(KGTV) — If you're the Los Angeles Times right now, you may have a lot of Southern Californians scratching their heads — some simply seeing red.
The newspaper Tuesday released its "Fast Food French Fry Rankings" by food writer Lucas Kwan Peterson ranking fast-food french fries on taste and texture, which includes "fry shape" and "mouthfeel."
Topping the ranking was Five Guys, which Peterson hailed as "so far ahead of everyone else it's almost unfair." McDonald's finished second, with Del Taco (yeah, Upset City) in third, comparing the taco chain to a March Madness surprise.
But the real upheaval came with the Times' last place finisher: In-N-Out.
After waxing some poetic reflection of being trapped in a lie of SoCal nostalgia, Peterson critiqued the fries as "bland, crumbly little matchsticks that aren't improved by any amount of ketchup, salt, cheese, or salad dressing you want to add to them."
Not even "animal style" could save the burger chain in this instance.
And perhaps unsurprisingly, fans did not take kindly to the assessment:
I do not agree with In-N-Out being the worst. Bull.
— Etiwanda Dutchess (@EtiwandaDutch) February 14, 2019
Absolute worst ranking list of all time
— Rad Whitcomb (@BWhit1487) February 13, 2019
Even San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti took issue with the ranking:
In-N-Out fries are a California staple. The real debate should be whether to order them animal style. For the record, I’m all in. #notsosecretmenu https://t.co/eH2CcHyeEy
— Kevin Faulconer (@Kevin_Faulconer) February 13, 2019
Respectfully disagree. In-N-Out fries do not belong in the lower left corner of this graph. https://t.co/lOA1hlIxsy
— Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) February 12, 2019
That's not to say some did not disagree with the ranking:
In ‘N Out’s secret shame is that their fries suck
— 🐍Dingus🐍 (@scrollserpent) February 13, 2019
Never underestimate the power of the crinkle cut! ... and yes In&O fries are the worst, time to admit it SCAL
— Carneros Fan (@Farmazy) February 13, 2019
