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There's no doubt about it, Americans love their french fries. So much so, in fact, that we consume more than 16 pounds of fries every year, which comes to over two million tons. Now that's a lot of 'taters.



Whether you prefer your fries shoestring-style, crinkle cut or fried in duck fat, we've scoured the country to find the best spots for some finger-lickin' good fries. Here are ten of our favorites:

1. Pomme Frites in New York, N.Y.
This specialty shop serves one thing and one thing only: seriously indulgent Belgian fries. Choose from all kinds of tasty dipping sauces including wasabi mayo, Vietnamese pineapple mayo, peanut satay, curry ketchup, hot chili paste and more. You can sample your heart out, trying the fries with any and every sauce until satisfied.

2. Duck Fat Restaurant in Portland, Maine
With a name like this, the fries better not disappoint. And they don't. Everyone from the New York Times to Food & Wine to Travel & Leisure are raving about this European-style fry and sandwich shop. The Belgian fries are sizzled in duck fat and served with delicious sauces such as truffle ketchup, sweet and sour mustard and even homemade duck gravy. Are you salivating yet?

3. Thrasher's French Fries in Ocean City, Md.
This fry shop is a landmark on the boardwalk of Ocean City. The french fry stand has been serving fries and nothing else since 1929. The fries are so good, you'll be eating them by the bucketful. Literally. The fries are cooked in peanut oil, doused with salt and vinegar and served in Thrasher's signature pail.

4. Rouge in Philadelphia, Pa.
Voted the best fried in Philly by Philadelphia Magazine in 2009, Rouge's pommes frites are fried to golden perfection, then sprinkled with truffle oil, parmesan and salt. The combination is so addicting, you'll be fisting them into your mouth.

5. Annabel Lee Tavern in Baltimore, Md.
If you're looking for french fries you can call "healthy," this is as close as you'll get. Annabel's vegetarian fries are made from sweet potatoes and tossed in Cajun spices and brown sugar glaze. Since sweet potatoes are complex carbs, these fries have more redeeming qualities than those full of simple carbs from traditional Irish potatoes.

6. Father's Office in Los Angeles, Calif. and Santa Monica, Calif.
French fries at Father's Office? That's right, Dad never disappoints. This upscale pub with an endearing name serves some fantastic shoestring fries, as well as sweet potato fries for SoCal's health-conscious set.

7. Dick's Drive-In Restaurant in Various locations in Washington State
Walk into this kitschy retro diner any day of the week and you'll see employees slicing and dicing fresh potatoes. Now you do the math. What do you get when you take real potatoes sliced daily, cook them in 100% vegetable oil and add a dash of salt? You know the answer: fries that are so darn good, you'll taste the difference.

8. Al's French Frys in Burlington, Vt.
The hand-cut fries at this locally-owned landmark haven't changed since Al's opened its doors as a snack bar in late 1940s. When a recipe stands the test of time, you know you've got a winner.

9. Lola in Cleveland, Ohio
The fries at Lola arrive at your table wrapped in paper inside a large stainless-steel cup and accompanied with traditional ketchup and a spicy homemade version. Fried in pork grease and sprinkled with salt and rosemary, the fries are just thin enough to shovel them into your mouth by the handful...which is exactly what you'll want to do.

10. Luke in New Orleans, La.
At Luke, potatoes are aged for a month before they're delivered to the kitchen, giving the fries a crispy yet tender consistency. The fries are so good that they are the top selling item on the menu.

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