Following on the heels of National French Fry Day, The California Post ventured into Griffith Park to determine the best fries in LA at the first-ever Los Angeles French Fry Festival. This event drew in droves of Angelenos eager to pay homage to this beloved potato dish.
We indulged in selections from ten of LA’s premier vendors, each chosen with care by Street Food Cinema and Bucketlisters, the masterminds behind the event.
“With a focus on exceptional flavor, top ratings, and devoted fans, our lineup was thoughtfully selected,” noted Heather Hope-Allison, producer at Street Food Cinema. “Our goal was to present a diverse range of vendors known for crafting outstanding fries.”
The next step was a rigorous taste test, led by fry aficionado and California Post producer Steve Nevills, who took on the challenge of identifying which vendor truly deserves the title of LA’s top fry maker.
“I consider myself a fry expert,” Nevills shared. “French fries were the first solid food I had as a child, and while others just now recognize fries as a main dish, I’ve been a devoted follower of this trend my whole life. I’ve sampled from countless venues, always on the lookout for innovative approaches in the fry community.”
Nevills determined that the best overall fries were from the Chick Truck because of their perfectly textured waffle fries with crispy buffalo chicken and blue cheese crumbles. He was overwhelmed by their aroma before even taking his first bite.
The runner-up was from vendor Everyday is Fryday, who wowed Nevills with its mango-habanero fries, a creative and well-balanced blend of flavors and textures with a spicy kick.
And finally, the best plain basic fry came from vendor Frylicious because of its perfect texture: crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, not too skinny and not too thick. These fries paired perfectly with the huge variety of sauces available at the festival.
French fries are taking off as a foodie trend across California and chefs are cooking with them in all kinds of creative ways. The French fry festival shows how fries are evolving from a humble sidekick to the star of the show.
“They’re so versatile,” Hope-Allison said. “They’re so shareable. You can explore thousands of sauces. I think it’s time we showed fries the appreciation they deserved all along.”