Where to Find the Best French Fries in Miami

Since 2008, I’ve been on a mission to spotlight Miami’s greatest comfort food: burgers, dogs, croquetas, and everything fried in between. But there’s one sidekick that rarely gets the spotlight it deserves: the French fry. Not chips, not yuca, not truffle-oil gimmicks. I’m talking about honest, elongated potato vehicles that taste like America, even if the name’s imported.

As a New Times contributor, I’m circling back to what belongs next to any respectable burger (or eaten solo, no shame): a proper batch of fries. Some are hand-cut and double-fried, others are dusted, loaded, or draped over a steak the size of a long plate. What they all share is that perfect crunch-to-fluff ratio that turns “just a side” into the reason you came.

From Westchester to Aventura, these are the fries worth your time, your salt, and sometimes a bottle of your favorite dipping sauce. Below, in alphabetical order — except for USBS, which is always third best — dig into the best fries in Miami. And remember: no sharing, not even to that feo cousin you feel bad for.

Warning: Excessive and possibly unnecessary overuse of the words crisp, golden, salt, and all known variations thereof. You may now proceed.

Arbetter’s Hot Dogs

Arbetter’s Hot Dogs has been a Miami institution since 1959, but it’s the chili cheese fries that really take things to the next level in the best way. The fries come buried under a hearty ladle of that legendary beef chili and a molten blanket of nacho cheese. They’re gloriously old-school, the kind of fries that make you second-guess the fork and legit consider diving right in. Order them alongside a chili dog, grab some root beer, and let the memories begin. 8747 SW 40th St., Miami; 305-207-0555; arbetterhotdogs.com.

Blue Collar

Blue Collar has been frying up hand-cut potatoes since day one, and they’re everything a fry should be: golden, salty, and proudly imperfect. With a crisp exterior that gives way to a soft, almost creamy center, they remind you why most frozen fries are a crime. They don’t need truffle oil or fancy seasoning to make a statement, but they’ll gladly share the plate with a Dry-Aged Cheeseburger or the Big Ragout (the sandwich, not the guy from Laverne & Shirley). Blue Collar’s fries aren’t just a side; they’re the side. 6789 Biscayne Blvd, Miami; 305-756-0366; bluecollarmiami.com.

USBS (United States Burger Service)

USBS takes its burger mission seriously, and the “Insurance,” their house-cut fries, is proof. Double-fried and salted to perfection, these thick, golden sticks are so crisp they almost snap before revealing a soft, buttery center. They’re served in a classic white paper sleeve that screams lunch-counter Americana, exactly the way fries should be. Order them with one of three different tariffs to get them tossed in spices. Now these are tariffs I don’t mind. 8300 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-537-6624; usbsmia.co.

Keg South (Pinecrest)

Keg South is a wood-paneled holdout from a simpler Miami, when pitchers of beer and burgers ruled the night. Their fries are the old-school bar variety, cut on a wall-mounted contraption, and for some reason, they remind me of the ones my abuela made for my sister and me growing up: crisp, hot, lightly salted, and built to soak up a little grease. They’re the perfect companion to a half-pound Keg Burger cooked medium rare, a basket of wings, or your second cold draft. No tricks here, just fried potatoes that taste like the Miami of the 1970s. 10417 S. Dixie Hwy., Pinecrest; 305-284-9296; instagram.com/kegsouth_104.

Kiddo Burger

Kiddo Burger’s cheese-dusted fries, coated in a fine, savory powder that hits like adult-grade Cheeto dust, are pure comfort food alchemy. The shoestrings are crisp, a little cheesy, and completely addictive. Eat a few and you’ll be licking your fingertips like a kid trying not to get caught red-handed. Stuff some into one of their thin, griddled burgers, then go back and do it all over again. 18833 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-749-6743; kiddomiami.com.

Mr. and Mrs. Bun

Mr. and Mrs. Bun are known for their sandwiches, but their roasted potatoes (yes, they count) are the sleeper hit. These Franken-fresh-cut fries seem straight out of Dr. Pretorius’ lab. The skin-on potato wedges are oven-roasted and then sautéed with garlic and parsley, served with a side of garlic aioli. They’re the thinking person’s fry: earthy, substantial, and impossible to stop picking at between bites of the kids’ beef sliders. 15572 SW 72nd St., Miami; 786-717-6244; mrandmrsbun.com.

Rio Cristal

Rio Cristal’s “Super Rio Cristal Steak” (#51) isn’t just a meal; it’s a local legend buried under a mountain of papitas. These thin, sturdy matchstick fries form a soft, crunchy crown over a tender palomilla steak, soaking up its juices while staying golden and addictive. The texture contrast is pure Miami magia; every bite hits nostalgia. It’s the kind of dish that defines Westchester comfort food, fried potatoes as edible decoration. 9872 SW 40th St., Miami; 305-223-2357; riocristalmiami.com.