“Arby’s makes me angry. I’ve seen posters and advertisements for new cheddar curly fries everywhere in my town. I love the old curly fries but was pumped about a new flavor. It’s not a new flavor. They just give you a small cup of cheese to dip. The fries are the exact same curly fries. This is stupid. They make it sound like new fries but it’s nothing but a cup of cheese they already put on sandwiches, served on the side. This is false advertising. You should warn people about it. I’m mad at Arby’s and this really sucks.” – Matt S. from Garfield Heights, Ohio.

Matt, your message hits close to home because I encountered the same situation two years ago. This is not a new item, but it comes and goes from the Arby’s menu. Anyway, I went there expecting the fries themselves to be cheddar flavored. When I opened my bag to find the standard curly fries with a tiny container of warm cheese, it was a surprise. Indeed they simply added a plastic cup of melted cheddar and renamed the product. I don’t believe it’s false advertising, just a bit confusing.

Arby’s is great, but this particluar product campaign misses the mark in my opinion. Thanks for writing. Now FFC readers will be better informed.

Popeye’s is often overshadowed by fast food chicken giant KFC. With 11,000+ stores compared to only 1,800 for Popeye’s, it’s no wonder. But while they finish a distant second in the numbers game, their neck and neck on quality. The menus and flavors are distinctively different, but the smaller chain based in New Orleans can hold it’s own against the Colonel, and in some cases win. One example is fries.

KFC has potato wedges which are decent enough, but they are too thick and soft to be eaten like regular fries. Popeye’s wins this category hands down, but not just because their fries are more typical in size and shape. They win because their Cajun Battered variety of the classic potato side order is delicious and awesomely satisfying.

Perhaps the most flavorful non-curly fries on the fast food market. The potatoes are cut medium-thin, and the skins are left on. The batter is put on thick, and loaded with mild spices. A freshly cooked order has the perfect balance of crispy tasty coating outside with tender warm potato inside. They definitely come closer to french fry nirvana than anything I expected from a chicken place. Indeed — damn good fries!

Seasoned fries don’t always work too well with ketchup or sauces, but these do. The flavor is terrific on it’s own, and it doesn’t need anything else, but it’s not so strong that it prevents other flavors from joining in the fun. It’s spicy, but mild and subtle.

I attempted to find out what exact seasoning is used, but they won’t tell me. I’m sure there’s garlic, pepper and paprika, but that’s where my search hit the magic ingredient simply known as “spices”. They aren’t about to give away the secret recipe, and of course that’s to be expected. I must remind myself of the line which exists between good journalism and being a nosy pain in the rear. I’m just here to review food.

The Cajun Battered Fries from Popeye’s are excellent. They’re delicious alone, and they also get along nicely with ketchup and BBQ sauce. But once you eat the first one, it’s rare the others last long enough to worry about choosing a dipping partner.

Price: $1.69 / Website: Popeyes.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

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Nutrition Facts - Popeye’s Cajun Battered Fries.

Calories - 310
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 17 grams
Carbs - 35 grams
Saturated Fat - 7 grams
Trans Fat - 1.0 grams
Cholesterol - 7 milligrams
Sodium - 660 milligrams
Protein - 4 grams

There was a time when Arby’s offered a homestyle french fry with the potato peel on. They were quite good, but sadly they’re gone now. Luckily they still have the curly fries.

These curly strips of potato are coated with a seasoned batter containing cayenne pepper, garlic and other wonderful spices. If you get them hot and freshly cooked, they are definitely one of the best fry experiences in the fast food world. Crunchy outside, golden brown in color with a hint of a reddish tone signaling the mild spiciness. Soft and tender inside with good potato taste and just the right amount of chewiness. Forget ketchup or dipping sauce, they don’t need it. They are delicious on their own.

The larger an order size, the longer the curls tend to be, because the bigger fries don’t fit in the smallest container. Not all the fries are curly. I would say on average about 1/3 are semi straight, but the majority offer plenty of twists and turns, and the super curliest (sometimes called pig-tails) are awesome. I’ve had some that stretched 9 to 10 inches long when pulled out from end to end, before snapping in two pieces.

Two quick warnings. First, they are not the type of fries that most people will eat regularly, because the same great seasoning which makes them so special, can also become a bit overpowering if consumed too often. Much like your favorite rich-chocolate cake or candy can loose it’s appeal when eaten frequently. Second, it’s important that you get them fresh from the deep fryer. I don’t know why, but they seem to lose their taste and crispness faster than regular french fries. Arby’s is usually pretty good about not pre-cooking too many at a time, so it’s seldom that you will get an order that’s been sitting around. During rush hour the odds of getting a flat batch does increase, but if you don’t mind being ‘that’ guy, they are always willing to cook you a fresh order while you wait. As I’ve said, it’s not necessary to use ketchup or dipping sauce, and it can actually be detrimental to the flavor. However I’ve had several friends tell me these are great with Arby’s horseradish sauce, so you might give that a try. I’m not a horsey fan (in general) myself so I cannot give an opinion on that.

The Curly Fries from Arby’s are fantastic, and a great break from average french fries. The large order can almost make a meal on it’s own. With a wonderfully seasoned flavor that will please your taste buds, and twisty shapes that are fun to play with, they’re one of the most satisfying potato side orders in the fast food business.

Price: $2.15 (large) / Website: Arbys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

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Nutrition Facts - Arby’s, Curly Fries (Large).

Calories - 631
Calories from Fat - 337
Total Fat - 37 grams
Carbs - 73 grams
Saturated Fat - 7 grams
Trans Fat - 1 gram
Cholesterol - 0 milligrams
Sodium - 1476 milligrams