We Tried Jack in the Box’s New Philly Cheesesteak

Jack in the Box has released their own take on a classic Philly cheesesteak. While aiming to bring the East coast staple to their restaurants across the country, Jack needed to make a few subtle changes. You’ll still find grilled & seasoned shaved-steak, melty cheese, grilled onions, and peppers. All that’s stuffed into a soft, buttered, and toasted hoagie roll.

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Each ingredient has its own twist. Instead of the expected Cheez Whiz, you get Swiss-style cheese. The peppers are a sweet bell pepper instead of a hot pepper. Jack in the Box also adds a bit of mayo so things don’t dry out on us. The result is a Philly classic―Jack’s way. Jack in the Box invited me down to their headquarters in San Diego to check out their take on the Philly cheesesteak. Here are my thoughts.

Our Verdict

Pros: The first thing you notice when you pick up the Philly cheesesteak is the soft Philly-style hoagie roll! I am a sucker for some good bread. Then the flavor of the seasoned shaved steak hits you. I actually had to take a moment to gather myself. That’s backed up by the melty Swiss-style cheese and the roasted onions and peppers that deliver a bit of charred goodness to it all.

My biggest concern about Jack in the Box’s Philly cheesesteak was how to eat it without the innards falling all over the place. A crucial thing to take note of when it could potentially be eaten while driving down the highway at 80 mph. I did lose some stray soldiers but overall it held up well.

The soft hoagie roll was sturdy enough to keep things together but still tore away when I went for a bite. Once a seasoned chef is in charge of cooking this one up, I have confidence they’ll be able to pack things in well enough that you don’t face the same issues.

Cons: There’s a lotta sandwich here but that means it’s gonna cost you a lot, too. A fast food item starting at $12 sends shivers down my spine. Thankfully we can salvage things a bit. You can add Jack in the Box’s Philly cheesesteak to their Munchie Meal. That means you’ll get an additional two tacos, curly fries, and a drink in addition to the cheesesteak.

This sounds counterintuitive. I’m asking you to get even more food? Sure! All this food should reheat well in the microwave or the air fryer. That means you can squeeze two meals out of the one Munchie Meal that’ll cost you $15-16 for the whole package.