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Are the viral fries at De Frites Staan Harajuku really worth the hype?

Oona McGee a few minute ago
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We find out what a local Japanese woman thinks of the Belgian fries obsession in Tokyo.

Our reporter Natsuki Gojo prides herself on her willpower, as she has the strength to say no to a lot of things. One of the few thigs she can’t say no to, however, is potato chips, and she likes them so much that sometimes she gets an overwhelming craving for them.

It was only a matter of time before the algorithm caught on to Natsuki’s weak spot, so it was no surprise when her feed became flooded with chip recommendations recently, and one that caught her eye was a post t hat sang the praises of the fries at De Frites Staan Harajuku. This speciality shop serves frites, the style of French fries popular in Belgium and France, which are thick-cut and served in a cone, and it looked so good that she knew right away that she had to go and try them.

According to the store’s official Instagram account, its dine-in menu comes as a set with meat, and fries can’t be ordered on their own. So if you want to buy just the fries, you’ll need to order takeout, and if you’re an early bird like Natsuki, it’s good to note that takeout orders commence 30 minutes after the store opens.

Since she wanted to focus entirely on enjoying the fries, she decided to go with takeout, and from the two sizes available – small and regular – she ordered the small size for 1,188 yen (US$7.90).

There are both free and paid dipping sauces available, and Natsuki decided to try the popular “Mayonnaise & Truffle” sauce, which costs an additional 270 yen. After a short wait outside the store, Natsuki’s number was called and she was handed the most stylish-looking fries she’d ever seen. Both the sauce and the potatos were presented beautifully, sitting beautifully in the bright red cone as if they were just waiting for their close-up.

Impressed by their beauty, Natsuki was now keen to find out about the taste. First, she decided to try the fries on their own, without any of the dipping sauce.

Freshly fried and piping hot, these fries were like nothing she’d ever tasted before. Not only did they have an incredibly crispy exterior and a wonderfully light texture, but the inside remained surprisingly fluffy and soft. She could also taste the lovely aroma of the potato skins, which were more than just a supporting act – they were the star of the show.

Next, she dipped the chips into the Mayonnaise & Truffle sauce, and they were just as delicious.

The rich creaminess of the mayonnaise paired beautifully with the potatoes, while the mushroom-like aroma of the truffle added a lovely extra dimension that made the combination seriously moreish.

At this point, she was so enraptured by the frites that she didn’t want the experience to end, but at the same time, she wanted to eat them while they were still piping hot. It was a wonderfully delicious dilemma.

The only drawback to the frites was how messy her hands got when eating the fries with the dipping sauce. There was so much sauce that, as she worked her way through them, she simply resigned herself to saucy fingers, as they were too delicious for her to care.

There were paper napkins at the counter, but if you’re getting takeaway, Natsuki recommends bringing a small pack of wet wipes with you just to be safe.

It’s now been several days since she tried the frites, but Natsuki still can’t get the memory of the wonderful crispy-outside, fluffy-inside texture out of her mind. Even her friend, who went along with her, has been messaging her, asking when they can go for another visit, so it’s safe to say that these viral frites really are worth the hype.

So next time you’re exploring the tight alleyways and bright storefronts of Harajuku, be sure to stop and refuel at De Frites Staan…but be aware that you might be dreaming about their deliciousness for days afterwards.

Restaurant information

DE FRITES STAAN HARAJUKU
Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingumae 4-29-9, 1F Jingumae Building
東京都渋谷区神宮前4-29-9 神宮前ビルディング 1F
Open: 1 p.m.–9 p.m. (Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri); 12 p.m.–9 p.m. (Wed, weekends and public holidays)
Closed: Irregular holidays
Website (Instagram)

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