I went to Arby's for the first time. I paid $38 for a delicious, meat-filled feast that easily could've fed 3 people.

Gabbi ShawJan 12, 2024, 18:06 IST

Our entire meal.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I went to fast-food chain Arby's for the first time, and I had no idea what to expect.
Arby's claims it "has the meats," and I found it to be true — the burgers were delicious.

I've tried my share of fast-food and fast-casual dining over the years, but somehow I missed out on Arby's, a fast-food chain known for its roast-beef and other meat sandwiches.

One September afternoon, my mom and I visited an Arby's in Long Island, New York, to see if it was worth adding a new fast-food spot to our rotation — and we decided that it absolutely was. We were delighted by the Smokehouse Brisket sandwich and the melt-in-your-mouth chocolate-chip cookie we ordered, among other things.

Plus, our meal — which could have fed three people — was $38.56 after tax, which we thought was great value for what we got.

Here's what our Arby's experience was like, and why we'll be returning sooner rather than later.

Arby's is a fast-food chain that was founded in Ohio in 1964. It's best known for its meat sandwiches.

Outside of the Arby's next to my hometown.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

When we walked in at around 3 p.m. on a Tuesday, it was completely empty, though there were people using the drive-thru.

Inside Arby's.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Here's an example of the Western art that's scattered throughout the dining area.

Another view of the Arby's.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

After ordering our food, I noticed the abundance of sauces available: Ketchup, Horsey Sauce, Arby's Sauce, Honey Dijon Mustard, and Spicy Three Pepper.

Arby's sauces.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Here's what we ordered: medium curly fries, a four-piece order of mozzarella sticks, the Classic Roast Beef sandwich, the Smokehouse Brisket sandwich, the Classic Crispy Sandwich, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cookie, and two small sodas. In total, it was $38.

Our entire meal.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Here's what we ordered: medium curly fries, a four-piece order of mozzarella sticks, the Classic Roast Beef sandwich, the Smokehouse Brisket sandwich, the Classic Crispy Sandwich, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cookie, and two small sodas. In total, it was $38.

First up, I dug into the Smokehouse Brisket sandwich. The packaging referenced Arby's famous slogan: "We have the meats."

The Smokehouse Brisket.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

This sandwich was huge, with the brisket spilling out from the buns. It was worth the $7.99 in size alone.

The Smokehouse Brisket sandwich.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Simply put, this was delicious. It was moist, flavorful, and I couldn't believe it had come out of a fast-food kitchen.

The Smokehouse Brisket.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Next up I tried my chicken sandwich, which was mislabeled — I got the Classic Crispy Chicken, not the Chicken Bacon Swiss. It cost $6.59.

The Classic Crispy Chicken.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

This was also a pleasant surprise. My sandwich came with a hefty piece of crispy chicken, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.

The Classic Crispy Chicken sandwich.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

My least favorite sandwich I tried was the Classic Roast Beef, which is $4.99.

The Classic Roast Beef sandwich.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I should've read the fine print — this was just roast beef on a toasted bun.

The Classic Roast Beef.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I was recommended the curly fries, and I'm so glad I purchased them.

Arby's curly fries.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I even got the coveted perfectly curled curly fry.

A curly fry.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

The other side we decided to try were the mozzarella sticks, which were $5.59 for four. They were good, but not a standout to us.

Mozzarella sticks.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

The last part of our meal was this Reese's peanut-butter and chocolate-chip cookie. It cost $2.09.

The Arby's cookie.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

It was finger-licking good after sitting in the sun for 20 minutes.

The cookie.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

On our way out — totally full — we passed a bell near the exit that told us to ring if we had great service.

The Arby's bell.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I couldn't have been happier with my $38 Arby's feast. I'll be returning to try even more of the expansive menu ... but I'll make sure I leave room for a Jamocha Shake.

Arby's and a satisfied customer.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I ate at Il Carpaccio, a popular Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris. The unique dishes — like a teacup of tomato water — blew me away.

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I went to Arby's for the first time. I paid $38 for a delicious, meat-filled feast that easily could've fed 3 people.

Arby's is a fast-food chain that was founded in Ohio in 1964. It's best known for its meat sandwiches.

When we walked in at around 3 p.m. on a Tuesday, it was completely empty, though there were people using the drive-thru.

Here's an example of the Western art that's scattered throughout the dining area.

After ordering our food, I noticed the abundance of sauces available: Ketchup, Horsey Sauce, Arby's Sauce, Honey Dijon Mustard, and Spicy Three Pepper.

Here's what we ordered: medium curly fries, a four-piece order of mozzarella sticks, the Classic Roast Beef sandwich, the Smokehouse Brisket sandwich, the Classic Crispy Sandwich, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cookie, and two small sodas. In total, it was $38.

First up, I dug into the Smokehouse Brisket sandwich. The packaging referenced Arby's famous slogan: "We have the meats."

This sandwich was huge, with the brisket spilling out from the buns. It was worth the $7.99 in size alone.

Simply put, this was delicious. It was moist, flavorful, and I couldn't believe it had come out of a fast-food kitchen.

Next up I tried my chicken sandwich, which was mislabeled — I got the Classic Crispy Chicken, not the Chicken Bacon Swiss. It cost $6.59.

This was also a pleasant surprise. My sandwich came with a hefty piece of crispy chicken, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.

My least favorite sandwich I tried was the Classic Roast Beef, which is $4.99.

I should've read the fine print — this was just roast beef on a toasted bun.

I was recommended the curly fries, and I'm so glad I purchased them.

I even got the coveted perfectly curled curly fry.

The other side we decided to try were the mozzarella sticks, which were $5.59 for four. They were good, but not a standout to us.

The last part of our meal was this Reese's peanut-butter and chocolate-chip cookie. It cost $2.09.

It was finger-licking good after sitting in the sun for 20 minutes.

On our way out — totally full — we passed a bell near the exit that told us to ring if we had great service.

I couldn't have been happier with my $38 Arby's feast. I'll be returning to try even more of the expansive menu ... but I'll make sure I leave room for a Jamocha Shake.