When I heard that Kristen Kish, “Top Chef” and “Traitors” star, was collaborating with Arby’s to promote a new, upgraded French dip sandwich, I could only think of one sentence: Say less — I’m already on my way.
“Arby’s was a part of my childhood. I grew up eating it, so there’s a real nostalgia there for me,” Kish said in an announcement for the new item. “And I’ve always loved a good French dip, so when it came to theirs, with their signature thinly sliced roast beef at the center of it all, it was a no-brainer.”
Well, if Kristen Kish herself cosigns this sandwich, I’m in.
If you’re not totally sure what a French dip is, it’s a roast beef sandwich, usually topped with cheese, paired with a dipping cup of au jus, or beef stock. Traditionally, the au jus comes from the drippings of the roast beef that’s on your sandwich, which Arby’s has honored.
The chain’s normal French dip sandwich comes with roast beef, provolone, and au jus, while the Royale version adds caramelized onions, garlic aioli, and steak seasoning.
Arby’s isn’t the first chain to bring in customers by elevating one of its classic offerings. Burger King recently revamped its signature sandwich, the Whopper, while McDonald’s is trying to one-up its own Big Mac with the Big Arch.
I ordered the French Dip Royale meal for $14.69
The meal comes with a side — I went for curly fries, but you could also get mozzarella sticks or jalapeño poppers — and a drink.
The standard French dip meal is $12.19, so it’s another $2 for all the “royale” extras.
I tried the sandwich first, without the au jus, just to get an idea of the flavor.
Before tasting it, I was concerned about the moistness, since the last time I tried a regular roast beef sandwich at Arby’s, it was bone-dry. I didn’t need to worry about this one, though, since the melted cheese, aioli, and onions all counteracted the dryness of the roast beef.
I think the steak seasoning’s peppery flavor somewhat overpowered the aioli flavoring, but I didn’t mind. It was delicious.
Now, it was time for dipping.
If I thought this sandwich was good before, it leveled up entirely after dipping it in the au jus, which added even more moisture. It also complemented the roast beef, bringing out a new depth of savory goodness.
This sandwich was heavy, though. I couldn’t finish the whole thing in one sitting, though I am looking forward to eating the leftovers later.
The curly fries were amazing, as expected
When I ordered the sandwich, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get a meal or not. But during my research, I found that Kish herself recommended Arby’s curly fries in a March 2026 interview with Allrecipes. “I love Arby’s! Their curly fries are so good,” she said.
Who am I to argue with the queen?
As expected, the curly fries were amazing: perfectly crispy, the right amount of corkscrew spirals, and well-seasoned.
Overall, I thought this was a smart way to elevate a classic sandwich, and teaming up with Kish shows how serious Arby’s is about its culinary bona fides. I’d recommend it to anyone with a love for French dips.
The French Dip Royale will be available until May 25.
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