Today, we are reviewing the Arby’s Angus Cheesesteak, specifically the 2026 edition. This edition has been introduced as a permanent menu item at Arby’s. Last year, Arby’s launched a limited edition of the Angus Cheesesteak. Our review of it became the most-read article in the history of Cigar Coop.
It’s important to note that the 2026 edition differs from the limited edition released in 2025. In this review, we will explore the performance of this revamped and now permanent menu item.
Forrest and Leroy Raffel founded Arby’s in Boardman, Ohio. Today, it is part of Inspire Brands and operates 3,472 restaurants in the U.S., along with additional locations in Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Turkey. Originally, Arby’s was established as a fast-food chain that did not focus on burgers, although they do offer one now. Their signature menu item is the hot roast beef sandwich. In the 1970s, they used the slogan “Arby’s – America’s Roast Beef, Yes Sir.”
Before diving into this assessment, it’s worth noting that, similar to last year’s, I would view this as Arby’s take on a cheesesteak. While many might draw comparisons to a classic Philadelphia-style cheesesteak, it’s important to evaluate it on its own merits.
The Construction
Let’s first review the components of Angus Cheesesteak. The Angus Cheesesteaks used in this assessment were ordered with all of the default ingredients and no customization.
- Shaved Angus Beef (Default)
- Toasted Amoroso’s Sesame Seed Bun
- Melted Cooper Sharp White Cheese (Default)
- Caramelized Onions (Default)
- Sandwiches Eaten: 2
- Location: Indian Trail, NC
- Length: 7.0 inches
- Weight: 9.0 ounces
- Price: $8.99/sandwich
There are four differences between the limited edition and the permanent 2026 edition:
- For the 2026 edition, Cooper cheese is used in place of traditional American cheese
- There is no garlic spread used on the 2026 edition
- There are no roasted peppers on the 2026 edition
- The 2026 edition features a sesame roll from Amoroso’s Bakery in Philadelphia
There are a variety of customization options. The Cooper Sharp can be gave Swiss, Big Eye Swiss, or Cheddar added to it. You cannot remove the Cooper cheese. You can also get lettuce, tomato, and red onion. The garlic spread and roasted peppers from 2025 are not an option, nor is substituting the sesame roll.
The Appearance (*)
Honestly, I can’t say that the Angus cheesesteak Arby’s serves looks like the promotional picture. The promotional picture looks more like a traditional cheesesteak. The actual Arby’s cheesesteaks I have had look like creamed beef on a roll. The food item being assessed is not judged on appearance (despite calls from the pundits).
Comparison Rating: Poor
The Experience
The following is the scoring that was used for this assessment. This is the same algorithm used as with the 2025 limited edition:
- Steak: 4 points
- Bread: 2 points
- Condiments (Cooper Sharp Cheese, Caramelized Onion): 2 points
- Intangibles: 2 points
Meat
The meat on the Angus Cheesesteak is shaved beef. It’s not a roast beef like found on many of Arby’s sandwiches. From a meat standpoint, it tasted better than the 2025 version. It’s a little hard to isolate the meat flavor because of the amount of melted Cooper Sharp (more about that later). I was able to detect savory and salty notes. It was also tender. While I’ve had my share of exceptional meats, this particular one simply didn’t hit the mark.
When I reviewed the limited edition version, I mentioned that Angus Beef is a buzzword. Angus actually refers to Aberdeen Angus, a breed of cattle in Scotland, and typically has been associated with a higher grade of beef. The beef is considered better because it has more marbling and is more tender. It doesn’t necessarily mean it translates to great taste.
Score: 1.75 out of 4.00 points
Roll
I must say, the bun at Amoroso’s was much better. It is toasted and features a split top. While it did have some sesame seeds, there seemed to be very few. I believe the large amount of Cooper Sharp cheese negatively impacted the roll, much like it did with the meat.
I do like the fact that the bottom of the bun is dusted with cornmeal.
Score: 0.75 out of 2.00 points
Condiments
The Cooper Sharp Cheese used in the sandwich is essentially a sharper variant of white American cheese made by Cooper Cheese. It remains quite creamy but has a finish on the palate that resembles sharp cheddar. Overall, it’s a good choice, and it melts well; however, there is an overly generous amount on the sandwich. One thing to note is that the caramelized onions add a nice sweetness, which complements the cheese.
Score: 1.00 out of 2.00 points
Intangibles
The main question we need to consider is whether the overall experience of this sandwich exceeds the sum of its individual components. Unfortunately, there is far too much Cooper Cheese, which negatively impacts everything else. Additionally, it’s not a blended cheese, so it overpowers the meat, onions, and the roll. I don’t understand why Arby’s chose to smother this sandwich with so much cheese, reminiscent of their decisions in 2025. While the condiments aren’t bad, they are completely misused in this context. The excessive melted cheese also makes for a very messy experience, as the meat tends to fall out of the sandwich.
On the bright side, this sandwich will fill you up.
OVERALL EXPERIENCE
The 2026 Angus Cheesesteak presents some enhancements compared to the 2025 limited edition; however, it may not meet expectations for all consumers. The promotional imagery suggests less cheese than what was actually received. While a less cheesy version might not have received a high rating either, the overall consensus indicates that it remains a below-average option for cheesesteak enthusiasts. It might be advisable to explore other cheesesteak alternatives or consider different menu items from Arby’s for a more satisfying experience.
Summary
| Steak (4 points) | 1.75 |
| Bun (2 points) | 0.75 |
| Condiments (2 points) | 1.00 |
| Intangibles (2 points) | 0.25 |
| Total (10 points) | 3.75 |
Score: 3.75 (out of 10 points)
Value: Below Average
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop
* Not scored in the overall numeric assessment rating.
