Megan Hageman/Tasting Table Add Tasting Table on Google: Preferred Source Google Discover 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.
Megan Hageman/Tasting Table 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.
Megan Hageman/Tasting Table 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.
