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60410151/10.14.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57069037/464224490.12.jpg)
Hopleaf
Hopleaf, a beer lover’s dream in Andersonville, also uses its kitchen to serve up crispy frites with garlic aioli. They’re perfectly seasoned with parsley and salt and paired with a creamy garlic aioli that’ll demand an immediate teeth brushing. Note: Temporarily closed.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62589666/IMG_0145.12.jpeg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62412161/52433351113_270048608c_h.26.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59516725/52098559989_3645a0d0f3_h.26.jpg)
Superkhana International
Don’t assume that this Indian-inspired restaurant in Logan Square will serve up fries that are somehow derivative of Anglo-Indian food. There are no thick-cut chips here. Instead the lads at Superkhana International venture to China for inspiration, taking advantage of the sticky, crispy, and sweet flavors of Indo-Chinese cuisine. The “French Fry Manchurian” was a staple of the chefs’s pop-ups, and it translates well to a restaurant setting with a cold beer or glass of wine.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66071177/1BA_9429.0.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62659102/52556522752_9ae7d1534f_h.27.jpg)
Chiya Chai Cafe
This Nepalese cafe in Logan Square has stellar chai and an underrated food menu spearheaded by its thick-cut fries served with curry sauce. The masala fries are a perfect daytime snack.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66071178/Chiya_Chai_Masala_Curry_Fries.0.jpg)
Also featured in:
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66266390/Dolsot_BiBimBap.21.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61882181/IMG_2017.40.jpeg)
Owen & Engine
The fries at Owen & Engine, the acclaimed British pub in Logan Square, come with chef Bo Fowler’s famous burger or fried haddock (fish and chips). Fowler is a stickler for sourcing, so the potatoes are organic and the dipping sauce (a malt vinegar mayo) is top notch. Note: Temporarily closed.
Also featured in:
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66477484/81382832_10156402456496652_4120625889031487488_n.21.jpg)
BIG & little's Restaurant
Fries go gourmet with a hefty dose of foie gras at the multiple fast-casual BIG & little’s locations. The foie gras is seared with a crisp edge, and the fat is poured all over the fries making the already perfectly-cooked spuds burst with flavor. Eaters can go for something a little less over the top with the “Phil’s fries” with truffle and fried eggs.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62589668/35335_406723966651_5941074_n.0.0.jpg)
Good Measure
Those who miss the bolognese fries from Three Aces, a dearly-departed Taylor Street restaurant, can follow the chef to Good Measure in River North. These hand-cut Kennebec taters go fabulously with salt and vinegar. They’re crispy and creamy and served with a smoky ketchup. Note: Temporarily closed.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63047954/good_measure_2.6.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69323601/Toki_mug___machine__1_.7.jpg)
The Loyalist
The Loyalist is often lauded for its burger, but the fries are an excellent addition at this cocktail bar beneath Michelin-starred Smyth.
Also featured in:
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59055431/DSC_1872.324.jpg)
Au Cheval
Under the “with eggs” section at West Loop icon Au Cheval hides a dish often overlooked in favor of the burger. Au Cheval serves its fries with a sunnyside up egg, mornay sauce and garlic aioli. Little sibling Small Cheval’s fries are also noteworthy with locations in Bucktown, Old Town, and the Loop.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62589672/6940_536376326418593_1501076200_n.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60744077/cindy_s_2.6.jpg)
Frietkoten Belgian Fries & Beer
Hand-cut Belgian frites with over 20 sauces to choose from are decidedly the thing to pair with a beer at Chicago’s French Market. Frietkoten knows the pairing well, with expertly made fries that bring out the best in the potato, making them the perfect vehicle to carry a wide array of toppings.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62589673/Freitkoten_Belgian_Fries___Beer.12.jpg)
Dusek's Board & Beer
Crispy and well-cooked french fries are easy to come by in Chicago, but at Dusek’s in Pilsen they’re paired with harissa ketchup that adds a solid amount of tang to the already delectable fry. Note: Temporarily closed.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65700097/Duck_Inn___Duck_12_sk_700x467.21.jpeg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65450106/Billy_Sunday_Tell_No_Tails.0.jpg)
Pleasant House Pub
British-style chips at Pilsen savory pie specialist Pleasant House read more like ultra-crispy breakfast potatoes with a creamy interior. They’re triple fried, and can come topped with gravy and cheddar or curry to add another layer to an already perfect potato.
Also featured in:
Illinois Bar & Grill
These crispy, hand-cut fries are an example of a simple item with exceptional execution. This Archer Heights spot, known for its burger, serves stellar fries as a complement. The potatoes are fried to a crispy orange.
Friistyle Chicago
A unique take on fast food in Bronzeville, Friistyle is centered around Belgian-style fries. Ownership came up with conceptions like Italian beef, lobster, and jerk salmon varieties.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69352874/614264250.0.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68734700/1230414891.0.jpg)
© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Loading comments...