Arby's
Arby's fries illustration
National chain · Est. 1964

Arby's

A curly-fry icon — and an unexpected gluten-free trap.

Last verified April 18, 2026 Two fry options Curly & Crinkle
§ 01

At a glance

Vegetarian
Suitable
No animal-derived ingredients in either fry recipe.
Vegan
Suitable
Plant-based ingredients only.
Gluten-Free
Not suitable
Curly fries contain wheat flour batter; both share fryer with wheat items.
Dairy-Free
Likely safe
No dairy ingredients; shared kitchen carries minor cross-contact risk.
Kosher
Not certified
Ingredients kosher-compatible; not certified.
Halal
Not certified
Ingredients halal-compatible; not certified.
Arby's is the chain where the obvious assumption — "fries are just potatoes" — actually backfires. The famous curly fries contain wheat flour in their seasoned batter, putting them firmly off-limits for celiac diets. Crinkle fries (introduced in 2021) are wheat-free at the ingredient level but still cooked in the same oil as wheat-coated items.
§ 02

Nutrition facts

Arby's's published nutrition data for the serving size most comparable to an industry "medium" order. Values shown are per-serving and calculated against FDA 2020 Daily Values.

For comparison across chains, see our rankings pages — lowest sodium, lowest saturated fat, lowest calorie, and more.

§ 03

Ingredients, line by line

Curly Fries — annotated

  • Potatoes Fine
  • Vegetable oil Soy — Canola, palm, soybean, and/or sunflower oil.
  • Enriched wheat flour Wheat · Gluten — The seasoned batter that gives curly fries their texture.
  • Modified corn starch, corn meal Fine
  • Salt, spices, garlic powder, onion powder, dried yeast Fine
  • Leavening, oleoresin paprika Fine
Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Contains One or More of the Following: Canola, Palm, Soybean, Sunflower), Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Onion Powder, Spices, Garlic Powder, Degermed Yellow Corn Meal, Leavening (Disodium Dihydrogen Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Dried Yeast, Colored with Oleoresin Paprika.

Crinkle Fries — annotated

  • Potatoes, vegetable oil, salt Cleaner base — Crinkle fries skip the wheat flour batter that curly fries use.

Crinkle fries do not contain wheat as an ingredient. However, Arby's cooks them in the same oil as items containing wheat — making them not safe for celiac disease.

The classic mistake People assume curly fries are just decoratively-cut potatoes. They aren't. Curly fries are battered, and the batter contains wheat. If you're avoiding gluten and you order curly fries because they "look fun," that's the trap.
§ 04

Oil & fryer setup

Primary oil
Vegetable oil blend
Canola, palm, soybean, and/or sunflower oil. Common across both fry products.
Fryer setup
Shared
Same fryer as Mozzarella Sticks, Jalapeño Bites, fish, and other wheat- and dairy-containing items.
Cross-contamination
High risk
Per Arby's: "Fried menu items are cooked in common oil." This applies to both curly and crinkle fries.
Curly vs. crinkle
Choose carefully
Curly = wheat in batter. Crinkle = no wheat in ingredients but shared fryer. Neither is safe for celiac disease.
§ 05

A note on shared fryers

Arby's fries the bulk of its menu — fries, mozzarella sticks, jalapeño bites, fish — in the same oil. Even if you order the wheat-free crinkle fries specifically to avoid gluten, the oil itself has been in contact with breaded items containing wheat. For someone with celiac disease, this counts. For someone with a milder gluten sensitivity, it may or may not — that's a question for your doctor, not a website.

Arby's is the case study for why "the ingredient list is gluten-free" and "the food is gluten-free" are different sentences. The Crinkle Fries pass the first test and fail the second.
§ 06

Top-9 allergen status

Per the FDA's nine major allergens, as disclosed by Arby's for Arby's Curly Fries & Crinkle Fries.

✓ Milk
✗ Wheat*
✓ Egg
✗ Soy
✓ Peanut
✓ Tree Nut
! Fish*
✓ Shellfish
✓ Sesame

Wheat status reflects Curly Fries; Crinkle Fries do not contain wheat as an ingredient but share the fryer with wheat items. Fish: shared fryer with breaded fish products at most locations.

§ 07

Frequently asked questions

Are Arby's fries vegan?
Yes — Arby's fries are vegan by ingredient. Plant-based ingredients only.
Are Arby's fries vegetarian?
Yes — Arby's fries are vegetarian. The fries contain no animal-derived ingredients. No animal-derived ingredients in either fry recipe.
Are Arby's fries gluten-free?
No — Arby's fries are not safe for celiac disease. Curly fries contain wheat flour batter; both share fryer with wheat items.
What oil does Arby's use to fry their fries?
Arby's fries are cooked in Vegetable oil blend. This is the same oil used for arby's entire fried menu at most locations — full fryer-sharing detail is documented in the Oil & fryer setup section above.
What are the ingredients in Arby's fries?
See the Ingredients section above for the full annotated list for Arby's fries — cooking oil, potato preparation, seasonings, and any coatings or additives. Each ingredient is flagged for dietary concerns where relevant.
Are Arby's fries dairy-free?
Arby's fries do not contain dairy as an ingredient. No dairy ingredients; shared kitchen carries minor cross-contact risk.
Are Arby's fries kosher?
Arby's fries are not certified kosher. Ingredients kosher-compatible; not certified.
Are Arby's fries halal?
Arby's fries are not certified halal. Ingredients halal-compatible; not certified.
How many calories are in Arby's fries?
A medium curly order of Arby's fries contains 550 calories, 29g total fat (4g saturated fat), 1390mg sodium, 65g carbs, and 7g protein. Source: Arby's official nutrition PDF.
Does Arby's use beef tallow in their fries?
No — Arby's fries are cooked in Vegetable oil blend, not beef tallow. Five chains on Frypedia still use beef in their fry preparation (McDonald's, Steak 'n Shake, Bojangles, Portillo's, Smashburger); Arby's is not one of them.
§ 08

In the wild

A side-by-side of curly vs. crinkle would help readers see what they're actually ordering.

Arby's fries
§ 09

Sources

Every claim on this page is sourced. If a source is wrong, dated, or missing, tell us — we update quickly.

  1. 01
    Arby's — U.S. Nutritional & Allergen Information (PDF, July 2024)Primary source · Official allergen disclosures
  2. 02
    Arby's — Nutrition, Allergens & Gluten-Free Guides hubPrimary source · Includes gluten-free menu PDF
  3. 03
    Arby's — Menu Items Without Gluten (PDF)Primary source · Official gluten-free guide
  4. 04
    Find Me Gluten Free — Arby's reviewsSecondary source · Celiac community shared experiences
Important — read before you eat Ingredient formulations change, sometimes with no public announcement. Allergen risk at any fast-food restaurant depends on the specific location, the time of day, and the staff on shift. For severe allergies, confirm ingredients with the restaurant at the point of ordering, and when in doubt, ask about fryer and equipment cross-contact. This page is an independent reference — not medical advice.
§ 10

Compare with other chains

McDonald's

National · Beef-flavored fries
Vegetarian ✗ Vegan ✗ Gluten-Free ✗
Vegetable blend + beef flavor→

Five Guys

National · Three ingredients
Vegetarian ✓ Vegan ✓ Gluten-Free ✓
Refined peanut oil · Dedicated→

All chains

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