The question: “Do you want fries with that?” The answer: “absolutely.” In Virginia, servers need not even ask. Virginian chefs consider French fries works of art, an untapped canvas to explore their culinary expertise. Below you’ll find 9 of the greatest places throughout the state to enjoy French fries like never before.
Viking Burger in Newport News, Virginia, serves up Norse-mythology themed burgers, such as the Valkyrie and Loki Burgers. But we’re here for the fries. If you’re a French fry fan, you simply must try their Death Reaper Fries. From their menu, the Death Reaper Fries are “a longship of fries smothered in ghost pepper cheese, grilled jalapenos, and spitfire sauce.” If you’re not a spicy fan, we recommend the Viking Fries, a longship of fries topped with their signature Viking sauce and cheese, or the Ragnarok, fries and onion rings topped with Viking sauce, cheese, jalapenos and onion.
The Blue Talon Bistro in Williamsburg, Virginia, is a higher-end restaurant in Williamsburg’s historic downtown. The Executive Chef, David Everett, is a trained French chef, and his truffle fries are incredible. Imagine condensing all of the flavor and history of the great French nation down into a savory snack and you’re getting closer to imagining what these truffle treats taste like.
Bayou Bakery in Arlington, Virginia, brings creole flavors to everything it offers, including their fantastic fries. Bayou Bakery has a bakery (go figure), coffee bar, and a restaurant section, which includes breakfast and lunch menus. Their Bayou Taters are skin-on reds served with rosemary, sweet onions and peppers covered in rendered bacon fat. Your arteries might protest, but your heart will thank you.
The Red Apron Butchery in the Merrifield section of Fairfax, Virginia, fries their potatoes in beef fat from the meat they butcher and serve with garlic and rosemary. The only caveat? The taste, while delicious, can be overwhelming for a full plate. We recommend sharing an order with a friend, especially if you’re having a sandwich, too.
When you think of Korean fried chicken, you could be forgiven for not immediately thinking of a go-to spot for French fries. But you’d be gravely mistaken. Bonchon fries are tossed with their house seasoning and parmesan cheese, and topped with parsley flakes and served with a side of ketchup. While the Korean dishes and chicken are fantastic, too, the fries are worth a trip alone. Check Bonchon out throughout Virginia, including Midlothian, Henrico, Richmond, Mechanicsville, Woodbridge, Centreville, Chantilly, Herndon, Fairfax, Leesburg, Annandale, Sterling, and more.
Citizen Burger believes “a delicious burger is your right…perhaps even your responsibility.” But they don’t stop with the burgers. Their fries come in two varieties, including cheese fries with melted mixed cheeses, jalapenos, and house ranch, or truffle fries, served with truffle oil, parmesan, chives, and garlic aioli. Stop by their locations in Charlottesville, Clarendon, or Carytown.
The Local Chop and Grill House in Harrisonburg, Virginia, has a full-fledged dining room upstairs, and a more casual bar area off to the side. For our purposes, let’s stick to the bar area. Their duck fat fried Yukon gold steak fries, served with peach ketchup, will keep your mouth watering for weeks after your last bite. Get them as a side to your bison burger or as a side to munch on while enjoying a local microbrew.
The Route 58 Delicatessen in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is chock-full of as much as character as it has flavor. The entire restaurant boasts of the owner’s New Jersey roots. Their motto? “If you finish…we made a mistake.” Their sandwiches are piled high and their hot dogs overtake their buns. Their Reuben fries are topped with chopped corned beef, pastrami, sauerkraut, and melted Swiss. The crinkle-cut fries come in large portions, are perfectly salted, and make the entire meal that much better.
Burger Bach, with locations in Shortpump, Durham, Charlottesville, Midlothian, and Carytown, is a New Zealand inspired gastro pup serving up burgers, seafood, cocktails, and fries. The fries are the first thing you’ll see on the menu in huge type, boasting that they’re cooked in 100 percent highly refined peanut oil. Order a small and choose from sixteen sauces and a rotating monthly sauce, or a large for two sauces. Options include organic tomato ketchup, free range egg mayonnaise, and blueberry chipotle barbecue sauce. But the real star of the menu is their NZ triple cream blue cheese, uncured bacon and garlic aioli fries. Perfect never tasted so good.