By Abby Hendrickson and Bella Coulter

Welcome all. We have finally done it. A quest many wish to embark on, but only few have the power to complete. The ultimate adventure for the taste buds: a french fry taste test.

Now, there are multiple components to consider when consuming such a delicacy. Should the salt levels be higher? And accompanied with what seasoning? What makes a fry fresh? Is its crispiness merely the only factor in the ranking process? We think not.

We decided to travel to five fast food restaurants on Virginia Beach Boulevard to give a total review of the fries surrounding PA. We mapped out our adventure, including Chick-fil-A, Arby’s, Sonic, Hardee’s, and Wendy’s. Our road map was complete.

Now time for the real test.

We started our journey with the cult favorite: Chick-fil-A. Now, if service was a factor, they would definitely take the cake; however, we decided against this component because it ultimately does not affect the quality of the fry itself. 

Upon placing our order for the sacred large waffle fries, we pulled into a parking spot to begin our feast. We first took a bite of the fry in the nude (without the companionship of the sweet nectar of the gods, the original Chick-fil-A sauce). Then, we dipped the fries into the sauce, and quickly devoured the whole container.

Next we hopped over to Arby’s, which was conveniently located right next to the Chick Fil A. Our eyes widened as our presence was graced by the giant container of golden-orange curly fries that awaited us. They certainly do not skimp when dishing them up.

As soon as we took our first bite, we knew we had found our winner. Nothing compares to the unique flavor and perfect crunch of an Arby’s curly fry. The ketchup given to us only enhanced the flavor, and soon we had gobbled down our second serving of fries for the day.

The next stop on our list was Sonic. To be completely honest, we did not have high hopes for the fries, as Sonic’s reputation is simply not that of a Chick-fil-A or an Arby’s. Nevertheless, we persisted, and once again purchased our order of one large fry. 

We pulled out the container, and we must admit, we were impressed by the number of fries they gave us. Unfortunately, these fries simply did not live up to the magnificence and elegance of the previous two restaurants. The fries were hot, yes, but had little flavor and no unique qualities to make them stand out. They also were inconsistent in crispiness. Certain fries would grant a nice crisp, but others were so soggy, they were easily bent in half. To sum it up, Sonic’s fries were all right.

Moving on!

We then ventured to Hardee’s, where once again, we did not have high expectations. We began our routine taste testing, and were pleasantly surprised to find a unique spice tingling on the tips of our tongues. We were impressed with the unique flavor, which immediately improved their score. The fries were also hot, fresh, and plentiful, making for a successful review for Hardee’s.

Finally, we pulled into our last stop: Wendy’s.

By this point in our voyage, we were feeling weak and fatigued. Four servings of fries weighed heavy on our stomachs too soon after lunch, and we were ready for the journey to come to an end.

Unfortunately, the trip ended on a low note.

Wendy’s fries were a little odd to say the least. The potato did not taste fresh, and there was not much flavor to an already underwhelming fry. The initial crunch was satisfying, yet immediately soured when the palette was met with the unique texture of the potato inside. Unlike the other fries, they just did not seem as fresh. They almost disintegrated into the mouth, but not necessarily in a desirable way. Wendy’s simply did not satisfy our experienced palettes.

Finally, our trip had come to an end, and we were left covered in crumbs, ketchup packets, and a pile of greasy fast food bags. But we had done it. 

We emerged victorious.

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for ….

The Final Ranking:

1. ARBY’S!!!!!! – nothing hits like them curly fries
2. Chick Fil A – a classic queen
3. Hardee’s – don’t judge a *fry* by its cover
4. Sonic – an average Joe
5. Wendy’s – Wendy’s twitter, please don’t attack us. We still love you

Please see our quantitative results below for further detail on the ranks.

*Stay tuned for our next adventure!  What challenge should we embark on next to taste test fan favorite food in the glorious clusters of restaurants neighboring PA! Please leave comments below.*