Lexington is famous for several different types of festivals and celebratory weeks revolving around food. Burger Week, Pizza Week, BBQ Fest, and the list just keeps going on. What about the best part of a meal? What about the french fry? What restaurant has the best french fries? You have come to the right place to find that answer.
First the rules for the rankings. This list only includes locally owned establishments. Everyone already knows that Red Robin is the place to go for delicious bottomless french fries. This ranking will show places you may not have discovered. Also the fries on this list are not seasoned with anything more than salt. This will not be a list showing poutine or other french fry type creations. Just the fry with salt. A list of purity.
Outside Looking In
Burger Shake – 219 East New Circle Road CLASSIC FRIES
Burger Shake has been in operation since 1957, and for good reason. They offer good burgers, fries, and shakes at reasonable prices. This is as old school of a fast service place as you can get. It is a must visit just for the nostalgia. The fries are a solid serving of straight cut fries that are consistently well cooked. They aren’t particularly crispy, but they are fluffy on the inside. A decent order of fries that is better than most fast food places.
5. Charlie Brown’s – 816 Euclid Avenue CLASSIC FRIES
This is another great place for an overall experience. When you walk in to Charlie Brown’s the outside world disappears. No outside light makes it into this place, and it is dimly lit. The surrounding walls are bookshelves filled all the way. Legend says that people stick cash in random books as a surprise for anyone who happens to pick up something to read. The fries here are a solid entry. Well cooked with a slight crispy outside and a good meaty interior. The food is served on picnic style plates, and they have great drink specials. Just be careful when you leave, as the sun will blind you when you walk outside!
4. Zim’s Café – 215 West Main Street BATTERED FRIES
Located in the old courthouse downtown, Zim’s Café brings in a good crowd to see the renovations of this historic building. You may have heard of Chef Ouita Michel. She has been a fixture in the Central Kentucky food community for over two decades with multiple successful restaurants operating in the area. She was even a guest judge on Top Chef Kentucky on the Bravo Network. I’m sure she would be proud to know she made the list of best french fries in Lexington! These fries may be the crispiest on the list. Nice straight cut fries that have a good honest potato taste to them. Nothing needs to be added to these fries. Pro tip – they are available as a separate carry out order if you would like to avoid getting a full entrée to save money.
3. Sawyer’s -140 West Main Street (Marriot City Center) STEAK FRIES
If you haven’t met Jim Sawyer yet, you are in for a treat. Jim is the owner of Sawyer’s, and you will often find him flipping burgers on the flat top grill. Their burgers are perfectly seared, and they have an old school topping bar for your fixings. The fries are a wonderful accompaniment to the burger here. Make sure you ask for it without seasoning, as they will serve them up plain for you. Nice straight cut fry that is never over or under cooked. Not a heavy crisp, but a delightfully light interior that leaves a good taste in your mouth. The service here is as friendly as the owner himself. You will feel good having spent money here knowing that the owner is such a great guy.
2. Charlie’s Fish Market – 926 Winchester Road CRINKLE CUT
This is a small nondescript looking place on a corner lot where Winchester Road and Liberty Road meet. There are 7 or so parking spaces with nowhere to sit inside. This place is half a fish market, and the other half is a place that does a nice lunch business. They are famous for their large fish sandwich which is enough to feed a large appetite for two meals. The fries here are worthy of buying alone. They are fried separately from the fish, so there is no worry about the taste being hurt. These are meaty golden crinkle style fries that are cooked to order. They always come out fresh and hot, and you can see the cook’s line while you order. The size of the serving is always enough to satisfy any craving. The staff and ownership is outstanding, but make sure you come early or after the rush. Otherwise you will find yourself in a long line!
1. Wheeler’s Pharmacy – 336 Romany Road CRINKLE CUT
Technically this is called Buddy’s Diner, but there is no sign outside that will direct you to Buddy’s. Inside a classic old school drug store is a place that looks like it is a soda fountain bar and grille right out of the 1950’s. You can belly up to the service area on an old school leather covered stool, or you can sit in one of their booths. Either way you are going to be waited on by the nicest staff in town. The food is amazing, and the prices are more than fair. The french fries are a revelation! Golden crinkle style cut cooked properly in real old school style grease! Remember when fast food fries tasted great before “healthy” grease made them taste slightly off? This place uses the real grease that makes the fries taste so good. They come out golden brown, and there is a good solid exterior that is not too crispy. The meaty interior is perfectly fluffy with every bite. Eating these fries can become a habit that is hard to break.
Any of these choices will make you happy you chose to eat fries in Lexington. Just remember to let the ownership know that you found out about them on WhirLocal!
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