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Photo: Shilling Canning Company

Fries Aren't an Afterthought at These Places

These little fried spuds are getting the attention they deserve.

by Tim Ebner Updated
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Photo: Shilling Canning Company
by Tim Ebner Updated

At many restaurants, french fries are a ubiquitous side that frequently get overlooked for a juicy burger or stacked sandwich. But it's hard to think of many main dishes without automatically considering its partner in crime—the french fry.

Whether you prefer them skinny and shoe-string style, or thick and triple-flashed fried, there there are plenty of D.C. restaurants that put painstaking effort into this humble side dish. Here are the best places in D.C. where fries alone make the visit worth it.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

The Eleanor Silver Spring

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This arcade-bar concept is the latest addition to downtown Silver Spring, and one of the early favorites, so far, is the loaded chili cheese fries for $7.

931 Ellsworth Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(240) 641-4955
(240) 641-4955

Also featured in:

Republic

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Who says fries can’t come in a salad? At this Takoma restaurant and bar roasted fingerling sweet potatoes are added to a salad with arugula, dried cranberries, dill, shaved fennel, pickled mustard seeds, and pecans, with an apple cider vinaigrette. Of course, hand-cut french fries also come served as a side on the snack menu.

6939 Laurel Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
(301) 270-3000
(301) 270-3000

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Buck's Fishing & Camping

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Buck’s twice-fried, hand-cut french fries are the perfect accompaniment when the mood for a fancy burger or steak strikes. Both the dry-aged burger and New York strip come served with a hefty side of spuds.

5031 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
(202) 364-0777
(202) 364-0777
Photo courtesy: Buck’s Fishing & Camping

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Medium Rare

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When the entire menu consists of steak and fries, the fries better be good. Luckily, Medium Rare delivers with their crispy, skinny version.

3500 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 237-1432
(202) 237-1432

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The Thirsty Crow

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Chef James Wozniuk goes north to Maine, sourcing Kennebec potatoes, for his hand-cut spuds that are blanched then dunked in the deep fryer.

3400 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 730-2295
(202) 730-2295
A semicircular bar surrounded by stools at Thirsty Crow Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

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Primrose

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Need a wine and fry break? Head to Brookland’s French brasserie, Primrose, which specializes in thick pommes frites for $8. It’s also comes with the restaurant’s namesake burger for $17.

3000 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017
(202) 248-4558
(202) 248-4558

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Ben's Chili Bowl

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U Street landmark Ben's Chili Bowl is now also on H Street and in Arlington and Reagan National Airport. At each location, diners can order the restaurant's famous chili-cheese fries (aka the works).

1213 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 667-0909
(202) 667-0909
60th Anniversary Celebration of Ben’s Chili Bowl Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Also featured in:

Compass Rose

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The 14th Street eatery that is all about street food from around the world, including Spanish-style potatoes, known as patatas bravas, which come with an aioli dressing for $8.

1346 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 506-4765
(202) 506-4765

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Amsterdam Falafel

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When the munchies hit, order the "frieten", which are the restaurant's double-fried fries. It’s a side that typically accompanies falafel and shawarma at this late-night eatery, now with three locations in DC: Adams Morgan, 14th Street, and L’Enfant Plaza.

1830 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-6200
(202) 232-6200

Brasserie Liberté

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The fries at Brasserie Liberté are a labor of love. Chef Jaryd Hearn attempted 77 tries before finding his perfect recipe. The secret, each spud is soaked for 24 hours to remove starches, resulting in a french fry that’s crispy on the outside and light and airy on the inside.

3251 Prospect St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 878-8404
(202) 878-8404

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Blue Duck Tavern

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Not once, not twice, but three times is the charm when it comes to cooking Blue Duck Tavern's hand-cut, duck-fat fries that are served extra thick.

1201 24th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
(202) 419-6755
(202) 419-6755

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Bourbon Steak

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Diners have to keep themselves from filling up on Bourbon Steak's trio of duck-fat fries and dipping sauces.

2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 944-2026
(202) 944-2026

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Brasserie Beck

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Belgian frites tend to be a solid variation on French fries, and Brasserie Beck's dipping sauces help take them up another notch.

1101 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 408-1717
(202) 408-1717

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Buffalo & Bergen

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With a throwback diner vibe and Jewish deli staples, Buffalo & Bergen is a welcome addition to this sleepier part of Capitol Hill. And as you would expect any diner to have, there’s counter service and expertly cooked french fries for breakfast and lunch.

240 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 525-3350
(202) 525-3350
The interior of the new Buffalo & Bergen is covered in black and white tiles, black barstools, and a mint green backsplash that completes a minimalist, retro style. Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Also featured in:

Shilling Canning Company

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The thick-cut fries ($9) are described as something akin to potato chicharrones. The process is multi-layered. First, the fries are steamed, frozen, and fried at a slow temperature, before being frozen again and fried one final time.

360 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 554-7474
(202) 554-7474

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The Eleanor Silver Spring

931 Ellsworth Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20910

This arcade-bar concept is the latest addition to downtown Silver Spring, and one of the early favorites, so far, is the loaded chili cheese fries for $7.

931 Ellsworth Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(240) 641-4955
(240) 641-4955

Republic

6939 Laurel Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912

Who says fries can’t come in a salad? At this Takoma restaurant and bar roasted fingerling sweet potatoes are added to a salad with arugula, dried cranberries, dill, shaved fennel, pickled mustard seeds, and pecans, with an apple cider vinaigrette. Of course, hand-cut french fries also come served as a side on the snack menu.

6939 Laurel Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
(301) 270-3000
(301) 270-3000

Buck's Fishing & Camping

5031 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Buck’s twice-fried, hand-cut french fries are the perfect accompaniment when the mood for a fancy burger or steak strikes. Both the dry-aged burger and New York strip come served with a hefty side of spuds.

5031 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
(202) 364-0777
(202) 364-0777
Photo courtesy: Buck’s Fishing & Camping

Medium Rare

3500 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

When the entire menu consists of steak and fries, the fries better be good. Luckily, Medium Rare delivers with their crispy, skinny version.

3500 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 237-1432
(202) 237-1432

The Thirsty Crow

3400 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010

Chef James Wozniuk goes north to Maine, sourcing Kennebec potatoes, for his hand-cut spuds that are blanched then dunked in the deep fryer.

3400 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 730-2295
(202) 730-2295
A semicircular bar surrounded by stools at Thirsty Crow Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Primrose

3000 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017

Need a wine and fry break? Head to Brookland’s French brasserie, Primrose, which specializes in thick pommes frites for $8. It’s also comes with the restaurant’s namesake burger for $17.

3000 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017
(202) 248-4558
(202) 248-4558

Ben's Chili Bowl

1213 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

U Street landmark Ben's Chili Bowl is now also on H Street and in Arlington and Reagan National Airport. At each location, diners can order the restaurant's famous chili-cheese fries (aka the works).

1213 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 667-0909
(202) 667-0909
60th Anniversary Celebration of Ben’s Chili Bowl Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Compass Rose

1346 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

The 14th Street eatery that is all about street food from around the world, including Spanish-style potatoes, known as patatas bravas, which come with an aioli dressing for $8.

1346 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 506-4765
(202) 506-4765

Amsterdam Falafel

1830 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

When the munchies hit, order the "frieten", which are the restaurant's double-fried fries. It’s a side that typically accompanies falafel and shawarma at this late-night eatery, now with three locations in DC: Adams Morgan, 14th Street, and L’Enfant Plaza.

1830 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-6200
(202) 232-6200

Brasserie Liberté

3251 Prospect St NW, Washington, DC 20007

The fries at Brasserie Liberté are a labor of love. Chef Jaryd Hearn attempted 77 tries before finding his perfect recipe. The secret, each spud is soaked for 24 hours to remove starches, resulting in a french fry that’s crispy on the outside and light and airy on the inside.

3251 Prospect St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 878-8404
(202) 878-8404

Blue Duck Tavern

1201 24th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

Not once, not twice, but three times is the charm when it comes to cooking Blue Duck Tavern's hand-cut, duck-fat fries that are served extra thick.

1201 24th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
(202) 419-6755
(202) 419-6755

Bourbon Steak

2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20007

Diners have to keep themselves from filling up on Bourbon Steak's trio of duck-fat fries and dipping sauces.

2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 944-2026
(202) 944-2026

Brasserie Beck

1101 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Belgian frites tend to be a solid variation on French fries, and Brasserie Beck's dipping sauces help take them up another notch.

1101 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 408-1717
(202) 408-1717

Buffalo & Bergen

240 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002

With a throwback diner vibe and Jewish deli staples, Buffalo & Bergen is a welcome addition to this sleepier part of Capitol Hill. And as you would expect any diner to have, there’s counter service and expertly cooked french fries for breakfast and lunch.

240 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 525-3350
(202) 525-3350
The interior of the new Buffalo & Bergen is covered in black and white tiles, black barstools, and a mint green backsplash that completes a minimalist, retro style. Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Shilling Canning Company

360 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003

The thick-cut fries ($9) are described as something akin to potato chicharrones. The process is multi-layered. First, the fries are steamed, frozen, and fried at a slow temperature, before being frozen again and fried one final time.

360 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 554-7474
(202) 554-7474

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