Where Can You Find Pittsburgh's Best Fries?

PITTSBURGH, PA - It’s a day we hold dear nationwide, a day in which we honor something not only near and dear to our hearts, but also to our stomachs. It’s National French Fry Day, and this annual celebration of potatoey goodness occurs on July 13.

So it’s an appropriate time to ask the question “Where can you find the best fries in the Pittsburgh area?” As usual, we turned to the reviewers of Yelp because although their findings often are amusingly unscientific, they usually know the places to go.

In the following list of the top 10 places to get fries in town, we found one glaring omission: the iconic Potato Patch fries available at Kennywood and Sandcastle. Do you agree with the rankings? Feel free to share you thoughts in the comments section below or on the Patch Pittsburgh Facebook page.

Original Hot Dog Shop, 3901 Forbes Ave., Oakland
Anyone who’s surprised by the so-called Dirty O claiming the number one ranking probably is one of those tofu lovers you occasionally read about. For more than half a century, the O has cultivated a national reputation for having some of the country’s tastiest fries. The place has been spotlighted in a PBS special and on The Food Network. In 2014, Travel and Leisure ranked The Original in the Top 10 of the best fries in the U.S. They’re hand-cut, twice fried in peanut oil, served on a cafeteria tray and are delectable. Wrote one Yelp reviewer: “Why can’t I quit you, with your delicious crunchy fries and cheese and gravy dipping sauces?” You know why. They’re addictive.

Pub Chip Shop, 1830 East Carson St., South Side
“the hand-cut chips (french fries, for the uninitiated) were cut into huge portions and tasted like potatoes,” one Yelpster wrote. “ Yes, this is a big deal. How often do you really get chips or fries that taste like potatoes when you go out for lunch or dinner?” Not often at some of the fast food places we’ve been, certainly.

Winghart’s Burgers, Market Square, South Side, Greensburg
What’s not to love about a place that serves its fries with a choice of beer cheese, ranch dressing, cajun spices and white truffle aioli. That’s right, white truffle aioli. Wrote this Yelp reviewer: Their fresh cut fries were crispy not limp like other places… amazing.”

Fat Head’s Saloon, 1805 East Carson St., South Side
“As an appetizer, we ordered the loaded fries,” one Yelpster wrote. “I'm a sucker for french fries, and these were delicious. They're not super crispy, but they weren't soggy either so they were absolutely perfect to me.”

Hog’s Head Bar and Grill, 3433 Spring Garden Road, Reserve.
This one’s a puzzler, because we found plenty of Yelp reviews raving about the wings here, we couldn’t locate any comments about their fries. Someone did post a picture and they do look tasty, but for this the revered Potato Patch fries were omitted? Tragic. Just tragic.

Franktuary, 3810 Butler St., Lawrenceville
“Franktuary has fantastic french fries,” raved this Yelp enthusiast. “Many restaurants just plop some floppy fries on the side of a plate for good measure, but Franktuary's fries are the perfect blend of crispy and soft. So good!” Yum.

Yovi’s, 477 Greame St., Market Square
This Yelpster advised: “Don’t come for the ambiance, come for the fries.” Added another: “Some of the best fries in the city.”

Primanti Bros., various locations
Everyone knows Primanti’s famously puts fries on your sandwiches, but did you know you can get them as a side as well? Revelation! “The french fries with cheese sauce were good,” a Yelp reviewer wrote.

Five Guys, various locations
“Five Guys fries are, hands down, the best, cleanest tasting fries you can get,” one Yelpster raved. Another found it best to be succinct: “These are some delicious fries.”

The Mac and Gold Truck, food truck
“The french fries are a bit on the pricier side, but worth to have as a treat every once in awhile,” a Yelp reviewer wrote. “Definitely filling!” What more can you ask from an order of fries?

Photos via Yelp.