The helical-shaped French fries often served in fast-food restaurants are called curly fries. They are cut into a spiral or twisted form, usually with specialized blades, spiral cutters, or industrial potato-processing equipment.
Curly fries are commonly seasoned more heavily than ordinary straight-cut fries. Popular spice blends may include paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, giving them a distinctive reddish color and savory flavor. The spiral shape also creates a mix of thin crisp edges and thicker, softer sections in the same fry.
Curly fries are often associated with Arby's, but the restaurant did not invent them. Historical examples of spiral-cut fried potatoes existed earlier, and Oklahoma City's Dolores Restaurant and Inn reportedly served a curly form called “Suzi-Q potatoes” in 1938. Arby's introduced its well-known seasoned Curly-Q Fries in 1988, helping make the style nationally recognizable. Shoestring, crinkle-cut, and waffle fries are different cuts: they may be thin, ridged, or grid-shaped, but they are not helices.