When that Arby’s craving hits, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by their massive menu and accidentally order something that’ll leave you wondering why you didn’t just stick with their famous roast beef. With 33 different items ranging from gyros to turnovers, some choices will make your day while others might make you regret pulling into that drive-through. Food experts who’ve tested every single menu item have discovered some surprising winners and definite losers that most people never see coming.
The salted caramel chocolate cookie tastes like cardboard
That innocent-looking cookie sitting in the warmer might seem like a safe dessert choice, but it’s actually one of the most disappointing items on the entire menu. The texture feels more like a packaged snack cake than a fresh-baked cookie, with a soft, mushy consistency that lacks any satisfying chew. Even though it costs $2.49, the cookie tastes like something you’d find in a gas station vending machine rather than a restaurant dessert.
The only redeeming quality comes from scattered bits of sticky caramel that create a toffee-like texture, but these small pockets of sweetness can’t save the overall bland experience. Food testers consistently rank this as the absolute worst item at Arby’s, and for good reason. When you’re paying nearly three dollars for dessert, you deserve something that actually tastes good rather than this forgettable afterthought that’ll leave you wishing you’d skipped dessert entirely.
Chicken tenders arrive disappointingly dry every time
Arby’s chicken tenders look promising when they arrive golden brown and crispy, but one bite reveals a major problem that sauce can’t fix. The chicken inside is consistently dry and lacks the juicy texture you’d expect from quality tenders. Even though they appear to use decent chicken rather than processed meat, the cooking process somehow sucks all the moisture out, leaving you with bland, chewy strips that need serious help from dipping sauces.
At $5.49 for just three pieces, these tenders represent poor value compared to other menu options that deliver much better results. Multiple taste tests reveal that while the chicken quality seems high, the preparation consistently fails to deliver the moist, satisfying experience people expect. The breading provides decent crunch, but when the main ingredient tastes like cardboard, even the best coating can’t save the day.
Both fish sandwiches lack any real taste
Arby’s offers two fish options – the Classic Crispy Fish and Fish ‘n Cheddar – but both suffer from the same fundamental problem: completely bland fish that tastes like absolutely nothing. The crispy fish sandwich comes loaded with shredded lettuce and tartar sauce on a sesame bun, but no amount of toppings can mask the fact that the fish itself has zero seasoning or interesting characteristics. For a “2 for $6.99” deal, you’d expect at least some basic salt or seasoning to give the fish personality.
The Fish ‘n Cheddar version adds cheese and more tartar sauce, but the core problem remains unchanged – the fish tastes like it was designed in a lab to have no distinctive characteristics whatsoever. When you’re craving fish, these sandwiches will leave you wondering why you didn’t just head to a place that actually knows how to prepare seafood. The lack of any acidic vinegar notes or proper seasoning makes these among the most forgettable items on the menu.
Buffalo chicken sandwich barely registers as spicy
Anyone ordering the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich expecting actual buffalo heat will walk away confused and disappointed. The buffalo sauce application is so light that you’ll struggle to detect any spice at all, making this more like a regular chicken sandwich with a faint orange tint. The parmesan peppercorn ranch that’s supposed to cool down the heat becomes pointless when there’s no heat to cool down in the first place.
Even worse, the sandwich suffers from the same structural problems as other Arby’s chicken options, with soggy bottom buns that fall apart as you eat. Taste testers report that the buffalo sauce is practically undetectable, which defeats the entire purpose of ordering a buffalo chicken sandwich. The small, processed-tasting chicken patty doesn’t help matters, creating an overall experience that satisfies neither buffalo chicken lovers nor regular chicken sandwich fans.
Crispy chicken sandwich falls apart before you finish
The regular Crispy Chicken Sandwich might seem like a safe choice, but it comes with serious structural engineering problems that turn eating into a messy ordeal. The bottom bun gets completely soaked with mayonnaise, lettuce moisture, and tomato juice, creating a soggy foundation that can’t support the weight of the chicken patty. By the third bite, you’ll be eating the sandwich with a fork or watching pieces fall onto your lap.
The chicken itself feels disappointingly small and has that spongy, overly processed texture that reminds people of school cafeteria food. Reviews consistently mention that the breading lacks seasoning and arrives soggy rather than crispy despite the name. When combined with paper-thin tomato slices and limp lettuce, the whole sandwich becomes an exercise in frustration rather than satisfaction. For nearly six dollars, expectations should be much higher than this cafeteria-grade disappointment.
Premium nuggets taste surprisingly processed despite the name
The word “premium” in Premium Chicken Nuggets creates expectations that these nuggets simply can’t meet. While they’re supposed to be made from all-white meat chicken, the final product still has that familiar processed texture and bland taste that makes them nearly indistinguishable from regular fast food nuggets. The breading provides decent crunch, but the chicken inside lacks the natural texture and satisfaction you’d expect from truly premium ingredients.
At $2.99 for just four pieces, these nuggets offer poor value compared to other menu items that deliver much more food and better taste. Some reviewers appreciate that they’re decent sauce vehicles, but when nuggets need heavy sauce coverage just to be palatable, that’s usually a bad sign. The “premium” label feels more like marketing than reality when the actual eating experience resembles every other generic fast food nugget you’ve ever tried.
French dip sandwich drowns in too much bread
The Classic French Dip & Swiss sounds like it should be a winner with its soft roll and au jus dipping sauce, but the execution creates an unbalanced sandwich that’s more bread than meat. The roll completely overwhelms the small amount of roast beef inside, turning each bite into a mostly bread experience with occasional hints of protein. Even though the au jus adds some moisture and salt, it can’t compensate for the poor meat-to-bread ratio that leaves you feeling unsatisfied.
At $7.59, this sandwich costs more than many better options on the menu while delivering less actual substance. Testing reveals that asking for extra meat might improve the sandwich, but customers shouldn’t need to modify a menu item just to make it edible. The Swiss cheese gets lost among all that bread, and the overall experience feels like paying restaurant prices for a sandwich that would be disappointing even at a gas station deli.
Turkey ranch bacon sandwich has stone-hard bacon
The Roast Turkey Ranch & Bacon Sandwich starts with promise – plenty of turkey, honey wheat bread, and multiple toppings that should create a satisfying meal. However, the bacon ruins everything by being so overcooked and hard that it’s nearly impossible to bite through cleanly. Instead of adding smoky crunch, the bacon forces you to either tear pieces off with your hands or drag entire strips out of the sandwich with each bite, destroying the structural integrity of the whole meal.
The vegetables don’t help matters, with limp lettuce and flavorless tomato slices that add moisture without contributing any real taste or texture contrast. Reviews consistently mention that the bacon seems like it’s been sitting under heat lamps for hours until it reaches jerky-like hardness. When a sandwich costs $7.59 and features bacon as a main ingredient, that bacon needs to be properly cooked and pleasant to eat, not a chewy obstacle that makes the entire meal frustrating.
Greek gyro tastes nothing like authentic street food
Arby’s Greek Gyro attempts to recreate the magic of authentic street gyros but falls short in almost every important way. The pita bread arrives too soft and lacks the slightly chewy texture that makes real gyro bread satisfying, while the meat doesn’t have the thick, chewy characteristics that define proper gyro protein. The vegetables taste fresh enough, but the overall combination creates something that resembles a gyro without actually delivering the authentic experience people crave.
The tzatziki sauce provides decent cucumber notes, but taste testers note that the overall execution feels more like a regular sandwich dressed up with Greek toppings than an actual gyro. At $5.79, it’s not terrible value, but anyone who’s had real gyro from an authentic Greek restaurant or food truck will immediately notice the difference. The sandwich works fine as fast food, but calling it a gyro sets expectations that the actual product simply cannot meet.
Nobody wants to waste money on disappointing fast food, especially when Arby’s has plenty of genuinely great options that’ll actually satisfy your cravings. Stick to their famous roast beef sandwiches, curly fries, and other menu highlights that have earned their reputation over decades of serving hungry customers who know quality when they taste it.
