Fabulously Fried: The Best French Fries Around the Country

Location: Miami, FL
Website: michaelmina.net
On the Menu: Trio of Duck Fat Fries

Think all french fries are the same? Think again. At Bourbon Steak, Michael Mina's signature fries come in three mouthwatering presentations: 1. Fries are dusted with Spanish paprika and onion powder, then served with barbecue sauce. 2. Herb fries are dusted with garlic, rosemary, parsley, and chives, then served with onion ketchup. 3. A batch of truffle oil fries are served with truffle aioli. Your only problem is figuring out which batch to dig into first.

Location: New York, NY
Website: balthazarny.com
On the Menu: Pommes Frites

Balthazar's french fries, which are served as a side with sandwiches and steak (pictured here), don't have any fancy spices or toppings. But some people think they're the best thing on the plate. One of their biggest fans is chef Bobby Flay, who said, "The fries at Balthazar are unbelievably perfect," on an episode of The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Totally Fried.

The sliced potatoes are treated with utmost care at the restaurant. They use Idaho russet potatoes that are peeled, cut, soaked in water overnight (to wash out excess starch), blanched in 100% peanut oil, then cooled and refrigerated until needed. When an order comes up, the fries are cooked in super-hot oil and served golden brown and crispy, with some salt, to awaiting patrons.

Location: Atlantic City, NJ
Website: continentalac.com
On the Menu: Szechuan Shoestring Fries

You don't just get a plate of fries at The Continental. You get a mountain of them. And these hot, skinny fries are served with a spicy Chinese mustard sauce.

Location: San Francisco, CA
Website: absinthe.com
On the Menu: French Fries

What's that enticing side served with the Absinthe burger? It's crisp, salty shoestring fries served with smoky tomato ketchup and onion aioli. Before they make it to the plate, the fries go through a perfected process: California-grown Kennebec potatoes are cut and soaked in water overnight, then blanched in rice-bran oil. Before they're served, the potato strings are fried up nice and hot and seasoned with salt.

Location: Boise, ID
Website: boisefrycompany.com
On the Menu: The Bourgeois

At Boise Fry Co., french fries truly are the stars of the menu. They have seven types of potatoes to choose from (russet, gold, white, sweet, yam, purple, and Okinawa), plus five styles (regular, homestyle, curly, shoestring, and po' balls). Burgers are simply side dishes.

If you can't decide how you want your fries, just go with The Bourgeois. It's a plate of fries that are flash-fried in duck fat and garnished with black truffle salt.

Location: Ocean City, MD
On the Menu: French Fries

It's hard to find a person on the Ocean City boardwalk who hasn't tried and loved the fries sold at Thrasher's, which has been serving them since 1929. Don't look for ketchup, though. These fries are served topped with vinegar. The owner refuses to divulge the secret recipe that makes the fries so adored, but allows that they are blanched "differently." We're intrigued! (And hungry.)

Location: Chicago, IL
Website: dmkburgerbar.com
On the Menu: Parmesan Truffle Fries

Want to try an indulgent fry? DMK's Parmesan Truffle fries start as simple Idaho or Washington russet potatoes that are aged, scrubbed, sliced, and rinsed in cold water. They're blanched in beef fat, drained, and stored at room temperature. The fries are fried crisp when an order comes up and seasoned with salt and pepper. Then the magic happens. They're topped with Parmigiano Reggiano and served with a white truffle oil.

If Parmesan and truffle oil don't get your mouth watering, consider one of the other fry options: Sea Salt & Black Pepper with House Ketchup, Sweet Potato Fries with Lemon Tabasco Aioli, Wisconsin Cheddar & Scallion, Amish Blue & Smoked Bacon, or Gravy.

Location: New York, NY
Website: theharrison.com
On the Menu: Schmaltz Fries with Malt Aioli

One type of frying isn't enough for these fries. At The Harrison, fries are blanched in a mix of duck fat, chicken fat, and canola oil. When they're ready for final cooking, they're dipped in sizzling hot canola oil. A simple salt topping gets them ready for a worthy accompaniment: malt aioli.

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Website: freshfries.biz
On the Menu: Blue Buffalo

This food truck is all about the fries, and it's completely vegetarian. Terrific fries are served in a cone with your choice of seasonings and sauces, including chipotle ketchup, curry mayo, and artichoke basil mayo. One of the fave "fancy fries" on the menu is the Blue Buffalo (pictured): Natural-cut fries topped with buffalo sauce, bleu cheese crumbles, and bleu cheese dressing.

Other awesome creations include Curry Crazy (curry mayo, curry ketchup, and mango chutney); Peanut Buttercup (sweet potato fries with Nutella and peanut butter); and Fiesta Fries (green chili guacamole with sour cream).