The Three Loaded Fries, Compared
Three loaded fries sit in the extras section and the menu gives almost no indication of how they differ beyond the names.
They differ quite a lot — in heat, in richness and in whether they belong alongside a wing order at all.
Louisiana Voodoo — the hot one
Seasoned fries with cheese sauce and the Louisiana Rub seasoning. <strong>$5.19 regular at 680 calories, $6.29 large at 1,180.</strong>
The Louisiana seasoning carries real heat — more than the name suggests and more than most people expect from a fries order. It works against the cheese rather than being buried by it, which is why this is the most interesting of the three.
It is also the heaviest. A large is 1,180 calories, which is more than a 10-piece bone-in wing order at 700.
Buffalo Ranch — the balanced one
Seasoned fries with cheese sauce, buffalo sauce and ranch. <strong>$5.19 regular at 610 calories, $6.29 large at 1,070.</strong>
Milder than the Voodoo, because the ranch cuts the buffalo heat rather than amplifying it. This is the loaded fries order for a table that includes someone who does not want spice.
It is slightly lighter than the Voodoo at both sizes, though not by enough to make it a sensible choice on nutritional grounds.
Cheese Fries — the simple one
Seasoned fries with cheese sauce and nothing else. <strong>$4.59 regular at 580 calories, $5.69 large at 1,020.</strong>
The cheapest and lightest of the three, and the one that works best alongside a strongly flavoured wing order. It adds richness without adding a competing flavour, which the other two do.
If you are ordering Atomic or Mango Habanero wings, this is the loaded fries to take. The Voodoo alongside hot wings is heat on heat.
They are meals, not sides
This is the thing to understand before ordering one. A large Louisiana Voodoo at 1,180 calories alongside a large 10-piece combo at 2,190 is over 3,300 calories for one person.
They are priced like sides and portioned like mains. A regular is a reasonable share for two people alongside wings; a large is a meal in itself.
A separate cheese sauce is available at $3.99 and 620 calories, which is how you get the loaded-fries experience on plain fries without committing the whole portion to it.
The travel problem
All three travel worse than plain fries, because cheese sauce accelerates the steaming that softens a fry in a closed container.
Ten minutes is roughly the limit. Beyond that you have a different dish — still edible, but not what you ordered.
If loaded fries are going in a car, ask for the cheese sauce on the side and add it at home. It is not a standard request but it is a reasonable one, and it is the only thing that preserves the texture.
Frequently asked
Which loaded fries are spiciest?
Louisiana Voodoo. The Louisiana Rub seasoning carries genuine heat — more than the name suggests.
How many calories are loaded fries?
Voodoo 680 regular and 1,180 large; Buffalo Ranch 610 and 1,070; Cheese Fries 580 and 1,020.
Which goes best with hot wings?
Plain Cheese Fries. The other two add heat to an order that already has it.
Keep reading
The Seasoned Fries — and Why They Arrive Soggy
Good fries, ruined by a closed container. There is a simple fix.
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Where the Calories Actually Are
Switching flavours does nothing. Switching format does a great deal.
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How Hot Is Atomic, Really?
Hot in about two seconds, and it builds rather than fading.
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