The Taste Bud: Galaxie Margs and Watakas? Always, But Don’t Forget the Hand-Cut French Fries

Galaxie’s French fries should not be overlooked. Soooo crispy. Photos by Kevin Gibson

When you were a kid, did you ever eat just a plate of French fries as a meal? Yeah, well, I still do it sometimes. And the fries at Galaxie are some of the best I’ve found in Louisville when I need that basic fuel-up.

I mean, most of us like hand-cut fries, right? Lord knows, the first time I recall having them years ago at, I think, a Penn Station, it made me a little disappointed that I’d been eating crappy McDonald’s fries and crinkle fries as if they were somehow the same animal. (Nothing against crinkle fries, so long as they are cooked properly. Still.)

I don’t frequent chains much these days, but in recent years I would occasionally hit up Five Guys Burgers, and it was as much for the hand-cut fries as for the meat sandwiches. But at Galaxie, I know I’m supporting local and, well, the French fries there are only part of the draw. So, if it’s enough to make me write a whole post just about fries, that has to say something. Right?

I think the best aspect of these fries is that the flavor is just, well, potato. I love the flavor of potatoes – so simple, a little earthy and even a bit on the sweet side. And the lightly salted Galaxie fries are fried to the point of being super-crispy – so crispy that even the skins end up taking on the consistency of a super-thin chip. Maybe I’m wrong, but this crispiness adds another flavor level, sort of the way burnt ends enhance the flavor of smoked meat.

Valentina Salsa Picante is a fine pairing for the fries, but the house aioli does the job too.

Galaxie serves its hand-cut fries with an aioli for dipping (remember, ketchup is the Devil) that is super light – slightly garlicy and just spicy enough to let you know it’s there. But my favorite pairing for potatoes is hot sauce. If you get an order, ask your bartender to break out the Valentina. You won’t be sorry.

That said, don’t forget that with any order of French fries, it’s possible to get one of those fries with a flavor that heavily reflects the, shall we say, terroir. As in, it just tastes like the dirt the potato grew in. I got a couple of those with my last batch. But rest assured, these are 99% delicious. Oh, and cheap. For four bucks, you’ll get a heaping helping of cut potatoes that, as noted, can stand alone as a small meal in a pinch. If you go for the $7 large order, you probably should be planning to share.

And of course, there are the legendary Vader Fries, which is the tasty house-cuts topped with queso, harissa, banana peppers, feta and parsley, for a cool flavor combo kick. Those are definitely a shareable or a meal for one. You can also add chicken or steak for an upcharge.

All that said, the Wakatakas are the highlight of the menu. I won’t even get started on how much I love that Chipotle Chicken version — I think could eat one of those every day. Pair them with one of the house margaritas, and you’re living right. You know, along with a side of fries.