Close-up of a cheesesteak sandwich loaded with sliced beef, melted cheese, and green peppers.

Where to Find the Best Cheesesteaks in Philadelphia

Few sandwiches are as world-renowned as a traditional Philadelphia cheesesteak. The pride and joy of the City of Brotherly Love’s intricate culinary scene, the cheesesteak, is that perfect blend of meat, cheese, bread, and fried onions that Philadelphians have perfected over the past century.

Just as people travel hundreds of miles for an authentic Chicago hot dog or a NYC slab of pizza, a traditional Philly cheesesteak is well worth the trip to Pennsylvania’s most populated city. From heavily frequented tourist locales to little-known restaurants favored by longtime city residents, these venues serve some of the absolute cheesesteaks in all of Philadelphia.

Pat’s King of Steaks

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Commonly considered the birthplace of the modern cheesesteak, Pat’s King of Steaks has been outfitting Philly travelers with their delicious cheesesteaks since the sandwich’s creation in 1930. For this reason alone, Pat’s might be a bit too overcrowded and touristy for some, but there’s no denying its iconic place in the annals of Philadelphia’s culinary history.

Geno’s Steaks

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There aren’t many rivalries as heated and hotly contested as the battle for cheesesteak supremacy between Pat’s and Geno’s. While both are fabled Philly institutions, few topics remain as touchy among Pennsylvania residents as deciding which of the two restaurants is better.

Though Pat’s is worth visiting at least once or twice upon your initial visit to Philadelphia, there’s something positive to be said about Geno’s, especially regarding the restaurant’s near-mythical cheesesteaks.

John’s Roast Pork

Around the same time Pats introduced the world to their signature cheesesteak, John of John’s Roast Pork was hard at work piecing together his recipe for succulent pork sandwiches. Today, John’s Roast Pork remains a well-loved point of interest for its eclectic menu, with their roast pork sandwich and “ultimate” cheesesteak nearly edging out Pat’s or Geno’s for the best in Philadelphia. 

Angelo’s Pizzeria

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Angelo’s Pizzeria is all about options, allowing everyone to choose and customize their desired cheesesteak, deli sandwich, or pizza slice as they see fit. Don’t want Cheez Whiz or provolone on your cheesesteak? No worries – Angelo’s allows you to choose Cooper Cheese as an alternative.

Feel like kicking your chicken cheesesteak up a notch and topping it with buffalo sauce? Again, Angelo’s has you covered. A perfect place for molten pizza or decadent sandwiches, every patron can find something to love at Angelo’s Pizzeria.

Jim’s Steaks

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After a 2022 fire derailed operations for two years, Jim’s Steaks has returned better than ever. Originally opening in 1976, Jim’s Steaks has become a hotspot for mammoth-sized cheesesteaks inside the City of Brotherly Love.

Whether you opt for the traditional cheesesteak with provolone, Cheez Whiz, or American, or settle on the pizza steak sandwich, Jim’s has a little something for everyone regarding its versatile menu.

Woodrow’s Sandwich Shop

While it’s hard to beat a classic, Woodrow’s Sandwich Shop somehow found a way to make the traditional Philly cheesesteak uniquely their own. Standing apart from most other cheesesteak vendors out there, Woodrow’s specialty sandwich takes the form of the restaurant’s Whiz Wit, a sandwich stuffed with shaved ribeye, housemade truffle whiz, caramelized onions, and a cherry pepper mayo that’s sweet, savory, and deliciously tangy.

Chubby’s

A fitting name for an altogether terrific restaurant, Chubby’s a far larger menu than most other cheesesteak shacks in Philadelphia. Equipped with a full bar and offering an assortment of home-cooked lunches and dinners, it’s one of the few places in Philly you’re able to drink a cool beer while chowing down on a perfectly-sliced steak sandwich smothered with onions and your choice of cheese (American, provolone, sharp provolone, Cheez Whiz, Cooper Sharp, or pepper jack for some additional heat).

Philip’s Steaks

Philip’s Steaks prides itself on adhering to the classic cheesesteak formula (I.E., thin-sliced rib-eye, provolone cheese, peppers, tomatoes, and a hearty pinch of salt, pepper, and oregano). As reliably delicious as its traditional cheesesteak options are, though, Philip’s also has numerous additional options when it comes to customizing your ideal cheesesteak creation, including Italian pepper cheesesteaks, Cooper Sharp cheesesteaks, or Mushroom Pizza cheesesteaks, among others.

Café Carmela

Most tourists travel to the city to eat at Pat’s or Geno’s, but true Philadelphians know that Café Carmela is the true home to the Philly cheesesteak. A relatively well-kept secret in the Birthplace of America, Café Carmela is a wonderful sit-down restaurant with plenty of exquisite Italian dishes, including home-cooked personal pizzas, arancini, garlic buffalo parmesan, and gorgonzola gnocchi. 

However, we recommend checking out Don Cheech’s Steak sandwich in particular. Topped with sliced ribeye, fried onions, and your choice of Cooper Cheese or melted provolone, it’s a sandwich that almost single-handedly accounts for Café Carmela’s favored status among locals in the area.

Dalessandro’s Steaks and Hoagies

Dalessandro’s makes many claims on its website, advertising itself as the home to the “ultimate Philly Cheesesteak experience.” Unlike pale imitators, however, Dalessandro’s actually has the product to back up their bold claims.

Serving thin-sliced rib-eye with chunky onions and either Cheez Whiz or provolone, it’s hard to refute any one of Dalessandro’s claims that they have the best cheesesteak in the entire Keystone State.

Steve’s Prince of Steaks

If Pat’s is the king of cheesesteaks, then Steve’s is the gallant prince ruling over Philadelphia’s cheesesteak scene. While you can find all kinds of traditional deli sandwiches, burgers, and gargantuan Philadelphia hoagies within its hallowed walls, the best thing to order at Steve’s has to be the cheesesteak, which comes heaped with your choice of cheese and gently browned fried onions.

Donkey’s Place

A brick building with a sign reading "Donkey's Place" and "Donkey's Steaks," featuring a red awning and an American flag.
Glassknott, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yes, yes, we know – Donkey’s Place is located across the river in nearby Camden, New Jersey. However, you can’t talk about worthwhile Philly cheesesteaks without bringing up Donkey’s name. With such well-traveled foodies as Anthony Bourdain himself describing their cheesesteak as one of the best in the nation, Donkey’s Place is well worth the extra legwork to reach its unassuming front door.

Author: Richard Chachowski

Title: Author

Expertise: Travel, Entertainment, Food

Richard Chachowski is an entertainment, travel, and lifestyle writer who has written for such publications as Fangoria, Wealth of Geeks, Looper, Explore, MSN, Screen Rant, Sportskeeda, and MDLinx, among many others. He received his BA from The College of New Jersey and has been a professional writer since 2020.

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