Arby’s has always been a little different from the typical burger-and-fries restaurant. Instead of building its reputation around hamburgers, the chain became famous for thinly sliced roast beef sandwiches.
Over the years, the menu has grown to include chicken, turkey, brisket, corned beef, gyros, bacon, fries, desserts, and several other choices. Arby’s currently describes roast beef, brisket, corned beef, gyro meat, chicken, turkey, and bacon as some of the main meats on its menu.
But how did this unusual fast-food restaurant get started, what makes its food different, and what are some facts about the chain that even regular customers may not know?
Let’s take a closer look.
A Quick History of Arby’s
Arby’s was founded in 1964 by brothers Forrest and Leroy Raffel.
They wanted to create a restaurant that offered something different from the hamburger restaurants that were becoming popular across America. Their answer was a hot roast beef sandwich.
One of the fun misconceptions about the company is that the name “Arby’s” means “roast beef.” It sounds believable because the letters R.B. sound like “Arby’s.”
However, the name was actually connected to the Raffel Brothers, the men who founded the business.
That makes the story behind the name a little more interesting than simply naming the restaurant after roast beef.
What Is Arby’s Best Known For?
The Classic Roast Beef sandwich remains one of the restaurant’s signature foods.
Arby’s official menu currently lists the Classic Roast Beef at 360 calories, although nutrition information can change when menu items, recipes, or serving sizes are updated.
Unlike a hamburger patty, the roast beef is sliced thin and piled onto a bun. This gives the sandwich a completely different texture from the burgers served at many competing fast-food chains.
Classic Roast Beef Sandwich
The basic sandwich is surprisingly simple.
It centers around thinly sliced roast beef served on a bun. Many customers add one of the restaurant’s sauces to change the flavor.
Its simplicity is part of what has kept it recognizable for so many years.
Beef ’N Cheddar
The Beef ’N Cheddar takes the roast beef idea and makes it richer.
It combines roast beef with cheddar-style cheese sauce and Arby’s Red Ranch sauce on an onion roll.
For people who enjoy stronger flavors, this sandwich offers much more than the plain Classic Roast Beef.
Curly Fries
Curly Fries may be almost as recognizable as the roast beef.
Instead of ordinary straight fries, the potatoes are cut into spirals and coated with seasoning before cooking.
Their shape, crisp coating, and seasoning have helped make them one of the restaurant’s best-known side dishes.
A large order of Curly Fries is currently listed at 550 calories on the company’s menu, which is a good reminder that portion size can make a big difference.
Chicken and Other Meats
Although roast beef is still central to the brand, the menu has become much broader.
Chicken sandwiches, turkey, brisket, corned beef, gyro meat, and bacon have all helped Arby’s live up to its well-known idea of offering a wide selection of meats.
That variety is one reason the chain stands apart from restaurants that depend mainly on burgers or fried chicken.
What Should You Know About the Ingredients?
Fast food nutrition depends heavily on the exact item, portion size, toppings, and sauces you choose.
Some sandwiches and sides can be high in sodium, fat, or calories. Cheese sauces and creamy sauces can also add more calories to a meal than customers may realize.
Instead of assuming every roast beef sandwich has the same nutrition, it is better to check the information for the exact item you plan to order.
Arby’s provides nutrition, allergen, ingredient, and gluten-free information on its website, which makes a useful reference for readers who want details about a particular menu item.
This is the outbound link I would use in your article:
Arby’s Nutrition, Allergen & Ingredient Guide
That should take care of Rank Math’s “No outbound links were found” warning.
11 Surprising Facts About Arby’s
Here are some of the more interesting things that make this chain different.
- The name is connected to the Raffel Brothers, not simply “roast beef.”
- The restaurant was built around roast beef instead of hamburgers, which was unusual in the fast-food market.
- Its menu now goes far beyond roast beef. Chicken, turkey, brisket, corned beef, gyro meat, and bacon are among the meats currently highlighted by the company.
- Curly Fries became one of the brand’s signature foods, even though roast beef is what originally made the restaurant famous.
- Arby’s has experimented with wild-game sandwiches.
- In 2016, the company tested a venison sandwich in several markets, including Nashville. Some locations sold out remarkably quickly.
- The response was so strong that Arby’s brought the venison sandwich back in 2017 for a one-day nationwide promotion.
- The venison sandwich used a thick-cut venison steak rather than ordinary ground meat.
- Arby’s also experimented with an elk sandwich at a few locations in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.
- Some test locations reportedly sold out of the venison sandwich in as little as 15 minutes, showing how much curiosity the unusual menu item created.
- The company continues to use limited-time foods and specialty meats to keep its menu different from traditional burger chains.
What Makes Arby’s Different From Other Fast-Food Chains?
The biggest difference is its focus on sandwiches made with sliced meats.
McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, and Five Guys built their identities largely around burgers. KFC, Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, and Raising Cane’s focus heavily on chicken.
Arby’s created a different space for itself.
Its roast beef sandwiches, Beef ’N Cheddar, Curly Fries, and changing selection of specialty meats make the menu recognizable without simply copying another burger restaurant.
That gives you an excellent opportunity for internal links.
You could naturally say:
Love learning how fast-food restaurants are different? Compare Arby’s with our guides to Wendy’s, Burger King, Five Guys, and Subway.
Can You Make a Lighter Choice at Arby’s?
You can make a fast-food meal lighter without completely avoiding the restaurant.
A few simple ideas are:
- Choose a smaller sandwich rather than the largest option.
- Leave off cheese sauce or creamy sauces when you do not really want them.
- Pick a smaller serving of fries.
- Choose water or an unsweetened drink instead of a sugary beverage.
- Check the current nutrition information before ordering if calories, sodium, or allergens are important to you.
There is no single menu item that is automatically the “best” choice for everyone. A person’s needs depend on portion size, diet, allergies, and overall eating habits.
Final Thoughts
Arby’s has survived for decades partly because it never tried to be just another hamburger restaurant.
Its thinly sliced roast beef, Curly Fries, Beef ’N Cheddar sandwiches, and unusual limited-time meats have given it a personality of its own.
And some of the most interesting facts are not about calories at all. From the Raffel Brothers behind the name to nationwide venison sandwiches and experiments with elk, Arby’s has a history filled with unusual ideas.
The next time you see that familiar hat-shaped sign, you may know a little more about the story behind the food.
Want to discover more restaurant history, unusual facts, menu favorites, and food information? Visit our Fast Food Directory and explore the other chains in the series.