Best Philly Cheesesteak in Philadelphia: My Honest Review
Jet Setting with Jen contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Read our Privacy Policy for more information.
I will be the first to admit that one of my most favorite things about traveling is trying all of the amazing food. In this case, I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into a Philly cheesesteak. My sister and I made it our mission to seek out the best Philly cheesesteak in Philadelphia. And let’s just say, mission accomplished!
Armed in stretchy leggings, our sneakers, and Google maps, we hit the streets of Philadelphia to eat at all of the top Philly cheesesteaks places we could find. Now, let’s dive into the places that I highly recommend for you to try.
Introduction: Best Philly Cheesesteak in Philadelphia
If you are headed to Philadelphia for the first time, or maybe you’ve been there several times, then you should absolutely have “try a Philly cheesesteak” on your list of things to do. There are hundreds of Philly cheesesteak restaurants in Philadelphia. My hope is that this guide will help narrow that list down for you.
My last visit to Philadelphia, I made it my mission to try as many Philly cheesesteaks that I could! Let’s just say my mission was successful and I am here to share my curated list of favorites with you all. I will share my order, the vibe of the restaurant and some tips I learned along the way.
Now, let’s dive in!
1. Pat’s King of Steaks
Ah, Pat’s. Now this is where is all started (or so they claim). Pat’s King of Steaks is one of the original Philly cheesesteak spots in Philadelphia, and it is super old school. This cash-only restaurant is always busy, but the line moves fast. Make sure you know what you want, quickly order, and then move out of the way!
Pro Tip: When you order your cheesesteak, make sure you say “one-whiz wit”, and you’ll get your cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz and onions.
What I loved most about Pat’s was the energy. There was a feeling of nostalgia just being there. And I was very surprised at how good the Cheez Whiz tasted on the sandwich. What I didn’t like was that I felt super rushed and the experience felt very transactional.
My recommendation is to go here for the experience, check the box, and then try another one Philly cheesesteak elsewhere for comparison (see #2 below).
2. Geno’s Steaks
The next stop on my mission for the best Philly cheesesteaks in Philadelphia was Geno’s Steaks. And honestly, you can’t go to Pat’s without then going to Geno’s. Especially since they are literally across the street from each other. They have a fun long-standing rivalry, and honestly, that’s one of the main reasons I wanted to go to both, so I could just compare the cheesesteaks between the two of them.
Geno’s has a very different vibe from its rival, Pat’s. It’s super flashy with neon signs, it also felt a lot cleaner, but it felt like there were also more tourists here compared to Pat’s.
At Geno’s I ordered a cheesesteak with provolone and onions, which was really good honestly, other than the steak was cut just a tad too thick for my liking. My preference is that the steak is chopped so that it’s easier to eat.
Now, you are probably wondering which Philly cheesesteak I liked best. Was it Pat’s or Geno’s? You’ll have to read the entire blog to figure that out!
Now….onto #3
3. Jim’s Steaks (South Street)
One of my favorite aspects of Jim’s Steaks was the fun vibrant and artsy neighborhood it is located in. The fun art deco building and old school vibe really made the vibe of the restaurant even better.
I ordered a cheesesteak with provolone and fried onions from Jim’s and the steak was chopped exactly how I like it, and the cheese was melted perfectly. Hands down, Jim’s was for sure in the top places for when it came to finding the best Philly cheesesteak in Philadelphia.
The one and only issue that I had with Jim’s was that I wait over 45 mins on a Saturday afternoon for my sandwich. Would I do it again? Absolutely!!!
4. Dalessandro’s Steaks & Hoagies
A friend of mine who is originally from Philadelphia, recommended Dalessandro’s to me. And boy am I glad she did. This place felt very much like a local go-to for Philly cheesesteaks and less tourists, which I absolutely loved. It’s located a little bit outside of the downtown area, which makes it a little more off the beaten path and probably way tourists don’t navigate here.
I stuck to my usual order, and the steak came chopped, which I loved, and the cheese was gooey, but not overpowering. The portions are also big here, so you could easily share a sandwich and be just fine.
What I didn’t like was that seating was super limited, so I ate standing up, which I wasn’t a huge fan, but I managed. My recommendation is to plan ahead so that you can find a seat.
My overall verdict on Dalessandro’s………..BEST PHILLY CHEESESTEAK IN PHILADELPHIA!
5. John’s Roast Pork
You wouldn’t guess by its name, but honestly, John’s Roast Pork makes a really good Philly cheesesteak too. I would consider this spot a hidden gym as it’s very laid-back and has a no-frills kind of vibe, which I like.
I continued on with my order of the cheesesteak and provolone cheese with onions and honestly, the cheesesteak was good, but I feel like the seeded roll was the start of the show on this one. The cheese gave the sandwich a sharp punch, but the roll was a game-changer when it comes to rolls!
A word to the wise before you head to John’s. Make sure you check the hours as they are pretty limited and close early in the afternoon, so plan accordingly.
My Personal Recommendations
In my opinion the best Philly cheesesteak that I found was absolutely at Dalessandro’s. But, if you are looking for a local spot, off the beaten path, and want to try their amazing roll, head to John’s Roast Pork. Now, for the battle of the best sandwich between Pat’s and Gino’s, drum roll please……..I preferred Gino’s. Visit both for the fun experience of the rival, but don’t expect a mind-blowing sandwich by any means.
Conclusion: Best Philly Cheesesteak Philadelphia
By the end of my Philly cheesesteak crawl not only was I incredibly full (pretty sure I gained more than 5lbs on this trip), but I felt a little more “Philly”. There is something special about standing on a busy sidewalk in Philly and biting into a delicious cheesesteak, dripping all over the place that feels like you are tasting a prat of American history.
If you are planning a trip to Philly, make sure to try one or all of these amazing restaurants and let me know your thoughts. I would love to know what sandwich you tried, who your favorite is between Pat’s and Gino’s and where your favorite cheesesteak was.
If you have a Philly cheesesteak place you’ve been and think is amazing, send it my way so I can give it a try the next time I go!
div data-id=viator-banner data-partner-id=P00113344 data-url=”https://www.viator.com/partner-shop/jetsettingwithjen/Philadelphia?medium=link&medium_version=shop” data-banner-width=728 data-banner-height=90 data-banner-language=en data-banner-selection=banner1 data-campaign=”Philadelphia” >