Where to Eat the BEST French Fries in Raleigh (and the Triangle)

By |

Fries are the perfect side dish or snack. They can be dunked, drizzled, and smothered in loaded toppings, or eaten as they are, making them possibly the most versatile food item on the menu.

But we all know how disappointing it feels when your fries fall flat. We all know the feeling of biting into an overly fried plate of fries and the potato has disintegrated, or when the fry-to-salt ratio is way off, and let’s not forget a soggy fry that appears wetter than the ketchup condiments.

Plate of fries and ketchup.
Image: www.whiskey.kitchen 

You no longer have to feel salty about bad fries, as our community of Raleigh locals have come together to share their favorite places for French fries in Raleigh.

Whether you like them crinkle cut, sweet potato, curly, or loaded in ranch, these fries are not just good – they’re spud-tacular! (I couldn’t resist a fry pun). So, if you’re searching on your phone for the best fries near me, we’ve got you covered.

Raleigh Times

chicken sandwich and fries morning times

For the “just-right” fry experience, you hit gold with Raleigh Times. Located downtown, this café serves house cut fries (or “hot chips” in that Aussie-spirit you mentioned) that are thick, crunchy in spots, yet soft in the middle. The slightly greasy edge that doesn’t go overboard = perfection. (I know they probably don’t look so great in the photo above but trust me they were!!)

These gave me serious hot chips vibes — like the ones from Huckleberry Fin Fish & Chips near your Aussie house memories. If you want fries that feel soul-satisfying rather than showy, these are it.

MoJoe’s Burger Joint

Crinkle cut fries and a piece of chicken.
Image: mojoesburgerjoint.com

Many members of our Raleigh community shouted about the crinkle cut fries at MoJoe’s Burger Joint, which are the perfect side dish to their tantalizing burgers – we think they are some of the best burgers in Raleigh.

Their fries are crispy on the outside, soft in the center, and seasoned to perfection with a simple salt base. Pair it with the homemade ranch and you’re looking at a winning dinner. The only downside, the portion size is quite small, but then again, it is meant to be a side dish!

Boatman Spirits Co

fries on table with sumac ranch boatman spirits
Love that Sumac ranch!
  • Address: 713 Seaboard Station Dr, Raleigh, NC 27604
  • Website

If you’re serious about fries, these are next level. Boatman Spirits Co. at Seaboard Station has taken fries out of the ordinary and elevated them with beef tallow as the frying medium — giving them rich flavor and crispness you’ll remember.

But the real kicker: they’re finished with thyme, rosemary, sea salt, and a sumac ranch (as you noted) — the herbaceous notes + tangy sumac ranch brings a flavor dimension many fry-fans overlook.

It’s not just “good fries” — it’s “fries you’ll go back for.” Strong contender for top tier. Make yourself extra fry happy by eating on the third Thursday of the month, when their appetizers are half price – yes that includes the fries. Plus, every Thursday they have $10 craft cocktails – and they are well crafted ones. Boatman’s Mediterrenean, underworld vibes has placed it as a favorite new restaurant for us this year!

Whiskey Kitchen

Plates of fries and ketchup.
Image: www.whiskey.kitchen 

Whiskey Kitchen is one of our favorite restaurants in downtown because everything is cooked fresh to order and always hits the mark. We love their herb and sea salt seasoned battered fries served with house-smoked ketchup. They are super crispy and hand-cut, cooked fresh to order. 

They are very light and fluffy on the inside, and crunchy on the outside. In fact, their fries are so good that they can sometimes sell out!

Good Graces

bowl of fries
Good Graces chicken salad

Tucked into the North Hills Innovation District, (and a new North Hills restaurant this year) Good Graces is doing something quietly brilliant with their fries.

What stands out: the seasoning is precise. No reaching for the salt shaker (a rarity in fry-eating sessions for me). The seasoning is balanced, consistent, thoughtfully done — making these fries one of the most perfectly seasoned options in Raleigh. They’re also crisp and perfectly cooked. They also made our best chicken salad sandwich in Raleigh list so now you know what to pair your fries with!

Good Graces is probably the most glamorous place to eat fries in Raleigh with it’s beautiful interior design. It’s colofrul and sophisticated yet a casual and welcoming place in North Hills to gather!

The Pit Authentic BBQ

Fries covered in cheese.
Image: Ashley Grimes

As well as having some of the best BBQ in Raleigh, The Pit’s barbecue fries starter dish should not be passed by. The Pit makes all its fries in-house and leaves the skins on, so you can feel like you can indulge knowing your fries haven’t come frozen in a bag. 

Their hand-cut barbecue fries come with melted pimento cheese, pulled pork, scallions, and BBQ ranch dressing. You can also choose sweet potato fries and hand-cut fries as a side dish, too.

Not Just a Fry Guy

fries loaded with smoked bbq pork and vinegar slaw
Smoked BBQ Pork
fries loaded with bacon and pimento cheese
Pimento cheese fries

Not Just a Fry Guy is a standout in Raleigh’s food truck scene, serving up gourmet loaded fries that have captured the hearts—and stomachs—of locals.

Crowned the top fry spot in the Triangle by News & Observer readers, this 100% gluten-free truck elevates the humble fry into a full-on flavor experience.

After publishing this post on best fries in the Raleigh, we had many people recommending Not Just a Fry Guy, and so we made sure we got to their next event to try it out for ourselves. I am a bona fide potato addict – I have to ban them from my house as I’d eat it all day long! And in Austrlaia, loaded fries are a thing!

The recommendations were not wrong – it was all kind of yum! We loaded up on their Hot Honey Pimento Cheese Fries and the Southern BBQ topped with smoked pork and vinegar slaw. Next order for me will be there poutine!

With a rotating menu of inventive toppings and a commitment to fresh, bold ingredients, Not Just a Fry Guy proves that every day really is #FRYday

Use Street Finder to discover where this Raleigh food truck loaded with fries will be next!

Seans Shack

Fries, hot dogs and subs.
Image: seansshack.com

Seans Shack in Northeast Raleigh may be a bit of a drive from downtown, but it’s worth the journey for their cajun fries, which have the perfect level of crunch with a fluffy potato interior, paired with the perfect blend of Latin flavors. Their Garlic Parmesan-n-Herb Fries also get a mention for being mouth-watering in flavor.

What makes Seans Shack’s food so good is that they use no factory-made goods and everything is mostly bought from local suppliers. Everything is homemade and made from scratch.

Coquette Brasserie

Plate of truffle fries.
Truffle fries

If you prefer frites to fries, head to Coquette, which has a delicious offering of house made truffle fries, topped with herbs, and pecorino cheese and drizzled in truffle oil. What’s more, they are vegan and gluten-free! 

As well as having delicious fries, Coquette is one of our favorite North Hills restaurants because the decor reminds us of days exploring the Parisian backstreets.

Cloos’ Coney Island

If you’re looking for a classic French fry, then Cloos’ Coney Island by NC State University has it. They are simple, lightly fried, and lightly seasoned French fries that are made to be dunked. 

Many people say these are the best chili cheese fries in Raleigh. They’re so loaded with chili and cheese, so you will need to dig deep to find a fry – but isn’t that what you want from your chili cheese fries? People rave about Cloos’ Coney Island because it’s consistent – good every time you go!

Char-Grill

Burger and fries.

When we put the question out to our Facebook community, Char-Grill was the most recommended place for fries – and we have to agree. Char-Grill offers classic American French fries done right.

We love Char-Grill’s fries because they are not overdone on the seasoning. They are lightly salted, gently fried so they are crisp on the outside and soft in the middle, and not greasy at all. You can eat them as they come or dip in the ranch. 

Oak Steakhouse

Bowl of fries.
Image: oaksteakhouserestaurant.com

Oak Steakhouse has won many notable accolades, including being featured in Travel + Leisure Magazine’s list of best steakhouses in the USA. What brings us here though is not the steak, but the side order of bone marrow fries/frites that come with it. 

If you’ve never had bone marrow fries before, the flavor profile can be quite strong for first-timers, but because Oak Steakhouse roasts their bone marrow in cippolini onions and seasonings, the strength of the marrow has been toned down.

As well as being unique and bold in flavor, bone marrow has many vitamins and minerals that make it good for the body, as well as make you go “yum!”

Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery

Fries and a hot dog.
Image: hayesbartoncafeanddessertery.com

I wouldn’t have thought a retro, 40s-inspired American diner with gigantic cakes in a glass fridge would be the place to go for fries, and yet I am forever surprised by what you can find in Raleigh!

It turns out that Hayes Barton Cafe has wonderful crinkle-cut fries, perfectly salted without being overpowering and crispy on the outside. Come for the Lemon Blueberry cake and stay for the fries!

Burger Village

Bucket of fries and ketchup.

If you want to support our female entrepreneurs here in Raleigh, head to Burger Village on Glenwood Avenue, which serves organic grass-fed signature burgers paired with fresh hand-cut French fries. 

It’s also a peanut-free establishment and has gluten-free options, so if you have dietary requirements, this is a good place to bookmark.

As well as their tasty burgers, people love the Cajun seasoned fries and sweet potato tots! Want to try something different? Order a side of Frings – French fries and onion rings combined!

SmokeStacks Cafe

a plate of fries with cheese on top smokestack cafe raleigh

SmokeStack Cafe offers a decadent plate of hand-cut and home cooked fries which come heavily fried, tossed in Garlic Herb Oi, and topped with shaved Parmesan. The signature sauce on the side is also heavenly. They are also gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly.

What sets SmokeStacks apart is that they are a family-owned restaurant specializing in craft smoked meats – so don’t just come for the fries! Everything here is handmade, from the dishes to the tables on the patio. 

Manhattan Cafe

Basket of fries and a panini.
Image: manhattancafe.com 

Although their slogan is “Southern Hospitality with a Big City Variety” there is one item on the menu that draws people back to Manhattan Cafe time and time again.

The fries themselves are decent – not too oily and have a nice crisp on them – but once you pair it with their signature Crack Sauce, these fries go from a solid 7/10 to an 11/10. It’s a tantalizing homemade chipotle sauce, which is so good you’ll want to order seconds.

Manhattan Cafe is one of the popular lunch spots in Raleigh from Monday to Friday, as it’s a family-owned restaurant run by three brothers who close up to get home to their families for dinner. That’s the kind of ethos we can get behind.

Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing

Wye Hill Burger with fries

For super crispy fries, head to Wye Hill Kitchen and Brewing. They do a delicious plate of barbecue fries with charred scallion ranch. The Pimento cheese fries are also exceptional. One reviewer even said, “Not one soggy fry in my stack y’all” – is there a better title than that?

Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie

Plate of fries and a burger.

If you like fries that aren’t overly fried and go easy on the salt, Neuse River Brewing has classic skinny fries that are crispy but not overly saturated in salt and seasoning. They are also very generous with the portion sizes – thank you, Neuse River Brewing!

Al’s Burger Shack

Sweet potato fries.
Image: alsburgershack.com

It’s worth the 20-minute drive to Chapel Hill for the best sweet potato fries in the state! What makes the sweet potato fries at Al’s Burger Shack unique is that they are drizzled in cinnamon sugar, which makes the sweetness really pop!

They are also salted so don’t worry about them being too sweet. They are generous on the portions – if you order a large, it’s big enough for two people to share!

Crosstown Pub

Fish and chips and coleslaw.

Over in downtown Cary, Crosstown Pub is a great place to get some classic pub fare with crispy fries. Don’t miss the fish and chips, their most popular dish, which comes with steak fries that pop in your mouth.

Considering Cary is nowhere near the coast, being known for battered fish and chips is a testament to their commitment to quality. The fries are perfectly golden, crispy on the outside, and soft in the middle. 

These are just a snapshot of some of the best restaurants in Raleigh that serve top-notch fries. We have more recommendations in our Facebook post from outspoken locals – go check it out here! 

Over the Falls

Fries and a burger patty.
Sweet potato fries

Did you know that North Carolina is the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the USA? Well, you do now! If you’re choosing between traditional and sweet potato fries, this is the state to go for sweet.

Over the Falls is known to have the best sweet potato fries in the Triangle. This could be due to the fact they are cooked in Beef Tallow as the air fryer oil instead of seed oils.

Greek Basma

Plate of fries and a gyros.
Image: www.greekbasma.com

For a unique twist on a traditional fry, head to Greek Basma in Holly Springs, which has an unbelievably tasty seasoning on their fries – kind of like a mild spicy paprika. As well as being tantalizing in flavor, they are also crispy and cooked fresh to order.

There you have it. Where to find the best fries in Raleigh? Which of these do you like best? Can you make another suggestion? Leave a comment below!

Share on Pinterest

Stay Connected to Raleigh

Join our free email community to receive free checklists, guides, insider tips, personal stories, fun finds, and the best events in Raleigh each week. We'll show you how to stay connected to Raleigh and love where you live! Join Below 👇

“Your weekly newsletter is a lifesaver for me. Yesterday we didn’t know what to do, I just check your list of events for the weekend, and we ended up in Cary at the Carolina Circus Festival. We had a great time so thanks a lot for all your good work 😊 we really appreciate you” Subscriber

5 thoughts on “Where to Eat the BEST French Fries in Raleigh (and the Triangle)”

  2. Fry Girl

    Not just a Fry Guy food truck has been voted by The News & Observer as the “Golden Fry”, Best Fries by WRAL Viewers Choice Awards and Wake Best of the Best.
    You should stop by and see if you think we compare!

    Reply
  3. Karen Skandier

    What a major miss by not including Not Just a Fry Guy! They have a tremendous offering and are completely gluten-free.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll to Top