Arby’s new fall sandwich will have you gobbling and wiggling

We’ve reached that rare part of the calendar where Halloween is finally shown the door; For four weeks before the winter holidays begin, Thanksgiving takes center stage. It’s time to focus our minds and stomachs on the mammoth eating tasks ahead. While we try to find out what unexpected side dishes can land on our tablesArby’s is serving up a number of turkey sandwiches that they hope customers will gobble up in November. The chain has been serving fried turkey sandwiches since 2017. This year, Arby’s is introducing the Deep Fried Turkey Gobbler as an alternative to the returning Deep Fried Turkey Club. In one press releaseArby’s Chief Marketing Officer notes: “This year, we invite fans to celebrate the season safely, without sacrificing quality, by leaving the frying to the meat experts and instead enjoying juicy, flavorful Deep Fried Turkey at Arby’s!”

So, is the new Deep Fried Turkey Gobbler something we should thank Arby for, or does it seem more like a “deep” knockoff of a good sandwich. The Takeout went to our nearest location to find out where the truth lies. This chewing and judging is based on taste, Thanksgiving-ness, and overall sweetness.

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How to buy Arby’s fried turkey gobbler

The Deep Fried Turkey Gobbler is currently available at participating Arby’s locations for a limited time, or as the chain notes, “Here for a good time – not for a long time.” The sandwich can only be ordered at locations in the United States through November, while supplies last. Be sure to check your local Arby’s to confirm hours, attendance and availability.

Like the Deep Fried Turkey Club, the Gobbler’s suggested retail price is $6.49. At my Manhattan Arby’s the sandwich sold for $6.99 and $11.59 for a meal, including a golden baked side and a drink of your choice. You can place an order in the store, at the counter or in the drive-thru (if available). Orders can also be placed in advance through Arby’s app or website for pickup, dine-in or delivery. The sandwich is customizable, meaning you can remove all the standard ingredients that come with it.

Nutritional information for Arby’s Deep Fried Turkey Gobbler

Arby’s Fried Turkey Gobbler consists of fried turkey breast, bacon, Swiss cheese with big eyecrispy onions, tomato, leaf lettuce, a herb spread and all kinds of herbs; it’s all in two brioche buns. The turkey is seasoned with salt, brown sugar and tapioca starch. The all-purpose seasonings include salt, dehydrated garlic, herbs, dried onion, sugar, green pepper powder, yeast extract, toasted sesame seeds, natural flavors and natural caramelized onion flavor. The herb spread combines the talents of distilled vinegar, egg yolk, salt, sugar, maltodextrin, chicken meat with natural juices, lemon juice concentrate, natural flavor, spices, mustard seed, organic cane sugar, chicken fat, celery seed, onion powder and turmeric. The sandwich contains the allergens wheat, milk, egg and sesame.

The single-serving Gobbler sandwich weighs 263 grams and contains 507 calories (188 of which are from fat), 21 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 49 grams of total carbohydrates, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 12 grams of sugar, 32 grams of protein, 80 milligrams of cholesterol and 1,705 milligrams of sodium.

What does Arby’s fried turkey bastard taste like?

My eyes were initially drawn to the fluffiness of the brioche bun that contained the Gobbler. Under the hood, the contents looked rather minuscule: a pile of congealed, pale Swiss cheese, wrapped slices of turkey, and a handful of crispy onion straws.. Below that were mushy tomato slices, soggy bits of lettuce, and a bit of white sauce tied to the bottom bun. The tomatoes screamed that they didn’t belong there, and I tossed them aside before jumping in.

Unlike the other vegetables involved, the onion straws were thankfully not mealy and retained a nice, textured crunch. While the turkey is fried, nothing is fried in its appearance or taste. That was fine with me because the meat was tender and juicy and presented itself as freshly cut.

In one bite, the different elements come together beautifully for an all-round delicious sandwich. I’m not sure I’ve discovered any everything spicesbut the herb spread was more than enough and gave this sandwich a distinctive flavor. I ordered a cup of spice paste to test it on its own. It looked like a typical example ranch dressing – a white creamy sauce dotted with dots of brown and black herbs. It had a buttery smell and an eggy taste that immediately won my tongue’s approval. What once looked like a small sandwich turned out to be quite mighty.

Final thoughts on Arby’s fried turkey gobbler

You’d expect a sandwich with the word “Gobbler” in the name to be loaded with toppings like cranberry and filling. However, Arby’s Deep Fried Gobbler is less grand in its Thanksgiving ambitions and instead just delivers on high flavor and overall satisfaction. The juicy pieces of turkey are especially commendable and make me wonder why the chain only offers this for such a short period of time each year.

I’ve never tried one of Arby’s Deep Fried Turkey sandwiches and was curious to see how the new one compared to the returning Club sandwich. That sandwich is more simple, highlighted by strips of bacon, cheddar cheese and plain old mayonnaise. The bacon is certainly a draw for the tasty Club, and the mayo does its job to elevate the flavor even more. The Gobbler stands out from the rest thanks to the amazing crunch and oily saltiness of the crispy onion strings and the truly winning herb spread. I wish there was more of both. The good news is that you can now order the same spice spread from the Club, so no matter what kind of fried turkey sandwich you like, Arby’s has it for you this November. Although it’s really a matter of money which sandwich to order with lovingly squeezed herb spread, the full flavor of the sauce was at its best when I dipped my curly fries in it.

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