Fry Fight

In early 2021, MOR staff members Emily Hamilton (‘21) and Sadie Hackenberg (‘21) embarked on a journey to find which restaurant served the best french fries. This masterpiece perfectly detailed the area’s deep fry scene. However, just four years later, it’s as if we’re watching a completely different movie. With restaurants closing, new ownerships emerging, and different cooking methods coming about, it’s time we reattack this fiery debate and potentially crown a new fry king. 

Gas Station 

After our unpleasant experience with Circle K’s burger (see Mouth of the River 2025 Issue 2), we had to go back and try their french fries. For the price of $4.33, we were met with a very unpleasant surprise. We were handed a small basket of raw potato by a somewhat clueless worker. These fries may have been the worst attempt at a “french fry” ever. To begin with, there was no salt or any seasoning at all, which automatically gave them no extra flavor. But the fact that these fries weren’t exactly “fried” really put the starchy potato taste in our mouths. We would most defnitely never recommend these fries to anyone, unless you are trying to torture your taste buds. This fry certainly has last place written all over it. 

Wendy’s 

After trying these fries and their burgers during our burger review, we think it’s safe to say that us and Wendy’s don’t really get along. These fries tasted incredibly below average, lacking in just about every way. It was a little unsettling how un-crispy they were; it was almost to the point that they were one consistency the whole way through. The one thing Wendy’s had going for them here was that it only ran us $3.46, which was the cheapest of the bunch. 

JP’s Grill 

The JP’s Grill french fry was comparable to the fries at McDonald’s. They had the same golden yellow color while being very well salted. One of the main differences between these two was how JP’s fries were much warmer than McDonald’s. However, JP’s fries cost $4.88 compared to McDonald’s $4.33. Were those extra 55 cents worth it? You could tell JP stole McDonald’s secret formula for this one. 

McDonald’s 

This fry is widely respected across America as a very solid option. We would agree with that. They were salted very well and had a beautiful golden yellow color. The medium size fry cost $4.33, a very typical price for french fries. The service was quick and convenient, which is expected from McDonald’s. Overall, McDonald’s gave us everything we expected out of this fry and a great option for a quick and cheap french fry. 

Hop + Grind 

These fries were almost there. Hop + Grind gave us a well-seasoned, good-tasting fry that was great after three or four chews, but the lack of crunch made for an unpleasant first couple bites. This deficiency completely throws off the overall experience of eating the fry. The price was shockingly high at $7.05, but the number of fries somewhat explains this. Instead of a little platter or small pouch, Hop + Grind gave us a massive container packed tight with potatoes. Hop + Grind burgers hold a special place in our hearts, but unfortunately there’s no room for their fries. 

Ore-Ida (Frozen) 

A wild card… a curveball. Frozen french fries were a domain that was untouched by us prior to tasting. There wasn’t much bad to say about these fries, but there wasn’t anything GREAT about them either. They had a nice crisp that we both enjoyed, and the inside was decently airy. The taste was similar to the classic fist bump, nothing flashy, but definitely does the job. For the price of $4.99 you get a mountain of fries, which is definitely a mountain we’d climb. 

Franz’s Food 

These are fries that any self-respecting fry guy would immediately fall in love with. They’re just about everything you could ask for in a french fry: beautifully seasoned, warm in a cozy way, pillowy on the inside, and a crunch to die for. A touch on the pricey side, $5.19, but in this case, Franz made it worth it. 

Wildcat Pizza 

WILDCAT HAS DONE IT AGAIN. The previous winners provided us with an absolute work of art. For the price of $5.64, we were given majestic golden brown crispy french fries sent from the heavens. Let’s just say the workers at Wildcat Pizza did a phenomenal job of putting the fries in the bag. The seasoning on these fries was like no other: they had a very unique taste that neither of us had ever experienced from a french fry. With the pristine crispiness on these fries matched with the fluffy inside, you just can’t go wrong. 

After the 2021 fry review gained a lot of popularity, we had to do it again. Once again, Wildcat Pizza took home the crown, making them back-to-back champions. Call them LeWildcat James. See you in four more years. 

-Kevin Kell & Kai Nield