America’s Top Roast Beef Sandwiches Ranked by Food Lovers
Arby’s Classic Roast Beef: The Unlikely Champion
Let’s be real, when you think of fast food roast beef, Arby’s Classic Roast Beef Sandwich stands as the most iconic and best-selling roast beef sandwich in America, featuring thinly sliced, slow-roasted beef piled high on a toasted sesame seed bun. On July 23, 1964, in Boardman, Ohio, the very first Arby’s opened its doors with a new kind of fast food: the classic roast beef sandwich, served on a dimpled, sesame seed Schwebel’s egg bun, toasted and buttered to perfection. The price tag of 69 cents was bold, more than four times what you’d pay for a McDonald’s burger back then.
What makes this sandwich interesting is how it surprises skeptics. The meat, while a bit on the salty side, was absolutely meltingly tender, with a texture that ran miles around the rest of the contenders according to a 2024 taste test from Eat This, Not That. The simplicity is deceptive. The sandwich costs just $4.49 today and delivers a satisfying 23 grams of protein with only 360 calories. With over 3,300 locations across the country, Arby’s has become synonymous with roast beef in the fast food world, though its journey hasn’t been without controversy regarding sourcing practices.
Lion’s Choice: The St. Louis Secret
Red Lion Beef Corporation, doing business as Lion’s Choice, is an American fast food restaurant chain based in St. Louis, Missouri, serving roast beef sandwiches. The company was founded in 1952 and opened its first restaurant in Ballwin, Missouri, on October 26, 1967. This regional favorite has cultivated a devoted following that rivals any national chain. Lion’s Choice sources top-round, hand-trimmed beef, then roasts it in-house for six hours and slices it razor-thin.
Honestly, the comparison between Lion’s Choice and Arby’s is inevitable but unfair to both. One of the drawbacks of the original roast beef sandwich was that people compared it to Arby’s, and while both are quick-service sandwich chains, Lion’s Choice believes it offers higher quality and a better eating experience. Their secret weapon? The recipe 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. In 2024, they launched The Remix, which features double the meat and Swiss cheese with garlic aioli, and it immediately captured roughly one-fifth of their sales.
Kelly’s Roast Beef: New England’s Beach Treasure
Kelly’s Roast Beef opened in 1951, and still operates the same walk-up-window location on the beach in Revere, along with a few others in the area. The Massachusetts institution has been serving generations of families who crave that specific North Shore style of roast beef sandwich. This Massachusetts favorite has built its reputation on sandwiches that are absolutely stuffed with tender, juicy roast beef that practically spills out with every bite.
What sets Kelly’s apart is the setting and the tradition wrapped into every order. The flavorful sauces complement the meat without overpowering it, creating that perfect balance customers keep coming back for. For the adventurous, they offer a Surf and Turf combo that pairs their roast beef with a lobster roll, capturing the essence of New England eating in one indulgent meal. The ocean views don’t hurt either.
Philippe the Original: Where History Meets Beef
Philippe’s proudly claims the title of birthplace for the French dip sandwich. Operating since 1908, this Los Angeles landmark serves up history with every order. Their version of the roast beef sandwich isn’t your typical grab-and-go fare. Their version features melt-in-your-mouth roast beef nestled in a French roll that’s been lovingly dipped in rich, savory au jus. Adventurous eaters order the “double dip,” where both sides of the bread get dunked for maximum flavor, resulting in a sandwich that’s incredibly juicy yet somehow doesn’t completely fall apart.
The vintage atmosphere and time-tested recipe make dining at Philippe’s feel like stepping back into old California. When you’re eating a sandwich that’s been made the same way for over a century, you’re not just having lunch. You’re participating in culinary history. The fact that they’ve maintained their standards and popularity for this long speaks volumes about what they’re doing right.
Jersey Mike’s: The Quality Contender
Jersey Mike’s has been gaining significant ground in customer popularity, earning acclaim even among chefs. Their roast beef offering takes a different approach than the traditional fast food model. The roast beef at Jersey Mike’s is quite good, sliced thin so you won’t run into any tough, chewy pieces. The meat on this sandwich is quite possibly the best fast food chain roast beef available, with fresh taste and nice beefy flavor that’s on par with something from a very decent deli.
Here’s the thing though: while the meat quality earns high marks, some critics feel the overall sandwich experience falls a bit flat. The execution doesn’t always match the premium ingredients. Still, customer reviews tell a different story, with Yelp enthusiasts praising Jersey Mike’s overall sandwich quality. The chain has positioned itself as a more upscale alternative to traditional fast food, and for many customers seeking freshly sliced meats and customizable options, it hits the mark perfectly.
91% of beef roast purchasers claimed to be satisfied with the eating experience from the beef they purchased, and when consumers are asked to rank various protein sources by satisfaction levels, beef has consistently been ranked as a top protein source. These sandwiches prove that roast beef remains an American comfort food staple, whether you’re grabbing a quick bite at a national chain or seeking out a regional treasure. What’s your favorite roast beef spot? Did we miss any hidden gems?
