Philadelphia! Home of the Cheesesteak
- Charles Jordan
- Jun 23, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 6
Where are You Going to Try an Authentic Philly Cheesesteak?
The First Two Cheesesteak Shops in Philadelphia
One of the must-do activities in Philadelphia is heading to South Philly and trying the famous cheesesteaks at rival restaurants Pat's and Geno's. These iconic eateries have been serving up delicious sandwiches for decades, each with its own loyal following. They're across the street from each other. Pat's is the original cheesesteak, originating in 1930. Geno's started thirty-six years later. And now there are cheesesteak shops all over greater Philadelphia and nobody really agrees on which one is the best.
Who Has the Best Cheesesteak?
Jim's South Street is a favorite among many and we've stood in their line many times. Jim's just recently reopened after a fire forced them to close for a while. But we digress. According to Guide to Philly, "The only real difference between Pat’s and Geno’s: the preparation of the meat. Pat’s, like most authentic steaks in the city, is sliced thin and then worked on the grill. Geno’s, in a move to differentiate, cooks their steak in thicker cubes/strips and then chops them on the grill. That’s your choice: chopped or sliced."(retrieved on June 23, 2024 from https://guidetophilly.com/pats-vs-genos-rivalry-cheesesteak/) And, while they used to get their rolls from the same place, they get them from different bakeries now. The remaining ingredients mostly come from the same place. Personally, if we're in the neighborhood we go to Pat's but we have plenty of friends who prefer Geno's (if we are just talking about these two).
In a previous article we wrote about two cheesesteak shops in the Reading Terminal Market: Carmen's and Spataro's, both being solid choices. We had to edit the article stating: "UPDATE: Just a year after we wrote this we visited the Reading Terminal Market a couple of times to find that Spataro's is gonzo... Now Uncle Gus Cheesesteaks opened near Carmen's and the Spataro stall is vacant (as of April 22, 2025). We had an uncle Gus Cheesesteak on February 15, 2025 and it was one of the best we've eaten (and we've eaten quite a few). Anyway, things change and we don't tend to edit our blog articles for this sort of thing. So check their merchant directory to plan your visit.
Many locals will tell you that you have to head out of center city to find a great cheesesteak. For example, if you have a car, you might want to head to Roxborough, in Northwest Philly, where you'll find Chubby's and Dalessandro's on either side of Henry Avenue. We could write about cheesesteaks all day. And don't even get us started on hoagies!
Tips for Ordering your Cheesesteak
A few notes... You don't have to worry about bringing cash. Back in the day you had to pay with cash at some cheesesteak shops. We can remember pushing our youngest in a stroller around South Philly looking for an ATM. That's not necessary anymore. And, there is a recommended way to order one of these sandwiches. I swiped the screenshot below from the Pat's website. We hope they don't mind. Practice ahead of your visit. But don't worry if you mess up. They will not hold it against you, but you might get something slightly different than what you thought you ordered. Alternatively, just use your best English and don't forget to order fries (at the second window). The sign is on the side of the building. But, to be honest, we think it needs an example for clarification. And the sign doesn't mention that there's a choice of meats. So we'll offer a few examples for you...
If you want your steak with onions and provolone, you say "provolone wit."
If you want your steak without onions and with Cheese Whiz, you say "whiz witout."
If you want your steak with onions and without cheese, you say "plain wit."
If you want your steak to be with chicken instead of ribeye, with onions and with Cheese Whiz, you say "chicken cheesesteak whiz wit." (we think this is the way but we've never placed this order TBH)
Are you planning to try an authentic Philly Cheesesteak? Which shop are you planning to go to?
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