If you ask for the best deep dish pizza in Chicago, a local may tell you “Well, that’s mostly for tourists,” but you ask a Philadelphia native about the best cheesesteak, and you’ll get a very confident, very definitive response.
And the answer will vary widely among dozens of establishments.
But here’s our best shot at the top 10 cheesesteak places, blending our on-the-ground testing (a cheesesteak crawl may have happened on one occasion), the ones that came up most often in our interviews of locals, and Internet research (we’re not so arrogant that we won’t consider others’ opinions…though we will tell you when we differ).
Let’s count them down:
10. Sonny’s Famous Steaks
Slinging since: 1999
Location: Old City
The case: Sonny’s probably gets a little more love than it should because it’s easily accessible to tourists. The cheesesteaks are solid enough and its sides choices are good (e.g. onion rings and mozzarella sticks). The first time we had this one was better than the second time (years later), so it’s possible Sonny’s falls off the list next time we have it.
9. Steve’s Prince of Steaks
Slinging since: 1980
Location: Four locations
The case: As the name “Prince of Steaks” implies this cheesesteak is similar to Pat’s King of Steaks but not quite as good.
8. Dalessandro’s Steaks & Hoagies
Slinging since: 1960
Location: Roxborough
The case: Honestly, this one wouldn’t have made the list if it were based on our taste tests. But it’s so beloved by others (it’s SO many people’s #1) that we had to include it on our list.
7. Angelo’s Pizzeria
Slinging since: 2013
Location: South Philly
The case: Yeah, it’s a pizza place but the cheesesteaks are beloved. Yelp is dodgy source, but to give you an idea, it gets 4.5 stars from 1,200 reviews (much better than most of the restaurants on this list).
6. Tony Luke’s
Slinging since: 1992
Location: Multiple locations
The case: Yeah, it’s a chain across a few cities at this point, but it still started in South Philly and it’s still tasty.
5. Ishkabibble’s I & II
Slinging since: 1979
Location: Two South Street locations
The case: Don’t let the fun name fool you, these are serious steaks. And if you prefer a chicken cheesesteak, it’s a specialty here. And definitely get the Gremlin (half lemonade, half grape juice).
4. John’s Roast Pork
Slinging since: 1930
Location: South Philly
The case: Can you really be top five on this list if you have roast pork that’s “Our Specialty” as well as the “Ultimate Cheesesteak”? Yeah, you really can do two things really well!
3. Jim’s South Street
Slinging since: 1976
Location: Um, South Street
The case: A classic both late night and during the day. It’s a pretty strong option for your first prototypical Philly cheesesteak.
2. Cosmi’s Deli
Slinging since: 1932
Location: South 8th St
The case: Cosmi’s flies under the radar. You won’t find it in any of the other top Philly cheesesteak lists, and even in a city that loves decades-old, hole-in-the-wall shops, Cosmi’s won’t impress you on looks.
But if you’re looking for a break from the normal Amoroso roll used at so many Philly institutions, try Cosmi’s cheesesteak on a seeded bun.
1. Pat’s King of Steaks
Slinging since: 1930
Location: Passyunk Avenue
The case: Are you angry? I bet you’re angry. We admit that naming Pat’s the #1 cheesesteak in Philadelphia is almost like telling a music aficionado that Maroon 5 is your favorite band.
Yes, it’s absolutely touristy. Every visitor knows to go to the intersection where Pat’s and Geno’s stand across from one another.
But it’s the original and credited with inventing the cheesesteak. Plus, we’ve tried SO MANY cheesesteaks over the years, and Pat’s stands up on taste as well.
So if it’s your very first cheesesteak in the City of Brotherly Love, make it Pat’s. And if you’re a local snob who swears by one of the others, try a side-by-side comparison. Maybe you’ll still like yours better, but Pat’s will at least exceed your expectations if you give it a chance.
Finally, here’s the secret we promised. While every Philadelphian has their favorite Philly cheesesteak that they swear allegiance to as if it were the Eagles, most are pretty darn similar.
Except Geno’s. While Geno’s might be the best in just about any other city (why can’t you get a good Philly cheesesteak elsewhere?), it’s noticeably worse than the other famous cheesesteaks.
Don’t believe us? Do a side-by-side when you get that Pat’s cheesesteak.
And to keep the fun rolling, share your favorite Philly cheesesteak (and your impassioned pleas of superiority) in the comments.
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