A New York French Fry Crawl

Potatoes are a wonder food. They are cheap, tasty, and can be transformed into an astounding number of delectable dishes. Gnocchi, potato pancakes, potatoes au gratin, and loaded bake potatoes are just a few spud based dishes that get my taste buds salivating.

You can mash them, bake them, boil them in a stew, but there’s one preparation that you’ll find across the globe: fried. French fries are the perfect side and certainly a  burger’s best friend. But they can also hold their own as a standalone dish.

New York is home to every food niche imaginable, including French fries.

(PS. curious about what makes French fries “French”? Click HERE to learn about the curious history of French fries)

I embarked on a New York French fry crawl with my roommate on a quest to find the best niche French fry shop the city has to offer.

Stop 1:  375 Chicken ‘n’ Fries

375 Chicken ‘n’ Fries has 6 locations globally, and they specialize in, you guessed it, chicken and fries. We swung by the Lower East Side locale and ordered the loaded Ludlow Fries. 5 minutes later we were presented with a hefty bed of fries topped with cheddar sauce,  bacon, sriracha mayo,  chipotle mayo,  pickled jalapeno, jalapeno salsa, jalapeno ranch, and fried onions. 

The fries themselves were fast food quality at best, but the toppings made the dish. There was just enough jalapeno to add a kick without overwhelming the pallete, and the fried onions added a nice crunch. With so many sauces and toppings, no two bites were the same, making it hard to put the fork down. Pulled pork would have been a nice addition… just saying.

Would I go again?: Eh. Probably not. I enjoyed the flavors and $10 seemed reasonable given the serving size. But the fries themselves were thin, slightly limp, and nothing special.

Frugal Foodie Tip: $15 for a sandwich, fries, and soda would be my move if I were to go again.

Stop 2: Bel-Fries

The next stop on our New York French fry crawl was right down the street at Bel-Fries, a fry shop serving up nothing but Belgian style (thick cut) French fries with specialty sauces. Our small cone was a solid serving size for two, and the fries did not disappoint. They were perfectly golden and crispy on the outside with a soft, warm inside.

We ordered 3 sauces, and the black truffle mayo reigned supreme. The truffle flavor was present, but not overwhelming, and it complemented the fries nicely. The Samurai Sauce, which was  a mayo, ketchup, honey, harissa, and Japanese hot sauce concoction, came second. The house ranch ranked last.

Would I go again?: While delicious, $6.25 for a small cone with the additional sauce costs is too steep for my frugal blood to indulge in a serving alone. However, with backup,  I’d absolutely get these babies again.

Frugal Foodies Tip: The bar next door has solid drafts and $5 happy hours. Grab a beer, sit outside, then order your fries for pick up.

Stop 3: Pommes Frites

No New York French fry crawl is complete without a visit to Pommes Frites in the West Village. This hole in the wall is known  for its Belgian-style fries, but would it live up to the hype?

Our regular frites cone was humongous. Perhaps serving sizes  are generous. Or perhaps the cashier enjoyed our pleasant banter.  The fries had a nice thickness with a pleasantly soft mouthfeel. They could have  been a bit more golden brown for my liking. We ordered 3 sauces on the side. The rosemary garlic aioli was the clear star; the tequila lime chipotle would be great on tacos, the Bordeaux wine, fig, and sage was the worst sauce we had all day.

Would I go again?: Probably not. Bel-fries is much better for the same price.

Frugal Foodie Tip: West Village is overflowing with affordable food options. Get something else instead.

The Verdict of the New York French Fry Crawl

Bel-Fries reigned supreme and gets the gold medal without question. Silver isn’t so clear. The toppings at 375 Chicken ‘n’ Fries were insanely good but the fries themselves at Pommes Frites were superior. Deciding the winner comes down to the question, “Which would I have again?”  With that being said, second place goes to 375 Chicken ‘n’ Fries. Pommes Frites follows with the bronze.