Wendy’s Garlic Fries create a new menu category for fast food done right

While its Made to Crave concept offers bold, exciting flavors, the mission of fast food done right is always the driving force behind Wendy’s menu. When the brand revamped its Hot and Crispy French Fries, the quick service restaurant knew that there was more waiting to be discovered than just another side dish. With the addition of Wendy’s Garlic Fries, the side might become a meal.

In the past year, Wendy’s has continued to innovate its menu. From the Strawberry Frosty from the summer to the new Peppermint Frosty this winter, evolving favorite menu items with flavor is a concept that has resonated with guests. Without straying too far from the familiar, the newer flavors reinvigorate the dining experience and have many people coming back for more.

Although the iconic Frosty might be the perfect midpoint between a shake, soft serve and hard packed ice cream, the reality is that many of the Wendy’s menu items have a forward leaning slant that blends great value with big flavor. From bringing a taste of the pub to the drive-thru to ensuring the best ingredients are featured between the bun, the reality is that these choices are made with purpose. It is not just looking at a single new menu addition. It is seeing how that food fits into the overall fast food done right mantra.

With the addition of Wendy’s Garlic Fries, it seems that Wendy’s is taking the Hot and Crispy French Fries out of the container and putting them front and center on the plate. Although this idea will never replace dipping those fries in a Frosty, the creative offering changes the diner’s order conversation.

The new Wendy’s Garlic Fries takes the Hot and Crispy Fries and tops them with a garlic herb sauce. While Wendy’s does still have the pub fries, and other fries combinations, on its menu, this addition is a little simpler yet still offers a bold punch of flavor. That pungent garlic combined with the potato is tasty with almost any Wendy’s pairing (except maybe Frosty dipping).

During a media call, John Li, Vice President of Culinary Innovation for the Wendy’s Company, alluded to the idea that the Garlic Fries might just be the start of highlighting this menu category for the popular quick service restaurant.

Those French Fries, which beat competitors in taste tests, have all types of iterations. Chili fries are an obvious one, but what about some other sauces that mimic the flavors on other Wendy’s menu items. If there is a new sandwich with a particular sauce, why can’t that item be added to fries. Anyone who has drizzled the hot honey on fries knows that this idea works.

While the Wendy’s Garlic Fries were launched in conjunction with the new Italian Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich, the pairing seems to lean into the idea of pairing new fries with new sandwich offerings. It makes for an easy combo and gives guests a reason to order more food. And, topping the Italian Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich with some garlic fries is a tasty combination, for those who are looking for an over the top bite.

For now, it is time to enjoy some Wendy’s garlic fries. Only time will tell if more fry-focus menu items will be added in the future.