Celebrate National French Fry Day With These Fries

One of the best things about summer is how rife it is with holidays. It seems like every weekend we're hanging out with friends and family to celebrate Memorial Day, Father's Day, the Fourth of July, or Labor Day. But today? Today is different. Today we gather to celebrate what is arguably the most important holiday of summer: National French Fry Day. As such, I offer forth the best fast food french fries in the land, because, well ... how else are we supposed to celebrate?

If you didn't know that July 13 is National French Fry Day (NFFD, if you will), that's OK. There's still time for you to repent, ask forgiveness, and stuff your face full of fries. One of the most wonderful things about this holiday is that it forces us to be thankful for something that we typically take for granted. The french fry is such a humble, unpretentious treat that it almost naturally relegates itself to the afterthought or side dish position. The phrase, "Do you want fries with that?" is so ubiquitous that we've forgotten what it really means to have the privilege of consuming fries. Check your fry privilege, guys. Maybe we should start asking, "Do you want a burger with that?" or "Do you want chicken nuggets with that?". You know those dope T-shirts that say "Fries Before Guys" on them? How about fries before everything?

Presuming that I've used my wildly persuasive oratory skills to convince you that NFFD is worth celebrating, you're probably wondering where you should acquire the fries you're going to use to honor the holiday. Of course, you need the traditional fries for building the sacrificial altar to the potato gods, but you'll also need fries for consumption.

Don't worry. I've curated a list that represents the definitive ranking of fast food french fries. You can't go wrong with these potato picks!

5. KFC Potato Wedges

I know they're not traditional french fries, per se (please stop yelling at me), but KFC potato wedges are a whole different level of delicious. They're crunchy, salty, and have the perfect ratio of soft potato to crispy fried goodness.

4. Burger King

I like my fries like I like my men: hot, thick and crispy (sorry, everyone who had to read that).

3. Five Guys

Five Guys Style Fries (it even rhymes!) are the closest you're going to get to trendy gourmet fries in a fast food joint. They're cooked in pure peanut oil, and you can really taste the difference.

2. McDonald's

Let's real talk for a second: I don't eat cows, so I can't actually eat McDonald's french fries anymore (they're made with beef flavoring). That being said, the smell of McDonald's fries will always overwhelm me with that "I have to eat all of these right now" feeling, and if memory serves me correctly, the salt level on these babies is straight-up perfect.

1. Arby's Curly Fries

Sure, there are people out there who don't like curly fries. There are also people out there who really like Nicholas Cage movies. That doesn't make them not wrong. Arby's Curly Fries are perfectly spiced, and the description on the Arby's weskit is perfect: "Potatoes. The meats of the field. Sliced up curly and fried to perfection." YUP.

Now go and celebrate NFFD meaningfully, like Jennifer Lawrence:

Images: KFC, Burger King, Five Guys, McDonald's, Arby's/ Facebook; Giphy