Duck fat fries at The Smoking Goat (By Frank Sabatini Jr.)
Fries, North Park, South Park, Gaslamp, Little Italy

‘Best Fries in California’ Are Right Here

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

The well-established Smoking Goat in North Park has been named by the popular website lovefood.com for having the “best french fries in California.” That’s a tall claim that french fry aficionados might want substantiated.

We took it upon ourselves to at least make some comparisons citywide, as you’ll see below. After doing so, we pretty much agreed with the survey results that The Smoking Goat’s fries are stellar.

“They are really something special,” the LoveFood writers concurred while praising the fact the fries are cooked to a crisp in precious duck fat. Drizzled with truffle oil, they are then dusted in Pecorino Romano cheese and served with a side of mustard aioli.

The dish is what partly put the French-inspired Smoking Goat on the map ever since chef-owner Fred Piehl opened the restaurant in 2010, at a time when deep-frying anything in duck fat was a novelty in San Diego.

In our own indulgent research, we came away with four honorable mentions within metro San Diego when the hankering for fries strikes:

• When you’re willing to ignore your calorie meter, head downtown to The Melt for a sinful dive into the eatery’s cheddar-bacon fries crowned with squiggles of house-made Ranch dressing. The eatery also offers decent garlic-Parmesan and sweet potato fries.
• The blissful “hot potatoes” at Kindred vegan restaurant in South Park are a hybrid between french fries and potato wedges. The menu describes them as “Russian banana fingerlings.” They’re deliciously meaty and complemented by lemon aioli, romesco sauce and mini onions.
• At the chicken-centric Crack Shack in Little Italy, the fries are tossed in schmaltz, which is chicken fat known otherwise as “liquid gold.” They’re finished off with “crack spice,” which makes them some of the most coveted fries in town.
• You don’t have to be a 9-to-5er to appreciate the “working class fries” at Working Class in North Park. Grilled onions, melted American cheese and a delectable house sauce are the crowning ingredients to these perfectly fried spuds.