When you order a burger, fries often come almost instinctively. This pairing has existed for so long that a burger without crispy fries may simply feel incomplete. So, why have fries become the default companion to burgers? In another Everyday Explained episode, we explore the reasons behind this classic pairing.
We asked Dhruv Kohli, founder and CEO of Boba Bhai, which serves Korean burgers, why this happens. Most of the time, we do not think twice before ordering fries with a burger, but this seemingly automatic choice is influenced by texture, flavour, familiarity and habit.
The next is more habit-centric. As Kohli pointed out, burgers and fries have been served together for years at restaurants and quick-service outlets, so ordering fries with a burger feels like a natural choice. People are generally more inclined to enjoy familiar food combinations. Kohli reasoned that when two foods are repeatedly served and eaten together, they become linked to the idea of a particular meal. This is why fries feel like an instinctive side dish to burgers, eventually making the pairing seem like one complete meal.
