Review: Arby's New Chicken Cheesesteaks Are A Fresh New Way To Bring The Meat

The cheesesteak's origin naturally traces back to Philadelphia, where chopped beef and onions were packed into a hoagie roll in the 1930s, and the cheese sealed the deal in the following decade. However, it would take over half a century longer for the concept of chopped chicken replacing beef in the sandwich to arrive on the scene. It's hard to pinpoint the exact time when that happened and who came up with the idea, but Philly's own Ishkabibble's is considered one of the pioneers, and its chicken cheesesteaks have been enjoyed by the likes of Bruce Willis and Stevie Nicks. 

This cheesy protein path is similar to the one that the folks over at Arby's are currently journeying on. This past summer, it went all in on cheesesteaks with its new Angus one, and now, as the weather is cooling down, the brand that has the meats is heating things up again with a trio of chicken cheesesteaks — regular, deluxe, and spicy!

The chicken is marinated in spices, garlic, onion, and paprika, and is joined by caramelized onions and one of Philadelphians' preferred cheesesteak cheeses — melted American Cooper— all sandwiched between a toasted sesame roll. The Deluxe version adds shredded lettuce and tomatoes to the affair, while the Spicy one, as one would imagine, includes a spicy glaze drenching the elements.

So, are Arby's new Chicken Cheesesteaks worth meeting, or are they more like cheese-mistakes? Tasting Table put all three to the test on our own table to see where the truth lies. Now all can be revealed in this cheesy chew and review.

Some recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.

In advance of their national rollout in stores, the fine folks at Arby's sent over samples of the new Chicken Cheesesteak line for me to both ogle over and eat. The following were provided for the purposes of this taste test: Chicken Cheesesteak, Chicken Deluxe Cheesesteak, Spicy Chicken Cheesesteak, some curly fries, and a Shirley Temple drink, which was very cherry good. The subs arrived via delivery, and after their journey, they weren't fully warm, so I utilized my toaster oven to heat them up. I tasted each sub one by one, then took a second round of bites to compare, contrast, and determine which was the best of the bunch.

Before taking my first bite, I kept in mind my previous experiences with Arby's and its forever-meaty menu. I considered previous chowdowns with chicken cheesesteaks in my lifetime. I delved into this new assignment with an open mind and an open mouth to determine whether Arby's chicken cheesesteaks are worth your time and dime. For this taste test, I considered the following criteria: flavor, aroma, appearance, temperature, texture, originality, familiarity, uniqueness, value, fillingness, and, ultimately, whether each sandwich was delicious. These findings are based on my opinions, a honed palate, a general love of eating, and my habit of trying new products.

Arby's Chicken Cheesesteak and the Deluxe version are essentially the same thing, except the latter throws in lettuce and tomato. On paper, that sounds about as much of an upgrade as that iconic '80s McDonald's sandwich we all forgot about. I started my taste test with the regular version, which, from the outside of its 8-inch bread frame, didn't really show all that much. The bread itself had a nice texture, from its sesame-seeded top to its grainy bottom. It was soft to the touch, with a bit of crunch thanks to the toasting, and had a bit of heft to it too. Within lay a healthy amount of chicken, surrounded by similarly hued elements — the intermingled melted cheese and caramelized onions.

My first bite from one end wasn't a gigantic reveal. Most of my mouthful contained the bread, but as I worked my way inward, the chicken and its meshed friends started to have their say. What they told me was that this was a solid sandwich. Even though I had reheated my sub, the chicken was chewy and retained some juiciness thanks to the cheese and slippery onions.

Next up was the Deluxe edition. I honestly wasn't expecting much from the addition of shredded greens and two limp slices of tomato. Well, a funny thing happened on my way from preconceived notions to actually taking a bite. What I didn't realize was that the fresh veggies added a needed diversion from the otherwise dense affair. They also somehow brought out a creaminess that the regular one seemed to lack.

While the standard edition of the Chicken Cheesesteak hid most of its tasty wonders within, the Spicy version wore its attributes literally on its sleeve. The bread was stained with red splotches, which weren't a sign of sickness but a warning that the temperature was about to rise. Prying this one open, I saw that the spice glaze had made quite a splash, coating both the chicken and its buddies, as well as the bread itself. I leaned in for a whiff, expecting signs of Buffalo-ness or some sort of spice, but my nose detected nothing of the sort.

While it visually appeared messy, this sandwich proved to be a mostly clean handheld experience. My first bite revealed more juiciness than the regular Chicken Cheesesteak, but not a tremendous amount of spice. However, after a few more nibbles, the heat started to kick in. It wasn't the buffalo type of heat, but more like Frank's RedHot, without being all that hot. It wasn't anything overpowering, which I appreciated, but after plowing through half of the sandwich, it was enough to let a few droplets of sweat break on the top of my head. As a whole, the restrained but pleasant spice added a fun punch to this already established solid sandwich.

When I eat cheesesteaks, whether they're beef or chicken, I usually like to keep vegetable accouterments to a minimum, so as not to take away from the salty yum. Arby's Chicken Cheesesteak holds its own, without much adornment, as it is both tasty and filling. The Deluxe version was definitely an upgrade here, even if lettuce and tomatoes wouldn't have been my first choice. My go-tos are pickles, lots of them, and upping the onion ratio by adding raw ones. Anywho, the lettuce and tomatoes helped to break up the deep savoriness of the bread and chicken-cheese-onion mélange with their texture, temperature, and added taste.

After having half of each, I was quickly getting stuffed, but the job was not complete, and I continued with the Spicy Cheesesteak. Its spice added a nice little kick, without kicking itself over the head. It also left behind a lasting legacy, as its spiced flavor hung around in my mouth long after I had munched down on it. In terms of hotness, it's all in the mouth of the beholder. This may be good for the entry-level eaters, but maybe not enough of a burn for those who like to hail from the House of the Dragon and require breathing fire. While plenty saucy, the more I thought about it, the more I wished I had a cup of Arby's top-five rated ranch sauce to dress it up. That would have added a cooling freshness that had worked so well with the Deluxe and its lettuce and tomatoes.

So now that Arby's has proved adept at serving us scrumptious beef cheesesteaks and chicken ones, where do they go from here? Luckily, we at Tasting Table have several delicious ideas, from quesadillas to empanadas to sliders, to choose from.

The three new Chicken Cheesesteaks will be available at participating nationwide locations of Arby's starting October 12. The sandwiches will be available for a limited time only, while supplies last. At most locations, they can be ordered anytime Arby's is open for business. They can be ordered in-store, at the register, or at the drive-thru where available. It can also be ordered in advance for dine-in, takeaway, or delivery, where available, using Arby's website or app.

Each item can be ordered à la carte or as part of a meal, which includes a side and a drink. The sandwiches are completely customizable, to remove or add ingredients, including but not limited to condiments and dipping sauces. In some cases, additional fees may apply. The Chicken Cheesesteak has 660 calories and a suggested retail price of $7.49; the Chicken Deluxe Cheesesteak has 670 calories and a retail price of $8.49; and the Spicy Chicken Cheesesteak has 760 calories and a retail price of $7.99. Prices may vary by location.