It's not often you see a place listed on Yelp that immediately grabs your attention as a MUST-TRY spot to eat at. But, when looking up shops to meet for lunch a few weeks ago, Fried Up Co. firmly landed on our radar. And when the kids were finally done with summer break and sent off to school, the wife and I happily drove out to Oceanside to give it a try.
And it did NOT disappoint!
The concept is simple, crispy french fries loaded with your choice of toppings. The potatoes were a standard thin cut, likely frozen out of a bag, but that didn't detract from the perfect fry, making each one crispy and crunchy that didn't get soggy under the liquid of the toppings.
For our toppings, we first had the Buffalo Fries, with chopped up chicken tenders coated in both buffalo and ranch sauces. It was pretty much exactly what you would expect flavorwise, with the chicken iteself is cut into large chunks with a good and crunchy breading and everything mixing well without becoming a goopy mess. This was a great first selection.
We also split the Bacon Cheeseburger Fries with the BBQ sauce on the side. The whole of it well seasoned, with both the onions and BBQ sauce adding a nice sweetness that complimented the lightly salted bacon and minced burger patty.
All in all, this is a brilliant idea for a small shop and I wish it were closer to home for easier outings. I only have two issues, the first being a minimal desire for a bit more salt throughout both dishes, which I know is more of a personal preference. But, I believe if Fried Up added a little more cheese, as well as allowing that cheese to melt fully onto the fries, before adding the toppings ... that would go a long way to bumping this place up to a full five stars in my eyes.
Regardless if that cheese is still in shredded form while you eat, Fried Up Co. is still very much worth a try for anyone in the area. A novelty, carnival-style food has a perfect home here in this little side shop. I know if I'm out this way again, I'm definitely down to try another loaded item off their menu. read more