Ben's Burgers, Livermore

2024-04-14 -

Livermore resident Laura Gong loves this burger spot so much, she adds two exclamation marks to the name — Ben's Burgers!! — and describes it as “a completely unassuming hole-in-the-wall spot for diner burgers, dogs and freshmade ice-cream shakes. Fries are always crisp, hot, soft inside and plentiful! Support your local little shops!”

DETAILS >> Open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 777 Rincon Ave., Livermore; 925-449-3124

Boulevard Burger, San Leandro

Richard Katz fis a fan of this retro-style diner with burgers like lamb or Kobe beef and thick, whipped cream-topped milkshakes. “Great fries and incredible burgers,” he says. One of his tips: Ask for them “extra crispy.”

DETAILS >> Open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily at 1027 MacArthur Blvd., San Leandro; boulevardburger. menu11.com

Oak + Violet, Menlo Park

The fries at this restaurant in the Park James Hotel have stolen the heart of Patricia Crone. “Skinny fries perfectly done, with bits of potato skin attached here and there,” she reports. “Not being a fan of truffle oil, I order the plain variety, which come in a generous bowl that includes ketchup for dipping.”

DETAILS >> Open for dinner 5-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday at 1400 El

Camino Real, Menlo Park; parkjames.com/oak-violet

Beer Baron, Oakland

The Oakland outpost of this whiskey-themed chain cooks up Belgian-style fries in vegan, duckfat and loaded versions. “The duck-fat fries at Beer Baron are so good that when we go there for happy hour, the first person always places an order for two,” says Sara Holderfield of Oakland. They can be dipped in sauces ranging from herbed yogurt to chipotle barbecue to garlic aioli. “My favorite is the curry aioli, but my friends like the smoky ketchup.”

DETAILS >> Open noon-10 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. weekends at 5900 College Ave., Oakland; beerbaronbar.com.

French fries in the Bay Area and across the country are hard to resist.

San Rafael Joe's, San Rafael

This Italian-American institution in Marin, founded all the way back in 1947, has killer steak fries, reports Ginny Jozwik of San Anselmo. They're so good, they leave the rest of the meal as an afterthought: “I go there for the fries and then decide what I want to eat with them.”

DETAILS >> Open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday (closed Monday)

at 931 Fourth St., San Rafael; sanrafaeljoes.com.

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, San Jose

This tail wagger-themed chain restaurant — which indeed does have a doggie menu — left a lasting impression on Joan Illers of Campbell. Specifically, Illers calls the fries in the Almaden Plaza location the “most flavorful, crispy French fries I have ever tasted.” Also, the chipotle-ranch sauce for dipping them in “is delicious!”

?? GETTY IMAGES ?? “I like them French fried potaters.” Who knew that those words, unforgettably croaked by Billy Bob Thornton in “Sling Blade,” would apply to so many readers across the Bay? After we published our “11 fantastic eateries for incredible French fries” story in early April, our inboxes were flooded with recommendations for other folks' favorite fries — from Ben's Burgers in Livermore to Lazy Dog in San Jose to the Spinster Sisters all the way up in Santa Rosa. Fortunately, nobody said In-N-Out. But here are 16 other notable places for French fries, as chosen by our readers, complete with their special fryordering instructions. — GETTY IMAGES “I like them French fried potaters.” Who knew that those words, unforgettably croaked by Billy Bob Thornton in “Sling Blade,” would apply to so many readers across the Bay? After we published our “11 fantastic eateries for incredible French fries” story in early April, our inboxes were flooded with recommendations for other folks' favorite fries — from Ben's Burgers in Livermore to Lazy Dog in San Jose to the Spinster Sisters all the way up in Santa Rosa. Fortunately, nobody said In-N-Out. But here are 16 other notable places for French fries, as chosen by our readers, complete with their special fryordering instructions.