Spyke
lemmy.world

How is this unpopular? The company wouldn't exist if people didn't like eating there.

26
spongebuereply
lemmy.world

Chains aren't necessarily popular because they're great, but because they're accessible and predictable.

See also: Applebee's

6
lemmy.world

I used to eat there a lot when they had the never ending riblets. Wouldn't be surprised if I am the reason they stopped doing that. On more than one occasion the manager gave me coupons for so much % off the next visit if I would leave.

2
lemmy.world

Pretty much every big national chain in America has followed the same trend line. Fridays, chilli's etc. They all rose.to popularity, spread all over and once they reached saturation started cheating out on ingredients and quality control to make more money.

0
lemmy.world

I think the decline was evident before 2008, but it really excelerated the trend. I used to love macaroni grill. It went to complete shit not long after 2008 with new ownership and I haven't been to one in probably at least a decade.

-1

They were one of the only chains I enjoyed the food from. Macaroni Grill was a nice cross section of value and quality on the food. Then they got bought and it became basically olive garden quality really quickly. The first time I went after I got lasagne and it was like dorn room cafeteria quality. Then they supposedly realized they fucked up and brought some quality back at some point and I went back, still sucked. Went from somewhere I'd recommend some decent somewhat authentic Italian food on a budget to somewhere I'd silently judge anyone for enjoying.... It's like all the other big chains now, they're clearly throwing the equivalent of freezer isle meals in ovens.

1

Everyone I've ever met who said they hate Arby's has also admitted that they have never actually eaten at Arby's.

Arby's is good. I just wish it was cheaper/came with more food. They're too good to be that small. Especially the brisket. 😩

My go-to item is the Meat Mountain.

19

Dude that was my jam back when they had that special running. That and extra horsey sauce

2

I've been. I ... well, I don't hate it, but I kind of think it's grossly overrated.

1

I was raised on Arby's, their fries are the bees knees.

Back when calories didn't matter to me (and before I stopped eating meat), I used to split their 5 for $5 roast beef, toss the extra buns, and layer beef + a generous pump of Arby's sauce, and a pump of horsey sauce on repeat. In total there was ~3 sandwiches worth of beef, ~5 packets worth of Arby's sauce, and 3 packets of horsey sauce.

Toss in an order of curly fries and a jamocha shake, and you've got a meal fit for a king.

My other favorite growing up: there was an Asian restaurant next door to Arby's that made a really great sesame ginger salad. I'd go there for a salad, hop over to Arby's for an order of chicken strips, and make the most delicious Chinese chicken salad.

Ooh you brought back some good food memories.

10
lemmy.world

I can't believe this thread is running with no mention of jamocha shakes. That shit is nectar of the gods.

9
dan1101reply
lemm.ee

I love them but they also make me poop.

3

Oh shit, those things were so good. When I was a kid, a classic roast beef with Arby's sauce, curly fries, and a jamocha shake was the dream. My parents didn't really let us have fast food much, so it was always super exciting when we did, and that was the ultimate combo.

3
lemmy.world

Of all the fast food joints, Arby's is highly underrated.

7
lemmy.world

Quick question.

Why ?

A beef sandwich? If I go out it's because I can't make it at home. I can make a beef sandwich at home for next to nothing. Why would I pay someone to do that for me ?

Maybe it's just me. Probably is

7
Zoboomafooreply
yiffit.net

As a former employee, their roast beef would be very difficult to buy from a store or replicate at home.

Any attempt would likely be superior to what's sold at locations.

4
lemmy.world

In what world? It's roast beef ?

I own beef. I cook it and then eat. ? Where am I going wrong?

I'm assuming the sauce or rub or whatever is costed in sugar or something sweet. Not impossible to replicate it.

1
Zoboomafooreply
yiffit.net

It's very processed bits of beef from other sources blended together then steamed in a bag to keep shape. Like a giant beef hot dog.

2
Kbobabobreply
lemmy.world

It's not just you. I usually make mine at home too because i think they're far superior, buuuut every now and then you want something different. I gotta say their roast beef sandwich is pretty good and i can't get curly fries like that anywhere else near me. Same argument could be made for burgers.

3

I like Arby's curly fries just fine, especially when fresh, but to be honest there's something about the Kroger brand curly fries you can get in the freezer that slaps. I think it's because the potato is a lot more prominent.

1

Exactly. Why I tend not to buy anything I can make at home. If it's not superior to my home made why am I paying for it. But again. I'm probably just wrong

1
Chozoreply
kbin.social

I mean, most people don't have a meat slicer at home, and most store-bought sliced meat isn't going to have the same consistency as you'd get from a proper slicer.

But, it's the same reason people eat out anywhere: Because they don't want to make it, themselves. I can make a chicken and rice dish at home, but I'll still go to Panda Express from time to time. I can make my own burgers, but that doesn't stop me from going to McDonald's once in a while. I can unleash diarrhea with the force of 300 PSI into my own toilet from home, but sometimes I'll let Chipotle handle that for me. Sometimes it's just about convenience.

2

Do you need a meat slicer ? If you have a sharp knife you can cut to similar thinness.

If that's the only obstacle, it's very overcomeable.

Fair. I don't eat out unless I'm eating something that I can't make. I'm just super duper tight fisted. I'm not paying someone to make a Subpar meal for me. Tipping and driving. That's less convenient than just throwing a beef roast in the oven for a few hours.

But each to their own

0
lemmy.world

Yeah easily. Don't think you need an expensive tool. Just a good quality knife. Sharp. Sharpen the blade before use and I don't see why I couldn't cut it to mm thickness.

I'm sure I've cut beef joints to translucent thickness before. If that's the only thing stopping you. It's do able

1
spongebuereply
lemmy.world

What cut of meat do you use to get that "greasy but in a guilty pleasure way" taste, how do you prepare it, and how convenient is it when we are in the middle of a busy day or driving through Iowa on I-35 and need something to eat around Dows?

1

I've no idea the cut of meat.

Considering it's a roast beef sandwich I'd hazard a guess at top round roast. Suppose you'd need it to have enough length to cut into it properly to get those nice thick slices of beef.

I'm assuming the beef taste would depend on the fat content and marbling but I've no idea. I don't like greasy so wouldn't be my choice.

Obviously you are trying to goad me into failing which is a fun game.

I'm not an American nor do I live in ol USA. I think and plan ahead. With a beef roast that size cooked slowly when I had time. Might do me a week or less depending on if I had it for dinner or just for lunches.

I wouldn't dare waste my time no money buying sandwiches while I was at work. However it is your prerogative how you spend your money and time. Just like everyone else

I was just voicing my opinion similar to others on the Internet

1

Their Turkey Ranch and Bacon sandwich with a bit of Arby's sauce is S-tier fast food. And their curly fries, while not the best fries around, definitely beat McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, etc. Plus their horsey sauce is a nice take on Horseradish if you're not in the mood for a lot of spiciness. So yeah, Arby's is pretty solid.

6
kbin.social

I don't get why this is an unpopular opinion. I love Arby's. And I'm extremely sad that the only one within a 50 mile radius closed during COVID and I can't have Arby's anymore.

5

The only down side to arbys is the price to amount of food you get. If it was cheaper or they gave more food id go there all the time

5
lemm.ee

It really depends on the Arby's. Richmond VA has a fancy one with extra items others don't have, and the restaurant is decorated like a redwood forest lodge, with canoes and totem poles and polished hardwood tables. Richmond also has a classic-style Arbys that looks like the 1970s but it's run very well.

5
Machindoreply
lemmy.ml

As a Richmond native, how did I not know this? I'll check it out.

3
dan1101reply
lemm.ee

West end of Richmond at Short Pump. It's perty cool for an Arby's.

4

It was good. I loved their food.

Then I got food poisoning from them and I’ve never been back. Hours of expelling Arby’s from both ends tends to sour you on their food.

5

Only due to their food becoming more bland over the years. It's not what it used to be when I was a kid.

2

I can see this being an unpopular opinion. I regularly hear people complain about Arby's. Also, at least once a year I'll hear some rumor about maggots or the plastic wrapped, pre sliced roast beef resembling alien heads in formaldehyde.

TBH, I try not to think of that. They make a good brisket sandwich. Curly fries, too. Those are great. And, like OP says, even their chicken is good.

4

Your Arby's has pre-sliced roast beef? I've had to wait because they needed to slice more beef.

2

I do enjoy the French dip and Swiss. I do miss the potato cakes though. I liked to dunk the potato cakes in the leftover au jus sauce.

3
kbin.social

Omg, so much agreement here. I was raised in the states and have now lived abroad for just shy of 2 decades. In 2 weeks, my wife and I are moving back to the US and Arbys is top of my "homesick kitch things to do" list.

Is it crap, obviously, but I miss it so much. The super thin shaved, 40% water "beef". The arbyque (sp?)and horsey sauce that taste of neither BBQ or horseradish.

The one thing I really miss, and I know won't be the same, the prices. Something tells me 5 for $5 is long gone. But at any price I'm soooo looking forward to it.

3

You are lucky to get four for ten these days. A standard roast beef costs as much as a Big Mac. The prices there are ridiculous now. The half pound version is something like $8 now. The potatoe triangle things are long gone. But they have a tasty mac and cheese now. They also offer a gyro with your choice of gyro meat, roast beef or turkey. That's typically on special two for $7. And they have added a pepper sauce that has completely replaced my new for Arby's sauce.

1

Here in St Louis we have Lions Choice. Best roast beef sandwhich you can get. I tried Arbys recently and the roast beef looked like rotting flesh. Never again.

3

Their crinkle cut fries are legit too and their market fresh sammiches aren't bad either.

2
lemmy.world

Crinkle cut is the worst type of fry is my unpopular opinion. I have a theory that the waffle cut is the biggest reason chick fil a is more popular than like zaxbys or raising canes

2
dan1101reply
lemm.ee

I hate crinkle cut by default because they are too often served soft and greasy. But when they are cooked to be slightly crispy they are good IMO.

1

If I'm eating the food served then, curly fries. If I am having to take it home and there are possible stops so that the fries will no longer he hot, crinkle fries hold up better.

1

Try their brisket sandwich, I was surprised how tasty it is.

And all hail the superior curly fries!

2
kbin.social

I miss the potato cakes. They dont have them at my location anymore.

2
lemmy.world

They don't have them anymore at all. I miss them. I think I liked them better than the curly fries.

6

I mean, Arby's is the gold standard of curly fries, but they are heartburn city.

The potato cakes are just after breakfast hash browns, but so much tastier that your standard medium fry. The crunchy greasy crumbly goodness was next level shit.

1

I suspect that this a simultaneously an unpopular and opinion. From the perspective of internet culture, dunking on Arby’s and making it into a meme is popular (and therefore liking it is unpopular). On the other hand, I think the “silent majority” (including me) agree with you. So while it’s popular to say that Arby’s sucks, the more common opinion is “yeah, I’ll eat that”.

Edit: just in case this sounds like a criticism of your post, it’s not meant to be. It’s just a thought I found interesting.

1
thelemmy.club

Actually they make a not half bad gyro, surprisingly

Source: am trucker, used to be over the road. Many truck stops have an Arby's, and I'd get the Gyro quite often

1

Their French Dip is okay, too, relative to other fast food options. Sadly, the one near me got rid of potato cakes. I assumed it was everywhere?

1

I've grown to like Arby's Mozz Sticks more than Sonic's. Which is odd because at the beginning I didn't like them at all, the spicy-ish tone to it put me off. Now I can't get enough

1

When I worked at the mall post college I'd get their fish sandwich regularly during my lunch breaks. Underrated franchise.

1

Arby's is a bit of a comfort food for me. I had it a bunch when I was a kid, but nowadays it seems like most of the locations have all closed down, so it's pretty rare that I ever find one that's still open. Sadly, the quality has gone down pretty significantly in recent years; the sandwiches are more expensive and have less meat, and the meat doesn't taste as good as it used to, and pretty much requires that you drown it in sauce just to taste anything.

That said, I still order a bunch of beef & cheddar sandwiches whenever I go. Their French dip sandwich slaps, too. Fuck, now I want Arby's.

1

Yeah, I don't know why people hare Arby's

They make these little buffalo sliders that are unmatched. I also love a nice double beef and cheddar with a cream sickle shake on occasion.

1

You know why. They get a triple beef n cheddar, large fries and a diet Dr. Pepper and then complain because "I always feel ill after eating Arby's."

3
lemmy.world

I like Arby's, but it's weird how thin their roast beef is. Their onion rolls are bomb though.

1

Isn't the fish seasonal? At least where I'm at lots of places only offer it around Lent.

1

I can't fathom devoting brainpower to arguments about which fast food chain offers superior fast food.

-3
lemmy.world

So.... if I agree with your opinion, am I supposed to downvote? I'm confused. Also, if I agree with the thesis but disagree with almost every supporting statement, do I upvote after I downvoted, leaving no vote? I'm too old for this internet stuff.

To sum up:

  • I like Arby's in general
  • Their cheese sauce is awful
  • Curly fries in general are awful and Arby's curly fries are worse
  • I loved the potato cakes but they stopped selling them
-3
Harvey656reply
lemmy.world

Curly fries are AWFUL???????

Sorry I cannot agree to this, curly fries are the bees knees.

13
Zoboomafooreply
yiffit.net

The actual spiral curly fries are great, the crescent moon ones just poke the inside of my mouth

1

I honestly think the crescents are the best pieces, a nice seasoned and crunchy contrast from the softer (but still glorious) spuds.

3