Growing up in Los Angeles, I always passed by the iconic Arby’s hat on Sunset Boulevard, sparking my curiosity about the fast-food chain known for its roast beef and cheddar sandwiches. Interestingly, a friend of mine, Jo Stougaard, shared her fond memories of working at an Arby’s in West Covina as a teenager, adding to my intrigue about the restaurant. However, despite our plans to visit the Arby’s on Sunset Boulevard together, it eventually closed its doors earlier this month after 55 years in Hollywood, citing various reasons such as increased food costs and the new minimum wage law for fast-food workers in California.
The closure of the Hollywood location left us feeling nostalgic for a piece of Americana that we never got to experience. In light of this, I decided to embark on a quest to find the nearest Arby’s to central Los Angeles, leading me to the Huntington Beach location. As I stepped into the wagon-style building with its distinctive hat sign and cow design in the tile floor, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of connection to the past.
Although the menu featured newer additions like fried chicken sandwiches and wraps, I opted to stick to the original sandwiches that Arby’s is known for. I savored a classic roast beef, a classic roast beef and cheddar, and a classic roast beef and natural cheddar, along with a side of curly fries, a Jamocha shake, and mozzarella sticks. While enjoying my meal on the patio under the neon glow of the sign, I couldn’t help but notice the attention to detail in the preparation of the sandwiches.
The thinly sliced roast beef, served on an onion roll with a hint of toasted alliums, offered a unique texture and flavor profile that I had never experienced before. The addition of horsey sauce, as recommended by Stougaard, elevated the taste of the sandwiches and added a delightful kick. The curly fries, with their perfectly curled rings of potato, and the Jamocha shake, despite lacking a prominent coffee flavor, rounded out the meal with a touch of nostalgia.
Although my first experience at Arby’s may not have lived up to the hype, I appreciated the opportunity to try a piece of fast-food history. The closure of the Hollywood location served as a reminder of the changing landscape of the food industry, with modern chains replacing beloved classics. However, finding the best Arby’s beef ‘n’ cheddar sandwich after the Hollywood location closure allowed me to connect with a piece of culinary Americana and create new memories in the process. Next time you’re craving curly fries and a creamy horseradish sauce, consider visiting a wagon-style Arby’s building for a taste of nostalgia and a unique fast-food experience.