I love to joke that the potato is my favorite vegetable, but it’s not a joke at all! I mean, have you seen my Tater Tot Guide to Austin? Well, I decided to share my love for French Fries with my friends in the Triangle. I bring to you my guide to Special and Unique French Fries. As always, this will be updated as I eat my way around the Triangle, but for now, please enjoy my current list of unique French Fries in the area!
First published in 2019, last updated April 2021.
Chowda Fries from Cortez is the Most Unique Fries I’ve Ever Experienced.
This steamy cross between poutine and clam chowder gets you this beautiful and most unique fries creation I’ve ever come across. These fries are called Chowda Fries and you can get them along with delicious seafood at The Cortez Seafood + Cocktail in the cooler months of the year! I loved their fresh raw oysters and dressed oysters. I plan on going back to eat more Chowda fries and work my way through their hot menu!
The Cortez Seafood + Cocktail
413 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603
cortezraleigh.com
The Loaded Latkes at Mookie’s NY Deli
I know latkes aren’t exactly fries, but they’re practically cousins. These loaded latkes from Mookie’s New York Deli are SO good that I can seriously make a meal out of them. I could but I’d probably wouldn’t because Mookie’s Rueben sandwiches also irresistible. They were featured in my pastrami sandwich guide.
Mookie’s New York Deli
1010 Tryon Village Dr Suite 705, Cary, NC 27518
mookiesnydeli.com
Namu Wins a Waffle Lot with Their Kimchi Fries
If you follow me at all on Instagram, you may gather that I spend a lot of time at Namu to eat, drink matcha, and work. I love so much about Namu. Their expansive and zen patio, their matcha lattes, their burrito bowls, and certainly not least, their kimchi fries. These waffle fries are topped with a fried egg, cheese, and your choice of protein. I personally go with their spicy pork every time.
Namu
5420 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707
namudurham.com
Mandolin Serves Juicy Burgers Alongside Their Duck Fat-Malt Vinegar French Fries.
When it comes to burgers, I only open my mouth for really good burgers. I have lockjaw and only excellent burgers are worth the jaw pain for me! Mandolin always delivers when it comes to amazing burgers, and what makes their burgers even more special are the Duck Fat-Malt Vinegar Fries they serve with them.
Mandolin
2519 Fairview Rd, Raleigh, NC 27608
mandolinraleigh.com
Find a Mountain of Cheesy Bacon Fries under Linda’s Bar and Grill’s “Drunchies” Menu.
Linda’s Bar and Grill is divey bar beloved by UNC students. They have a “drunchies” section on their menu, giving what college students and potato lovers like me options like loaded fries and loaded tots. I recently learned that this bar/restaurant will gift graduate students a free pitcher of beer when they pass their dissertations. How charming is that?
Back to our topic on hand, I recommend these comforting loaded fries. Pictured is the full order. Next time, I’m going to be a better adult and get the half order!
Linda’s Bar and Grill
203 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
lindas-bar.com
Let’s Chaat about the Chaat Fries at Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe
Also on Franklin Street like Linda’s Bar and Grill, is Vimala’s Curryblossom. Chef Vimala is well respected in the Chapel Hill community for her delicious Indian offerings and her social-justice activism in the area. These Chaat Fries are dusted with spices and come with housemade ketchup. You can also find their red chili sauces and habanero sauces near the water station. They give these fries a nice kick!
Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe
431 W Franklin St #415, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
curryblossom.com
Vida Dulce introduces a Mexican Street Food dish called salchipapas (Hot Dog Fries!) to the Triangle.
While I was perusing the sweets offered by Vida Dulce in Cary, I learned they have a handful of savory snacks to counter their huge dessert offerings. One of the owners of the shop educated me on if you cut up hotdogs and fry them, they curl up and look like octopi! A popular street food item in Mexico are these hot dog fries, also called salchipapas and traditionally served with ketchup and mustard.
Vida Dulce
836 E Chatham St #104, Cary, NC 27511
vidadulcenc.com
The Pig Honors North Carolinian Culture with Their Pimento Cheese Fries
We love taking our out-of-town guests to eat at The Pig in Chapel Hill. (Hello, pulled pork and pimento cheese poboys and their pig cheek banh mis!) The last time we took our visitor friends to The Pig, they ordered pimento cheese fries. We were then amazed and ashamed we didn’t discover these addictive cheesy fries on our own.
The Pig
630 Weaver Dairy Rd #101, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
thepigrestaurant.com
Next on our list of French Fries to Try
Indian-inspired fries at Biryanni Maxx
590 E Chatham St STE 102, Cary, NC 27511
biryanimaxx.com
And that concludes our current list of special and unique fries.
In case you’re wondering, I paid for every French Fry. Why? I support local. I’d love it if you did the same and visited these vendors to support their starchy sensations! I will update this list as I eat my way around the Triangle.
Did I miss any of your favorites?
Please leave a comment and give me tips on your favorite french fries or loaded tots, regardless of geography! My dream is to tour the US for fries and tots.
Want more about the Triangle? Check out my Ultimate Guide to the Triangle.
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