Arby’s might proudly claim “We Have The Meats,” but that doesn’t mean everything on their menu deserves a spot on your tray. While their roast beef sandwiches built the chain’s reputation since 1964, some items have fallen behind in quality, value, or just plain taste. From soggy chicken sandwiches to overpriced turkey wraps, certain menu choices will leave you wondering why you didn’t stick with the classics. Here are the Arby’s items that even loyal fans should probably avoid.
Crispy chicken sandwich falls apart instantly
The first bite of Arby’s crispy chicken sandwich tells you everything you need to know – this isn’t going to end well. The bottom bun gets absolutely drenched in mayonnaise, creating a soggy mess that can barely hold itself together. Add the weight of the chicken patty pressing down on that mayo-soaked bread, and you’ve got a sandwich that literally falls apart in your hands.
The chicken itself makes things worse with its spongy, overly processed texture that brings back memories of questionable school cafeteria food. The breading lacks any real crispiness despite the name, and the chicken patty seems surprisingly small for the price. When even fast food fried chicken feels like a ripoff, that’s saying something. There are much better chicken options out there that won’t leave you with mayo-covered fingers and regret.
Buffalo chicken slider drowns in too much sauce
Arby’s has been working on their value menu lately, and the regular chicken slider actually works pretty well. The buffalo version, however, takes everything good about the original and ruins it with excessive sauce. The parmesan peppercorn ranch gets piled on so thick that it overwhelms any other taste, while the buffalo sauce barely registers as spicy.
What makes this even more frustrating is how the bun turns into a soggy disaster before you can even sit down to eat it. The buffalo chicken slider proves that sometimes more sauce isn’t better – it just creates a messy eating experience that defeats the whole purpose of a convenient slider. Save your money and go for the regular chicken slider instead.
Double BBQ bacon burger packs dangerous sodium levels
When a burger has “double” and “bacon” in the name, you expect it to be indulgent. What you might not expect is a sodium bomb that contains 2,280 milligrams – nearly your entire daily recommended intake in one meal. That’s basically a full teaspoon of salt packed into one burger, and that’s before you add any sides or drinks.
The double burger also delivers 27 grams of saturated fat, more than double what health experts recommend for an entire day. While the American cheese, crispy onion strings, and bacon might taste good, the nutritional numbers are genuinely scary. This isn’t just about eating healthy – it’s about not feeling terrible for the rest of your day after one meal.
Greek gyro misses the mark completely
Arby’s tried to put their roast beef spin on a traditional Greek gyro, but the result feels more like a confused sandwich than an authentic Greek dish. The pita bread consistently arrives over-sauced, making it soggy and difficult to handle. Instead of the balanced combination of meat, vegetables, and tzatziki that makes a good gyro, this version just tastes like wet bread.
The bigger issue is that so many other places do gyros properly that there’s no reason to settle for Arby’s interpretation. While Arby’s excels with their traditional roast beef, the Greek gyro shows what happens when they venture too far from their strengths. When you’re craving a gyro, find a Greek restaurant or Mediterranean spot instead of trying to make Arby’s work for everything.
Corned beef reuben costs too much for mediocre quality
The price of Arby’s corned beef reuben has jumped 62% over the past decade, but the quality hasn’t improved to match. At around $13 for the meal, you’re paying premium prices for what amounts to average deli food. The corned beef lacks the tender, flavorful quality you’d expect from a good reuben, and the overall sandwich just doesn’t justify its cost.
For the same price, most local delis or even grocery store prepared food sections offer better reubens with higher quality ingredients. The corned beef reuben represents poor value when you can get mom-and-pop shop quality for similar money elsewhere. This is one case where Arby’s premium pricing doesn’t match the food quality they’re delivering.
Half pound beef and cheddar contains excessive sodium
Arby’s classic beef and cheddar is a solid choice, but the half-pound version takes things too far. This massive sandwich packs 2,530 milligrams of sodium – that’s 230 milligrams more than your entire daily recommended intake. The regular-sized version contains less than half that amount at 1,280 milligrams, proving that bigger isn’t always better.
The half pound sandwich will leave you feeling incredibly thirsty and potentially sluggish for hours afterward. While Arby’s slow-roasted beef tastes great, consuming that much sodium in one sitting just isn’t worth it. Stick with the classic size and enjoy the same great taste without the salt overload that comes with the supersized version.
Crinkle fries lack any real seasoning
When you go to Arby’s, the curly fries are practically mandatory – they’re seasoned, crispy, and have that distinctive shape that makes them fun to eat. The crinkle fries, on the other hand, taste like unseasoned potato strips that someone forgot to finish preparing. They have decent texture from the crinkle cut, but that’s about all they offer.
The lack of seasoning becomes especially obvious when you compare them directly to the curly fries. While the crinkle fries aren’t necessarily bad, they’re completely forgettable in a world where Arby’s curly fries exist. Why settle for plain when you can get something with actual personality and taste? The curly fries are what make Arby’s special, so there’s no reason to downgrade.
Roast turkey ranch and bacon disappoints despite price increases
This sandwich has experienced a 67% price hike over the past decade, but the portion sizes seem to have gone in the opposite direction. Each time you order it, there appears to be less turkey piled on the honey wheat bread. The Market Fresh bread itself can be surprisingly dry, creating an unpleasant eating experience that makes you reach for your drink constantly.
At 810 calories and 2,520 milligrams of sodium, the turkey sandwich actually contains more calories than several burgers on the menu. The combination of bacon and parmesan peppercorn ranch dressing pushes the nutritional numbers into uncomfortable territory while the dry bread and shrinking meat portions make it feel like poor value. There are better turkey sandwich options at most grocery stores for less money.
Smokehouse brisket falls short of BBQ expectations
Arby’s claims their brisket gets smoked for 13 hours, and you can detect some smokiness in the meat. The problem is that the brisket arrives sliced too thin and lacks the juicy, tender quality that makes good brisket special. Real barbecue brisket should be thick, moist, and practically fall apart when you bite it – this version feels more like deli meat.
The crispy onion strings that top the sandwich aren’t actually crispy, and the whole thing relies heavily on barbecue sauce to mask the dry meat. While the smokehouse brisket isn’t terrible for fast food, it’s not good enough to satisfy anyone who knows what proper brisket should taste like. If you’re craving real barbecue, this sandwich will just leave you disappointed and wishing you’d gone to an actual BBQ joint instead.
Arby’s built their reputation on doing roast beef right, and they should stick with what works. While it’s tempting to try their creative menu additions, many of these items prove that not everything needs the Arby’s treatment. Save your money for their classic roast beef sandwiches, curly fries, and shakes – the items that made people fall in love with Arby’s in the first place.
