What's the best philly cheesesteak in Philadelphia?

I am not myself a fancier of cheesesteaks, but Pat’s Cheesesteaks has a reputation such that it is worth visiting as an historic landmark. It made the local news recently when the founder passed away.

Forget Geno’s (across the street from Pat’s). He just died, but even before that he had the most politically incorrect, not to mention god-awful cheesesteak on the planet. How he even got into contention, I’ll never know.

Unfortunately, Pat’s kind of got caught up in the attitude wars. Used to be they were neighborhood joints and everyone knew what to do. Then they got famous and every god-damn politician in the world who set foot in Philly had to got to Pat’s (Democrats) or Geno’s (Republicans) in order to tuck their tie into their shirt and spill ketchup and steak juice on their shirt. Who knows, maybe they never even took a bite after the requisite photos were taken.

So now they’re famous and they have attitude.. excuse me, att—ee—tooode! Geno’s won’t serve noone ain’t speak no English. Pat’s makes you memorize how to order a steak before you are actually allowed to order one. It’s like a cheese steak gong show. Don’t do it right and they kick you outta line.

It’s for the tourists. Dreck. used to be Pat’s was the best and they actually took care to make a good steak. The meat was hot and the cheese melted (although that’s not an issue if you want whiz). A real steak is made with provolone, in my opinion, but you can find a different opinion on every street corner if you want.

The best steak actually used to be made by Pat’s nephew, Rick, who ran an operation at the Reading Terminal Market, but they kicked him out for a perfume vendor, or some other kind of upscale bullshit tourist trap novelty store. So you can’t get one of his steaks any more.

So there is no best steak anymore. Some like the shop at 4th and South. Others mention all kinds of stores in the burbs or in the city. My advice is that you go to the Geno’s/Pat’s corner and one of you gets a steak from Geno’s and the other gets the same thing from Pat’s, and you walk back to your car, swap halves, and decide for yourselves. I say this having never tasted a Geno’s steak, nor ever planning to taste one.

Take in the att-ee-toode and watch the locals (or what passes for locals these days—these yuppified days) and get the full experience. They eat your heart-attacks-on-wheels and draw your own conclusions. Let us know what you think.

Make your own. It’s easy and calls for chip beef steaks, sliced onions, cheese and a long thin boring white-bread roll… oh, and lots of slightly used grease.

In the 14 years I lived in Philly, I ate one cheese steak, which i still regret.

I’ve made my own before and I didn’t really like how they turned out at all. I’ve had cheesesteaks before at several places though and all enjoyed them. Including the state fair.

What happened when you had it in Philly?

the 2 best one’s are Pat’s and Geno’s. they are both across the street from each other. everybody argues which one is the best, but you can decide for yourself, just get 1 cheese steak from both places and enjoy!

Pat’s – 1237 East Passyunk Avenue
Geno’s – 1219 South 9th Street

across the street from each other: http://g.co/maps/gn5k

@wundayatta is right on the money. However, I favor Pat’s. Also, RIP Joey Vento.

I vote against either Pat’s or Geno’s where only tourists go. Here is the real rundown!

I was recently in Philly and tried Pat’s, Geno’s, Jim’s and a 4th I can’t recall. I was unimpressed.

As others have stated, its more a tourist thing as opposed to it being an epicurean delight.

Jim’s at 4th & South doesn’t have the publicity of the other two but IMHO is the real deal.

And you’ve got the choice between whiz or Provolone.

And if you want something a little different but delicious they make a Chicken cheesesteak at Ishkabibbles catty-corner across the street (directly opposite TLA). And their cheese fries are incredible. They use the genuine Kraft whiz, not the cheapo generic versions of whiz. It makes a world of difference cuz it’s a real genuine cheddar flavor not that diluted crappo stuff.

So, my reco would be for the genuine cheesesteaks at Pat’s and across the street at Ishe’s for cheese fries. They also have killer milkshakes as well. Real ice cream.

My usual whenever I was in the area was starting at 4th and South for the two I just mentioned and then head a few blocks further East to Chef’s Market for great gourmet takeout for back home or the car on the way. They have quality delicious stuff both Deli and regular (like Salmon, Ribs, etc.) to go.

You’ll be set for awhile with great eats.

Just be aware that Chef Market usually closes around 9PM while the other two stay open later, especially weekends.

EDIT.

I just checked the link posted above. When I lived in the Northeast, I tried Steve’s on Bustleton and agree that it’s great.

And just to clarify something else the reviewer mentioned. When he says that Jims does theirs chopped and that makes it sound like hamburger or something.

Jim’s uses the same cuts and slices as the other two. If you don’t want them to chop yours up after they cook it, just say so. I always asked for mine unchopped and never had a problem.

@seekingwolf: The cheesesteak used inexpensive cuts of beef which are frozen and then hacked to bits, plus the rancid grease on the grill (a requisite ingredient) and the white roll, which can be used to make impressions for a false tooth it is so malleable.

Heatburn heaven.

If you follow @marinelife‘s reviews, you will be spending much of your day lost in the “Great Northeast.” Better to stick to the touristy places. Do not go to Jim’s. Chopped steak is a travesty. You completely ruin the textural experience. Also, do not do what @blueiiznh did. Four cheesesteaks will likely kill you on the spot. At the very least, it will lengthen your trip home significantly and you will gain far more familiarity with highway rest stops than you ever expected to have.

There are other, more high brow cheesesteaks. They aren’t the hoi polloi experience, but if you’re going for a decent meal, find one of those.

Here’s a list of ten best (or whatever) put together by Glenn MacNow, who has a sports radio show. In particular, he has a lot of opinions about football. If you have a lot of opinions about the Eagles, you’re going to have a lot of opinions about cheesesteaks, but even more importantly, you are actually stupid enough to try cheesesteaks in 45 different establishments. I’d go by his list, which puts you down in South Philly, which is reasonable.

A couple of places that seem to appear on everyone’s lists are Chinks and Sonny’s. Sonny’s is in Old City, but Chink’s is way out in the Northeast. I’d try Sonny’s or John’s Roast Pork if you can get down to Snyder Ave.

@wundayatta

In this and previous reviews you’ve stated strong view FOR Provolone and AGAINST chopped and I AGREE COMPLETELY.

However, what you neglectted to specify is that Pat’s gives the customer their CHOICE on BOTH of those issues.

If one wants Provolone, just tell them. If you don’t want them to chop it, just speak up. Just because they already have a pile of chopped on the left side of the grill so they can serve a long line faster, doesn’t mean you can’t get it in slices. The worst thing that can possibly happen is you wait a few minutes more. Not that big a deal IMHO in order to get it the way you want it.

I’ve even managed to get mine as minimally cooked as possible (not truly rare) but not dried out and tough either.

Pats is great that way because they don’t project that crappy nasty entitled attitude of the other two which get all the publicity.

Not that its really related to the top of cheese steak but on the note of geno’s. Joey Vento used to come in to a restaurant I worked at in South Jersey. So one day I asked him about the whole english thing cause I myself found it a bit racist. He said its because people order in spanish all the time, then the order isnt made right and they complain and he just loses money on the whole thing. In that regard I think it makes sense of him to enact that policy I just think he went about it the wrong way. Joey was an extremely nice guy to me every time i’ve spoken with him though. RIP.

@Buttonstc: ... they already have a pile of chopped on the left side of the grill so they can serve a long line faster…

That sounds tasty and really tempting.

@Gail

Yup. That’s why I always ordered mine fresh cooked and left in whole slices :)

But it’s most likely been 10 yrs. or more since I’ve had a cheesesteak. I much prefer the Chicken cheesesteak across the corner at Ish. Everything there is fresh cooked and really good.

Thanks guys!

I guess we will go to Genos and Pat’s. Both of them. We’l get a steak from each and then share. We are pressed from time there so we don’t have time to go too far looking for cheesesteaks. I’m driving 7 hours on the first day, concert that night, cheesesteak, pass out in the hotel, then I have to get up and drive back 7 hours.

I don’t like whiz. I prefer provolone, most definitely. I don’t care if it’s chopped or not, I like both.

Geno’s whiz wit. Yummy!

I want to get provolone wit for me. My boyfriend would like American witout. He doesn’t like onion.

@wundayatta I did not say I ate them all, so I don’t know how you make a statement of what i did. I stated I “tried” them. I sampled them, wanted to compare them.
Please don’t assume if you are going to make a statement about someone else. Simply ask a qualifying question first and I would be happy to let you know what “I did”.

@blueiiznh I’m sorry, but I think it is a highly reasonably assumption to think that when someone has “tried” something in this context, they have eaten it. In any case, it was a joke. Do you really think I believe 4 cheesesteaks will kill you on the spot? What? Did your car die the day you made this reply?

Another joke, in case you hadn’t figured that out. This whole subject is a joke, for that matter. Any form of high dudgeon cannot possibly be taken seriously. Sigh. Unless, of course, you take yourself seriously. You don’t do that…. do you? Oh wait. Here’s a qualifying question. You’ll love this. How old are you?

Well I believe that 4 cheesesteaks could kill. :P Depends on the origin, composition, and who is eating them but yeah, I thought that’s a fair statement.

I’ve nearly died from a bad lambchop before, what chance do I have against 4 cheesesteaks?

You could die from eating 4 of anything (at once) the same volume as 4 philly cheesesteaks.

You might also be at risk by eating only one Philly cheesesteak.

I may be. But I’m willing to try it.

For the record, I don’t get sick from food that often. i can eat anything. I also don’t get heartburn. I will sometimes eat spicy Indian food for breakfast and wash it down with something really citrus-y, just to give you an idea. I’ll be okay, regardless.

The sketchiest cheesteak I’ve had was at the NY state fair 0_0. I felt a little funny afterward but I pulled through. I don’t think they serve many cheesesteaks there.

@wundayatta When the question is in General, I try to take all comments in the thread serious. So unless the rules have changed, I will continue to.

@blueiiznh We are allowed to inject humor in General as long as we also have serious content. You misunderstood the rules; they haven’t changed.

@wundayatta thank you so much. Sometimes it is just hard to know when a person is jesting or not when they direct a statement about someone the way you like to do “do not do what…did”. I seem to recall many threads where you do this and cover it in jest.

But back to the OP to ensure I don’t get moderated.

I do suggest you try them all. Maybe over different days, trips, or pre-ER visits as wundy points out.
Food is subjective and is meant to be explored and enjoyed.

I would love to spend more time in Philly but unfortunately, we are getting there by one afternoon and then by the next early afternoon, I have to leave because it’s a 7 hour drive. I only had enough money to stay one night.

I wish it could be like our Cleveland trip. We traveled to Cleveland in the summer for like 3–4 days and I felt like I really got to see a lot. This one is a bit more rushed.

Have you been here yet?