# What are British chips - not fries - called in America? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 8, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791 "2019-03-08T22:13:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/101 "2019-03-11T23:47:28Z")
Damn, you people are not only making me hungry, but actually making me sorry that dinner is braised lamb shanks in an onion/red wine/tomato/pomegranate molasses sauce over basmati rice. Broccoli on the side. If I weren’t so damn tired that I am already in my jammies, I’d be tempted to go for [my favorite local(ish) burger and fries](https://www.google.com/search?q=Cross-Rhodes+burger+and+Greek+fries&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjlzJTsovvgAhVC2oMKHboQBY4Q_AUIDygC&biw=1920&bih=963#imgrc=BzVgDxGxq2vc4M:). (With an extra side of tzatziki for dipping the fries.) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/102 "2019-03-11T23:59:59Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > … braised lamb shanks in an onion/red wine/tomato/pomegranate molasses sauce over basmati rice. Can I have your recipe? :o ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/103 "2019-03-12T00:19:50Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Can I have your recipe? :o Well, it wasn’t really a recipe - I improvised at 5 a.m. when I couldn’t get back to sleep, so I decided I might as well do something useful and left it in the slow cooker all day (actually Instant Pot, so I could brown everything first). But more or less: 2 large lamb shanks (about 2.5 lbs. total, if memory serves) - our usual grocery store cuts them most of the way through in chunks 2 huge diced onions 4 large garlic cloves, minced 2 gigantic heaping tablespoons of tomato paste 1 gigantic heaping tablespoon of Turkish (sweet) red pepper paste Salt and a fair bit of freshly ground black pepper about 1 c. cheap-ass full-bodied red wine maybe 1/4 c. pomegranate molasses? Heat olive oil and brown the salted and peppered lamb shanks well. Add the onions and sautee until they are turning golden. Add the garlic and stir for a couple of minutes. Then add the wine and let the alcohol boil off for a few minutes. Then add the tomato and red pepper pastes and pomegranate molasses. Slow cook on low for ~ 8 hours or more (I did 9.5, and it was falling off the bone). Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/104 "2019-03-12T01:13:08Z")
I dislike French Fries as they soak up way too much fat, actually that’s what makes them fantastic but a traditional twice cooked chip with malt vinegar from the local fish and chip shop is a thing of wonder on a winters evening. And you can’t make a decent chip butty without proper chips! ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/105 "2019-03-12T13:00:38Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Just had Fish ‘n’ Chips at a Culver’s, and I got to pick my “sides”. I said “Well, I’ve GOT to have those big, thick fries…” They look about the size of the first photo in this thread. > > I think you may have to be in the Midwest. Worth a drive, though, they just brought back Walleye filets. Crispy outside, buttery inside. (Wow, I chose Culver’s tonight over the local taverns that do great fish frys on Friday nights…) I can report there are Culver’s available here in [Arizona](https://www.culvers.com/locator/view-all-locations), but I’ve tried them only a couple times. Their burgers didn’t offer anything particularly memorable so the last time I ate at one a few weeks ago, I ordered a pot roast sandwich instead and it was yummy. I’ll try the fish and chips next time I’m there but I warn you, I was spoiled on fish and chips when I was at Keflavik. The USO there about once a month would go down to to the docks, buy a couple hundred pounds of cod off the top of the hold in a boat that had just tied up, and serve 'em up that evening for two bucks (40 years ago). Nom nom nom. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/106 "2019-03-12T17:03:54Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > [Fry Sauce](https://acburger.com/menu/fry-sauce.html) is basically 1000 Island without the pickle relish. It’s a Utah thing (along with Southern Idaho). …and Central Washington. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/107 "2019-03-12T17:11:58Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > US fries = UK chips > US chips = UK crisps > > My understanding is that in the UK they use the term “American fries” to refer to a thinner cut than they normally use for what they call “chips.” But we don’t make that distinction. They’re all just fries to us, whether thick or thin. > > The OP wants to know what term he can use in America to ensure that he gets thick fries instead of what he considers thin “American” fries. But we have no such distinction. Actually, I don’t think we call the skinny ones ‘American Fries’. I tend to see ‘skinny fries’ in restaurants, or just ‘fries’ - it’s not a word we’d use for normal thick cut chips, so people will know they are ‘American style’. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/108 "2019-03-12T17:40:45Z")
So at Burger King and McDonalds in Britain, what do they call their fried potato strings? (For that matter, what do they call them at Five Guys, where they are thicker?) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/109 "2019-03-12T17:58:57Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > So at Burger King and McDonalds in Britain, what do they call their fried potato strings? (For that matter, what do they call them at Five Guys, where they are thicker?) According to my research, they’re all “fries.” > **[Burger King](https://www.burgerking.co.uk/menu/section-0fed057c-7ac0-4f79-b01d-913fc0c250ce)** > > Get access to exclusive coupons. Discover our menu and order delivery or pick up from a Burger King near you. > **[McDonald's Fries & Sides | McDonald's UK](https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/menu/fries-and-sides.html)** > > McDonald's crispy, golden fries & sides, fresh side salads and deliciously crispy Chicken Selects just waiting to pep up your meal. [https://www.fiveguys.co.uk/our-menu#tab-fries](https://www.fiveguys.co.uk/our-menu#tab-fries) If you’re being picky about the thickness of your fries, those three are quite different from each other, from my point of view. In particular, the McDonald’s fries are quite unlike the others. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/110 "2019-03-13T14:01:00Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > So at Burger King and McDonalds in Britain, what do they call their fried potato strings? (For that matter, what do they call them at Five Guys, where they are thicker?) Fries. I don’t know what Five Guys is, presumably it hasn’t skipped across the pond. EDIT. I take it all back, apparently Five Guys is a thing. Can’t say I’ve ever noticed one though. I doubt I’m their demographic. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/111 "2019-03-13T15:35:21Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Fries. > > I don’t know what Five Guys is, presumably it hasn’t skipped across the pond. > > EDIT. I take it all back, apparently Five Guys is a thing. Can’t say I’ve ever noticed one though. I doubt I’m their demographic. You’re not in the demographic for good burgers and fries? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/112 "2019-03-13T16:35:58Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > You’re not in the demographic for good burgers and fries? No, he said he wasn’t in the 5 Guys demographic. Completely different thing. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/113 "2019-03-13T16:38:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > No, he said he wasn’t in the 5 Guys demographic. Completely different thing. 😛 I see you’re in Southern California. I understand that there are reports of problems with some of the recent franchising. But generally speaking Five Guys is pretty much the tastiest burger and fries you can get at the fast-food chain level. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/114 "2019-03-13T16:56:23Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > You’re not in the demographic for good burgers and fries? Really well made burger and fries in a classy independent, certainly. Mass produced stuff from large chains, not so much. MacDonald’s had its place when I was younger, but now I’m in my 40s I suspect Five Guys, without knowing them, are a bit new on the block for myself, who has moved on to more salubrious establishments. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/115 "2019-03-13T18:34:35Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I see you’re in Southern California. I understand that there are reports of problems with some of the recent franchising. But generally speaking Five Guys is pretty much the tastiest burger and fries you can get at the fast-food chain level. No, sorry, I wont eat there. The REFUSE to carry 1000 island for their burgers. It’s not that they just dont have any, they \*refuse. \* ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/116 "2019-03-13T18:38:54Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Really well made burger and fries in a classy independent, certainly. Mass produced stuff from large chains, not so much. MacDonald’s had its place when I was younger, but now I’m in my 40s I suspect Five Guys, without knowing them, are a bit new on the block for myself, who has moved on to more salubrious establishments. I agree on the burgers: they’re definitely in between the fast food places and a really good burger (they’re not really fast food because your food takes up to 10 minutes to get cooked even though they are pretty fast.) The fries, however, have the advantage of being fresh, which is much more of a game changer for fries. Even Steak n Shake fries, which are nondescript shoestring-ish things, taste pretty good when fresh and hot. Plus you get a lot of them at Five Guys. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/117 "2019-03-13T20:42:49Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I see you’re in Southern California. I understand that there are reports of problems with some of the recent franchising. But generally speaking Five Guys is pretty much the tastiest burger and fries you can get at the fast-food chain level. If he’s in Southern California, Five Guys is a terrible substitute for In-N-Out. (Both places have terrible fries, though.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/118 "2019-03-13T20:49:42Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > If he’s in Southern California, Five Guys is a terrible substitute for In-N-Out. (Both places have terrible fries, though.) Nah, In-N-Out burger with Five Guys fries would be the ultimate fast food burger & fries combo for me. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/119 "2019-03-13T21:02:58Z")
I think I tried a Five Guys burger once. I don’t recall being impressed. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791/120 "2019-03-13T22:04:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Nah, In-N-Out burger with Five Guys fries would be the ultimate fast food burger & fries combo for me. In&Out has better burgers and yes Five Guys (the one time I tried it, the time they were very rude about having the condiments i wanted) had better fries. But not lots better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-british-chips-not-fries-called-in-america/830791.md?page=7)