Slow-roasted sliced meats and high sandwich standards since 1964.
Arby's was founded in 1964 in Boardman, Ohio by Leroy and Forrest Raffel. The brothers owned a restaurant equipment business and saw a massive opening in the fast-food market: a gap between standard, low-cost hamburger chains and fine-dining establishments. They believed that busy families would pay a slightly higher price for a premium sandwich made with high-quality, freshly sliced slow-roasted meats.
To stand out, they named the brand "Arby's," which stands for the initials of the Raffel Brothers (R.B. → Ar-by's). From day one, the signature offering was hot roast beef, sliced to order and served on toasted sesame buns. The success was instant, leading to rapid franchising and expansion across the United States.
In 2014, the brand launched its iconic and famous campaign: "We Have The Meats!". This marked a renewed commitment to expanding the menu beyond roast beef to include smoked brisket, chicken, turkey, corned beef, gyro meats, and seasonal seafood.
We cook our signature beef joints slowly for up to four hours inside each restaurant. This locks in premium juices and creates soft, delicate beef that melts in the mouth.
Unlike other chains that use pre-sliced cold cuts, we run our commercial slicers throughout the day to carve meat thin and layer it hot directly onto your bun.
We work closely with USDA-certified beef suppliers, sustainably sourced wild Alaskan Pollock fisheries, and antibiotic-free poultry suppliers to bring you safe ingredients.
