Four Arby's meals you'll never see again and customers are boycotting the chain

ARBY'S customers have been boycotting the chain ever since the sandwich fast food shop discontinued four beloved menu items.

Previously loyal fans announced they would no longer be visiting the restaurant after it discontinued its unique and iconic potato cake side.

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The restaurant chain got its start in Boardman, Ohio in 1964 when brothers Leroy and Forrest Raffel imagined there could be success in fast food beyond hamburgers.

Now, the chain operates more than 3,500 stores worldwide.

That doesn’t mean Arby’s has been safe from controversy over the years.

Here’s the full list of discontinued Arby’s menu items, and for some fans, it’s enough to keep them away from the fast food empire for good.

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1. POTATO CAKES

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Fans were shocked to find out Arby’s potato cakes were being replaced in favor of the new crinkle fries side dish in 2021.

After all, these were a beloved institution at the chain that sold itself as a differentiated fast food chain, offering something a little different than your traditional cheeseburger and fries.

Arby’s previously offered an explanation for why the potato cakes had to disappear – in order for the new fries to stay, and the chain offered a little hope for potato cake enthusiasts as well.

"Our Curlies have long been a fan favorite, but after many months of R&D and extensive market testing, customers made it clear our all-new Crinkles were a hit, and we had created a true companion on equal footing to its legendary predecessor,” an Arby’s spokesperson told Thrillist.

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“Now we have the two best fries in QSR — crinkles and curlies — and they go great together! Although our Potato Cakes have been discontinued (for now), who's to say they're gone forever?"

Still, fans haven’t been okay with the decision, with some even launching a Change.org petition with more than 4,000 signatures.

"I haven’t been to Arby’s since I found out they discontinued the potato cakes. Such a sad day," one Twitter user wrote back in March 2023.

The potato lover then begged Arby's to "bring them back."

Some customers even went so far as to say they would no longer be visiting Arby’s until the potato cake disappearance was resolved.

"One of the best (only?) reasons to eat at @Arby's was their potato cakes, dipped in their Horsey Sauce,” a customer wrote on Twitter. "Since they discontinued the potato cakes, I no longer eat at Arby's.”

2. LOADED ITALIAN SANDWICH

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With a slogan of “We have the meats,” Arby’s Loaded Italian Sandwich seemed right at home in its menu lineup.

The sub was fully decked with huge portions of ham, salami, and pepperoni, all served on an Italian roll with cheese, vinaigrette, aioli, and lettuce.

When the Loaded Italian first launched in 2015, company executives were full of hope for the new menu creation.

"The Italian sandwich has become a worldwide favorite famous for stacking delicious Italian meats, so we feel it's a natural addition to the Arby's menu,” Rob Lynch, the brand’s former president, said at the time to Prepared Foods.

“The Loaded Italian pays homage to the classic and reinforces our commitment to offer highly crave-able, Meatcrafted sandwiches to our guests.”

But as time went on, Arby’s decided to discard its Italian entree in favor of new items, likely as the sandwich wasn’t producing enough sales.

Once again, fans haven’t been pleased, saying the discontinuation goes back on Arby’s promise to “have the meats.”

“It's unfair!,” a Redditor wrote of the beloved sandwich. “I loved that sandwich and they get rid of it!!!? I was so sad I couldn't see myself eating at Arby's after that, no offense. I LOVE Arby's but there is never anything I can fully stomach. The loaded Italian was my go to for getting Arby's.”

Another one echoed the sentiment: “I'm so bummed about the Italian sandwich. It's literally the whole reason I go to Arby's and now I'm not going to have it anymore.”

3. PIZZA SLIDER

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Americans love their pizza and their sliders, so it makes sense that Arby’s wanted to try out its iconic Pizza Slider.

The entree first made an appearance in 2017, and it featured both pepperoni and salami alongside provolone cheese and garlic marinara.

By 2021, Arby’s was in the middle of a menu reboot, and the Pizza Slider was unfortunately one of the victims of the overhaul.

Six other items were axed as well from the menu, with the garlic marinara sauce completely disappearing from stores.

Immediately upon hearing the news, customers were distraught.

“NOOOOOOO NOT THE PIZZA SLIDER,” one commented on Reddit.

Another chimed in: “Whelp....that eliminates my reasons for ever getting Arby's....”

Now, fans must choose between four sliders: the Buffalo chicken, plain chicken, jalapeno roast beef and plain roast beef.

4. WHITE CHEDDAR MAC AND CHEESE

While fast food chains have generally struggled to offer a high quality mac and cheese product, many believed Arby’s was the exception.

“It exceeded my expectations and blew me away,” one Redditor wrote of the dish at the time it launched. “The only other fast food Mac and cheese I’ve ever had was from KFC which I thought was awesome but the new Arby’s Mac and cheese is even better. Highly recommended.”

Its decadent white cheddar mac and cheese was offered as a side or as part of its two for $6 everyday value menu.

Fans especially loved the tangy sauce that accompanied the dish, and no fast food restaurant has been able to replicate it since.

All good things must come to an end, however, as Arby’s decided to replace the cheesy delight with a new one, the mozzarella sticks.

At the end of 2022, the item was back for a limited time, including a loaded version with bacon and chicken. But neither option could remain on menus for long.

In other discontinued item news, Aldi removed a fan favorite sweet snack from its lineup.

Plus, Oreo fans are debating which discontinued cookie flavor should make a return to stores first.