French 'Fry' Day in the Upstate: Here's our 10 favorite restaurants for fries in the area
Crinkle cut, wedges, steak fries... is there really a wrong answer?
No matter the cut of the spud, French fries are about as American as apple pie; luckily, July gives us a reason to indulge as Friday, July 12, marks National French Fry Day.
Historically, National French Fry Day was celebrated on July 13 every year, and as of 2023, it now takes place on the second Friday in July.
Many restaurants have specials on French fries to celebrate the occasion, as Burger King, Jack in the Box, McDonald's, and Wendy's are offering deals for the phantom holiday, but the Upstate has a plethora of options to try.
Here are our 10 favorite French fry options from around the Upstate:
Chains Offering Free Fries: National French Fry Day 2024: Get free fries and deals at McDonald's, Wendy's, more
Ike's Korner Grill
A Spartanburg staple and legend, Ike's Korner Grill has provided some of the best Southern diner-style food in the area since 1960. Mostly known for their massive burger challenges, Ike's fries shouldn't be disregarded either. Their rendition of a pimento cheese fries dish is both unique and Southern, all in the same bite.
Location: 104 Archer Road, Spartanburg; 864-542-0911, Ike's Korner Grill
Scoundrel
Class personified, Scoundrel is no stranger to deliciousness. Their menu and high-quality cuisine are guided by one of Greenville's best, James Beard Award nominee Joe Cash. One of their more simple but intricate dishes is Scoundrel's steak frites, which is glazed with duck fat and sauce au poivre and served with either culotte or filet mignon.
Location: 18 N. Main St., Greenville; 864-283-0095, scoundrelgvl.com
More on Fries: We asked, you answered: Here are America's favorite french fries
Yee Haw Brewing
Although they're not native to Greenville, the regional taproom and restaurant based in Tennesee is a major player in the French fry game. Yee Haw Brewing houses a loaded chicken fry dish that combines beer cheese, pulled chicken (spicy or regular), and scallions for a feast of goodness.
Although not a local establishment, their fries are too good to leave off the list.
Location: 307 E. McBee Ave., Greenville; 864-605-7770, yeehawbrewing.com/greenville/
Trappe Door
Unique beers and cocktails are the draw at Trappe Door, but their menu has some of the best offerings in Greenville. One of those options is steak frites. It comes served with herb butter, au poivre sauce, red wine demi or sherry, and onion gravy in either a 7-ounce filet, 11-ounce ribeye, or 14-ounce New York Strip.
Location: 23 W. Washington St., Greenville; 864-451-7490, trappedoor.com
Kendall's Grill
One of the best handmade burgers in the area. Their fries may come in a cute basket alongside a fantastic burger, but their seasoned garlic parmesan fries or chili cheese fries deserve all the praise as they come highly recommended and are known as some of Greenville's best-fried potatoes.
Location: 1018 W. Blue Ridge Drive, Greenville; 864-246-6009, www.kendallsgrill.com
Besto
Besto is one of the best classic diners in the Upstate. The Anderson staple offers solid food options for all three meals of the day. But a good classic fry should be about their classic crinkle-cut French fries, lightly salted and always fresh out of the oil.
Location: 1606 N. Main St., Anderson; 864-224-1695, bestoanderson.com
Windy City Burgers
Their hand-cut, skinny Idaho potatoes are of great quality and go well with any item on a menu that features endless specialty burger options. Yet, the fries at Windy City Burgers in downtown Greenville are crafted in four unique ways: sea salt and pepper, garlic parmesan, garlic chili pork belly and buffalo bleu cheese — all delicious, filling and worthy of mention as some of the best in Greenville.
Location: 12 E. Coffee St., Greenville; 864-349-1390, windycityburgers.com
The Southern Growl
It's almost a shame that their Greek fries are no longer on the menu, but they've been replaced with a simple hand-cut fries dish, complemented by a house beer cheese accentuating the quality of their adult beverage options.
The Southern Growl's fries are thick, with a crispy outer skin for the perfect crunch and dip combination.
Location: 155 N. Buncombe Road, Greer; 864-655-7444, thesoutherngrowl.com
Lazy Goat
One of Greenville's favorite restaurants has a great take on fried potatoes. The Lazy Goat offers a white truffle oil and shaved Grana Padano dish that makes these truffle pommes frites a must-try appetizer.
Location: 170 River Place, Greenville; 864-679-5299 thelazygoat.com/
Did we miss your favorite? Feel free to drop a line on your favorite french fries in the Upstate at [email protected]
– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at [email protected], and follow him on X (formally Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: National French Fry Day: Our 10 favorite restaurants in Upstate SC
