The Best Sweet Potato Fries in Toronto

The best sweet potato fries in Toronto prove that life's little things are often the most pleasurable. As one restaurateur I recently spoke with acknowledged, the simplicity of the sweet potato fry is probably the secret to its success.

No doubt the root vegetable's uncanny ability to jive with a tangy wasabi mayo or a sugary maple syrup-infused sour cream also lends to its popularity. Chefs have the freedom to experiment with fanciful dipping concoctions. Diners who seek a healthier alternative to French fries get to indulge - virtually guilt-free.

Slicing, blanching, and frying sweet potato slivers might seem like culinary child's play, but when chefs select a complementary cooking oil, finishing salt or spices, and a creative dipping sauce, the results can be transcendent.

Here are the 12 best sweet potato fries in Toronto as voted by readers of this site.

Fresh

Along with claiming top spot on this list, Fresh’s hearty sweet potato fries are their most popular appetizer, outselling all other starters 5 to 1. The fries are dusted with sea salt and a blend of herbs, including basil, tarragon, and rosemary. Dunk your fries in a bath of miso gravy or peanut sauce and you’ll think you’ve just died and gone to yam heaven. $6.00. $1.50 for dipping sauce. More »

Victory Cafe

The Mirvish Village hangout has had sweet potato fries on the menu for years, but they’ve only been serving the current incarnation for the past 3 when they decided to try their own recipe during a menu overhaul - a fruitful experiment, indeed. More »

Shanghai Cowgirl

Known as Sweet Tater Fries on the menu, these chips have been a Queen West fan-favourite since 2002. The fries are medium-cut, lightly salted, and crispy without being overdone (I dare you to spot an iota of charred potato). The wasabi mayo is served in an adorable china demitasse and is the best buck you’ll ever spend. It has kick, but not enough to upstage the fries’ sweetness or to make the back of your throat tingle. $5.75 or $3.25 for a side order. $1.00 for wasabi mayo. More »

Dr. Generosity

Before opening his restaurant 6 years ago, the owner knew that his sweet potato fries lacked pizzazz. Call it a stroke of genius, or divine intervention, but the idea of adding a drizzle of organic, 100% pure Ontario maple syrup to the the side of sour cream came to him in a dream. He made his vision a reality and we should all be grateful for the result - A refreshing, maple dipping sauce that contrasts the hot fries. $7.00 More »

The Lakeview

Whether your yam craving hits at brunch, lunch, or just before last call, you can always find a piping hot plate of fried sweet potatoes here. These ain’t no limp sweet potato fries either. The thick-cut strips have a crispy, golden aura (thanks to the cornstarch that’s added when they’re blanched) and are served with a side of sweet chili mayo - a delightfully savoury counterpart to the candied potatoes. $4.75 More »

The Harlem Underground

Crossing the threshold of this West Queen West eatery is like stepping into another era. (A staffer’s impromptu piano session might have added to this otherworldliness vibe.) The kitchen, which specializes in soul food, goes through 300lbs of Louisiana yams per week. The fries are tossed in a fragrant house-created cajun seasoning and served with a zesty scallion mayo. Really dig yams? Try their homemade sweet potato biscuits and waffles, too. $3.95 More »

BQM Diner

These chunky sweet potato fries are soft in the middle, with a thin, crispy skin. Like all of the fries on the list, they are tasty enough to enjoy without any dip, but if the option’s there, why not indulge? The choice between horseradish, dijon, roasted garlic, or chipotle (all homemade) is yours, but the knowledgeable staff recommend pairing the latter with this particular dish. $5.00 + $1.00 for your choice of aioli. More »

The Rushton

Want to know what special seasoning makes these frites so irresistible? Fine, says the owner, but it'll cost you your life. The fries are golden and crispy without being too crunchy. The roasted garlic aioli is made in-house and requires a lot of TLC - it takes hours to prepare and, because it’s prone to separating, can be very fussy. Customizing bonus - There's no extra charge to substitute regular fries for their sweeter kin. $6.00 More »

Universal Grill

Don’t be fooled by the wine glasses and linen napkins on the tables of this retro diner - they’re experts in finger foods. Known for their award-winning ribs, Universal deserves an Honours degree for their yam fries (as they’re called on the menu). Great for sharing or paired with a slab of ribs, the fries - which taste more like candy than tubers - are chubby, thick-cut strips that are soft and gooey on the inside. The creamy chipotle mayonnaise will make it impossible for you to eat just one. $6.00 More »

Stampede Bison Grill

When asked what's special about his particular brand of sweet potato fries, the owner exclaimed, "My customers like eating them!" (I liked eating them, too.) Embracing the less-is-more philosophy, the owner serves his fries with minimal seasoning and lets the yams speak for themselves. Try the Stampede mayo - a scrumptious dipping sauce with a spicy Tex Mex flare - for a flavour boost. $2.50 + $0.75 for Stampede mayo. More »