Let’s be real: everyone loves potatoes. They can be fried or baked, sweet or spiced, skins or chips; the possibilities are endless. This diverse starch has become one of the most beloved food groups of humanity. But which type of potato is the best?
Over the past two weeks, I have had several of my friends fill out brackets to determine the winner of this decades-long deliberation. Arguments were had and friendships were tested, but a champion was crowned. After much debate, I have determined that waffle fries are the best potato product of all time.
A staple of Chick-fil-A, waffle fries have become one of the most beloved sides in the American south. There’s something special about taking a carton of waffles fries out of the bag, letting the steam sit and perfectly accompany Chick-fil-A’s legendary chicken nuggets.
There is a special kind of diversity in these precisely-salted fries. Normal fries can either be one of two things: partially cooked or super crispy. Curly fries are pretty much the same universally. And cajun fries tend to be too either be too spicy or not spicy enough for most people’s taste.
But waffle fries are different. They can be slightly soft or crispy, spiced or bland, and can include the coveted end pieces that some people desperately long for. And somehow, they are always cooked exactly to the preference of the recipient.
These fries are also engineered to hold the perfect amount of dipping sauce. Their wide diameter gives a maximum surface area for dipping, while the holes throughout the fry allow the sauce to be perfectly distributed throughout the potato, creating a distinct sauce-fry ratio unmatched by its competitors.
Speaking of sauces, this fry somehow works well with any sauce on the market. Chick-fil-A already provides a diverse line of sauces for its customers to choose. The buttermilk ranch and honey mustard give a classic taste, while flavors like spicy sriracha, buffalo and even its signature Chick-fil-A sauce put a new twist on french-fry culture.
There is something nostalgic about a waffle fry. They have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up going to Chick-fil-A with my family, and then splitting a large fry with friends once I got to college. We would argue about who got the leftover crispy parts that had fallen to the bottom of the bag and laugh when one of us could not open a sauce packet to save our lives. There are memories embedded into each and every waffle fry, which makes them so much better.
Although mashed potatoes, sweet potato fries and hash browns all hold a special place in my heart, there is only one potato that reigns supreme. Waffle fries dominate all other potatoes in diversity, taste and design to a point where they are undeniably better than the rest. Until someone invented something that can capture all of this and more, I’m loyal to waffle fries. And honestly, I do not think they will be undermined any time soon.
Sara Beth Bolin is a junior majoring in political science, journalism, and anthropology. Her column runs biweekly.
