I ordered the same meal at Applebee's and Arby's to see which chain had the tastiest food.
At both restaurants, I ordered French dip and chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, and fries.
Overall, I preferred the flavor of the food at Applebee's.
I love finding a great meal at a good value, so when a new Arby's opened near my house in Las Vegas, I figured I'd stop by. I hadn't been to an Arby's in years and wanted to see if the restaurant had changed at all.
I decided to compare the meal with a tried-and-true favorite: Applebees. At both stops, I ordered French dip and chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, and fries, and compared them based on flavor and value.
Here's how my meals at each chain stacked up.
I started with a meal at Arby's.
I went to Arby's for an early lunch.
Jena Brown
Arby's is a Georgia-based chain that has over 3,400 locations across eight countries, the majority of which are in the US. The restaurant is best known for its roast-beef sandwiches.
When I walked in, I loved the fun vibes of Arby's interior.
I noticed a large letter "A" on the wall in Arby's dining area.
Jena Brown
Walking in, I noticed a giant letter "A" decoration with light bulbs on the wall. I thought this added a fun, retro vibe to the dining area.
This location felt clean, and I really liked the white subway tiles around the register area. There was even a bell by the door for customers to ring if they enjoyed good service.
I ordered various menu items at the front counter.
I was excited to try Arby's sandwiches, tenders, and fries.
Jena Brown
At Arby's, I ordered a variety of menu items, opting for a mix of sandwiches and smaller sides.
I went with the classic French dip and Swiss, the three-piece chicken tenders, curly fries, and the chicken bacon Swiss sandwich. Altogether, my meal cost just over $26 with tax.
I thought the French dip with Swiss was pretty good.
The classic French dip and Swiss came with a delicious au jus.
Jena Brown
The French dip ($7) came on a fluffy white roll with a good amount of sliced roast beef and melted Swiss cheese.
The roll was soft and didn't overwhelm the sandwich. The roast beef was lightly seasoned, and the au jus added a rich flavor.
I also liked how the cheese had a nice creamy aftertaste that made each bite really satisfying.
The chicken tenders were a little dry, but the curly fries were pretty solid.
I didn't love the chicken tenders, but I enjoyed my fries.
Jena Brown
Arby's chicken tenders were my least-favorite thing I ordered. The breading had a light peppery seasoning that I enjoyed, but overall, I thought they were a little too dry. Plus, at $6 for three tenders, I felt they were overpriced.
On the other hand, the curly fries didn't let me down. They were hot and tasted fresh, with a mild peppery spice. They paired well with the other food, but I thought the $4 cost was a bit pricey.
There was a lot of flavor in the chicken bacon Swiss sandwich.
I thought the chicken bacon Swiss sandwich was delicious.
Jena Brown
I was impressed by the chicken bacon Swiss sandwich, which came with shredded lettuce, tomato, and a honey-mustard sauce. I also thought the sandwich was a decent size.
The chicken was crispy, and there was a nice amount of lettuce. I wasn't expecting the honey mustard to add so much flavor, but it was light and tangy.
For $7.20, the sandwich was filling and delicious.
Next, I headed to Applebee's.
I went to Applebee's for an early dinner.
Jena Brown
I'd been to Applebee's before and had a good impression from the last few times I went.
The fast-casual restaurant is known for its classic American food, including burgers, sandwiches, and ribs. The California-based chain has over 1,500 locations in 11 countries and territories.
Applebee's interior seemed clean, and the service was quick.
We sat in a corner booth during our meal.
Jena Brown
When we got to Applebee's, our server sat us in a quiet corner booth with wall art depicting red rock canyons and Nevada landmarks.
As was the case with my last experience at this chain, I thought the restaurant was clean, and the service was fast and friendly.
At Applebee's, a server took our food order.
I ordered sandwiches and tenders, which came with fries.
Jena Brown
Unlike at Arby's, a server took our order at Applebee's.
I opted for the prime rib dipper, the chicken tender platter, and a bacon ranch crispy chicken sandwich.
Including tax, the whole meal came to a total of about $48 before the tip.
The prime rib dipper was very tasty.
I enjoyed the prime rib dipper.
Jena Brown
The prime rib dipper was smaller than I expected but had a lot of flavor.
I thought the prime rib, which was served on a lightly toasted cheddar bun with American cheese and onions, was well seasoned. The accompanying French-onion au jus truly tasted homemade.
Though the sandwich came with fries, I thought $15 seemed a little expensive, given the portion size.
In my opinion, the chicken tender platter was just OK.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the chicken tender platter, but I liked the fries a lot.
Jena Brown
I was surprised by how big the chicken tender platter ($14.30) was.
This meal came with seven tenders, some fries, and a small serving of coleslaw. The tenders were mildly seasoned and seemed pretty standard.
I'm not sure how Applebee's cooks or seasons its fries, but I've been blown away every time I've eaten at the restaurant. They packed a ton of flavor and were cooked to perfection.
However, for me, the best part was the coleslaw — it was light, fresh-tasting, and not overly sweet.
The bacon ranch crispy chicken sandwich was the real winner.
I thoroughly enjoyed the bacon ranch crispy chicken sandwich.
Jena Brown
I was shocked at how massive the chicken patty on this sandwich was. The brioche bun almost felt too small.
Still, I was even more surprised at how perfectly this chicken was cooked. It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside — absolutely delicious.
The lettuce and pickles added a pop of freshness, and I liked that the ranch dressing was served on the side, so the sandwich didn't get soggy. At $14.60, I thought this meal was a fantastic deal.
Overall, I was really impressed by my meal at Applebee's.
Although it was more expensive, I really liked the food at Applebees.
Jena Brown
Applebee's offered more food at a higher price, which initially made Arby's seem like a decent value.
However, the bacon ranch crispy chicken sandwich at Applebee's was incredible. I'd go back for that alone.
When it comes to which chain I'd be most likely to return to, I have to go with Applebee's.
