Fast-food chains often borrow ideas from what's popular locally.
In many cases they don't deliver the same sandwich as the local favorite; they simply use some of its flavors.
Some sandwiches, however, are more sacred than others. A very few are associated with the areas where they were created. They may end up on menus nationwide, but everyone knows where they came from and where to go to get the real thing.
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The Philly cheesesteak sits at the top of the sandwich mountain. It's known around the world, and while you might argue between Geno's Steaks and Pat's King of Steaks, few people are thinking, "I wonder how McDonald's (MCD) or Burger King might compare if they added a cheesesteak."
So far, only McDonald's has been bold enough to do that. Back in 2004, the chain offered its take on a Philly cheesesteak and, well, it did not go well, according to a review from The Impulsive Buy.
"Now let me tell you, if you’ve tasted the goodness of an authentic Philly Cheese Steak, this poor attempt by a multibillion-dollar, worldwide fast food chain will make you wonder three things:
1. Were people in Philadelphia offended by it?
2.Why can’t a company with billions of dollars do a good job of copying a Philly Cheese Steak?
3.What’s wrong with (Grimace)?
And while parts of those comments are obviously jokes, the McDonald's Philly cheesesteak was widely panned and disappeared from menus after a couple of years.
It's the rare item from the chain that almost never gets mentioned when McDonald's asks fans which items from its past it should bring back.
Now, Restaurant Brands International's (QSR) Burger King has its own take on a Philly cheesesteak, but the chain learned a key lesson from its rival.
Image source: Shutterstock
Burger King Adds a Take on a Classic Philly Cheesesteak
By actually offering a Philly cheesesteak, McDonald's doomed itself to failure. There was simply no way it was going to replicate the classic in a way anyone would consider acceptable, let alone good.
Burger King has taken a different tack, one that has a chance at success. The chain has been testing a Philly chicken sandwich at select locations, according to the Fast Food Post.
"The Philly Chicken Sandwich features a crispy white meat breast fillet topped with BK’s Royal Sauce, cheese, red and green bell peppers, and grilled onions, which is expected, especially if they’re actually trying to replicate the authentic Philly cheesesteak experience," the website shared.
This strategy makes more sense than offering an actual Philly Cheesesteak because the name creates a familiarity with customers without promising them the real thing.
People will have expectations -- they will be mad if the cheese is anything other than provolone, Cheese Whiz, or white American -- but beyond cheese and onions, customers should be pretty forgiving.
This isn't the first time Burger King has tried a take on a Philly using a fried chicken breast rather than chopped steak, or even chopped chicken.
"Back in 2013, Burger King offered a similar item called the “Philly Original Chicken Sandwich,” which featured a lightly breaded chicken fillet topped with a mix of bell peppers and seasoned grilled onions, American cheese, and creamy cheese sauce on a long, sesame seed bun," according to Fast Food Post.
The new Philly Chicken Sandwich has been spotted in select Burger King locations and appears to be in the test phase. The chain has not disclosed plans for a possible national rollout.
