Fry Captain

duck fat fries = a-​mazing!!!
i only give it 4 stars for sometimes shady service. fry capt will go MIA for weeks on end, website down, no tweets, etc. and when you email them, there is no response!

One thing that I can say about most food trucks in the DC area is that the people operating them seem genuinely nice and seem to appreciate your business. I didn’t really get that impression at Fry Captain.
The guy taking my order asked me three times what I wanted. I couldn’t really figure out what the distraction was. There were only two other people in line. After I repeated my order the third time he barked, «What else?» Wow. If I wanted this kind of surliness, I would have gone to the McDonalds across the street.
I got a single order of fries with garlic aioli. An order is usually $ 4, but he said it was going to be $ 5. I told him that I wanted regular fries; not duck fat to which he replied, «That’s all we have today.» I think it would have been a nice gesture to then add, «…but I’ll give it to you for $ 4 since we don’t have vegetable oil.» Nope.
They’re really good fries… great, in fact. My problem with the duck fat is that it’s so rich, I was only able to finish half and I was done. So I basically paid $ 1 more to eat half as many fries. I’ll probably stop by and get a shake some day, but I’m not in that big of a hurry to go back any time soon.

I was excited about Fry Captain and wanted to beat the rush, so I went there at 11:30, which was when they said on twitter that they would open. The cashier guy was off at the bank and they didn’t have gas, so ended up they didn’t even take my order til noon (I was the first in line). Then, apparently all fries are fried in duck fat, and though their truck says $ 4.00 for a single order, because of the forced duck fat addition, it is $ 5.50. And even more misleading, their website says it’s $ 3.50. At that point I was irritated at waiting so long, so I just gave them the advertised amount and said that’s all I’m givin’ ya.
The fries were ok. We got the garlic salt seasoning. It was too salty for me and my friend. We got the truffle ketchup and cilantro lime aioli. I’m a fan of the aioli. Truffle ketchup was interesting.
I’m glad I tried it, but I won’t be getting it again. Much better food trucks out there. I agree with other reviewers that they’re disorganized and it taints the experience.

My coworker and I were excited to try this truck and both ordered shakes — one black and white, and one cherry. After waiting in line about 10 minutes, which is reasonable, we ended up waiting an additional 30 minutes for 2 milkshakes. 30 minutes! I understand it takes some time to make shakes, but this was totally ridiculous.
They seemed to be serving up the fries rather quickly, but for some reason there was a «back up» on shakes. When we noticed a few people ahead of us in line already got their shakes we asked them about ours, and apparently they were making them out of order (ie, not first come first serve). Really?!!
After we finally got them, we both agreed they were good (and thick), but unless you have time to wait around, I wouldn’t bother.

2.25 stars. CP captures my thoughts exactly: «This Captain needs to be demoted a rank.» I love food trucks, but I’m not really feeling Fry Captain. I checked this one out with Mike S. the other day in Eastern Market, and basically I decided to chuck the entire order after nibbling on maybe 20 total fries on the way back over to Pound the Hill. Maybe I ordered wrong?
I went with sea salt covered fries soaked in duck fat and served with a horseradish mayo. While this might sound amazing (at least to me, maybe this is the equivalent of wearing a striped polo over plaid shorts to everyone else), the fries themselves didn’t contain nearly as much of the decadent goodness that I’ve come to expect from an order of duck fat fries. Maybe Cedar has spoiled me (seriously, check out the duck fat fries on their bar bites menu) but I wasn’t really impressed. The horseradish mayo was similarly unimpressive. Granville Moore’s and Good Stuff Eatery definitely sport more impressive sauce concoctions and garnishments than Fry Captain. I do leave open the idea that maybe with a different sauce I would have had a different experience as apparently Fry Captain carries over 20 different types (only two were available on my visit). But like DC empanadas, having an incredible variety of product but serving only a limited menu of that diversity on a daily basis can be a pretty frustrating experience.
I’ll give it another try, but right now I think if Fry Captain is steering the ship, the stomach boat is about to be sunk.

2.5 stars. I really was eager to try this truck, but sadly I think it was a waste of my calories!
Personally, I thought the fries were way over salted (and I didn’t even get a seasoning salt put on). They also charged me $ 5 for a single order, when the menu said it was $ 4. (not that big of a deal, just FYI for others) The parmesan peppercorn mayo was good, but due to the shoestring-​like fries, they were shredding in half when I attempted to dunk them into the mayo. The single order was a large portion, but the fries themself seemed broken and quite small to dip.
Maybe I should have known from the lack of line on a beautiful day when the other trucks nearby were hopping? At least there wasn’t a (long) line for the fries.

I think you can skip this one. It was only after waiting for about an hour (between having to get more oil for the generator, getting started, then waiting in a long ass line) and paying $ 5 for fries cooked in duck fat with onion salt that I now feel like a total moron.
They were just fries. Nothing special about them. They weren’t bad but they weren’t good. I’m not sure if the duck fat actually helped them but if they did, I do not want to try the normal fries. The sriracha sesame mayo was okay, but as Amanda B suggested, I think it’d be better with sushi. I definitely cannot justify spending $ 5 on these fries and I suggest you don’t either.

This Captain needs to be demoted a rank.
I missed out on the Fry Captain experience last year and was eager to try them when they recently returned. The product was good, but they are not very efficient serving it.
Several areas where they could improve their efficiency. It was a little after 12:00 noon in Franklin Park, and they were out of change. The line was not that deep they could have run out of change so soon. When my order was taken, I asked if they needed my name, and they said ‘no, we just call out the product.’. I immediately knew this would lead to trouble (which it did). First of all, the noise of the two generators in the back powering the Fryer drowns out any attempt made by people inside to be heard less than 2 feet area from the window. And while there were 3 people inside the truck (one taking orders, two prepping the food), it took over 45 minutes for me to just get a strawberry shake and a single order of fries. And then I saw them give my order away to someone who was behind me who ordered the same thing I did (again, names would have been handy here). I complained and then got my order, ahead of two other guys who had placed their order before me. What a mess!
The fries were good, but the strawberry shake was nothing to write home about (in fact, it could have been whipped up a bit more). Overall good product, but these guys should sit in on other trucks (like PORC) who have a far more efficient system.
The wait is just not worth it.

Totally adding Fry Captain to my food truck stalking list.
First, the sauces were excellent. Truffle ketchup, omfg. I only used up about half for my fry order– and I totally saved the rest in my fridge for another day. Never tasted a ketchup like that. Sriracha mayo– YUM. Spicy kick.
I got my fries cooked in duck fat. I’m not entirely sure what duck fat is supposed to taste like, but the fries were the bomb. Maybe a little crispier than regular fries? Dunno. But LOVED EM.
Line moved at an average pace, guys inside were really friendly. Prices are affordable. All in all, a unique and tasty food truck.

One day the Fry Captain truck stopped right outside my workplace! So I had the duck fat fries in garlic salt with curry mayo and a chocolate milkshake. The fries were quite tasty, and I really liked the curry mayo too (though if I go for this truck again I hope they have the truffle ketchup to try). The milkshake was really excellent — and that’s what really stuck with me. I may or may not grab their fries again — but I will be craving their milkshakes.

Went to Farragut originally for the lobster truck but the line was insane as usual. Right as we were about to leave the Fry Captain rolled up and we were 3^rd in line. Myself and 2 other coworkers split 2 orders. We had one with garlic salt and truffle ketchup and the other order was old bay with curry mayo. Soooo good! My coworker tried the Oreo milkshake and said it was amazing as well. So we had Fry Captain and ran into the Subway they were parked in front of to top off the meal. Love love love the fry captain!

I was standing in the line of this tiny black truck and the Fry Captain came and yelled out to us, «Only duck fat fries today,» and I said «ay ay! captain,» and then thought to myself, «why would anyone come to this truck for regular fries?»
To my surprise, the «duck fat» fries were pretty regular themselves. I mean we’re talking about french fries so if I want them, I don’t need to have a truck bring them to my neighborhood — every place has fries. So, if a food truck has french fries, especially ones cooked in mythical duck fat, they better bowl me over.
Fry Captain, you did not bowl me over. You merely tilted me with your tasty sirracha and chimichurri sauces. Your fries tasted like fries, and honestly, this place is all gimmick and no practicality for the lunch crowd. French fries for lunch works kinda okay for a side dish but if you’re waiting in the monster long line of Fry Captain, it doesn’t leave you much time to wait in another foodtruck line for real food. (I took a pretty long lunch the Friday I tried Fry Captain).
If I’m out drunk and see the captain, maybe I’ll pay him a visit, but for lunch, never more, never more.

So, it’s a Friday, and I know I’m going to have to work late. Plus, it’s fall and the temperature outside is 90 degrees. I’m tired and have a headache. Something is rotten in the District of Columbia.
But then, hark, what light through my dreariness breaks. Yon, in Farragut Square is a bevy of food trucks. I decided to get fries and a milkshake to make my rotten, no good, very bad day at least a little better. And it worked.
Fry Captain only had duck fat today, so I had the fries in duck fat with garlic salt and the Sriracha Sesame Mayo and a Mocha shake. Now, some people (vegetarians) might complain that duck fat was the only option for frying, but I am starting to think that maybe everything should be fried in duck fat all the time. And, if I were a vegetarian, I would probably be one who makes an exception for duck fat. And bacon.
The fries were deliciously crisp and perfectly salted. The shake was the perfect thickness, not too runny, but not so thick i couldn’t drink it through the straw. The sauce was plentiful and a little bit spicy. I actually like the garlic mayo at Maoz better, but it was really quite good. I couldn’t really taste the sesame.
I don’t know if Fry Captain read the Unilocal reviews, but I definitely got napkins, two containers of sauce, and the ordering went really smoothly. I wish the truck had said there was only duck fat today before I got up to order, but that’s a fairly minor complaint. All in all, Fry Captain made me the kind of lunch I always wished I could have as a kid. And if that doesn’t make a day better, I don’t know what could.

WOW.
Piping hot, slightly crispy on the outside fries, with just the right amount of sea salt. Could it get better? Yep, add the srirachi sesame mayo. The line moved effectively and my fries were still nice and hot when I got back to my desk to devour them.
So much better than the tepid, limp fries from Eat Wonky.
My dream come true would be a Red Hook Lobster roll with a side of Fry Captain fries, with no wait in line at either truck.

It pains me to give this place two stars since I love fries so much, but it really left me disappointed. The fries were dry (I didn’t even know that was possible with something fried in oil) and many of them were hard and inedible. I’d say about half of the fries ended up in the trash for fear that they would shatter my teeth. It cost 4 bucks (3.50+0.50 for an extra sauce), which means 2 bucks were looking at me from the garbage can. Sad day. On the sauce front, I tried the sriracha sesame mayo after seeing Justin C’s review and it was pretty good. Actually, it would be great on some sushi. I also went on a limb and ordered the mango chutney mayo, which I thought might be like the delicious mango mayo at Good Stuff eatery, but was sorely mistaken. It tasted overwhelmingly of ginger… I couldn’t even detect a hint of mango in it. To be honest, I thought it was a little gross. Coupled with the sad dry fries, it was a letdown. The wait wasn’t too long but I was stuck behind all these people ordering just milkshakes (which looked good enough to maybe entice me back). Having a line just for people that want fries would expedite the process – it literally only took a minute after ordering to get my fries (they cook them all plain and then season them to your taste in a bowl) after waiting in line behind all the milkshake people for 10 minutes. My votes for best fries still go to Maoz on M St and Nando’s, which are both open late to soak up the booze after a night on the town.

3.5 stars is where I want to be. Somewhere between Amanda’s sadness and Justin’s idolatry. All I had was the fries (garlic salt, siracha sesame mayo) Fries were well cooked, combination of crispy and limp which I like. The siracha mayo had a bite, but wasn’t that spicy. I really wanted to try their spicy buffalo and blue cheese. Next time maybe they will offer it.
So why not 4 stars? They seemed a little disorganized. The guy takes the order and the nice lady in the back dishes out the goods. But they don’t take names, so it just sort of ends up to be this mob of people who have to repeat their order to her. To be honest, if I said I wanted a double order of sea salt and ketchup, I would have gotten it. They don’t need to be as slick as Sauca with credit cards and what not, but they need to devise a system so I don’t need to clamor with the groundlings to yell my order, engaging my 7^th grade basketball boxing out skills.
I’ll be back in a little while. Hoping the kinks are a little worked out and I can give this place 4 stars for the fries and also try one of their delicious milkshakes.

I think Fry Captain may be one of those places that will take a while to get all of the kinks out of their service before actually delivering great fries. As it is right now though 2.5 stars.
Fries: They were okay. A little cold (which is weird because I saw her pull them out of the oil in front of me) and a little underseasoned. I had the regular fries with garlic salt. Sweet potato and duck fat fries were sadly not available.
Sauces: While there are about 30 sauces on the menu, they were only offering about 5 of them. I think a couple more options would have made a big difference. I tried the sriracha and sesame mayo, plus an extra mango chutney mayo. Both were decent but the mango chutney one did not really go with the fries (although it tasted better in my mind). The sriracha sauce lacked heat. I think the Good Stuff Eatery sauces are superior.
Shakes: I only tried a friends, who ordered the mint oreo, but it was really tasty. Will definitely try it next time. Again I wish they had at least one other unique flavor (the others were strawberry, chocolate and vanilla). If there had I would have ordered my own.
Service: Surprisingly fast for the fries (although a lengthy wait for the shakes) but as other reviewers have noted not very organized. Right now you have to retell your order to the woman at the window and therefore nothing comes out in the correct order (e.g. whoever tells her to make them something gets the fries first, not whoever ordered first or has waited the longest).
I’ll give it another chance and be willing to modify my review. More options (especially offering the sweet potato or duck fat fries) would definitely be a start.

After waiting all summer for the Fry Captain to finally hit the road, we were rewarded tonight with a couple cups of delicious fried spud. It was no easy task for them to get on the road, but they did a great job of constantly keeping their followers updated of the status, and even managed to have someone hold them a prime parking spot (
) right in front of the Tibetan shop in Adam’s Morgan.
They learned right away from other successful food trucks that simple (but refined and stylized) is better, and have stuck to 2 main offerings: fries and milkshakes. The level of customization expounds from there though, very similar to one of my favorite spots, Lunchbox Laboratory in Seattle. The fries come as a single or double order, with a potential of 7 different seasonings (sea salt, garlic salt, onion salt, paprika salt, hot pepper, cajun, or old bay), a possible 22 dipping sauces (too many to name here, but imagine chimichurri mayo, spanish romesco, truffle ketchup, and korean bbq just to get your mouth watering), and for an extra $ 1.50 they’ll even fry them in duck fat for you. You can also get sweet potato fries instead for an additional $ 1.00, with special nutella or marshmellow dipping sauces. The milkshake offerings are just as varied, with almost 15 in the line-​up, including some really unique choices like pistachio, honey lavender, and sea salt & olive oil.
Since this was their opening night only a few items off the whole menu (
) were available, just enough to whet our appetite, but more than enough to know that these guys mean serious business (it’s a father and son duo, pretty cool). They got a lot of flack from the cops who weren’t quite familiar with the food truck laws, and even more unnecessary grief from the ignorant owner of Ventnor Sports Café, who kept insisting that he had to be 25 feet from his doorstep, even though no such regulation exists (pretty sure he was just jealous this truck had more attention than his bar). As the menu was pared down somewhat, our decisions were pretty simple. I went with a single order (
) of fries, with onion salt and chili-​ketchup with an extra side of curry mayo, and Nicole got a single order, with sea salt and sriracha sesame mayo.
I absolutely loved the onion salt, and I’m determined to get some for myself now. The sea salt fries were good too, but the combination of the onion salt with the fresh fry oil was fantastic. Unfortunately they didn’t have the duck fat option tonight, but I’ll definitely be returning for it. Of the 3 sauces, the sriracha based was easily my favorite, with the chili-​ketchup coming in second (it was actually pretty sweet), and then the curry mayo which tasted very little like curry to me.
I am so stoked about this truck, and I really hope the upcoming potential legislation about food trucks in DC refrains from any potential discriminatory laws which would prevent brave entrepreneurs like them from being just as successful as those who paved the culinary path before them.
****************
Second visit: My score remains the same, so no need for an actual updated review. This time around I got a double order of cajun seasoned fries with the truffle ketchup and mango chutney dipping sauces (
), and a mint oreo milk shake. The fries were once again fantastic, and while I did like the cajun seasoning I still prefer the onion salt from my first visit. As for the sauces, the truffle ketchup was great, with a nice buttery finish and just enough truffle oil for a hint of flavor, but the mango chutney was a little odd. I actually liked the sauce, it just didn’t go well with my fries, and I think would have been better with their sweet potato fries. The strange thing is they weren’t serving these today, so I’m not sure why they offered this chutney. They also still don’t have the duck fat addition in operation yet, which is what I keep hoping to try.
The milkshake was very good, a combination of two of my favorite types of ice cream. The only complaint I have is that you get your fries very quickly here, but it can take quite a while for the milkshake orders to come out, especially if multiple people are ordering them ahead of you. As a result you can wind up with not-​so-​hot fries by the time you’ve received your milkshake and are ready to go sit down and eat.
*****************
Third visit: Garlic salted fries with chimichurri mayonnaise. This combination ROCKS. My fries were a little more done than the first two visits, but still really good. The flavor combination for something so simple was really impressive. Also ordered almond biscotti milkshake, which was amazing, with real bits of biscotti.