Thrasher’s Makes #2 on Buzzfeed’s ‘Top Fries to Eat Before You Die’ List

It is a bit difficult with all this snow still on the ground, but try to picture yourself walking on the boardwalk in Ocean City, Md. The ocean waves crashing, kids laughing, and seagulls eyeing you up hoping you will drop just one of those salty, crispy, delicious Thrasher’s french fries.

Thrasher’s is #2 on the ‘Top 23 Fries to Eat Before You Die’ list. Check out the top 10 french fries on the list:

1. Wachos – Lobos Food Truck – Los Angeles, Ca.
2. Vinegar fries – Thrasher’s – Ocean City, Md.
3. Garlic fries with lemon saffron aioli & bacon mayo – Frjtz – San Francisco, Ca.
4. Dirty dirty fries – Pickled Fish – Long Beach, Wa.
5. Pommes frites – East Village- Manhatten, Ny.
6. Purple potato fries – Boise Fry Company – Boise, Id.
7. Potato Patch – Kennywood Amusement Park – West Mifflin, Pa.
8. Frites – Saus – Boston, Ma.
9. Crack fries – Hopcat – Detriot, Mi.
10. Truffle fries – Hopdoddy Burger Bar – Austin, Tx.

The famous Thrasher’s french fries are a summer must-have food item in Ocean City Md., Rehoboth Beach, Del., and Bethany Beach, Del. One cannot simply go to the beach and not get a tub of these signature peanut oil-simmered french fries. But remember, no ketchup! Apple cider vinegar will do just the trick!

Don’t let the lines deter you. This Ocean City tradition is well worth the sometimes long, anticipating wait.

J.T. Thrasher was a Georgia man who introduced a food stand only selling french fries to the Ocean City boardwalk in 1929. Thrasher brought in potatoes from various regions at different times of the year to ensure quality and taste.

Thrasher employed a group of girls from a Christian School in Georgia and housed them in a dorm above the present-day Bank of Ocean City. The original Thrasher’s was located in the breezeway of the Ocean City Amusement Pier. Due to his failing health, Thrasher sold his stand to entrepreneur Franklin “Chip” Hastings who moved the stand to the location it is at today.

In 1974, Buddy Jenkins purchased Thrasher’s and 36 years later, business is still booming at the little french fry stand. The original procedures and recipes are the same ones used in 1929. Les Morris has worked at Thrasher’s for 36 years as the general manager. When asked about the way Thrasher’s has done things for years, such as only serving salt and vinegar as toppings for the fries, Les says, “Well that’s the way it’s always been done.”

Other food businesses in the area have fallen in love with the signature Thrasher’s french fry taste, so they have been inspired to put similar “beach fries” in their own food establishments.

Jerry Murrell of Five Guys Burgers and Fries used Thrasher’s as inspiration before opening this store chain:

“Ocean City had 50 places selling boardwalk fries, but only one place always has a 150-foot line — Thrashers. They serve nothing but fries, but they cook them right — high-quality potato, peanut oil. That impressed me. I thought a good hamburger-and-fry place could make it, so we started with a takeout shop in Arlington, Virginia.”

Cleo Greene covered a story on WBOC about food trucks on Delmarva. One of the food trucks was CI Fries which serves burgers, hot dogs, seafood, wraps, salads, freshly squeezed lemonade, and of course, french fries, inspired by none other than the popular Thrasher’s:

“This is my dream, here on the CI Fries food truck, which stands for Chincoteague Island,” Chef Meers said. “We sell Thrasher’s-style French fries, lemonade and hot dogs. Basically we sell refined Eastern Shore food — crab cakes, soft shell BLTs, that sort of thing.”

Gus & Gus Place in Rehoboth Beach, Del. is a local favorite, similar to Thrasher’s. They serve burgers, cheesesteaks, hot dogs, chicken, breakfast, and fries. Much like Thrasher’s, Gus & Gus always has a line which you should be more than willing to wait in for their delicious beach food. A Rehoboth foodie says this about Gus & Gus:

“Y’know, you can whomp up all the $22 “gourmet burgers” you want, but Gus and Gus’ is still the best for a couple of bucks. The salty ocean breeze, the aroma of the constantly full grill, memories of vacations past and the parade of humanity in all its diverse glory is a value-added that helps make the food an experience.”

Beach foods like salt water taffy from Dolle’s in Rehoboth Beach, Del., caramel popcorn from Fisher’s in Ocean City, Md., and of course places like Gus & Gus and Thrasher’s french fries is what makes Delmarva’s beaches so popular, iconic, and memorable.

The next time you’re at the boardwalk, stop at Thrasher’s and grab whatever size tub you prefer of those mouth-watering french fries, and you’ll be set for a traditional Ocean City beach day. Don’t forget the vinegar!