This iconic Arby’s item has been on the menu for over 60 years—and it’s still better than any sandwich

If you know, you know.

There's a special kind of excitement that comes with discovering a brand-new favorite on a fast food menu you've been visiting for years, whether it's a secret menu item, a clever ordering hack, or just an overlooked item that's been hiding in plain sight.

We've spent plenty of time digging up hidden gems at the biggest fast food chains, highlighting favorites like Chick-fil-A Loaded Nachos, McDonald's Spam McMuffin, and In-N-Out's "Gorilla Style" Burger.

But if you ask me about my favorite underrated fast food item of all time, we're heading straight to the dessert menu at Arby's. Instead of serving up the standard frozen treats we see at almost every fast food chain—vanilla soft serve or a chocolate shake—Arby's has been quietly doing something different for decades. It's bringing a flavor to the drive-thru that almost no one else has mastered, and somehow it's stayed one of fast food's best-kept secrets.

Meet Arby's Jamocha Shake

At Arby's, you'll find one of the most unique—and, in my opinion, all-time best—fast food shakes: the Jamocha Shake.

If you aren't familiar, Jamocha is the brand's signature java-mocha blend, combining chocolate and coffee flavors in a way that feels perfectly balanced rather than leaning too heavily in either direction. So don't worry, it's nothing like ordering a Frappuccino at Starbucks or even a Frosted Coffee at Chick-fil-A. In fact, plenty of fans who don't even drink coffee still consider it a favorite.

The shake has a gentle, nostalgic kind of coffee-chocolate flavor—one that's refreshing in the summer, comforting in the winter, and especially satisfying when you haven't had one in a while.

And I'm not the only strong supporter of this shake. Fans across the internet have called it their "favorite franchise fast food shake" and the "best in the biz," and there are a few reasons why.

What Makes Arby's Jamocha Shake So Special

The Jamocha Shake has been on the menu for a long, long time. It first arrived in 1964, making it one of Arby's oldest menu items alongside the Classic Roast Beef Sandwich and Potato Cakes. That was decades before the drive-thru coffee craze we're living in today—before cold brew, iced coffee, and coffee runs in general became a daily habit.

The flavor pairs surprisingly well with the rest of the menu, too. Coffee notes give it a deeper, warmer taste than a standard chocolate or vanilla shake, with just enough roasted bitterness to offset the sweetness. Those toasty notes work well alongside Arby's savory menu, from a Beef 'n Cheddar to seasoned Curly Fries and even a side of Horsey Sauce.

And still today, there isn't a true direct competitor in the coffee shake lane. Outside of a specialty blended drink from a coffee shop, coffee really isn't a flavor you regularly find on fast food dessert menus year-round. So when you're craving exactly that, there's really only one place to go—which is a big part of what's inspired the shake's cult-like following.

Because Arby's isn't exactly a dessert destination, the Jamocha Shake can still feel like a secret you stumble upon at the end of your order. It's one of those "if you know, you know" menu items—and now, you're officially in the know. So the next time you find yourself in the Arby's drive-thru, add a Jamocha Shake to your order. I bet you'll end up wondering how you went so long without trying one.

Read the original article on Allrecipes