Arby's

So here's the thing about Arby's-most people either completely overlook it or have some weirdly strong opinion about it. But honestly? They're kind of doing their own thing in a way that's pretty refreshing.

Arby's is an American fast food sandwich restaurant chain with more than 3,300 restaurants. The flagship property of Inspire Brands, it ranked third in systemwide sales in the United States in the quick-service and fast-casual restaurant industries in 2012, behind Subway and Panera Bread. That's actually impressive when you think about it-they're not trying to be McDonald's or Burger King. They're just really, really committed to being the sandwich people.

And their social media game? It's genuinely brilliant. The number of followers for the @Arbys account grew by nearly 19% year over year, primarily because of the strategy to reach more niche yet engaged audiences. Additionally, the @Arbys account had an organic social engagement rate of over 12% for 2019. When the industry average is like 1-3%, that 12% is basically unheard of. They figured out how to talk to people like actual humans instead of corporate robots.

The menu itself is pretty straightforward-Arby's is best known for selling roast beef sandwiches. Other menu items the chain is known for include gyros, wraps, chicken sandwiches, and milkshakes. But here's what's interesting: Arby's food is slightly unusual in that it doesn't serve any traditional fast food beef burgers. Their sandwiches are mainly composed of thin-sliced roast beef or turkey. In a world of identical burger joints, that's actually kind of bold.

The pricing sits somewhere between McDonald's and casual dining-Due to the freshness of its food, Arby's menu prices are slightly more than the average fast-food price. Its prices are similar to Wendy's restaurant, which owns 18.5% of Arby's. You're paying a bit more, but you're getting actual sliced meat instead of processed patties.

What really gets me is their commitment to the craft. During this time it created several menu items, including the Beef 'n Cheddar, Jamocha Shakes, chicken sandwiches, curly fries, and two signature sauces: Arby's Sauce and Horsey Sauce. Those curly fries alone have probably kept them in business-they're weirdly addictive.

The company's been through some ownership changes over the years, but Roark Capital Group acquired 81.5% of Arby's Restaurant Group in July 2011 and is now a majority-owner of Inspire Brands. Now they're part of this bigger restaurant family that includes Buffalo Wild Wings and Dunkin', which honestly makes sense-they all have that slightly quirky, not-trying-too-hard vibe.

Look, Arby's isn't going to change your life. But in a fast-food landscape that's increasingly homogenized, there's something refreshing about a place that just really, really wants to make you a good roast beef sandwich. And those curly fries? Yeah, they're still worth the trip.