10 Florida French Fries Worth the Trip
Luana B. Gann, Editor
8/23/2026
I didn't set out to become the kind of person who has strong opinions about French fries.
But after hearing people argue about which restaurant really has the best fries in Florida, I got curious. So I started digging.
I looked at restaurants all over the state, compared what they serve, paid attention to what locals and food lovers consistently praised, and went down more French-fry rabbit holes than I probably needed to.
What I found was surprisingly fun.
From a gluten-free specialty shop in Mount Dora to a cocktail bar in Miami Beach serving fries with harissa ketchup, Florida has some seriously interesting fries hiding in places you might never expect.
After researching these spots, there are ten that caught my attention enough that I'd happily put them on a Florida food road-trip list.
Here they are, in no particular ranking, because honestly, trying to declare one French fry the undisputed champion feels like a good way to start an argument.
In This Article
The Ones I'd Drive an Hour (or More) For!
The Salted Fry — Mount Dora
I'll admit, this one caught my attention immediately.
A gluten-free spot built around fries specifically sounds like it could go one of two ways: either completely overthought, or surprisingly good.
From everything I found, The Salted Fry lands firmly in the second category.
The fries are hand-cut, with the kind of crispy exterior and soft center that French-fry people tend to get very serious about. Add truffle salt and garlic aioli, and you've got a combination that sounds less like a side dish and more like the reason to make the trip.
If I were sending a fry-obsessed friend to just one place on this list, this is one of the first stops I'd suggest.
Matt's Red Hots — Fort Myers
There's a version of classic American fries that's perfectly fine...
and then there's the kind that makes you stop paying attention to the burger.
Matt's Red Hots seems to fall into the second category.
Fresh-cut and golden, with a substantial crunch on the outside and a softer center, these are the kind of fries that don't need a complicated topping strategy to make an impression.
Sometimes the classic version really is the best version.
Broken Shaker — Miami Beach
This one is a genuine outlier, and that's exactly why I like it.
Broken Shaker is a cocktail bar, not a French-fry destination. But its Shawarma Fries take the familiar idea of loaded fries in a completely different direction.
They're hand-cut, tossed in a house spice blend, and served with harissa ketchup.
That's a pretty big departure from the usual cheese-and-bacon formula.
And if you're already spending an evening on South Beach, this feels like the kind of unexpected food stop that can turn into the thing you talk about afterward.
Broken Shaker
The Ones Doing Something Genuinely Different
Flipn' Fries Factory — Wesley Chapel
This place clearly doesn't believe in restraint.
And honestly?
I respect that.
Everything is double-fried, portions are generous, and the fries come loaded with toppings. The Bachi Fries and Surf N Turf option in particular sound less like a side dish and more like a full-blown food project.
This isn't where I'd go when I'm looking for a light snack.
This is where I'd go when I've decided it's a fry night...
and I'm committing.
The Fry Shoppe — Winter Park
There's something charming about a restaurant that picks one thing and decides to do it with total conviction.
The Fry Shoppe specializes in Dutch-style, thick-cut fries served in a paper cone—the kind of food that practically begs to be eaten while walking around rather than sitting at a table.
But what really caught my attention was the selection of house-made dipping sauces.
There are enough combinations to turn one order of fries into an entirely different experience depending on what you dip them in.
And honestly, that's dangerous information to give someone who likes fries.
The Boardwalk Grill — Madeira Beach
Some foods just make more sense when you're near the water.
These fries sound like one of them.
They're heavily salted, freshly cut, and can be loaded with thick cheddar and crispy bacon.
At that point, the fries almost become the delivery system for everything else.
But that's okay.
If you're standing near the beach, eating loaded fries with the ocean nearby, I'm not sure anyone is keeping score.
Flipn' Fries Factory
The Reliable, No-Nonsense Classics
Central Cafe — Bradenton
Sometimes you don't need reinvention.
You just want someone to make a really good French fry.
Central Cafe appears to do exactly that.
Hot, crisp fries with malt vinegar available for the traditionalists make this the kind of straightforward option that can be easy to overlook when everyone else is trying to create the next viral food combination.
There's something quietly confident about a restaurant that simply gets the basics right.
Dick Mondell's — Gainesville
This is the kind of restaurant that becomes a local institution rather than a place people necessarily travel across the state to visit.
And honestly, that's a compliment.
The fries are described as having that balance that's harder to achieve than it sounds: crisp on the outside, soft and pillowy inside, with enough seasoning to make them interesting without overwhelming the potato.
If you're in Gainesville, this is one I'd put on the list.
Riverside Johnny's — Daytona Beach
Riverside Johnny's caught my attention because the restaurant is known for its double smash burgers, but the fries seem to hold their own.
They're fresh and hand-cut, and they don't sound like an afterthought sitting beside the main event.
That's important.
A great burger with disappointing fries is a missed opportunity.
A great burger with fries you keep thinking about afterward?
Now you've got a meal worth remembering.
Fraze's Scratch Cookin' — Daytona Beach
The name pretty much tells you what you're getting.
Scratch cooking.
The fries are hand-cut and fresh rather than frozen or pre-cut, and that difference matters.
There's something about a genuinely fresh, home-style French fry that makes the commercial version seem a little less exciting afterward.
Sometimes simple food is the hardest food to fake.
The Salted Fry
Riverside Johnny's
A Few Honest Observations From This Fry Hunt
After researching all of these places, a few things stood out to me.
The best fries don't necessarily come from the fanciest restaurant.
Some of the most interesting options are coming from walk-up counters, small cafés, neighborhood restaurants, and places that aren't trying to make a French fry famous.
Three things kept appearing in the descriptions of the fries I found most compelling:
Hand-cut potatoes.
Fresh oil.
Actually treating the fries like part of the meal instead of something tossed on the plate as an afterthought.
And here's the part I didn't expect.
The sauce matters.
A really good dipping sauce can completely change the experience.
But it can't perform miracles.
A mediocre fry with an amazing sauce is still a mediocre fry.
Give me the great fry first.
Then bring me the sauce.
My Honest Overall Take
If I were planning a Florida French-fry road trip based on my research, three stops would immediately go on my list.
The Salted Fry in Mount Dora for the technical execution and gluten-free focus.
Broken Shaker in Miami Beach for the most unexpected flavor combination.
And The Boardwalk Grill in Madeira Beach because loaded fries by the water just sounds like one of those very Florida afternoons.
But that's the fun part about a list like this.
There isn't necessarily one "best" French fry.
Some people want thin and crispy.
Some want thick and fluffy.
Some want salt.
Some want sauce.
Some apparently want an entire meal stacked on top of their potatoes.
Florida has room for all of them.
A Few Observations From This Whole Project The best fries in Florida almost never come from the fanciest restaurant on the list. Some of my favorites came from walk-up counters and small-town cafes that clearly don't care about impressing anyone — they just care about the fry. Hand-cut, double-fried, and genuinely fresh oil were the three things every spot on this list had in common, no exceptions. And weirdly, the sauce mattered more than I expected going in — a mediocre fry with an incredible dipping sauce will always beat a great fry with a bottle of plain ketchup next to it.
The Salted Fry
Florida's Best French Fries FAQ
What made a spot actually make this list
I looked for places that stood out for things such as hand-cut potatoes, fresh preparation, interesting seasoning or sauces, and restaurants that appeared to treat their fries as more than an afterthought. Local reputation and the uniqueness of the preparation also played a role.
Is there one spot you'd recommend above the rest?
If I had to narrow the list down based on my research, I'd start with The Salted Fry in Mount Dora, Broken Shaker in Miami Beach, and The Boardwalk Grill in Madeira Beach. But the right choice really depends on what kind of fries you like.
Are any of these spots good for gluten-free diners?
The Salted Fry in Mount Dora specifically caught my attention because of its gluten-free focus. However, anyone with celiac disease or a serious gluten allergy should always confirm current ingredients and preparation practices directly with the restaurant before ordering.
Florida Current covers lifestyle, outdoor life, current topics, weather and everything that comes with living in the Sunshine State. Browse our Florida Living section for regional guides, seasonal activity calendars, retirement guides and practical advice from people who actually live here.
Florida native Luana B. Gann brings more than 30 years of publishing, editing, and journalism experience to Florida Current. With a deep appreciation for the Sunshine State's culture, lifestyle, and ever-changing landscape, she is dedicated to helping readers discover what's new, noteworthy, and uniquely Florida.
CONTACT
Reach out for questions or feedback anytime.
contact@FLAcurrent.com
© 2026. All rights reserved.
