The commercials and PR photos for Arby’s new “Mac & Cheezers” looked very much like the item released by Jack in the Box not long ago, but I was hopeful they would be an improvement. Unfortunately, they are not. The Arby’s version has a slightly crisper coating with more bumps, ridges and crumbs, but otherwise they look, smell and taste almost identical to Jack’s. In fact, these two items are so similar that it wouldn’t surprise me if both fast food chains are being supplied by the same source.

If you remember my recent review of the Cheesy Bites from Jack in the Box, then you understand why I’m disappointed. It’s not that they’re ‘bad’… they’re just not very good. They failed to capture the real flavor of the classic macaroni and cheese dish that I’ve loved (and you too, probably) for many years. Arby’s version is the same as Jack’s. It simply tastes flat and dull. The crust overpowers the noodles and cheese packed inside, and the cheese sauce doesn’t have much flavor to begin with. It’s actually a nice crunchy shell, and Arby’s is better than Jack’s, but it’s still too much. The focus should be on the macaroni and cheese filling, not the battered coating. This is like eating a spoonful of pasta on plain toast. It’s overkill… too bland and starchy.

Deep fried mac and cheese sounds awesome, but the concept still needs work. I’m worried it might not be possible to achieve enough cheesy goodness without either making the crust lighter and thinner, or loading up more pasta and cheese inside, creating pieces that are bigger and thicker. But those changes might just create other problems, like increased cooking times, or the breading and batter not being strong enough to hold things together properly. Hopefully somebody will figure it out.

I can only recommend Arby’s Mac & Cheezers to those desperate for something new. Like I said before, they’re not ‘bad’… they are just bland and boring. You will eat them once, and probably never order them again. And if you’ve already tried the version from Jack in the Box, you can skip these completely because they’re the same thing.

Price: $2.79 (5 piece), $4.94 (10 piece) / Website: Arbys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: C

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Nutrition Facts - Arby’s Mac & Cheezers (5 piece).

Calories - 390
Calories from Fat - 158
Total Fat - 18 grams
Carbs - 50 grams
Saturated Fat - 8 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 15 milligrams
Sodium - 805 milligrams
Protein - 10 grams

I’ve never been big on the roast beef sandwiches at Arby’s. Nothing personal against Arby’s, roast beef just isn’t really my thing. Put some chicken nuggets in front of me and that’s another story. They’re a simple, tasty item, sure to please most fast food eaters. Another factor in their favor… it’s hard to mess up a chicken nugget.

Arby’s recently introduced their Popcorn Chicken Shakers. It’s basically breaded and fried morsels of chicken served in a cup. Dump your favorite sauce inside… place the lid on and shake it up. There’s barbeque sauce and buffalo sauce to choose from, but you can ask for honey mustard instead, which is usually reserved for the chicken strips. I prefer the barbeque sauce. I’ve had the popcorn chicken a number of times now, and only once did I actually do the shake-up routine. I guess Arby’s was trying to create a fun new way of enjoying their bite-sized portable food with the whole “shaker” thing but honestly, why bother? I’m a dunker. I’m not into the shaking… and besides that, I want to have more control over the amount of sauce on each nugget.

Sizing the cup to fit your vehicle’s cup holder (photo above) was a stroke of genius. Ok, maybe that’s a bit of a superlative but it sure comes in handy when you are grubbing on the go. The nuggets have a nice strong crust and each morsel is a good size for being classified as ‘popcorn’. They’re a little on the dry side but you won’t notice once you add sauce. I think the dryness comes from having a fairly thick breading. I also feel the breading leaves a bit of aftertaste. The chicken tastes fine, and isn’t overly greasy, which is a plus, but if you were making a list of nuggets that taste great even without sauce, these probably wouldn’t be on it. Trust me, add your favorite sauce!

If you’ve tried KFC’s popcorn chicken, you’ve likely spent time scavenging through fried crust to find the meaty morsels. Not so with Arby’s variety. It’s more like an array of different sized nuggets but all are decent sized. You’ll get about 8-10 nuggets in a regular order ($2.99), whereas you’ll get more tiny bits with the KFC version.

Arby’s popcorn chicken is tasty and filling. Coming in regular and large sizes, it’s a welcome addition to the menu. It’s good to see Arby’s continuing to branch out beyond roast beef. Within the past year or so, their toasted subs and new chicken choices have made me a fan. If you’re on-the-go and need a quick snack, I recommend giving the popcorn chicken shakers a try. The real question - to shake or not to shake?

Price: $2.99 (regular) / Website: Arbys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B

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Nutrition Facts - Arby’s, Popcorn Chicken (regular order).

Calories - 363
Calories from Fat - 147
Total Fat - 16 grams
Carbs - 27 grams
Saturated Fat - 3 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 54 milligrams
Sodium - 930 milligrams
Protein - 24 grams

NOTE: These nutrition facts are for the popcorn chicken alone, without sauce. Each flavor of sauce has different nutritional values, and depending on the amount used (1 or 2 packets, etc.) can vary quite a bit.

Editor’s Note: During this week’s update to the FFC website and server, there were a couple files found to be corrupted, which had been causing problems. In the process of deleting those files, 2 reviews accidently got trashed. Both reviews (Arby’s / Hardee’s) have been recovered, and are being re-posted below.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect since Arby’s is primarily known for their Roast Beef sandwiches, and my past experiences with their chicken products was hit and miss. But I’m pleased to report they hit the nail on the head with this one. It’s excellent.

The heart of the sandwich is pure white-meat 100% natural chicken breast filet. It’s not a very large sandwich to begin with, but it’s a nice size chunk of chicken. And it was cooked just right, with a thin crispy crust and a tender moist center. The crust has a light coating of black pepper. As soon as I took a bite, I rejoiced in the wonderful texture of natural chicken meat flaking away in layers. No formed or pressed mystery-meat inside. This is a very tasty piece of chicken for a fast food place, and dare I say a little similar to a Chick-fil-A, which is a big compliment in my opinion.

Sitting atop the chicken are two thick pieces of peppered bacon (3 if you’re lucky). They are cooked well-done, crispy and delicious. The bacon adds as much flavor to the sandwich as the chicken. Bacon lovers will be very happy, though hard-core eaters will find themselves disappointed if they only get 2 strips. Next is a slice of Swiss cheese, which unlike many fast-food products, actually tastes like real cheese. It’s a great anchor of subtle, mild cheesy flavor for the bacon and chicken to build on.

Finish off with a little honey mustard for a smooth kick, and pack it all into a warm toasted sesame seed bun that compliments the goodies inside without masking their flavor. The bun appears thick, but it’s soft and fluffy, compressing into the perfect size once you grab it and take a bite. The lack of lettuce or other veggies results in a rather plain looking sandwich, but that won’t matter once you have your first taste.

I should state that I’m a big fan of Chick-fil-A. In my mind, it’s been the Gold Standard for years. To find another sandwich I enjoy this much is rare. Today it happened.

The $4 price tag is not cheap in the world of fast food, but it’s worth every penny. And you won’t need to eat a whole bag of these to be satisfied. Next time you want a fast food meal, look past all those $1 menus and treat yourself to something better.

The Crispy Chicken Bacon and Swiss Sandwich from Arby’s is delicious. It has a wonderful combination of flavors, and each component is tasty on it’s own. It’s made from quality ingredients, a cut above the average. I look forward to having it again.

Price: $3.99 / Website: Arbys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

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Nutrition Facts - Arby’s Crispy Chicken Bacon and Swiss Sandwich.

Calories - 556
Calories from Fat - 212
Total Fat - 23 grams
Carbs - 51 grams
Saturated Fat - 5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 68 milligrams
Sodium - 1683 milligrams
Protein - 33 grams

Arby’s has just introduced their own version of deep fried macaroni and cheese, called “Mac & Cheezers”. You might recall Jack in the Box’s similar item that came on the market a couple months ago. I reviewed those back in July, but despite being a big fan of the classic cheesy noodle dish, and loving all things deep fried, they failed to excite me. I’m hoping Arby’s has a different recipe which better captures the flavor of the real thing. Deep fried mac ‘n cheese sounds great on paper, but it’s not that easy.

Due to prior commitments I won’t get a chance to try these for a few days. I wonder if any FFC readers might beat me to it? Please post here and let us know.

The Arby-Q has returned, although for a limited time. This was actually the first time I’ve tried the sandwich, and after sampling it on 3 different occasions, I think Timothy had it right when he said they were… “Good” …but… “Won’t knock your socks off.”

Of course I was drawn to the sandwich mostly because it’s cheap (only 99 cents) but also because it’s BBQ, which is something I usually love. After seeing the recent commercials for the Arby-Q, I expected them to be ‘smothered’ with sauce, which it was not, but the roast beef did have a nice coating. That’s fine, because if they actually did ‘smother’ the meat with sauce, I feel some of the beef flavor would be lost.

The sandwich is simple: sesame seed bun, roast beef and bbq sauce. The roast beef is sliced and chopped very thin and tastes quite nice. Be prepared, the meat and sauce mixture has a way of making you very thirsty, so make sure to have something to drink on hand. The BBQ sauce itself reminded me of Kraft’s regular variety. Arby’s calls it a ‘tangy’ sauce, which I’ll give them, but they also mention the bun is toasted, which wasn’t true in my case. On all three occasions, the buns were not toasted.

Overall, it still tastes pretty darn good, and it’s totally worth the 99 cent price. I’m giving it a score of ‘B’… not quite great, but still very solid, and definitely above average.

Price: $.99 / Website: Arbys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B

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Nutrition Facts - Arby-Q Sandwich from Arby’s.

Calories - 341
Calories from Fat - 98
Total Fat - 11 grams
Carbs - 49 grams
Saturated Fat - 4 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 31 milligrams
Sodium - 1089 milligrams
Protein - 16 grams

FAST FOOD ALERT: Arby’s has just brought back the Arby-Q Sandwich, starting now until October 5th, and it’s only 99 cents. It’s Arby’s thin sliced roast beef, smothered in barbecue sauce on a sesame bun. Nothing fancy, but still a good little sandwich. Simple, filling and cheap. I’ve eaten enough of these in my time to say their very satisfying weekend munchies, and at this price you can grab a whole bagful and feed your entire posse for less than 10 bucks. For Arby’s this would be the equivalent of when McDonald’s brings back the McRib. It’s a limited time opportunity that should not be missed for those die-hard fans of the sandwich, and a worthy trip for Arby’s newbies to try this simple, classic, fast food favorite bargain. They won’t knock your socks off, but it’s real beef, tasty BBQ sauce, a decent roll, and a couple of these will keep your stomach, and your wallet, happy.

“Arby’s makes me angry. I’ve seen posters and advertisements for new cheddar curly fries everywhere in my town. I love the old curly fries but was pumped about a new flavor. It’s not a new flavor. They just give you a small cup of cheese to dip. The fries are the exact same curly fries. This is stupid. They make it sound like new fries but it’s nothing but a cup of cheese they already put on sandwiches, served on the side. This is false advertising. You should warn people about it. I’m mad at Arby’s and this really sucks.” – Matt S. from Garfield Heights, Ohio.

Matt, your message hits close to home because I encountered the same situation two years ago. This is not a new item, but it comes and goes from the Arby’s menu. Anyway, I went there expecting the fries themselves to be cheddar flavored. When I opened my bag to find the standard curly fries with a tiny container of warm cheese, it was a surprise. Indeed they simply added a plastic cup of melted cheddar and renamed the product. I don’t believe it’s false advertising, just a bit confusing.

Arby’s is great, but this particluar product campaign misses the mark in my opinion. Thanks for writing. Now FFC readers will be better informed.

Over the years there’s been quite a few strange rumors and scary stories regarding the roast beef served at Arby’s. The most common of these tall-tales would have us believe the meat is not “real”. Some have said it’s made from a mixture of powder and beef drippings (fat or grease), others claim it arrives in the form of a gelatinous blob, and transformed into a solid substance by heating, or using chemicals and additives. All of these are false. It’s not imitation meat. It’s very real. Enough of the silliness.

That being said, I suppose one could argue the quality of the beef is not the highest, but we’re talking about mass produced fast food here, not a plate of prime rib at a fancy restaurant. You’ve got to keep things in perspective, and this is perfectly good, tender and tasty roast beef. It won’t impress those with an appetite for the finer things in life, but it will definitely satisfy fast food eaters looking for a quick fix.

If you haven’t eaten at Arby’s before, or it’s been a while, this is a good time to pay them a visit because the Beef ‘n Cheddar sandwiches are on sale, 2 for $4.

No regular burger bun here, instead it’s a toasted onion roll that’s fairly big and thick. It’s firm and maintains it’s shape while being eaten, unlike some lighter breads that collapse and flatten once you grab them and take a bite. The flavor of toasted onion pieces on the top is a very nice compliment to the beef and cheese, but it’s not strong enough that people who dislike onions will be bothered by it.

The roast beef is sliced very thin, and it’s tender enough to almost melt in your mouth. It has a good flavor, is lightly seasoned with a bit of salt and cooked in what Arby’s calls a self-basting solution that keeps the meat juicy and moist. Large pieces of beef are roasted on-site for 3 hours before cooling and heading to the slicer. Topping the beef is a thick cheddar cheese sauce. I’m not a fan of most ‘liquid’ cheese, but this is quite tasty, and has never played tricks on my stomach like so many others.

Finally, the bottom of the onion roll is coated with Arby’s red sauce. The ingredients list actually calls it “Red Ranch Dressing” however it doesn’t contain any mayonnaise, buttermilk or sour cream, so don’t let the name fool you. I’m not a fan of mayo, and you would never catch me eating this if it actually resembled ranch dressing in any way. The sauce is made from tomato paste with spices including paprika, onion and garlic. It’s mild but still has a little kick to it. Arby’s says it’s “zesty”. Sounds right to me.

The Beef ‘n Cheddar sandwich from Arby’s is a winner, mixing the classic flavors of roasted beef and cheddar cheese, with a light spicy undertone, packed inside a nice tasty roll. I’ve been eating these since I was a kid, and except for the occasional store who’s quality and preparation was below average, they’ve not disappointed me.

Price: 2 for $4 / Website: Arbys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A-

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Nutrition Facts - Arby’s Beef ‘n Cheddar Sandwich.

Calories - 445
Calories from Fat - 185
Total Fat - 20 grams
Carbs - 44 grams
Saturated Fat - 7 grams
Trans Fat - 1.5 grams
Cholesterol - 51 milligrams
Sodium - 1275 milligrams
Protein - 22 grams

On my visit to Arby’s today I discovered the Chocolate Turnover is back for a limited time. Unfortunately the store manager could not tell me how long it’s going to be around, and since it’s a holiday weekend I’m unable to reach my regular PR contact. So I cannot guarantee your local stores will have them, but if you plan on eating at Arby’s soon, definitely keep your eyes open because they’re delicious. They are made by Pepperidge Farm using Hershey’s cocoa. You can read my review here.

I will update that review with the new photo above, and others. It was one of my first reviews after starting the site, and those old images were taken with a cellphone.

By the way — Happy 4th of July to Everyone — God Bless America.

I like Arby’s but I’m not a fan of this particular side item. These deep fried triangles of potato look tasty enough at first glance, but it turns out they are very bland and unsatisfying. They taste like baked potato topping, without the potato. That doesn’t make sense, but that’s the problem. The potato filling lacks flavor, and the cheese and bacon that are supposed to compliment it aren’t able to fulfill their end of the bargain. Even the breading was a let down, failing to live up to it’s attractive outward appearance. The bacon pieces are OK when you get one. The cheese is not very tasty or cheesy, and it seems the amount of each ingredient is just enough to ensure that nothing stands out and everything blends together to create — bland mashed potatoes stuffed inside a pretty shell. I was ready to love these, but I am completely underwhelmed and unimpressed. I can’t see myself ordering them again, or having the desire to eat more. That’s the bottom line.

The Loaded Potato Bites from Arby’s are too bland for my taste. After eating them on multiple occasions, that impression has not changed. When eating at Arby’s I will be sticking to their awesome seasoned curly fries as my potato side order of choice.

Price: $2.59 / Website: Arbys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: D

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Nutrition Facts - Arby’s Loaded Potato Bites, 5 piece.

Calories - 353
Calories from Fat - 199
Total Fat - 22 grams
Carbs - 27 grams
Saturated Fat - 7 grams
Trans Fat - 0.5 grams
Cholesterol - 13 milligrams
Sodium - 800 milligrams
Protein - 11 grams

There was a time when Arby’s offered a homestyle french fry with the potato peel on. They were quite good, but sadly they’re gone now. Luckily they still have the curly fries.

These curly strips of potato are coated with a seasoned batter containing cayenne pepper, garlic and other wonderful spices. If you get them hot and freshly cooked, they are definitely one of the best fry experiences in the fast food world. Crunchy outside, golden brown in color with a hint of a reddish tone signaling the mild spiciness. Soft and tender inside with good potato taste and just the right amount of chewiness. Forget ketchup or dipping sauce, they don’t need it. They are delicious on their own.

The larger an order size, the longer the curls tend to be, because the bigger fries don’t fit in the smallest container. Not all the fries are curly. I would say on average about 1/3 are semi straight, but the majority offer plenty of twists and turns, and the super curliest (sometimes called pig-tails) are awesome. I’ve had some that stretched 9 to 10 inches long when pulled out from end to end, before snapping in two pieces.

Two quick warnings. First, they are not the type of fries that most people will eat regularly, because the same great seasoning which makes them so special, can also become a bit overpowering if consumed too often. Much like your favorite rich-chocolate cake or candy can loose it’s appeal when eaten frequently. Second, it’s important that you get them fresh from the deep fryer. I don’t know why, but they seem to lose their taste and crispness faster than regular french fries. Arby’s is usually pretty good about not pre-cooking too many at a time, so it’s seldom that you will get an order that’s been sitting around. During rush hour the odds of getting a flat batch does increase, but if you don’t mind being ‘that’ guy, they are always willing to cook you a fresh order while you wait. As I’ve said, it’s not necessary to use ketchup or dipping sauce, and it can actually be detrimental to the flavor. However I’ve had several friends tell me these are great with Arby’s horseradish sauce, so you might give that a try. I’m not a horsey fan (in general) myself so I cannot give an opinion on that.

The Curly Fries from Arby’s are fantastic, and a great break from average french fries. The large order can almost make a meal on it’s own. With a wonderfully seasoned flavor that will please your taste buds, and twisty shapes that are fun to play with, they’re one of the most satisfying potato side orders in the fast food business.

Price: $2.15 (large) / Website: Arbys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

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Nutrition Facts - Arby’s, Curly Fries (Large).

Calories - 631
Calories from Fat - 337
Total Fat - 37 grams
Carbs - 73 grams
Saturated Fat - 7 grams
Trans Fat - 1 gram
Cholesterol - 0 milligrams
Sodium - 1476 milligrams