The best cheesesteaks to eat in Philly right now

Cheesesteaks. Is there a word that is more Philly? No, we don’t think so.

There are lots of opinions about who has the best cheesesteak in the Philadelphia area and, truly, it’s hard to pick just one. Ask any Philadelphian, and they’ll have thoughts on who has the best rolls, the best overall ratio of ribeye beef-to-sandwich, and whether they prefer Whiz to provolone or American cheese. Of course, every cheesesteak is personal: “Wit or witout” onions? What about throwing on some Italian long hot peppers? Whether you add ketchup or mayo is between you and your god.

Our job is to help you narrow down your choices, which is why we’ve rounded up our guide to the Philly area’s 15 best cheesesteaks.

Looking for the city’s most popular and famous versions? Dig into those sandwiches, and their history, here.

The crusty, sesame-speckled house-baked rolls are key for all the sandwiches at this Italian Market pizzeria. And, for the cheesesteaks, so is the chewy, but not too chewy, high-quality rib eye.

📍736 S. Ninth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147, 🌐 angelospizzeriasouthphiladelphia.com

Anna Marie and Joe Maglio’s cheerful Italian makeover for the Holme Circle space once occupied by the Blue Duck Sandwich Co. opened barely a month before the pandemic. But Joe has deep roots in local Italian restaurants and happens to make one of the best cheesesteaks in town, a house-sliced rib eye beautifully incorporated with melted Cooper Sharp cheese on a Carangi roll. The sandwich is modeled after John’s Roast Pork, but named after Joey’s dad, Francesco Maglio, a.k.a. “Don Cheech.” Indoor dining, limited outdoor dining, and pickup are available at the original location, while its second location in Huntingdon Valley offers more parking.

📍2859 Holme Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19152, and 2975 Philmont Ave., Huntingdon Valley, Pa. 19006, 🌐 cafecarmelaphilly.com, 📷 @cafe_carmela_

Nick and Maria Miglino ran Felicia’s at 11th and Ellsworth Streets for two decades until closing in 2007. They’re back with sandwich shop Dolores’ 2Street, with some of the city’s most irresistible sandwiches, including a pizza steak that can compete with the best of them. The classic pizza steak was popularized by Anthony Milano in the 1950s in the 11th Street space currently occupied by Mike’s BBQ. Unlike most of its modern-day descendants, the original pizza steak did not ladle on rivers of red sauce, Nick says, but instead cushioned the meat with medallions of grilled plum tomatoes. At Dolores’, those ripe tomatoes are dusted with hand-pinched Sicilian oregano and a few finishing drizzles of extra-virgin olive oil, the beef cooked from whole pads of tender, prime-grade L. Halteman’s beef with molten mild provolone. There are no onions, but it’s pure harmony when you take a bite, the tomatoes adding to its juicy savor.

📍 1841 S. Second St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19148, 🌐 facebook.com/Dolores2Street, 📷 @dolores2street

There may be more onions than anything else on the onion-mopped kaiser steak, the signature indulgence at this classic Camden tavern (with locations in Mount Holly and Medford), but it all comes together like French onion soup on a poppy-seeded bun — the saucy onions, the molten cheese, and yes, plenty of beef stacked high. House-fermented hot sauces are a plus, as is Donkey’s embrace of Jersey craft brewers.

📍1223 Haddon Ave., Camden, N.J. 08103; 11 Tomlinson Mill Rd., Medford, N.J. 08055; and 37 Washington St., rear, Mount Holly, N.J. 08060, 🌐 donkeysplace.com, 📷 @donkeys_place, @donkeysplace, @donkeys_downtown

At its two South Street locations, Ishkabibble’s keeps it classic with a big-as-your-face cheesesteak with your choice of cheese. And as much as the shop is known for its cheesesteaks, it’s also popular for its “Gremlin” drink, a concoction made up of lemonade and grape juice.

📍517 South St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147, and 337 South St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147, 🌐 eatishkabibbles.com

The original location of Jim’s Steaks reopened under new ownership hailing from its West Philadelphia neighborhood. It’s a total Philly throwback: honest sandwiches, served on Amoroso’s rolls, by many of the same workers, in a black-tiled storefront. Must try: the banana pudding, made by co-owner Cortez Johnson’s cousin, Jennah Landers.

📍431 N. 62nd St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19151, 📷 jimswestphilly

There’s a special savor to the house-cut rib-eye steaks expertly grilled (with deeply caramelized onions) at Joe Groh’s Fishtown spot.

📍1 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19123, 🌐 joessteaks.com, 📷 @joessteaks

John’s is the rare treasure that does several specialties at the highest level. In fact, the Bucci family has long made some of the best cheesesteaks and roast pork sandwiches in the city, all wrapped up inside a crusty Carangi’s roll. What to order? You can’t miss with the classic flow of American with onions. But we also love the sharp provolone and spinach for its South Philly swagger. Bonus: The popular spot just got a major renovation and has even more outdoor seating.

📍14 Snyder Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19148, 🌐 johnsroastpork.com, 📷 @johnsroastpork

The world got wind of Max’s Steaks after its feature in Creed, but Philadelphia has long known what this iconic North Philly steak corner is all about: hefty 22-inchers stuffed with 1½ pounds of gristle-free sirloin. Add sweet peppers and onions to your cheesesteak, and order a slushy of “Philly’s biggest cocktail” from the Eagle Bar next door for the full experience.

📍3653 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19140, 🌐 maxsteaks.com, 📷 @maxsteaks

Head to this century-old tavern in Chestnut Hill, where the fourth-generation McNallys use high-quality ingredients to carry on the classic version of their cheesesteak variation, the Schmitter — with fried salami, grilled tomato, and signature sauce on a kaiser roll — conceived in 1964 for a regular who liked his Schmidt’s beer.

📍8634 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19118,🌐 mcnallys.com, 📷 @mcnallystavern

Nothing at this East Passyunk barbecue spot certifies bona fides as its brisket cheesesteak. New owner Daniel Grobman uses all the trappings of the South Philly classic: seeded rolls, caramelized diced onions, and a creamy house Whiz made from Cooper Sharp (the lesser-known American cheese with century-old Philly roots). It’s the brisket, though, that gives this sandwich magnetic powers. A high-grade slab of beef is cured for a couple of days, then smoked over wood for up to 14 hours.

📍1703 S. 11th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19148, 🌐 mikesbbqphilly.com, 📷 @mikesbbq_215

This corner newcomer from Marlo and Jason Dilks, the couple behind Slice Pizza and P’unk Burger, exudes the heart of an old-school South Philly lunch counter serving bountiful hoagies and cutlet sandwiches. The cheesesteaks, though, are a sleeper hit, notable for the 12 ounces of tender rib eye. The standard “Eye” with Cooper Sharp and fried onions is Craig’s choice, though toppings can range from the elaborate (the “Hangover,” with tater tots, over easy eggs and sriracha) to the bougie “Every Day I’m Truffling” (with black truffled burrata, truffle oil and truffled honey). Nipotina also offers their steaks and other sandwiches gluten-free.

📍2238 S. 21st St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19145,📷 @nipotinaphilly

Near the I-76 entrance off of West Passyunk Avenue is unassuming Philip’s Steaks, a small, streetside stand where the “Old Fashion” cheesesteak — with grilled tomatoes, long hots, onions, oregano, and provolone — shines.

📍2234 W. Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19145, 🌐 www.facebook.com/SQ-Philips-Steaks, 📷 @philips_steaks

The “upgraded meat” crowd too often falls short when the beef is cut wrong, usually too thick, messing with textures so the sandwich doesn’t eat right. Brewerytown’s SpOt Gourmet Burgers is an exception, where Josh Kim butchers his own meat, a half-pound of rib eye to be exact, for a steak with long savor.

📍2821 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19130, 🌐 spotburgers.com, 📷 @spotburgers

Speer Madanat, whose Pizza West Chester draws lines, has headed down Market Street to a strip mall for his cheesesteak shop. Befitting its simple name, he maintains a simple menu whose star is a sandwich built on a custom roll created by La Baguette Magique, owned by chef Anthony Andiaro.

📍 698 E. Market St., West Chester, Pa. 19382, 484-373-5500, 📷 @steakswestchester

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