Fries before guys! That’s our motto. At least, it is when we’re hangry. Get your starchy fix at these tasty places. Burgers not required (that’s next week!).
The Kroft Tikka Masala Poutine – Tustin and Anaheim
All the flavors you love, blanketing a mass of crisp potatoes. Check out them cheese curds! It’s hard to think about much else when this is staring back at you. Chicken tikka masala takes this fry pile to the next level. At the Anaheim Packing District, 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, (714) 635-5900; also at Union Market Tustin, 2493 Park Ave., Ste. 2, Tustin, (714) 259-1132; www.thekroft.com.
Wingman Kitchen Buff Chick Loaded Fries – Santa Ana
Sriracha buffalo and ranch sauces coat nuggets of chicks. Blue cheese crumbles garnish. No matter how you look at it, these waffle fries blow every other waffler (including your diet) out of the water. If we use enough finesse, we might not even require a fork. At 4th Street Market, 201 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana, (714) 486-0700; www.wingman-kitchen.com.
Sup Noodle Bar Shaken House Fries – Buena Park
Fried egg or not, this is one hot mess. And we mean that in the best possible way. Shaken short rib never sounded so good . . . until it was joined by caramelized onions, sharp Cheddar and a spicy tartar. This definitely requires a shot of Fernet Branca afterward. 5141 Beach Blvd., Ste. B, Buena Park, (714) 521-2444; www.supnoodlebar.com.
Slapfish Chowder Fries – Orange County and beyond
Slapfish sustainable seafood: Say that super-swift six times. Two great tastes that taste great together, it’s one of the signature dishes that makes this local brand popular enough to expand into other states. We’ll take extra bacon on ours! Various locations, www.slapfishrestaurant.com.
The Hat Pastrami Fries – Brea and Lake Forest
Topped with enough protein to give you the meat sweats, the Hat doesn’t skimp on anything—especially fries. You may see the chili fries and even gravy fries on the menu. However, these are no secret. We can never have enough pastrami in our lives, and neither should you. 1210 E. Imperial Hwy., Brea, (714) 257-9500; also at 23641 Rockfield Blvd., Lake Forest, (949) 586-9200; www.thehat.com.
Honorable Mention: The Cut Poutine – Irvine
The Cut had us at cilantro chimichurri. Not to mention, it makes a mean burger. 3831 Alton Pkwy., Irvine, (949) 386-8547; www.thecuthcb.com.
A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.