Fast-food chains to offer freebies on National French Fry Day | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

In my book, ordering a hamburger without the fries at a restaurant is borderline sacrilege.

Even though I appreciate a scoop of garlic mashed potatoes at a nice steakhouse or a pile of homefries (alongside a Western omelet, please) at the neighborhood diner, my favorite way to consume a potato has always been in French fry form.

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Perhaps it’s been ingrained in me since I was a kid, when any day my parents brought home a Happy Meal from McDonald’s was a great day.

But I’m more inclined to think it’s because French fries are just that good.

I never thought I was alone in my affinity for French fries. But I certainly didn’t know how much of a crowd I was in.

Fries are “the most menued potato dish” and appear on about 83% of all menus throughout the country, from fine dining establishments to fast-food joints, according to Datassential’s 2024 Potato Menu Trends for Foodservice Industry.

A regular order of fries is a favorite option for 91% of people who either “like” or “love” potatoes, with curly fries (85%), seasoned fries (85%), home fries (84%), and crinkle cut fries (82%) following closely behind.

No matter what style you like, you’re going to be able to score some for free on the second Friday in July, when casual restaurants throughout the country will celebrate National French Fry Day.

Many fast-food restaurants are giving away free fries on July 11, National French Fry Day.

Image source&colon; Brandon Bell/Getty

Where to get free fries on National French Fry Day

National French Fry Day lands on July 11 this year. It promises to quite literally be a free-for-all, with many fast-food restaurants, including Wendy’s (WEN), offering freebies of this super-popular side (usually with a minimum purchase).

It’s really just business as usual for McDonald’s (MCD) and Burger King (QSR), who have seemingly continued the French Fry wars by offering a free fry day every week.

McDonald’s gives theirs out for free on Fridays, while Burger King offers a free order once a week on a day of your choosing. Both offers are available through their respective apps for a $1 minimum purchase.

Arby’s offer for this year’s National French Fry Day dishes up a bit of delayed gratification: Order an Arby’s Cheesesteak online, get a coupon for a free fry, and redeem it within seven days.

Want to celebrate the day by trying out a new cut or seasoning? Head to Carl’s Jr., Jack in the Box, Fatburger, or Smashburger for more fry options. Craving tots? Head to Sonic.

Clearly, this is not an exhaustive list, and no shade to fast-food favorites not mentioned. Suffice it to say that if you’re craving French fries this Friday, you’ll probably find a participating location in your area.

Fry freebies abound, but there’s often a catch

It’s not exactly the finest of print, but do make sure you understand the terms of the offer to score your freebie on National French Fry Day.

Some restaurants require a purchase in app, some have promo codes, and some require a specific entree purchase.

If you’re looking for a freebie on National Fry Day that comes without a minimum purchase, then stop by your local Checkers & Rally’s for their free fry “upgrade.”

But there’s still a slight catch: To score your free large order of their Famous Seasoned Fries, you have to show the receipt of a recent fry purchase from any competitor. And it’s clear that the company is trying to make you feel a little bit of consumer regret.

“We’re not just giving away fries—we’re issuing a flavor wake-up call,” said Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. CEO Chris Tebben in a company statement. “Our Famous Seasoned Fries have been voted the #1 Most Craveable Fries for a reason, and National French Fry Day is the perfect time to show guests why they should never settle again, and how at Checkers & Rally’s we always strive to live up to our ‘This Eats Different’ promise.”

More fast-food news:

Is it safe to say that you can get free fries somewhere this Friday? Yes. But do make sure that you order the right way—in person, on the app, and/or with the right minimum order or meal selection—to take advantage of the freebie.

But hey, if you do mess up and wind up paying for fries, just bring that receipt to a Checkers and Rally’s and you can still get your fry freebie on National French Fry Day.