We tried every fast-food breakfast hash brown out there — here's who does it best

Hollis Johnson

The hash brown is a fast-food breakfast tradition — every chain has its take on the fried potato classic.

From the coffee-centric Dunkin Donuts to the Tex-Mex mainstay of Taco Bell, every menu recognizes the American Eater's desire for greasy, golden potatoes in the morning. 

But to those who believe a hash brown is a hash brown is a hash brown: think again. 

We've ranked hash browns from seven major fast-food chains to find out which does it best — and worst.

What a beautiful sight: steaming, gleaming hash browns glittering like gold at Fort Knox. We have seven chains' worth to test — Dunkin' Donuts, Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendy's, Arby's, McDonald's, and Chick-fil-A.

While not every fast-food chain is represented, it's a fairly large and national group. Notable absentees: Hardee's, Whataburger, and Jack in the Box.

7. Taco Bell

Frailty, thy name is Taco Bell hash brown. 

It's floppy, sopping with grease, and paler than Robert Smith. It tastes not of potato, but of an insipid flour tortilla — quite alarming to the taste buds, but it makes sense considering it's dipped in the same fryolator as the Chalupa Supreme. 

The question is: why order a hash brown at Taco Bell?

6. Burger King

What's a step up from the wrong flavor? No flavor, I suppose. Burger King's hash browns are firm, yet lack crispness and taste. In a word: bland. It would seem the only seasoning used is salt, and a tad too much at that.