Food of the Seventies, Carl's Jr. California Roast Beef + Fries

I also have food pages for the 80s and 90s.

Picture Gallery

Loading images, if this message doesn't go away you may need to enable javascript in order to see pictures
No images

No pictures available yet!

 Submit a picture 

Description
Steamed bun, roast beef (like Arby's), swiss cheese and an ortega chili - yum! Carl's fries in the 70's were the best. I think they used peanut oil - still miss those fries.
Links for more info

The following are links about Carl's Jr. California Roast Beef + Fries you may find interesting. Also check out the other pages.

  • No links have been submitted for this page yet.

Submit a link to more information about Carl's Jr. California Roast Beef + Fries

User Stories and Comments

The following are comments left about Carl's Jr. California Roast Beef + Fries from site visitors such as yourself. They are not spell checked or reviewed for accuracy.

JD - November 08, 2008 - Report this comment
I used to work at Carl's Jr. in the 70's and loved the roast beef. The fries were made from potato buds and shaped into fries. As of 11/06/08 they are back for a limited time. 2 for $5.00, I had too.
TCTina - January 08, 2009 - Report this comment
I used to work at Carl's Jr. in the 80's and I miss those fries made of potato buds, and I know lots of other people do too. They should bring those back. I had the Cali Roast beef sandwich too that came out in Nov. Not as good as I remembered but much better than the Steak Sandwich they just put out again. I miss that spreadable steak sauce/butter stuff they used back in the 80's.
Sammy - January 15, 2010 - Report this comment
I too miss the California Steak Sandwich, it wasn't a solid piece of beef, it was "flaked and formed", but it tasted great and had an onion ring on it with a great steak sauce served on a long bun. I wish they would bring it back now and then. I loved the salad bar too.
jillyo5 - January 25, 2011 - Report this comment
Please bring back the original California Roast Beef sandwiches and the best ever french fries ever from the 70's. They were soft and mushy on the inside (I guess it was like potatoe buds) and crispy on the outside. I think I remember they were crinkles. I even remember how much better the ketchup was that came in the peel off tops. My friend and I used to eat there when we got our allowances and always ordered that same combo every time. We used to sit in the eating area and stare at the cork ceilings and check out the beach scene drawings. Memories...
psmom04 - December 13, 2011 - Report this comment
OMG!! Carl's fries!!! yes they were potatoe buds that would be poured in a big silver machine and would be squeezed out to form a fry (like play dough) then deep fried the best ever!! remember the chili dog?(with the little chili on top) yummmm. We used to get the famous star meal deal it was the burger, fry & drink for .99 each meal. now I don't spend less than 40.00 for the 4 of us :/
roast beef lulu - April 26, 2012 - Report this comment
i still get cravings for the California Rost beef sandwich the original one !! It was so good - had roast beef - white cheese , ortega chile and tomatoe YUMMY
eb - July 30, 2014 - Report this comment
My best friend and I use to walk a mile to Carl's from our high school at lunch and cut 6th period just for that California Roast Beef sandwich, fries & a coke. We were always craving that California Roast beef. We graduated in 1985 and the sandwich seemed to disappear from the menu shortly thereafter. I sure wish that exact original sandwich would come back. I try to duplicate it but it just never tastes the same or satisfies that craving
Wanda Von Enkhorn - November 09, 2014 - Report this comment
The California Roast Beef Sandwich is good but it could be greasier.
Winfield Wilson - February 06, 2015 - Report this comment
I worked for Carl's Jr. from '76 till '84, and I loved that roast beef sandwich. We prepped them regular, "no green"(chile), and plain (meat only). As well as the fries, we had super good onion rings, and don't forget the fried zucchini with ranch dressing... MMMM!
Noname - March 10, 2015 - Report this comment
Of course Carls jr cannot bring back the roast beef sandwich, which was awesome, because all they seem to be focusing on is their perverted exploitation of women in their advertising & not what their customers feedback is asking for. I for one am sickened by the Carls jr advertising & for that reason I am no longer a customer of the insensitive distasteful corporation. Notice by the way, that Carls jr is not adding hot dogs to their menu because I just cannot imagine what they would have scantily clad women do with those. Come on Carls jr, get with it!!!! Sexual exploitation of women is NOT COOL, why dont you FIRE your advertising company and just focus on the good food that Carls jr used to be about? Until your company can decide if you want to be in the sex industry or food service I will boycott. SHAME Carls jr!!!!
Jeff Barnes - November 22, 2016 - Report this comment
Please, please, please, bring back the Carl's Jr Calif RB sandwich, always my favorite!!! So good with the 70's fries, and vanilla shake! Today's synthetic fries SUCK!!! excuse my french....
Bob Hicken - April 13, 2017 - Report this comment
I to miss the great fries and RB sandwich from the 70s. I worked at Tastee Freeze and they had the same fries. I made the fries. It was like play dough before being put in the fryer. So sad you can't get those fries anywhere anymore.5
CUTLOUS. LOUIE GUEVARA CHINO CA - August 04, 2017 - Report this comment
I would give up everything even my family for 1 more Original California Roast Beef Sandwich. J/k. I'd rather keep my family and come up with my own version. I'll come back soon and let you all know the outcome PEACE Regards, Louie Guevara
Former employee - May 01, 2021 - Report this comment
The buns were TOASTED, not steamed.
LiseG - August 23, 2021 - Report this comment
I used to eat the California Roast Beef Sandwich nearly every day after school in high school. I loved those fries too. They were smooth then changed to crinkly but just as awesome. There are no fries that good. I think I go set an Arby’s Roast Beef and use the heat to try to make a Carl’s sandwich!!
Charlie - February 05, 2022 - Report this comment
Noname, you sound like a lesbian
Carls JR Fountain Valley - July 25, 2022 - Report this comment
As a former employee in the ‘80s, I can say the buns were toasted (like every Carl’s bun), not steamed. We’d pre-make the California Roast Beef and keep them in a fridge and then microwave for 30 seconds or so when ordered. They were pretty good.

Submit a story or info about Carl's Jr. California Roast Beef + Fries