The Restaurant Chain With The Best French Dip Sandwich, According To Customers

Despite its name, the classic French dip sandwich has distinctive ties to Los Angeles, California — the name is really just about the French bread it's served on. But unlike certain regional classics, like Indiana's giant pork tenderloin sandwich, the French dip has become an American standard that you can find at hundreds of eateries around the country. But which restaurant chain should you go to when you want a hit of that tasty beef and a dip of jus?

According to customers, McAlister's Deli serves a fantastic French dip. The restaurant uses Black Angus roast beef on a baguette with melted Swiss cheese for a perfect blend of flavor in every bite. Served with McAlister's signature au jus, which diners love because it's not overly salty and adds flavor without overpowering the beef, the sandwich earned praise from one Tripadvisor user who called it "beyond excellent," mentioning that their husband was a chef. A separate Facebook user wrote that the sandwich was "pretty darn good," noting that the beef was well-prepared and fit perfectly on the bread, without the gristle that can sometimes ruin other sandwiches.

If you're not familiar with McAlister's Deli, the company operates over 580 locations in the U.S., from Florida to Pennsylvania and all across the South and Midwest. The restaurant's roast beef includes ingredients like vinegar, dried beef stock, and dehydrated onion and garlic, which presumably contribute to an extra-savory flavor. "This is very good," one YouTuber praised. "Very tender steak ... [and] melty cheese." 

The sandwich itself comes with a free side, so you've already got a complete meal, but if you like to customize your order, you can add more depth with horseradish Dijon or yellow mustard to get it dialed in just how you like it. Additionally, those who want to recreate the experience at home can make some classic au jus to serve alongside their own roast beef sandwiches — you're going to want to combine the drippings with some red wine and herbs to get the flavor just right. But, well, if you don't want to go through the trouble, you can trust the Facebook user who called McAlister's sandwich "exceptionally flavorful" and enjoy it as-is. And, according to customers, you might just want to go with a signature sweet tea to wash it down.