Sophie Bennett
Zaxby's, a Georgia-based fast-food chain, introduced the Fried Chicken Philly sandwich in September 2023. The sandwich, a spin on the classic Philly cheesesteak, sparked controversy as the chain mocked Philadelphia with its campaign, claiming that their sandwich was just like the Philly you know and love, but good. Despite the initial backlash, Zaxby's is bringing back the Chicken Philly sandwich for a limited time in 2025, ahead of its expansion into Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Availability | Limited-time offering |
| Locations | Select Zaxby's locations |
| Promotion | Free Chicken Philly for Philadelphians with ID in Orlando and Indianapolis in January 2025 |
| Ingredients | Fried or grilled chicken, melted white American cheese, sautéed peppers, onions, creamy garlic aioli, toasted hoagie roll |
| Variations | Hand-breaded chopped Chicken Fingerz™ or sliced marinated grilled filet |
| Expansion | Planned in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
Zaxby's Chicken Philly is back on the menu
Zaxby's is bringing back its beloved Chicken Philly sandwich to its menu for a limited time, offering a saucy twist on the iconic Philadelphia favourite. The sandwich features fried or grilled chicken, melted white American cheese, sautéed peppers and onions, and creamy garlic aioli on a toasted hoagie roll.
The Georgia-based fast-food chain, known for its chicken dishes, first introduced the Fried Chicken Philly in September 2023, replacing the beef in the traditional cheesesteak with fried chicken and adding its signature bold flavours. The launch was accompanied by a controversial smear campaign targeting Philadelphia, the sandwich's namesake city, where Zaxby's did not yet have any locations. The campaign boasted that their sandwich was "Just like the Philly you know and love, but good," and "Finally, the Philly done right," with billboards plastered across Philadelphia.
Following the success of the initial launch, Zaxby's is bringing back the Chicken Philly by popular demand. The sandwich will be available at participating Zaxby's locations while supplies last. To celebrate its return, Zaxby's is offering free Chicken Philly sandwiches at select locations to Philadelphians who can prove their residency. This promotion coincides with the upcoming expansion of the chain into Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with the first locations slated to open in 2025.
The Chicken Philly has sparked mixed reactions among Philadelphians, with some embracing the creative twist on their beloved sandwich and others criticizing Zaxby's for their playful affronts to the classic Philly cheesesteak. Despite the controversy, Zaxby's continues to embrace the rivalry, claiming that "Philly can't Philly like Zaxby's can" in their latest campaign. Whether you're team "classic cheesesteak" or "bring on the sauce", Zaxby's Chicken Philly is sure to be a delicious and satisfying treat.
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Free Chicken Philly for Philadelphians in Orlando and Indianapolis
Zaxby's, the Georgia-based fast-food chain, is offering free Chicken Philly sandwiches to Philadelphians in Orlando and Indianapolis in January 2025. This promotion coincides with the Philadelphia basketball team's away games against Orlando and Indianapolis.
Zaxby's introduced the Fried Chicken Philly in September 2023, replacing the traditional cheesesteak's beef with fried chicken, along with garlic aioli, American cheese, grilled peppers, and onions on a hoagie roll. The chain also launched a controversial advertising campaign, boasting that their sandwich was "Just like the Philly you know and love, but good," and "Finally, the Philly done right," with billboards in Philadelphia, where the sandwich was not available.
In January 2025, Zaxby's brought back the Chicken Philly sandwich ahead of its expansion into Pennsylvania and New Jersey. As part of this promotion, Zaxby's is offering free sandwiches to Philadelphians in Orlando and Indianapolis. On January 12, 2025, Philadelphians in Orlando can claim two free Chicken Philly sandwiches by showing their Philadelphia ID at participating Zaxby's restaurants. Similarly, on January 18, 2025, Philadelphians in Indianapolis can also get two free sandwiches by presenting their Philly ID.
This promotion is a creative way to celebrate the return of the fan-favorite Chicken Philly and generate excitement for Zaxby's expansion into the Philadelphia region. Zaxby's plans to open ten locations in Pennsylvania and six in New Jersey over the next five years, with the first two slated for 2025. While the exact locations have not been announced, the chain is known for its unique takes on classic dishes, like the Chicken Philly, and its signature sauces.
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Zaxby's expansion plans for Philadelphia and New Jersey
Zaxby's, a Georgia-based fast-food chain, is known for its chicken-focused menu, including items like chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches, and salads. The chain has most of its stores in Georgia, with very few locations in the Northeast. In 2023, Zaxby's introduced the "Fried Chicken Philly," a spin on the traditional Philly cheesesteak sandwich, which sparked controversy among Philadelphians. Despite this, Zaxby's has announced plans to expand to Philadelphia and New Jersey, starting in 2025.
The expansion will see Zaxby's open a combined 16 new locations in Philadelphia and South Jersey. Six restaurants will be in Philadelphia, and the remaining ten will be scattered throughout South Jersey. The first four stores are expected to open in 2025, with the first two slated for the summer. The exact locations of these new restaurants have not yet been disclosed, as site selection and lease details are still being finalized.
The expansion into New Jersey is being led by the GSP Group, headed by longtime New Jersey resident Premanand Gupta. The group has signed on to open six Zaxby's locations across South, Central, and North Jersey, with ambitions to expand further in the future. Their initial focus will be on establishing a strong presence in South Jersey before moving north. The GSP Group's business experience and passion for the brand make them well-equipped to grow the Zaxby's brand across the state.
Zaxby's move into the Philadelphia region represents a significant northern expansion for the predominantly southern chain. The chain's unique take on the Philly cheesesteak, the Fried Chicken Philly, sparked playful controversy among Philadelphians, with some residents taking to TikTok to express their opinions. Despite the initial mixed reactions, Zaxby's is embracing the competition and inviting locals to try their spin on the classic sandwich. The expansion will bring Zaxby's craveable chicken and signature sauces to new customers in the Northeast.
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Fried Chicken Philly: Zaxby's take on the classic cheesesteak
Zaxby's, a Georgia-based fast-food chain, introduced the Fried Chicken Philly sandwich in September 2023. This sandwich is the brand's take on the classic Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
The Fried Chicken Philly features hand-breaded fried chicken tenders cut into bite-sized pieces, grilled onions and peppers, garlic aioli, and melted white American cheese on a toasted hoagie roll. The sandwich offers a unique twist on the traditional Philly sandwich, which is typically characterised by its greasy consistency, abundance of cheese, and sloppy meat.
In contrast, the Zaxby's Fried Chicken Philly is presented in a more structured and less greasy manner, with the chicken tenders providing a crispier texture. The garlic aioli adds a creamy and zesty element to the sandwich, complementing the combination of melted cheese, grilled vegetables, and crispy chicken.
The introduction of this sandwich sparked some controversy, as Zaxby's replaced the traditional beef with fried chicken and advertised their sandwich in Philadelphia, where it was not initially available. Despite this, the Fried Chicken Philly has returned to select Zaxby's locations in 2025, offering a limited-time opportunity for Philadelphians to try this unique spin on their classic sandwich.
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Zaxby's mocks Philadelphia with the Fried Chicken Philly campaign
Zaxby's, a Georgia-based fast-food chain, has sparked controversy with its recent "Fried Chicken Philly" campaign as it prepares to expand into Philadelphia and surrounding areas. The campaign, launched in September 2023, introduced a new sandwich item, the "Chicken Philly," which is the brand's take on the classic Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwich. However, Zaxby's has been accused of mocking Philadelphia with its promotional strategies.
The campaign featured bold slogans, including "Just like the Philly you know and love, but good," and "Finally, the Philly done right." These slogans were plastered on billboard advertisements in Philadelphia, despite the sandwich not being available in the city at the time. To make matters more provocative, Zaxby's featured Dolph Lundgren, who played Ivan Drago, the villain in the iconic Philadelphia-based "Rocky" film series, in a commercial for the Fried Chicken Philly.
Zaxby's social media posts added fuel to the fire, with statements like, "Philly can't Philly like Zaxby's can," and "Zaxby's is out-Phillying Philly." The chain also offered free sandwiches to people with Philly IDs in Orlando and Indianapolis, intentionally coinciding with Sixers games in those cities. This tactic was seen as a playful jab at Philadelphia, leveraging the rivalry between the Sixers and the Orlando Magic.
The campaign has sparked mixed reactions, with some Philadelphians expressing outrage and others finding it playful. Zaxby's has since announced plans to expand into Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with ten locations in Pennsylvania and six in New Jersey, starting in 2025. It remains to be seen how the people of Philadelphia will receive the much-anticipated arrival of the fast-food chain in their region.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Chicken Philly sandwich is back on the menu at Zaxby's for a limited time.
The sandwich is available at participating Zaxby's locations. The chain is currently offering the sandwich in Orlando and Indianapolis to coincide with Sixers games in those cities.
Zaxby's plans to open locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 2025.
The Chicken Philly sandwich is Zaxby's take on the classic Philly cheesesteak. It features fried or grilled chicken, melted white American cheese, sauteed peppers, onions, and creamy garlic aioli on a toasted hoagie roll.
