Onion rings are one of the riskiest fast-food sides—you either get crisp golden perfection or a greasy letdown. We tasted six national chains to see which ones are worth your money, calories, and craving. Each chain’s rings are broken down by price, nutrition, and even a bit of food-culture trivia to keep things fun. Think of this as your shortcut guide: the fries may be classic, but sometimes the rings deserve their moment in the spotlight. Let’s see which ones deliver real crunch.
Sonic’s Vanilla-Battered Curveball
Price: $3.59 (medium) Calories: ~580 (6 rings) Sonic’s massive rings come with a sweet twist—the batter includes vanilla ice cream, a quirky tradition since the early days of the brand. That makes them taste like carnival food: crunchy, golden, but strangely dessert-like. You’ll either love the nostalgic fair-food vibe or find it distracting when all you wanted was savory. Verdict: A fun one-time order, but not the best fry alternative.
Burger King’s Onion Imposters
Price: $4.49 (small) Calories: ~320 (small serving) Burger King doesn’t use real onion slices—just onion-flavored paste molded into uniform O’s. The result? Mushy texture inside, pale breading outside, and no satisfying snap. They’re salty and garlicky but feel mass-produced in the worst way. Verdict: Cheap, yes. Worth your calories? Not really. Stick to fries here.
Dairy Queen’s Golden Classic
Price: $3.89 (regular) Calories: ~360 (regular) Fresh from the fryer, Dairy Queen’s rings nail the fundamentals: crisp breading, snappy onion, no dreaded hollow shells. They’re light on seasoning, but the texture balance is there. As a fun twist, DQ serves them in baskets—making them feel more “sit-down” than drive-thru. Verdict: Not the flashiest, but a dependable, well-rounded option.
Culver’s Balanced MVP
Price: $4.29 (medium) Calories: 420 (medium) Culver’s is best known for butter burgers, but their onion rings might be the real star. The batter is crisp without being heavy, and the onion actually shines through instead of disappearing in grease. Paired with their Signature Sauce—creamy ranch with a spicy kick—they’re dangerously addictive. Verdict: Absolutely worth swapping fries. These are the standard-bearer.
Swensons’ Crunch Overload
Price: $5.29 (DoorDash) Calories: 210 Swensons goes extra hard on crunch, with dark brown breading that looks intense before you even bite. Sadly, the onion inside is so thin it gets lost in the coating. The result is dry, greasy, and even left oil stains in the bag. Trivia note: Swensons also sells “onion petals” as a Cajun option, but even that couldn’t save the rings. Verdict: More crunch than flavor. Pass.
Smashburger’s Saucy Redemption
Price: $6.00 (one size) Calories: ~370 (regular portion) Smashburger’s rings look neat and golden, but the batter turns soft and soggy against the onion. The flavor alone is forgettable, but they transform when dipped in Smash Sauce—a tangy mayo, mustard, and relish blend. That condiment is the only reason these are worth trying. Verdict: Fine if you’re already here, but not worth the trip.
Price Value Snapshot
- Burger King: $2.39 (cheap but fake onions)
- Sonic: $3.49 (unique but divisive)
- Swensons: $3.50 (crunch overkill)
- Dairy Queen: $3.89 (solid balance)
- Culver’s: $3.69 (the winner)
- Smashburger: $3.99 (sauce-dependent)
Best bang for buck: Culver’s at $3.69 for real onions + addictive sauce.
