• I went to Culver's, Freddy's, and Sonic to see which chain has the best fries in the Midwest.
• All three serve different styles, so there's something for everyone on this list.
• Freddy's fries were beautifully thin and crispy, which is just how I like them.

^ Pick one of those chains to link! (Or we can link a chain later and link "best fries in the Midwest" instead if we have something relevant)

I love french fries, but there are so many different varieties out there that I think it's hard to name an objective winner.

Despite this challenge, I ordered fries at three popular Midwest chains — Culver's, Freddy's, and Sonic — to see which one served my favorite fast-food side.

Here's how the fries stacked up.

First, I drove through Sonic.

Sonic started as a single restaurant in Oklahoma in the 1950s and has since grown to over 3,500 locations across 47 states.

I ran out to get my fries at 11 a.m. on a Sunday, and I was able to drive right up to the speaker without waiting.

My medium fry cost $3.25. Despite being the most expensive of the bunch, the container appeared to have the least amount of food.

Sonic's fries have been upgraded since the last time I got them.

If you haven't been to Sonic in a while, it might be time to swing through and get yourself some fries. Last year, the chain released its Groovy Fries — crinkle-cut potatoes with a crispy surface akin to the chain's famous tots.

They're quite different from the Sonic fries I remember.

Maybe the idea of having to choose between tots and fries was too much for people. Whatever the case, the fries had a great crunch, even if they were a bit nontraditional.

The ridges are also supposedly ideal for picking up dipping sauces, which I could see as a plus.

Next, I ran down the street to Culver's.

Since opening in the 1980s, Culver's has become an old-reliable in the Midwest. The Wisconsin-based chain, which now operates out of 26 states, is known for its Butterburgers, cheese curds, and frozen custard.

Even on a Sunday morning, it was hopping. The parking lot and drive-thru were both packed.

My medium fry from Culver's cost $2.74 and was the only one served in a paper bag instead of a cardboard container. However, I seemed to have gotten a few more fries than I received at Sonic, so I was content.

Culver's is great if you like a thick-cut fry.

If you like potato wedges, these may be your top choice. Culver's crinkle-cut fries have a similar soft, creamy interior with a thin outer layer.

Some of my fries had nice crispy edges, but unfortunately, they were few and far between.

However, I let the inconsistency in texture slide a little since the fries are so thick — noticeably larger than the other two — which I bet makes the cooking process more difficult.

I swung through Freddy's last before heading home.

Freddy's hasn't been around as long as the other chains — it was founded in 2002 — but it's expanded far beyond its humble beginnings in Wichita, Kansas. It now serves cheese curds, onion rings, and frozen custard in 500 locations across 36 states.

There were a few other Sunday morning customers and diners, but I easily placed my order and patiently waited for my food.

Freddy's medium fries come in an upright container — the biggest of the three — and it seemed absolutely overloaded. For $3.09, I was pleased with the generous portion.

Freddy's stood out from its competitors.

Visually, Freddy's thin fries are very different from the crinkle-cut ones I got at the other chains.

They tasted ever-so-lightly seasoned and almost had a shoestring texture. I'd say they're slightly thinner than a McDonald's fry.

Best of all, each one was delightfully crunchy, just how I like it.

All of these options were solid, but Freddy's fries were my favorite.

There is truly a french fry for everyone on this list. Although it's difficult to crown one singular winner, I think their distinctions are interesting to note.

Freddy's was my favorite, and if you're also a fan of consistently crispy, shoestring fries, it'll likely be yours as well.

However, if you prefer a thicker wedge-like fry, Culver's is probably your best bet.

Sonic kind of fell into its own unique category, but I guess if you can't decide between a tot and a fry, you now know where to go.

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• Boom Supersonic conducted its eighth flight test on Saturday.
• Its CEO said it's on track to fly supersonic by the end of the year.
• The Boom Overture could fly from New York to London twice as fast as conventional airliners.

The return of supersonic commercial flights just got another step closer to reality.

Boom Supersonic announced Saturday that its eighth test flight reached a new maximum altitude of 25,000 feet. It matched the previous test's top speed of Mach 0.82 — slightly faster than the cruising speed of a Boeing 737.

Saturday's test focused on showing the aircraft is still controllable at higher speeds without its stability augmentation system.

Boom is on track to reach supersonic speed, above Mach 1, by the end of the year, CEO Blake Scholl said on X.

Its test flights take place in California's Mojave Desert, with the latest one lasting 54 minutes. They use the XB-1 aircraft, nicknamed the Baby Boom — a one-third-scale demonstrator of its Overture airliner.

The Boom Overture has received 130 orders from customers including United Airlines, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines.

Saudi Arabia's Neom project has also invested an undisclosed sum.

Overture is planned to fly at Mach 1.7, meaning it could go from Newark to London in three and a half hours. That's about half the time commercial airliners.

It's still slightly slower than Concorde's cruising speed of Mach 2, or 1,350 mph.

But if all goes to plan, passengers could fly supersonic in 2029. Concorde made its final flight in 2003.

Overture would similarly cruise at 60,000 feet, albeit with a slightly smaller capacity of up to 80 passengers.

Boom has faced obstacles over the years. Most notably, it had to design its own engine, called Symphony, after major manufacturers declined to help.

Rolls-Royce had a contract with Boom before deciding it didn't want to prioritize commercial supersonic flight.

Boom partnered with FTT, GE Additive, and StandardAero for the Symphony engine, with the first 40 to be built at a plant in Jupiter, Florida.

In June, it completed construction of its Overture Superfactory in North Carolina. Boom expects its first assembly line will produce 33 supersonic planes a year, with plans to double that.