Where to go for great French fries

Crinkle-cut. Shoestring. Belgian. Steak. Wedges, waffle and freakin' carnival tornado potato.

No matter how you slice them, French fries have universal appeal.

Fries are shoveled out all over the Bay, from the expense account-draining steakhouses of San Francisco to beloved little joints like Bob's Giant Burgers in Pleasanton.

And the love of fries knows no socio-economic distinction. Vice President (and Oakland native) Kamala Harris was spotted ordering In-N-Out's famously mediocre fries during a 2021 visit, and Steph Curry's been known to augment his workout routine by dribbling while juggling Chick-filA waffle fries.

But not all French fries are created equal.

We've traveled far and wide to find some of the most delicious fries in the Bay Area, from classic burger joints to gastropubs, brasseries, taquerias and even a high-end ramen spot — with fries!

Here are 11 to try. (Did we miss your fave? Tell us about it via the submission form at mercurynews.com/2024/04/01/the12-best-bay-area-eateries-forfrench-fries)

You might not think of building a romantic date night around a casual strip-mall restaurant that serves burgers, hot dogs and four kinds of fries. But Mona's Burger and Shakes in Walnut Creek exudes a European brasserie feel, with its intimate dining room, cafe chairs and walls decorated with eclectic art and a logo inspired by the Mona Lisa — as envisioned by street artist Banksy.

Mona's also offers a more sophisticated, though affordable wine list than you'd find in most burger joints. A well-curated classic rock playlist provides background music. And there's an expansive outdoor patio.

The real attraction, of course, is the food. Juicy, char-grilled Niman Ranch Angus chuck burgers are served on brioche buns and range from the Classic ($13) to the signature Diablo ($17) with sautéed jalapeños, chipotle aioli and melted pepper jack, to a more elegant Truffle burger ($19) topped with melted Truffle Tremor goat cheese and mushrooms. The shakes ($9), which include a Reese's Peanut Butter flavor, are thick and creamy. And there there are the fries …

Fry to try: The fries — skinny cut, sweet potato and spicy curly ($5.75-$7.50) — don't come with any extravagant toppings. They are just so simple, so good and crispy that they stand on their own as an appetizer, ready to dip in ranch, blue cheese, chipotle aioli or other housemade sauces. But Mona's “potato flats” offer a new level of tastiness, with slices so wafer thin, they practically melt on your tongue.

Open for lunch and dinner daily at 1574 Palos Verdes Mall in Walnut Creek. The Concord location at Oak Grove Place, 785 Oak Grove Road, has similar hours; monasburgers.com

Would you like a side of history with your fries?

The French and the Belgians have argued for centuries about who first thought to cut potatoes into long strips and then fry them. But the American obsession with this now-ubiquitous side is more clear-cut. It's generally thought to have taken root during World War I, when U.S. soldiers stationed in a French-speaking part of Belgium made the delicious discovery and brought news of