I like Arby’s. The roast beef sandwich with their Arby’s sauce, their beef and cheddar, even their chicken sandwiches. They are delicious. Their curly fries have no equal, and the potato cakes are great too.
How is this unpopular? The company wouldn’t exist if people didn’t like eating there.
Chains aren’t necessarily popular because they’re great, but because they’re accessible and predictable.
See also: Applebee’s
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I used to eat there a lot when they had the never ending riblets. Wouldn’t be surprised if I am the reason they stopped doing that. On more than one occasion the manager gave me coupons for so much % off the next visit if I would leave.
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Pretty much every big national chain in America has followed the same trend line. Fridays, chilli’s etc. They all rose.to popularity, spread all over and once they reached saturation started cheating out on ingredients and quality control to make more money.
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I think the decline was evident before 2008, but it really excelerated the trend. I used to love macaroni grill. It went to complete shit not long after 2008 with new ownership and I haven’t been to one in probably at least a decade.
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They were one of the only chains I enjoyed the food from. Macaroni Grill was a nice cross section of value and quality on the food. Then they got bought and it became basically olive garden quality really quickly. The first time I went after I got lasagne and it was like dorn room cafeteria quality. Then they supposedly realized they fucked up and brought some quality back at some point and I went back, still sucked. Went from somewhere I’d recommend some decent somewhat authentic Italian food on a budget to somewhere I’d silently judge anyone for enjoying… It’s like all the other big chains now, they’re clearly throwing the equivalent of freezer isle meals in ovens.
Everyone I’ve ever met who said they hate Arby’s has also admitted that they have never actually eaten at Arby’s.
Arby’s is good. I just wish it was cheaper/came with more food. They’re too good to be that small. Especially the brisket. 😩
My go-to item is the Meat Mountain.
Man I miss me that 5-for-5
Dude that was my jam back when they had that special running. That and extra horsey sauce
I’ve been. I … well, I don’t hate it, but I kind of think it’s grossly overrated.
All about the horsey sauce
I was raised on Arby’s, their fries are the bees knees.
Back when calories didn’t matter to me (and before I stopped eating meat), I used to split their 5 for $5 roast beef, toss the extra buns, and layer beef + a generous pump of Arby’s sauce, and a pump of horsey sauce on repeat. In total there was ~3 sandwiches worth of beef, ~5 packets worth of Arby’s sauce, and 3 packets of horsey sauce.
Toss in an order of curly fries and a jamocha shake, and you’ve got a meal fit for a king.
My other favorite growing up: there was an Asian restaurant next door to Arby’s that made a really great sesame ginger salad. I’d go there for a salad, hop over to Arby’s for an order of chicken strips, and make the most delicious Chinese chicken salad.
Ooh you brought back some good food memories.
This sounds yummy. Why don’t you do it again?
Quick question.
Why ?
A beef sandwich? If I go out it’s because I can’t make it at home. I can make a beef sandwich at home for next to nothing. Why would I pay someone to do that for me ?
Maybe it’s just me. Probably is
As a former employee, their roast beef would be very difficult to buy from a store or replicate at home.
Any attempt would likely be superior to what’s sold at locations.
In what world? It’s roast beef ?
I own beef. I cook it and then eat. ? Where am I going wrong?
I’m assuming the sauce or rub or whatever is costed in sugar or something sweet. Not impossible to replicate it.
It’s very processed bits of beef from other sources blended together then steamed in a bag to keep shape. Like a giant beef hot dog.
That sounds horrendous
Horrendously delicious.
Some things that sound awful are great.
A monsterous hotdog. I’m not sure
It’s not just you. I usually make mine at home too because i think they’re far superior, buuuut every now and then you want something different. I gotta say their roast beef sandwich is pretty good and i can’t get curly fries like that anywhere else near me. Same argument could be made for burgers.
Exactly. Why I tend not to buy anything I can make at home. If it’s not superior to my home made why am I paying for it. But again. I’m probably just wrong
I like Arby’s curly fries just fine, especially when fresh, but to be honest there’s something about the Kroger brand curly fries you can get in the freezer that slaps. I think it’s because the potato is a lot more prominent.
Can you slice it that thin though?
Yeah easily. Don’t think you need an expensive tool. Just a good quality knife. Sharp. Sharpen the blade before use and I don’t see why I couldn’t cut it to mm thickness.
I’m sure I’ve cut beef joints to translucent thickness before. If that’s the only thing stopping you. It’s do able
What cut of meat do you use to get that “greasy but in a guilty pleasure way” taste, how do you prepare it, and how convenient is it when we are in the middle of a busy day or driving through Iowa on I-35 and need something to eat around Dows?
I’ve no idea the cut of meat.
Considering it’s a roast beef sandwich I’d hazard a guess at top round roast. Suppose you’d need it to have enough length to cut into it properly to get those nice thick slices of beef.
I’m assuming the beef taste would depend on the fat content and marbling but I’ve no idea. I don’t like greasy so wouldn’t be my choice.
Obviously you are trying to goad me into failing which is a fun game.
I’m not an American nor do I live in ol USA. I think and plan ahead. With a beef roast that size cooked slowly when I had time. Might do me a week or less depending on if I had it for dinner or just for lunches.
I wouldn’t dare waste my time no money buying sandwiches while I was at work. However it is your prerogative how you spend your money and time. Just like everyone else
I was just voicing my opinion similar to others on the Internet
I mean, most people don’t have a meat slicer at home, and most store-bought sliced meat isn’t going to have the same consistency as you’d get from a proper slicer.
But, it’s the same reason people eat out anywhere: Because they don’t want to make it, themselves. I can make a chicken and rice dish at home, but I’ll still go to Panda Express from time to time. I can make my own burgers, but that doesn’t stop me from going to McDonald’s once in a while. I can unleash diarrhea with the force of 300 PSI into my own toilet from home, but sometimes I’ll let Chipotle handle that for me. Sometimes it’s just about convenience.
Do you need a meat slicer ? If you have a sharp knife you can cut to similar thinness.
If that’s the only obstacle, it’s very overcomeable.
Fair. I don’t eat out unless I’m eating something that I can’t make. I’m just super duper tight fisted. I’m not paying someone to make a Subpar meal for me. Tipping and driving. That’s less convenient than just throwing a beef roast in the oven for a few hours.
But each to their own
I mean, to be fair, they have the meats.
I can’t believe this thread is running with no mention of jamocha shakes. That shit is nectar of the gods.
Oh shit, those things were so good. When I was a kid, a classic roast beef with Arby’s sauce, curly fries, and a jamocha shake was the dream. My parents didn’t really let us have fast food much, so it was always super exciting when we did, and that was the ultimate combo.
I love them but they also make me poop.
When you get older that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Of all the fast food joints, Arby’s is highly underrated.
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Sous vide is a little more than just a “boiled hamburger”
Their Turkey Ranch and Bacon sandwich with a bit of Arby’s sauce is S-tier fast food. And their curly fries, while not the best fries around, definitely beat McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, etc. Plus their horsey sauce is a nice take on Horseradish if you’re not in the mood for a lot of spiciness. So yeah, Arby’s is pretty solid.
It was good. I loved their food.
Then I got food poisoning from them and I’ve never been back. Hours of expelling Arby’s from both ends tends to sour you on their food.
I don’t get why this is an unpopular opinion. I love Arby’s. And I’m extremely sad that the only one within a 50 mile radius closed during COVID and I can’t have Arby’s anymore.
They said it on the Simpsons that one time, and now everyone thinks they’re edgy and original for referencing it.
It was a thing with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show too. They did a nice sendoff for him when he was leaving the show
The only down side to arbys is the price to amount of food you get. If it was cheaper or they gave more food id go there all the time
It really depends on the Arby’s. Richmond VA has a fancy one with extra items others don’t have, and the restaurant is decorated like a redwood forest lodge, with canoes and totem poles and polished hardwood tables. Richmond also has a classic-style Arbys that looks like the 1970s but it’s run very well.
As a Richmond native, how did I not know this? I’ll check it out.
West end of Richmond at Short Pump. It’s perty cool for an Arby’s.
Thanks!
I can see this being an unpopular opinion. I regularly hear people complain about Arby’s. Also, at least once a year I’ll hear some rumor about maggots or the plastic wrapped, pre sliced roast beef resembling alien heads in formaldehyde.
TBH, I try not to think of that. They make a good brisket sandwich. Curly fries, too. Those are great. And, like OP says, even their chicken is good.
Your Arby’s has pre-sliced roast beef? I’ve had to wait because they needed to slice more beef.
I do enjoy the French dip and Swiss. I do miss the potato cakes though. I liked to dunk the potato cakes in the leftover au jus sauce.
