Jersey Mike's Vs Arby's: Who Makes The Best Roast Beef Sandwich?

When you hear the words fast food and roast beef in the same sentence together, you think Arby's. There is no other chain more synonymous with the ultra-specific meat type. And growing up in Ohio — the birthplace of Arby's — I've spent my entire life being hit over the head with the restaurant's roast beef devotion. At random hours of the day, my brain will replay the sound of a booming voice exclaiming, "WE HAVE THE MEATS!" 

But even in the face of all this obsession, what if there was another chain out there that did roast beef better than the self-proclaimed king of meats? It might not be their defining identity, but there are plenty of other sandwich shops that offer roast beef on their menus. And today, we're honing in on the shop that just overthrew Chick-fil-A to become America's favorite fast food chain in 2026: Jersey Mike's. 

Naturally, Jersey Mike's takes a different approach to roast beef than Arby's. As a sub shop rather than a meat-focused empire, it has its own way of doing things. But I'm pulling back the bread on both chains' roast beef sandwiches to get a better look at where the differences really lie. Considering everything from quality, flavor, and texture of the meat itself to the bread and other surrounding ingredients, let's see which chain truly does roast beef best and which one is simply coasting on its meaty reputation.

If you've ever been to Arby's, you know that its roast beef options are extensive. The chain has its all-star Classic Roast Beef sandwich, and that's just the beginning. You can also get it doubled (aka double meat) or with a half-pound of meat. There's additionally a Classic Beef 'n Cheddar option that also comes in a double or half-pound sandwich. Then there are even extras like the mini Roast Beef Slider or the Classic French Dip & Swiss sandwich, both of which feature the same roast beef. It may sound boring, but I just went with the simplest option, the Classic Roast Beef, which cost $4.99 at my local spot. Of course, I also had to get some Arby's sauce and Horsey sauce on the side to dress it up.

Over at Jersey Mike's, the situation is starkly different. There are only two pre-made sub sandwiches listed on the menu that include roast beef: the Roast Beef and Provolone and the Club Supreme, which also adds turkey and bacon to the mix. To keep the focus on the roast beef, I went with the Roast Beef and Provolone. I ordered a mini size for $8.10 rather than a regular or giant, and resisted adding on any toppings to match the simpler build of Arby's sandwich.

After eating my way through both options, I compared the roast beefs' taste and quality. The overall makeup of each sandwich also came into play as I decided which I liked best.

I was immediately impressed by the amount of meat my local Arby's packed onto my Classic Roast Beef sandwich. It's not always like this. It can actually turn out quite flattened if you don't order the double or half-pounder. But I guess today was my lucky day.

If you haven't noticed by now, the Classic Roast Beef is as simple as it gets. Just the beef on a sesame seed bun, served warm. Arby's doesn't mess around with any toppings, and honestly, I'm not mad about it. It lets the meat strut its stuff without distractions. So, you can immediately tell that the razor-thin slices are exceptionally tender and they deliver a rich, brothy taste. If it was cooked with seasonings, they're kept fairly light, with the exception of a decent amount of saltiness. It's more savory than anything else, and paired with the ultra-soft bun, each bite goes down effortlessly.

Now, if you do want to dress up your sammie, I will always recommend the Arby's sauce. Sometimes, I think I might like the sauce better than the sandwich itself — which is really saying something. People say it lands somewhere between ketchup and barbecue sauce, but I feel like it's something else entirely. It has a bit of sweetness, vinegary tang, and Worcestershire umami notes all at once. It's the perfect match for roast beef. And if you want something with a little more zing, there's Horsey sauce (the chain's version of a creamy horseradish).

Right from the get-go, one of the biggest distinctions between this sandwich and the one from Arby's is that it comes cold. This is a true deli-style sub, featuring freshly sliced roast beef with provolone cheese. It almost pained me not to order it Mike's Way, with a blend of veggies, seasonings, and that winning combo of red wine vinegar and olive oil. But for the sake of a direct comparison, I resisted.

The first thing I noticed was that the white bread felt a little crusty and stiff, like it wasn't entirely fresh. I know that's not standard for Jersey Mike's baked-in-house bread, but it did affect the overall experience. As for the roast beef, it's sliced thicker here than it was at Arby's, and the flavor profile is a bit different. It tastes more like something that came out of a slow cooker, with a stronger beefy flavor — not quite gamey, but leaning more that direction. I also found it to be a bit inconsistent. Some slices tasted quality while others were fatty or even chewy and dry. So, each bite was a toss-up.

I like provolone as the cheese choice. It gave the sandwich a little bit of creaminess to work with and helped to balance the more robust flavor of the beef. But I couldn't help but think a sharp cheddar or Swiss would have made a larger impact.

Arby's can rest easy knowing that its life's work hasn't been for naught. I found its roast beef sandwich to be superior on almost all fronts.

I'll admit, the fact that Arby's sammie is served warm does give it a serious advantage in my book. But its beef is also just better. Simple as that. It has just the right savory flavor, and you can always count on it to be the same no matter which Arby's you go to, what time of day you visit, etc., etc., etc. I would take it over nearly any delicatessen roast beef, and with help from a soft bun, it's a sandwich that's comforting and hits the spot every time. Even completely on its own, it's great. But a few squirts of Arby's sauce only up the ante. Same goes for a helping of Arby's cheddar cheese sauce.

I do think Jersey Mike's sub is salvageable if you pile on toppings — the way a good sub is meant to be enjoyed. But at that point, you're just burying the meat and adding even more calories to a sandwich that already starts out higher than Arby's. Jersey Mike's mini sandwich contains 420 calories, while Arby's sandwich has just 360 (although, Jersey Mike's sammie does offer more protein than Arby's). Nutrition aside, though, the fact remains that Jersey Mike's simply can't compare when it comes to the most important factor of all: taste.