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7 Reasons to Never Eat at Arby's

The home of "the meats" might make you miss vegetables.

By Amanda Machado , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Aug. 5, 2026

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Fast food has never been more polarizing as American families struggle to balance convenience and cost, and many diners say Arby's no longer offers the value it once did.

The iconic hat logo and signature roast beef sandwich that used to draw in crowds is now poked fun at on social media as fast food aficionados look for higher value in every purchase. It's no wonder, too, as rising costs have the fast food demographic seeking ways to stretch a fast food budget further.

Here's why many are choosing to skip it altogether in favor of cheaper and healthier options at home.

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False advertising lawsuit

An ongoing class action lawsuit was first filed against Arby's in 2023 for alleged false advertising, claiming the fast food chain misled customers about sandwich size and meat quality. The lawsuit alleges advertisements depicted larger sandwiches and meat that looked different from the product customers received.

Last year, Arby's asked a judge to dismiss the case, but the court rejected the motion. Whether or not it's illegal remains to be determined, but customers don't like being served a sandwich of disappointment that doesn't look anything like what they saw advertised.

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Inconsistent quality

A major problem for the Arby's chain is inconsistency. Fast food strives to create a consistent experience so customers know what to expect no matter which branch they order their sandwich from — but in the case of Arby's, location matters. Customer reviews from sites like Trustpilot focus on complaints about inconsistent quality, incorrect orders, and slow service. It currently has 1.7 stars out of a possible five.

Disturbing food contamination incidents

It might not happen often, but finding something in your food that shouldn't be there can turn off a customer completely from a brand — and some foreign objects are definitely worse than others. Arby's has suffered from several extremely disturbing and highly publicized incidents that eroded public trust.

One widely reported 2012 incident involved a teenager who found a finger in their sandwich. The worst part is the finger was discovered after they had taken a bite. An employee lost about an inch of finger to a meat slicer, but didn't alert their coworkers, who continued to fill orders.

The incident happened in 2012, but it lives on in public memory because of the visceral horror. Another widely reported incident occurred in 2005 was a piece of skin believed to be from an employee's thumb was found.

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Ranked among the most disliked chains in some states

Floridians hate Arby's more than any other fast food restaurant, according to data gathered by The Daring Kitchen during the pandemic. Considering the difference in quality between locations is a major complaint, even fans of the chain might want to avoid it when in Florida. Georgia, Illinois, and Arkansas also rated Arby's as the most hated.

Customer service controversies

Not all employees are created equal, but Arby's frequently has complaints about particularly bad service. The worst offender is the subject of a new lawsuit, in which a customer alleges a former Arby's manager intentionally spat on her sandwich, resulting in claims that she contracted herpes.

The incident occurred in March of this year and was caught on video, which employees are accused of trying to hide. The former manager has been criminally charged with felony poisoning of food. Despite most likely being a one-off incident, it's the kind of horror story that lives rent-free in the public mind.

Recent menu items disappointed reviewers

The new Arby's Angus Cheesesteak promised juicy and tender 100% Angus beef shaved onto a toasted roll, flavored with caramelized onions, and topped with American Cooper cheese, but the reviews are all disappointing.

Social media reviews describe the new menu item as "like canned dog food. The Cooper Sharp was runny, not creamy. The seeded roll was soggy, falling apart and not very seedy. The onions were mush. This thing didn't come close to resembling the taste of a cheesesteak."

Sporked concluded the sandwich failed to live up to Arby's marketing claims. Not tender, loaded with gristle, and the onions were not caramelized.

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Shrinkflation lawsuit

A 2024 lawsuit accused Arby's of decreasing portion sizes while keeping the prices the same. What used to be a small drink or fries is now the medium-size, the lawsuit alleges. The medium sizes then became the new large. The case is still ongoing, but customers who dined at the fast food chain before and after the change saw the difference with their own eyes.

Bottom line

Despite these criticisms, plenty of customers still visit Arby's. One thing customers agree on is that the milkshakes, especially the Jamocha, are still delicious. That isn't enough to carry the fast food chain, but there are still plenty of customers frequenting the home of the classic roast beef sandwich.

There are currently 4,002 Arby's restaurants nationally in 2026, and it ranks as the third-largest sandwich chain in the U.S., so customers have not entirely abandoned the brand despite an increased public concern with tackling high grocery prices that has decreased the amount of fast food dining many families are doing.

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