Sometimes the prospect of “sigh, fries I guess”, can make the prospect of a fast food meal seem a little boring; after all French fries are the most ubiquitous fast food side dish out there. Here’s our run down of fast food French fries.
But what else is out there? What other side dish options are available in fast food land? Here are our favorite alternative side dishes from fast food restaurants across the land.
Smashburger Smashfries and Haystack Onions
Why choose one side when you can pick two. And if you asked us to pick two it would be these two from Smashburger’s extensive menu of sides. The skinny Smashfries riff on McDonald’s iconic fries but also add in olive oil, garlic and rosemary for a unique flavor profile. The Haystack Onions are razor thin sliced onions in thick crunchy batter, each bite offers a sweet and crunchy reward.
Popeye’s Cajun Rice
There’s not many rice dishes out there in fast food world, but Popeye’s has a couple. We love the Cajun Rice in particular. It mixes in ground beef and purportedly chicken gizzards too. The rice is definitely a nice change of pace from the regular fried options and has a pleasant mild spicy kick too.
Habit Burger Green Beans
These battered green beans let you indulge the idea you’re eating healthy, “hey look, green stuff”, when you order your side. If we’re honest, the thick and ultra crunchy tempura batter probably isn’t the healthiest option in the world, but it makes for a fabulous alternative to the fry. The accompanying ranch sauce adds a zippy, creamy finish to cut through the fried batter.
Zaxby’s Tater Chips
While Zaxby’s does offer a crinkle cut fry which is fine enough, we prefer their MASSIVE serving of house made potato chips. These are slightly thicker than those you find in bags, and all the better fresh fried!
Popeye’s Biscuits
Another Popeye’s standout are their Biscuits. These are relatively dense discs and are sure to help you fill up. They’re surprisingly restrained on the buttery side of things and best of all, have an exterior salty crisp layer that contrasts with the more neutral interior.
McDonald’s Nuggets
Regular or Spicy, we don’t care, we’re all about the nuggets at McD’s. For our money these are the best nuggets available on their day. The thick crunchy batter beats all those other breaded style nuggets hands down.