Arby’s Curly Fries: The Ultimate Fan Guide to Price, Ingredients, and More

If you have ever stood at the counter smelling that peppery, seasoned aroma before your order even hits the tray, you already know why Arby’s curly fries have their own cult following. I have eaten more baskets of these spiral cut potatoes than I care to admit, and I still think they are one of the most underrated sides in fast food.

In this guide I am breaking down everything a real fan actually wants to know. How much they cost right now, whether they are vegan, how they stack up against the crinkle cut version, and where you can grab a bag for your own freezer. No fluff, just what I have learned from ordering these things more times than I can count.

What Makes Arby’s Curly Fries So Different

Most fast food chains fry a straight cut potato and call it a day. Arby’s went a different direction with a spiral cut fry coated in a bold blend of spices that includes onion, garlic, and paprika. That seasoning is baked right into the coating, so every curl gets flavor on all sides instead of just a sprinkle on top.

The shape actually matters too. Because the fries curl in on themselves, you get more surface area for that seasoned crust in every bite. It is a small detail, but it is the reason people who grew up on plain fries often say Arby’s ruined regular fries for them.

Arby’s Crinkle Fries vs Curly Fries

Arby’s also sells a crinkle cut fry for anyone who wants something a little more classic. The crinkle fries are lightly salted with a straightforward potato flavor, while the curly fries lean into that punchy seasoning blend.

My honest take: if you want a fry that plays a supporting role next to a sandwich, go crinkle. If you want the fry to be the main event, order the curly fries. I default to curly nine times out of ten, but I will grab crinkle when I am pairing them with something already loaded with flavor, like a Beef ‘n Cheddar.

Arby’s Curly Fries Price in 2026

Pricing at Arby’s varies a bit by location, but here is a realistic snapshot of what you should expect to pay right now across standard sizes.

If you are watching your budget, keep an eye on the Arby’s app. Deals rotating a dollar off any size curly fries pop up fairly often, and they stack nicely with a value sandwich for a meal that stays well under eight dollars. I check the app before almost every visit since the in store price and the app price are not always the same.

Arby’s Large Curly Fries Are Worth the Upgrade

If you are splitting an order with someone or you just know you are hungry, the jump from medium to large is usually less than fifty cents. That is one of the better value upgrades on the entire menu, and it is why the large fry is what I order by default when I am not on a strict combo deal.

Are Arby’s Curly Fries Vegan?

This one surprises people. Arby’s curly fries do not contain any animal products in the fry itself. They are cooked in a blend of corn, soybean, and canola oil rather than beef tallow, which is the ingredient that disqualifies fries at a lot of other chains.

The catch is the shared fryer. Arby’s fries are cooked in the same oil as items containing egg, milk, soy, and fish, so if you are strict about cross contact, that is worth knowing before you order. They also contain wheat, so this is not a gluten free option even though it is plant based.

Arby’s Frozen Fries for Home

You do not actually need a drive thru run to get your fix. Arby’s sells its seasoned curly fries in a frozen retail bag, and you can find them in the frozen aisle at major grocery stores and on sites like Walmart.com, typically in a 22 ounce bag for around four to five dollars.

I have made these at home more than once on a lazy weeknight, and they come out surprisingly close to the restaurant version if you use an air fryer instead of a conventional oven. Fifteen minutes at 400 degrees, shaking the basket halfway through, gets you the closest match to the seasoning crunch you get in store.

Clearing Up Some Fry Confusion

A lot of search traffic around this topic comes from people mixing up items that sound similar, so let me clear a few things up.

Does Arby’s Have Cheese Fries or Waffle Fries?

Arby’s does not have a permanent waffle fry on the menu. That is a different chain’s signature item, and Arby’s has stuck with curly and crinkle cuts as its core fry lineup for years.

As for cheese fries, Arby’s does not sell a standing cheese fry item either, though they have run loaded curly fry promotions in the past with cheese sauce and toppings added on top of the base curly fry. If you want cheese with your fries today, your move is ordering a side of cheese sauce, if your location carries it, or grabbing mozzarella sticks alongside your fries instead. Mozzarella sticks are their own item and are not the same thing as a cheese covered fry, but they are the closest cheesy pairing on the current menu.

Arby’s Curly Fries Nutrition Basics

I am not going to pretend fries are a health food, but it helps to know what you are working with before you order. A medium curly fry typically lands in the 400 to 450 calorie range, with sodium being the number worth watching since the seasoning blend is where most of that salt comes from.

If you are trying to keep a meal lighter, the small size still gives you plenty of that signature seasoning without piling on calories the way a large order does. I usually go small when I am also ordering a full sandwich, and I save the large size for times when fries are basically the meal.

Curly Fries and Common Allergens

Beyond the wheat and shared fryer oil mentioned earlier, Arby’s lists soy as another ingredient tied to the seasoning coating. If you have a soy allergy, this is not a side you can order without checking with staff first. Arby’s publishes updated ingredient and allergen sheets on its website for every item, and I always recommend pulling that up on your phone before ordering if you have any dietary restrictions at all. Menus and recipes change more than people expect, and what was true last year is not always true today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arby’s Curly Fries

Are Arby’s curly fries seasoned or plain?

They are seasoned. The blend includes onion, garlic, and paprika baked into the coating, which is the main thing separating them from the plain crinkle cut option.

Can I order Arby’s curly fries without seasoning?

Some locations can prepare a plain batch on request, though this depends on how the kitchen is set up that day. If you have a seasoning sensitivity, crinkle fries are the more reliable plain option since they come lightly salted instead of coated in the spice blend.

Do all Arby’s locations carry curly fries?

Curly fries are a core menu item, so nearly every Arby’s location carries them. Availability can shift briefly during regional promotions or supply issues, but this is rare enough that I would not plan around it.

Why Arby’s Curly Fries Have Stuck Around This Long

Fast food menus change constantly, but curly fries have survived every menu overhaul Arby’s has gone through. That kind of staying power says something. In an industry where sides are usually an afterthought, Arby’s built one that people specifically drive there for, and that is a rare thing to pull off.

Every time I bring a first timer to Arby’s, the curly fries are what gets brought up on the drive home. That is the real test of a good side. Not whether it looks good on a menu board, but whether people remember it after the meal is over.

Final Verdict

Arby’s curly fries earn their reputation. They cost a couple of dollars, they are plant based in the fry itself, and you can even stock your own freezer with them for a night in. If you have not ordered a large lately, that is my recommendation before you do anything else on the menu.

Craving more Arby’s? Check out my copycat Arby’s roast beef recipe to pair with your fries at home, browse this week’s Arby’s specials before your next visit, or start your morning right with a look at the Arby’s breakfast menu.