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Arby's Philly Cheesesteak Has The Internet Divided

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Arby's Philly Cheesesteak Has the Internet Divided originally appeared on Parade.

Last month, Arby's introduced its latest limited-time offering: its take on the famous Philly cheesesteak (or as people from Philly simply call it, a cheesesteak). It looks good in the photos: a quarter-pound of Angus beef tossed with American cheese and grilled peppers and onions atop a long bun (or as people from Philly call it, a hoagie roll) coated in a creamy garlic spread.

Arby's offering diverts from the traditional cheesesteak recipe. If you go to Philly you won't find bell peppers on a cheesesteak—just onions. You won't find American cheese on it either—it's Cheez Wiz or provolone. And you certainly won't find "creamy garlic spread" anywhere near it. Ketchup, however, is acceptable.

But not everyone is a purist. Many people online are loving Arby's take on the east coast staple! And just as many are loathing it.

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One Redditor put their opinion succinctly: "The cheesesteak is amazing." They accompanied a photo of their sandwich—ordered with double steak and stretching the roll to its limits. The sandwich here looks like it does in Arby's promo materials, albeit in worse lighting. Commenters echoed the positive sentiment. "It was a bit messy and very filling," one wrote. Exactly how a cheesesteak should be.

Another Arby's fan posted a less-appetizing photo of their cheesesteak (presumably not ordered with double meat.) Nonetheless, they still enjoyed it. "It was pretty good," they wrote. "Looks perfect," someone commented. Perhaps they need their eyes checked.

Another Redditor posted a photo of a mammoth of a sandwich, packed with so much meat it's falling out of the roll and onto the foil. It's exactly what a perfect cheesesteak should look like. However, they were anything but pleased. "I had to toss it as it looked so foul," they scathingly wrote. "I think I'm done with Arby's."

Arby's Philly Cheesesteak Has the Internet Divided first appeared on Parade on Jul 24, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.

'One Of The Best': The Philly Special Is Serving Up Cheesesteaks In ...

A shaved rib-eye steak sandwich with provolone, and fries on the side, from The Philly Special in Mundelein. Courtesy of Jessica Marvin

A restaurant specializing in Philadelphia-style cheesesteak sandwiches has opened in Mundelein.

The Philly Special, at 1408 S. Butterfield Road in the Butterfield Corners Plaza, is giving meat-lovers an alternative to giardiniera-laden, Chicago-style beef sandwiches and hot dogs dragged through the garden. It started serving cheesesteaks to appreciative customers in mid-September.

Mundelein Associate Planner Jessica Marvin already is a fan.

"It (is) one of the best Philly cheesesteaks I have ever eaten," Marvin said. "This is exactly what I was expecting from a local Philly cheesesteak place."

For the uninitiated, a Philly cheesesteak features thinly sliced pieces of steak and melted cheese on a long hoagie roll. Sauteed onions and green bell peppers and grilled mushrooms are common toppings.

Unlike on a Chicago-style hot dog, ketchup is an acceptable condiment.

Cheese is mandatory - but whether it's melted slices of provolone or American or a dollop of gooey Cheez Whiz is a debate that has divided fans for decades.

The Philly Special offers all three options - but co-owner Keith Weinberg is partial to Whiz.

"I was raised as a Whiz wit' guy," said Weinberg, who grew up near Philadelphia and now lives in Northbrook. "And I will steer anyone who asks me in that direction."

Weinberg was a bartender before he teamed with Highland Park's Nick Kroll to open The Philly Special in a vacant storefront. Lucky Burger operated there from 2018 until fall 2022.

The new restaurant's name honors a touchdown-scoring trick play performed by the Philadelphia Eagles near the end of the team's 2018 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.

"It's my tribute to my beloved Eagles and all Philly teams back east," Weinberg said.

Vernon Hills resident Danielle Wells, who manages Awesome Tan next to The Philly Special, said the signature sandwiches - served on rolls from the Philadelphia area's Amoroso's Baking Co. - are better than ones available in mall food courts.

"I've had the original Philly with Cheez Whiz and I've tried the original Philly with white American," she said. "Both sandwiches were amazing."

The restaurant also serves chicken wings, hand-cut french fries and cheese fries, salads, a bacon-wrapped hot dog called a "Texas Tommy," Italian ice in several flavors and other regional delicacies.

The Philly Special is open Sundays and Mondays from 11 a.M. To 8 p.M. And Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.M. To 9 p.M.

For more, call The Philly Special at (224) 513-5183 or visit thephillyspecialsteaks.Com.

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