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A plate of fries with scallions and sauce.
Superkhana International’s Manchurian fries.
Superkhana International/Belen Aquino

The Top French Fries for Munchies in Chicago

Cure the craving for crunchiness with these prime buds

by Ashok Selvam Updated
3 comments / new
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Superkhana International’s Manchurian fries.
| Superkhana International/Belen Aquino
by Ashok Selvam Updated
3 comments / new

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.

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Edzo's Burger Shop

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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.

1571 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-3396
(847) 864-3396

Also featured in:

BopNgrill

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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.

6604 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 654-3224
(773) 654-3224
View this post on Instagram

Kimchi Fries @bopngrill

A post shared by bopngrill (@bopngrill) on

Also featured in:

Hopleaf

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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.

5148 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 334-9851
(773) 334-9851
Crispy French fries in a paper basket.
Hopleaf’s fries.
Hopleaf [Official Photo]

Also featured in:

Superkhana International

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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.

3059 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 661-9028
(773) 661-9028
A plate of fries with scallions and sauce.
Superkhana International’s fries.
Superkhana International/Belen Aquino

Also featured in:

Chiya Chai Cafe

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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.

2770 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 360-7541
(773) 360-7541
A hand holds a french fry and dipping it into a bowl of orange sauce, with a bowl of fries watching.
Chiya Chai’s french fries.
Chiya Chai [Official Photo]

Also featured in:

Owen & Engine

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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.

2700 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 235-2930
(773) 235-2930

Also featured in:

BIG & little's Restaurant

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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.

860 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 943-0000
(312) 943-0000
big & littles Facebook/BIG & little’s

Good Measure

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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.

226 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 600-9268
(312) 600-9268

Also featured in:

The Loyalist

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The Loyalist is often lauded for its burger, but the fries are an excellent addition at this cocktail bar beneath Michelin-starred Smyth.

177 N Ada St #001, Chicago, IL 60607
(773) 913-3774
(773) 913-3774

Also featured in:

Au Cheval

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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.

800 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 929-4580
(312) 929-4580
au cheval
Au Cheval’s fries
Au Cheval [Official Photo]

Also featured in:

Frietkoten Belgian Fries & Beer

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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.

131 N Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 575-0306
(312) 575-0306
Belgian frites in a paper cone.
Frietkoten french fries.
Frietkoten [Official Photo]

Dusek's Board & Beer

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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.

1227 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 526-3851
(312) 526-3851

Also featured in:

Pleasant House Pub

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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.

2119 S Halsted St #1, Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 523-7437
(773) 523-7437

Also featured in:

Illinois Bar & Grill

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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.

4135 W 47th St, Chicago, IL 60632
(773) 847-2525
(773) 847-2525

Friistyle Chicago

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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.

5059 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 548-5375
(773) 548-5375

Also featured in:

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Edzo's Burger Shop

1571 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

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.

1571 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-3396
(847) 864-3396

BopNgrill

6604 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626

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.

6604 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 654-3224
(773) 654-3224
View this post on Instagram

Kimchi Fries @bopngrill

A post shared by bopngrill (@bopngrill) on

Hopleaf

5148 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640

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.

5148 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 334-9851
(773) 334-9851
Crispy French fries in a paper basket.
Hopleaf’s fries.
Hopleaf [Official Photo]

Superkhana International

3059 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

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.

3059 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 661-9028
(773) 661-9028
A plate of fries with scallions and sauce.
Superkhana International’s fries.
Superkhana International/Belen Aquino

Chiya Chai Cafe

2770 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

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.

2770 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 360-7541
(773) 360-7541
A hand holds a french fry and dipping it into a bowl of orange sauce, with a bowl of fries watching.
Chiya Chai’s french fries.
Chiya Chai [Official Photo]

Owen & Engine

2700 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

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.

2700 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 235-2930
(773) 235-2930

BIG & little's Restaurant

860 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60610

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.

860 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 943-0000
(312) 943-0000
big & littles Facebook/BIG & little’s

Good Measure

226 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

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.

226 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 600-9268
(312) 600-9268

The Loyalist

177 N Ada St #001, Chicago, IL 60607

The Loyalist is often lauded for its burger, but the fries are an excellent addition at this cocktail bar beneath Michelin-starred Smyth.

177 N Ada St #001, Chicago, IL 60607
(773) 913-3774
(773) 913-3774

Au Cheval

800 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

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.

800 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 929-4580
(312) 929-4580
au cheval
Au Cheval’s fries
Au Cheval [Official Photo]

Frietkoten Belgian Fries & Beer

131 N Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60661

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.

131 N Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 575-0306
(312) 575-0306
Belgian frites in a paper cone.
Frietkoten french fries.
Frietkoten [Official Photo]

Dusek's Board & Beer

1227 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608

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.

1227 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 526-3851
(312) 526-3851

Pleasant House Pub

2119 S Halsted St #1, Chicago, IL 60608

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.

2119 S Halsted St #1, Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 523-7437
(773) 523-7437

Illinois Bar & Grill

4135 W 47th St, Chicago, IL 60632

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.

4135 W 47th St, Chicago, IL 60632
(773) 847-2525
(773) 847-2525

Friistyle Chicago

5059 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60615

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.

5059 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 548-5375
(773) 548-5375

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