What to order · Updated October 2026
What to Order at Arby's: Every Item, Judged
Arby's has two jobs and only one of them is chicken. The roast beef sandwiches are the reason to pull in, the curly fries are the reason to stay, and everything shaped like a breaded fillet is competing with Chick-fil-A and Popeyes while losing. Prices below are national averages triangulated from several 2026 menu trackers; Arby's franchisees set their own, so a coastal or airport store will run higher and a Midwest one lower.
Buy roast beef, add curly fries, pass on the shakes and the chicken. Arby's publishes full macros, so you'll also see where each order lands on protein per dollar, and the answer is not where you'd guess.
Every item, judgedThe verdicts
Classic Roast Beef
Order itThin-sliced beef on a sesame bun, and the only sandwich on the board that nobody else copies. Quality does swing by location (some stores slice it tender, some leave it stringy), but even the average one is a better 360 calories than a plain burger. Add horsey sauce and don't think about it.
Classic Beef 'n Cheddar
Order itSame beef, plus warm cheddar sauce and a red-ranch drizzle on an onion roll. It is 90 calories and about 60 cents over the Classic for sauce, and the sauce is worth it. If you only ever order one Arby's sandwich, this is probably the one you remember.
Double Roast Beef
Order itDouble the beef on the same bun, and 15 more grams of protein than the Classic for $1.80 extra. That is the best protein-per-dollar deal on the menu. It eats like a real meal where the Classic eats like a snack.
Half Pound Roast Beef
Decent48g of protein is the highest of any roast beef sandwich without cheese, and the pile is tall. But $9.30 is $2.31 over the Double for 10 more grams, so you are paying a premium for bulk. Worth it on a very hungry day, not as a default.
Greek Gyro
DecentOne Reddit commenter in a Tasting Table thread calls the gyros fantastic and underrated, and the warm pita is a welcome change from the bun. The catch is 44g of fat and 700 calories for only 23g of protein. The Roast Beef Gyro at 540 calories is the smarter version of the same idea.
Curly Fries (Medium)
Order itSeasoned, crunchy at the tips and soft in the loops. They're the side that earns the chain a second visit. Small is 250 calories if you want the flavor without the second meal.
Mozzarella Sticks (4 pc)
Order itGood cheese pull and not greasy, but $5 is Classic Roast Beef money, so share them.
Roast Beef Slider
Order itTwo bucks for a mini Classic. Pair two with curly fries and you have a lunch under $8 and around 770 calories.
Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Skip itSeventy-five cents more than the Beef 'n Cheddar and 80 calories heavier, with the same 24g of protein. The breading is fine and the bun is soft. You are at the wrong restaurant for it.
Chicken Tenders (5 pc)
Skip itEat This ranked the tenders among the chain's weaker items and called them fairly dry. The numbers look fine at 39g of protein, but the Double Roast Beef gives you 38g for 70 cents less and 100 fewer calories.
Jamocha Shake (Medium)
Skip it700 calories, 116g of carbs. That is more energy than a Half Pound Roast Beef with a third of the protein. Get a small if you must, at 540 calories. Still a lot.
Frequently askedFAQ
What's the highest-protein order at Arby's?
The Half Pound Beef 'n Cheddar has the most, 49g of protein at 740 calories, with the Half Pound Roast Beef right behind at 48g and 610 calories. For protein per dollar, the Double Roast Beef wins: about 38g for roughly $6.99, or 5.4g per dollar, at 510 calories. The Roast Beef Slider is the same ratio at a snack size, 11g for about $2.
What is the best thing to order at Arby's?
The Classic Beef 'n Cheddar, about $5.79 and 450 calories, if you want the signature order. The Classic Roast Beef at about $5.19 and 360 calories is the lighter version of the same sandwich. Add medium curly fries (410 calories) and you have a full meal for around $9.
Is Arby's roast beef real meat?
Yes, it is sliced beef, and the Classic Roast Beef carries 23g of protein in a 360-calorie sandwich. Quality varies by store, with some locations serving tender slices and others stringy ones, so order a Classic first at a new location before committing to a Half Pound.