Discontinued Arby's Menu Items Fans Desperately Want Back - Mashed (2023)

Discontinued Arby's Menu Items Fans Desperately Want Back - Mashed (1)

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ByBrian Boone/May 25, 2023 11:42 am EST

Fast food is a permanent part of the culinary landscape, but that doesn't mean what's on the menu isn't constantly changing. National or even global quick-serve restaurant chains are nearly constantly adding and/or removing items from their bills of fare. The reasons are myriad: to attract new customers, to respond to changing tastes, to utilize seasonal or newly available ingredients, or to differentiate themselves from the competition, for example. Every new menu item is also an opportunity for a publicity rollout, to remind the world that this fast food company still exists and is changing with the times.

With that evolution, some offerings get left behind. Arby's, for example, is one of the more active restaurants when it comes to switching up the menu. Over the last couple of decades, the roast beef chain has expanded into numerous other food areas. Sometimes those introductions click with customers, and sometimes they don't. Regardless of their initial popularity, some discontinued menu items leave an impression for years after they disappear, prompting customers into action. Here are some lost and otherwise forgotten Arby's products that its most loyal and fervent customers would love to see return to the menu.

Potato Cakes

Arby's is a meat and potatoes kind of place in that its whole business plan is selling the portable, fast food version of a roast beef dinner. With the beef on a bun, the baked or mashed potatoes come in a variety of ways at Arby's, including seasoned Curly Fries and Crinkle Fries. Until 2021, Arby's sold Potato Cakes. Essentially a hash brown patty, Arby's Potato Cakes consisted of chopped potatoes, formed into a triangle, and then deep-fried until golden brown and crispy.

In March 2021, Arby's customers from around the U.S. reported on Reddit that their local outlets had suddenly stopped serving the side. A poster purporting to be an Arby's employee said that the chain had eliminated that potato item to make room for another, permanent potato offering, Crinkle Fries. An Arby's representative confirmed the news to The Takeout. "Although our Potato Cakes have been discontinued (for now), who's to say they're gone forever?" they wrote. Acolytes moved on the news, supporting an online petition at Change.org to "Bring Back Arby's Potato Cakes." As of May 2023, the petition has gathered over 4,400 signatures.

Pizza Slider

In the 2010s, Arby's enjoyed great success with a line of seven slider-type sandwiches. Smaller in size and simpler in ingredients than its other towering and more complicated sandwiches, Arby's sliders offered little more than a single meat (turkey, corned beef, roast beef) and a dollop of sauce or melted Swiss cheese. In 2017, Arby's introduced an eighth slider, something closer to what is sold at Subway or Domino's than anything from its traditional menu of roasted meat sandwiches. The Pizza Slider consisted of salami, pepperoni, roasted garlic marinara sauce, and melted provolone cheese jammed into a soft bun.

The Pizza Slider endured for four years on the Arby's menu, a brief but undistinguished run. In July 2021, Arby's eliminated several consistently low-selling items from its menu. Among the subtractions was the Pizza Slider. Arby's precluded the survival of the Pizza Slider by no longer stocking most of the unique ingredients needed to make the sandwich, including salami, ham, pepperoni, and marinara sauce. A Change.org petition, "Re-Continuation of the Arby's Pizza Slider" amassed just a little over 30 signatures, so Arby's isn't likely to reinstate the sandwich to its national menu anytime soon.

(Video) The Secret Arby's Menu You'll Wish You Knew About Sooner

Arby-Q

About a decade after its debut, Arby's aggressively expanded its menu for the first time in the 1970s, adding the stalwart Beef 'n Cheddar, offering its Horsey Sauce, and introducing a sandwich called the Arby-Q. Really just the fast food company's regular, signature sandwich of thin-sliced roast beef on a bun, the Arby-Q took the meat inside and slathered it in a smokey barbecue sauce. That barbecue beef sandwich remained an Arby's standard for years, eventually fading from popularity, which led to its demise. After some time away, Arby's brought back the Arby-Q in 2012, albeit for a brief period at a low promotional price of two for $4.

As of the 2020s, Arby's doesn't sell the Arby-Q anymore, although its customers would surely like it if it did. Hungry and excited fans piled onto a Twitter thread in 2020 when the Arby's corporate account discussed the long-ago discontinued sandwich.

Wagyu Deluxe Steakhouse Burger

Discontinued Arby's Menu Items Fans Desperately Want Back - Mashed (5)

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Arby's has built itself into a major fast food brand by positioning itself as an alternative to the usual and predominant fast food fare of hamburgers. Arby's was different, it contended, because it didn't serve burgers, but rather tall sandwiches assembled from thinly sliced roast beef.

In May 2022, Arby's asserted its marketplace position as the most meat-centric fast food joint around by moving in on the competition's territory and unveiling its first ever hamburger. A relatively high-end item, Arby's spent two years nailing down the recipe and preparation for the Wagyu Deluxe Steakhouse Burger, according to Restaurant Business. Onto a large brioche bun went American cheese, shredded lettuce, pickle slices, red onions, tomatoes, and a newly concocted and proprietary hamburger sauce. All that bolstered the main ingredient, a 6.4-ounce (before frying) patty made up of just over 50% premium and intricately marbled American Wagyu beef.

Arby's made no promises about the Wagyu Steakhouse Burger, initially marketing the sandwich as available for a limited period of time. According to Restaurant Business, the burger was so popular that Arby's exhausted its supply six weeks ahead of schedule. Obviously, the market was there for revival, and in November 2022, the Wagyu Steakhouse Burger graced every Arby's in the country once more, only to disappear again.

Steakhouse Onion Rings

Somewhere in between the classic onion ring (a round slice of onion battered and deep-fried) and the Outback Bloomin' Onion (onion segments battered and deep-fried) sat Arby's Onion Petals. Sold and consumed primarily as a side dish or as an alternative to its Curly Fries, the Onion Petals quietly took up place on Arby's lengthy menu until around 2010, when they were replaced by a new item, Steakhouse Onion Rings.

Reportedly cooked to order, Steakhouse Onion Rings came in five very large pieces to an order and sold for under $2, making them one of the more affordable options on the Arby's "Sidekickers" menu. And then, just like the Onion Petals they supplanted, the Steakhouse Onion Rings were unceremoniously removed from the Arby's menu in 2020. Customers and fans lamented the news on Reddit, but as of 2023, no version of fried onions isavailable at Arby's.

Loaded Italian Sandwich

One of the biggest, meatiest sandwiches ever offered by a chain that once sold a protein-rich monolith called the Meat Mountain, the Loaded Italian Sandwich was all about abundance. Introduced in 2015, the item came standard with ham, salami, pepperoni, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, garlic aioli, dressing, and banana peppers bursting from a toasted Italian roll.

The Loaded Italian Sandwich was ultimately another food fatality in Arby's extensive menu revamp during the summer of 2021. The company ended sales of six menu items that weren't ordered often enough to be economically feasible, so they were taken off the menu for good. The Loaded Italian Sandwich required several ingredients not used in very many, if at all, other menu items, so with its disappearance, Arby's stopped stocking its kitchens with the item's components, such as pepperoni, salami, ham, garlic aioli, red wine vinaigrette, and tomato sauce. Perhaps a Change.org petition from Arby's fans will revive the sandwich some day.

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Ham Slider

As its long-time marketing slogan announces, Arby's "has the meats." While that's most famously its oven-roasted, thin-sliced beef and breaded chicken in various forms, the chain has occasionally attempted to break out with other proteins with wide appeal, such as ham.

In the 2010s,Arby's sold a wide array of sliders— small, simple sandwiches with just one or two ingredients (meat, cheese or sauce) between two halves of a little bun. One of those menu offerings was a Ham Slider, and that pretty much describes it. It came with ham, and maybe some cheese, on bread.

The Ham Slider didn't survive a significant Arby's menu overhaul in the summer of 2021. At that point, Arby's took six items off its national menu, citing poor sales figures. Along with Potato Cakes and the Pizza Slider, the Ham Slider got dropped. Arby's also stopped distributing ham to its outlets (except to the few restaurants that serve breakfast), so it's no longer possible to assemble an off-menu Ham Slider. A Change.org petition to "Bring Back Ham and Cheese Sliders at Arby's" didn't prove effective enough to return the sandwich to menus nationwide.

White Cheddar Mac 'n Cheese

Discontinued Arby's Menu Items Fans Desperately Want Back - Mashed (9)

Mironov Vladimir/Shutterstock

Arby's menu is built around quick, easy, convenient, and modern versions of classic, home cooked comfort food. It makes sense that, in addition to roast beef and hot potatoes, Arby's would also serve thick and creamy homestyle macaroni and cheese. In early 2020, Arby's brought out White Cheddar Mac 'n Cheese. A moderately portioned side dish, it cost about $3 as part of a two-items-for-$6 promotional value menu, and consisted of large elbow macaroni noodles swimming in a sauce made from white cheddar cheese.

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In August 2022, Arby's eliminated the White Cheddar Mac 'n Cheese from distribution, a casualty of replacing its popular and economical 2 for $6 Everyday Value sub-menu with a 2 for $7 Everyday Value board consisting of entirely new offerings. The absence didn't last long, to the delight of macaroni-loving Arby's customers. By December 2022, White Cheddar Mac 'n Cheese was back at Arby's, although just for a finite period of time before it went away again.

Chocolate Turnover

In the fall of 2010, Arby's introduced a unique fast food dessert to the sweets section of its board. In addition to the standard fare of shakes and cookies came the Chocolate Turnover. Something like a stuffed croissant, the Chocolate Turnover was a triangle made up of many layers of flaky pastry and stuffed with a very sweet and smooth, melty filling built around Hershey's cocoa. For an extra and visible chocolate flourish, a drizzle of chocolate sauce went across the top of this decadent hand pie.

Intended and marketed as a limited-time-only offering, the response from Arby's customers was so great that the chain decided to make it a permanent menu item in late 2010. "The Chocolate Turnover has been saved!" Arby's wrote on Facebook. It turns out that "permanent" didn't mean "forever," though. In 2016, a customer queried the Arby's Twitter account, in search of an answer for the Chocolate Turnover's sudden and unannounced disappearance from the menu. The answer, and to the displeasure of Arby's adherents on Twitter: the Chocolate Turnover was excised to clear a spot for two new cookie offerings made with Ghirardelli chocolate chips.

Polar Swirl

Discontinued Arby's Menu Items Fans Desperately Want Back - Mashed (11)

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In addition to Dairy Queen's Blizzard frozen treat and McDonald's McFlurry, Arby's wanted a piece of the action on ultra-thick, ultra-sweet fast food desserts that combined vanilla ice cream with name-brand cookie and candy pieces mixed in. Introduced in the late 1980s in the wake of the success of the Blizzard, Arby's Polar Swirl consisted of vanilla ice cream and a mix-in of the customer's choice, with options including Oreos, M&Ms, Reece's Pieces, and Heath bars.

Certainly inspired by the Blizzard, the Polar Swirl reportedly went down more like Wendy's Frosty, smooth and soft like a runny milkshake. While many internet posters feel warm nostalgia for this cold dessert from the distant past, the Polar Swirl was a short-lived item and remains obscure. Arby's still sells other desserts (like cookies) and a line of milkshakes, indicating there's still a market for something like the Polar Swirl, but not quite.

FAQs

Why did Arby's discontinue Potato Cakes? ›

According to The Takeout, the fast-food chain is discontinuing its iconic Potato Cakes. The website reported that Arby's decided to stop selling Potato Cakes after the release of its new Crinkle Fries as a permanent menu item, alongside its famous Curly Fries.

Why did Arby's discontinue ham? ›

Some bird-brained bean counter at parent company Inspire Brands corporate headquarters in Atlanta probably crunched some numbers and decided they could save a nickel by ditching one of “the meats.” Of course, by removing ham from the menu, Arby's not only sacrificed the slider but also deep-sixed the Loaded Italian ...

Are curly fries being discontinued at Arby's? ›

We have good news and good news. First, Arby's has added crinkle-cut fries to its menu, and second, despite rumors to the contrary, the restaurant's beloved curly fries are here to stay.

What sandwich did Arby's run out of? ›

Arby's Deluxe Wagyu Steakhouse Burger has sold out, but to make up for it, the chain is running a promotion where you can get 50% off a Smokehouse Brisket Sandwich or Greek Gyro when you sign up or log in to your Arby's account.

Did Arby's get rid of Potato Cakes? ›

The website reported Monday that the fast-food chain decided to stop selling Potato Cakes after releasing its new Crinkle Fries as a permanent menu item alongside Arby's famous Curly Fries.

Is Arby's getting rid of ham? ›

Ham Slider

Apparently, not only is the chain getting rid of this popular slider, but they're doing away with ham altogether.

Did Arby's remove ham? ›

The removal of the items also saw the removal of the ingredients that were used to make them including: Pepperoni, salami, ham, marinara sauce, garlic aioli, and red wine vinaigrette. While ham and Potato Cakes are largely gone, they can still be ordered at Arby's locations that serve breakfast. Photo via Arby's.

Did Arby's discontinue the chicken cordon bleu? ›

We didn't discontinue the Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich, but some Arby's locations decided to stop carrying it." / Twitter.

Did Arby's get rid of mac and cheese? ›

Dec 28, 2022

Arby's brings back their White Cheddar Mac 'N Cheese and debuts a new variety that they're calling the new Loaded Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac 'N Cheese.

What is the newest thing on Arby's menu? ›

Chicken Bacon Ranch Loaded Fries

The item features Arby's Crispy Crinkle Fries topped with a cheddar cheese sauce, diced chicken nuggets, chopped bacon, and a drizzle of parmesan peppercorn ranch.

Why do Arby's curly fries taste different? ›

As opposed to French fries, which are usually just sliced potatoes fried in oil and salted, curly fries tend to have a golden-brown coating on them, as well as a seasoning blend that's heavy on the onion and garlic powders.

Did they get rid of nacho fries? ›

There are three things in this world that we can always count on: death, taxes, and Taco Bell removing the fan-favorite Nacho Fries just to bring them back again for a limited-time run. So, it's that time of year again: the Nacho Fries are back on Taco Bell's menu.

What is the newest sandwich that Arby's has? ›

The beef 'n brisket sandwich includes smoked brisket and thinly sliced roast beef with cheddar cheese, sweet and spicy sauce, onions, sweet garlic and dill pickles. The loaded fries are drizzled in the same sweet and spicy sauce then topped with warm cheddar cheese sauce, diced chicken nuggets and chopped bacon.

What are the healthiest sandwiches to eat at Arby's? ›

Most Nutritious Option

Arby's classic roast beef sandwich is the most nutritious main menu item. Accompanied by a healthy beverage and a side salad, it can make for a smart meal choice.

What is the new hamburger that Arby's is selling? ›

The Wagyu Steakhouse Burger features an American Wagyu blended burger topped with American cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, pickles, red onion, and a special burger sauce on a toasted buttery brioche bun to create a refined burger experience.

How many old Arby's signs are left? ›

Loyalsock Township, Pa. — The neon 10-gallon cowboy hat sign in front of Arby's on the Golden Strip has been a beacon to many hungry travelers over the years. The vintage hat sign is one of the last ones left in the country. It's estimated there are close to 100 of these signs left.

What is Arby's bringing back one of its most disliked sandwiches? ›

The return of a notorious sandwich

Chew Boom reports that select Arby's locations across the country plan to carry the Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich and all of its notorious fixins for a limited time.

What is the healthiest dessert at Arby's? ›

Best: Vanilla Handcrafted Shake (Snack size)

The healthiest dessert you can order at Arby's is the snack size of the vanilla shake at just 250 calories and 5 grams of saturated fat.

What is the lawsuit against Arby's? ›

Arby's class action alleges restaurant sells wagyu burgers at premium price. Jaghori claims he and other consumers purchased Arby's burgers at a “premium price” on account of them being advertised as “wagyu,” which is seen as a “premium type of beef due to its unique taste and marbling of fat.”

Which is healthier Arby's or Chick-Fil-A? ›

Overall chick-fil-a would be a better choice and it is proven by all the nutrition facts. Chick-fil-a's meal would overall be a better meal because it is healthier. In total this meal would have 840 calories, 39 grams of fat, 1,570 miligrams of sodium, and 89 grams of carbohydrates.

Will Arby's bring back pork belly? ›

“Well, the response was remarkable, significantly exceeding our wildest expectations, so we worked hard to bring it back as soon as possible, and here it is.” The Smokehouse Pork Belly Sandwich will be available at more than 3,000 Arby's locations nationwide.

Who did Arby's just buy out? ›

Dunkin' Brands Is Being Bought by Arby's Owner in $11.3 Billion Deal.

Why is Arby's having a turkey shortage? ›

“On our end, we started getting turkey, then we stopped getting it,” he said. An unusual summer avian flu outbreak has led to more than 5.4 million turkeys to be killed and not sold in between January and July. That has led to a nation-wide shortage.

Does Arby's make a ham sandwich? ›

Thinly sliced roast ham and Swiss on a soft slider roll. So you can have a little ham sandwich on the side, or 10 sliders on their own. Up to you.

Does Arby's use lamb meat? ›

Arby's Traditional Greek Gyro features a blend of beef, lamb and Mediterranean spices sliced from a spit rotisserie and placed on a warm flatbread with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, tzatziki sauce and Greek seasoning.

Will Arbys bring back loaded potato bites? ›

Are the loaded potato bites ever going to be brought back? :( No immediate plans, but we will share your request with our Menu team.

Does Arby's have a secret sauce? ›

That's right - there are secret sauces that you can add to your Arbys sandwich just for the asking. Add some Arbys Red ranch, a side of au-jus sauce, or any other sauce that Arby's carries for any regular menu item to add the flavor you're craving and make your sandwich your own.

What is the oldest Arbys restaurant? ›

The Raffel brothers opened the first new restaurant in Boardman, Ohio, just outside Youngstown, on July 23, 1964. They initially served only roast beef sandwiches, potato chips, and soft drinks.

What is Arby's hottest chicken sandwich? ›

Diablo Chicken Sandwich Ingredients

The Diablo Chicken Sandwich includes the following: ghost pepper jack cheese, fiery hot seasoning, fire-roasted jalapeños, and Diablo BBQ sauce served on a toasted red chipotle bun with lettuce, pickle, mayo, and a fried chicken patty.

Did Arby's buy out Wendy's? ›

The purchase was finalized on September 15, 2008, when shareholders of both Triarc and Wendy's agreed to the terms. As part of the terms, the name was changed to Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc.

Does Arby's sell chili? ›

Arby's Chili

Buttery roast beef sandwiches and curly fries are the best sellers but did you know about their chili?

Did Arby's used to have regular fries? ›

Up until 1970, Arby's served potato cakes, not French fries, as its main side dish. The brand didn't introduce curly fries until 1988. To this day, Arby's continues to offer its original potato cakes in addition to fries and other sides.

What kind of fish does Arby's use? ›

Their Crispy Fish Sandwich is the same as it was back in 2018 and is a classically prepared Alaskan Pollock fillet crispy-fried to a nice golden brown, topped with tartar sauce, shredded lettuce and served on a sesame seed bun.

What is Arby's biggest sandwich? ›

About the Sandwich

Let Arby's introduce you to our largest roast beef sandwich, The Half Pound Roast Beef. We just kept adding more of our signature roast beef until the bottom bun could barely stand it anymore.

What is that new burger made of from Arby's? ›

The “wagyu” in this instance is “American wagyu,” which is a cross between Japanese Wagyu and other cattle. Arby's markets this burger as “a blend of 52% American Wagyu and 48% ground beef.” Wait, what's up with the second half? It's just ground beef?

What oil does Arby's use for fries? ›

What oil are Arby's fries cooked in? According to Arby's website as of May 2022, the oil Arby's fries are cooked in is a blend of: “Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Canola Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, with Dimethylpolysiloxane (to reduce foaming).”

Does Arby's salt their fries? ›

About the Side

Crinkle fries with accordion-style grooves for maximum crispiness, lightly seasoned with fine kosher salt.

Are Arby's fries battered? ›

Once blanching is complete, the fries then get coated in the unique batter synonymous with Arby's. This batter consists of water, onion, garlic, salt, and various other seasonings. It's applied via a batter applicator, which creates a veritable "waterfall of batter" to ensure the fries are sufficiently drenched.

Does Arby's use real brisket? ›

Our brisket is smoked for at least 13 hours in a pit smoker. We top that delicious smoked beef with smoked gouda, crispy onions, mayo and BBQ sauce and serve it all on an artisan-style roll.

What is Arby's new brisket sandwich called? ›

King's Hawaiian® Sweet Heat Beef 'n Brisket Sandwich - Nearby For Delivery or Pick Up | Arby's.

What is Taco Bell bringing back in 2023? ›

Taco Bell's 2023 fan vote winner is the Beefy Crunch Burrito, which fans can now expect to head back to menus in August. The Beefy Crunch Burrito received a whopping 60% of the more than 950,000 votes and will return to Taco Bells nationwide for a limited time this summer.

How long are Nacho Fries back for 2023? ›

Taco Bell says the original Nacho Fries are also a limited time item, but the dish will stay on menus beyond April 27, when the Yellowbird Nacho Fries collaboration ends.

Are Nacho Fries gone 2023? ›

Taco Bell today announced the nationwide return of Nacho Fries starting Thursday, April 13, 2023. Back for the ninth time in its classic form, Nacho Fries feature crispy golden French fries coated in bold Mexican seasoning and served with a side of warm, nacho cheese sauce for dipping.

Did Arby's discontinue chicken cordon bleu? ›

We didn't discontinue the Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich, but some Arby's locations decided to stop carrying it." / Twitter.

Did Arby's get rid of turkey gyro? ›

The gyros included in the value menu include Greek (Knife-carved gyro meat), Roast Beef, and Roast Turkey. On top of that all, the 2 for $6 menu has officially been removed from the Arby's website.

What is the least favorite sandwich? ›

Pulled Pork

But YouGov reports that the absolute bottom belongs to the tomato and cheese sandwich, liked by a mere 27% of respondents.

What is the most nutritious sandwich at Arby's? ›

Most Nutritious Option

Arby's classic roast beef sandwich is the most nutritious main menu item. Accompanied by a healthy beverage and a side salad, it can make for a smart meal choice.

Does Arby's not have ham anymore? ›

There also won't be any similar alternatives, because Arby's is also removing the ingredients used to make them from its kitchens. That means pepperoni, salami, ham, marinara sauce, garlic aioli, and red wine vinaigrette won't be featured in any Arby's items, not even the ones in its secret menu.

What meat does Arby's use in gyros? ›

Nothing says “I am an adventurous eater and interesting person” like eating a gyro at Arby's. Our classic thinly sliced roast beef is topped with lettuce, onions and tomatoes, cool creamy tzatziki sauce, and authentic Greek seasonings all hugged by a warm pita.

Does Arby's use real lamb in their gyros? ›

Arby's Traditional Greek Gyro features a blend of beef, lamb and Mediterranean spices sliced from a spit rotisserie and placed on a warm flatbread with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, tzatziki sauce and Greek seasoning.

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