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

You can’t get a baked potato at many fast food places. I’m not aware of any other large chain that offers them besides Wendy’s. Every time I eat one, I enjoy it, and wonder why they are so rare. It would seem to be a great platform. Inexpensive, simple to prepare and dress, and very filling. All you need is an oven to bake the taters. The toppings require no special treatment or storage. You can put just about anything on them, from cheese and sour cream, to meat and veggies. Sometimes I get Wendy’s chili and pour that on top. You can also eat them plain with a tiny bit of butter, and meet the requirements of several popular diets. Baked potatoes are a wonderful thing.

Wendy’s bakes their potatoes in a real oven, not a microwave. Once baked, they are kept in a warmer until served. They are usually decent size spuds. I’ve eaten many over the years, and rarely did I get anything I would consider small. Of course with natural items like this, every one is different. They do a good job weeding out runts.

They taste very good, and I really can’t tell the difference between these and potatoes I’ve baked at home in the past. They are light and fluffy inside, and the peel is slightly crisp. They taste like good quality Idaho potatoes I purchase at the grocery store. Just as good as what I’d make, without the long cooking time or preparing any toppings.

The Cheese and Bacon version is my favorite among Wendy’s 3 standard choices. The others are Sour Cream with Chives, and Broccoli with Cheese. The cheese sauce is good, unlike many ‘liquid’ cheeses found on other fast food items. This melted cheddar reminds me of the thick rich sauce that Arby’s uses on it’s sandwiches.

The bacon bits are quite tasty, and you can tell they are made from real bacon, as opposed to textured vegetable protein which many common supermarket bacon products are made from. Betty Crocker’s Bac-Os for instance, contain no real bacon.

I really enjoy the Cheese and Bacon Potato from Wendy’s. It’s simple, cheap, filling and a different experience than most fast food side orders. Good stuff.

Price: $2.15 — Website: Wendys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

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Nutrition Facts - Wendy’s, Bacon and Cheese Baked Potato.

Calories - 450
Calories from Fat - 120
Total Fat - 13 grams
Carbs - 67 grams
Saturated Fat - 5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 30 milligrams
Sodium - 950 milligrams