America’s Best Roast Beef Sandwiches, Ranked by Fans

Arby’s Classic Roast Beef Reigns Supreme

Let’s be real, when people think roast beef sandwiches, one name dominates the conversation. Arby’s sold a staggering 144.4 million Classic Roast Beef sandwiches in 2024, averaging roughly 396,000 per day. That’s not just popularity, that’s a national obsession.

The meat is meltingly tender with a texture that runs miles around competitors, and the fluffy sesame seed bun provides the perfect counterpart to all those layers of juicy roast beef. Critics found the meat surprisingly tender and flavorful without being too salty, proving that food doesn’t have to be complicated to taste good. For roughly five dollars, you’re getting a sandwich that’s become an American staple.

Here’s the thing that makes Arby’s stand out: consistency. The first Arby’s opened on July 23, 1964, in Boardman, Ohio, serving its classic roast beef sandwich on a dimpled, sesame seed bun at 69 cents – more than four times the cost of a McDonald’s hamburger at the time. Today you’ll find that same sandwich served at over 3,282 Arby’s locations across the U.S.. Still, not everyone trusts fast food roast beef, though the chain maintains its meat is real.

Kelly’s Roast Beef Claims Its Boston Legacy

Kelly’s Roast Beef was founded in 1951 in Revere, Massachusetts, on Revere Beach shoreline by two partners who claim to have invented the modern roast beef sandwich, stating it was unknown before they introduced it. That’s a bold claim, yet nearly 75 years later, the restaurant remains a regional icon.

Kelly’s roasts its beef in-house all through the day, serves everything fresh and made-to-order, and estimates serving a staggering one million sandwiches a year. Fans who called Kelly’s their favorite emphasized that tradition is just as important an ingredient as the James River BBQ sauce, and the meat is cooked fantastically with slicing that’s not too thin or too thick – it is perfect. The chain has expanded beyond Massachusetts into New Hampshire and Florida, though some locals debate whether the expansion has affected quality.

Kelly’s has gained national attention on Food Network’s show $40 a Day with Rachael Ray, appeared in Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting, and in 2019, Thrillist named Kelly’s one of ’11 New England Chains the Entire Country Needs’. The Surf and Turf at Kelly’s delivers two things the restaurant is known for: a lobster roll and a roast beef sandwich, with the seeded roll grilled and crusty, making it perfect to sop up any condiments.

Lion’s Choice Dominates St. Louis

If you’re in Missouri, there’s really only one choice. As of May 2021, there are 62 Lion’s Choice restaurants in St. Louis and Kansas City, making it a true regional powerhouse. The recipe for Lion’s Choice roast beef sandwich is simple: 100% real top round beef, slow roasted on-site for three hours, shaved extra thin, served medium rare on a lightly toasted buttered bun, and topped with a dash of secret seasoning – it’s the same way they’ve done it for over 50 years.

What makes Lion’s Choice different from national chains? Lion’s Choice sources top-round, hand-trimmed beef, then roasts it in-house for six hours and slices it razor-thin. The middle of the sandwich reveals a tender, pink, juicy cut of roast beef that packs flavor with every bite, though the punches sometimes fail to land when they go overly salty. Honestly, St. Louis residents practically worship this place.

Within the first 36 days of launching The Remix in April 2024, the upgraded sandwich accounted for about 20% of Lion’s Choice sales, and net sales went up nearly 6% year over year – the strongest launch of any item in the 57-year history of the brand. The chain has also been voted Best Fries by St. Louis Magazine, so you’re getting a complete meal experience.

Jersey Mike’s Surprises Critics

Jersey Mike’s doesn’t focus exclusively on roast beef, yet their offering earned surprising respect from food critics in recent tastings. The roast beef at Jersey Mike’s is quite good, sliced thin so you won’t run into any tough, chewy pieces. In December 2024 taste tests, Jersey Mike’s Roast Beef and Provolone ranked first among chain restaurant roast beef subs.

When evaluating the best roast beef sandwiches, testers considered the quality of the beef, the ratio of meat to toppings, the flavor of the bread, and the overall value, and the sandwiches that kept earning return visits were those that felt truly classic, with layers of flavorful, thinly shaved beef and fresh, high-quality toppings. Jersey Mike’s apparently nailed that combination. The deli-style approach wins over customers who want freshness without committing to a regional specialty shop.

Nick’s Famous Roast Beef Earns Cult Following

For more than fifty years, Nick’s Famous Roast Beef in Beverly has been serving the most melt-in-your-mouth roast beef you’re ever gonna eat. Nick’s Roast Beef opened its doors in January 1975, named after both owners who are both named Nick, and they are still the current owners involved in day-to-day operations for over 33 years.

People Magazine picked Nick’s as the best sandwich in Massachusetts, with the large 3-way featuring sauce, cheese, and mayo over roast beef on an onion roll. The roast beef is always rare and sliced very thin, which is a favorite among families, and rolls are buttered and grilled. Relatives from Rhode Island and Colorado make Nick’s a must-stop when traveling to Massachusetts. The only downside? They only accept cash, though an ATM is conveniently located on-site.

Did you find a favorite on this list, or does your go-to roast beef spot beat them all? Drop your thoughts in the comments.