Mastering Philly’s Cheesesteak Scene

From a national perspective, the cheesesteak is nothing more than a piece of the caricature of Philadelphia. However, to many of the natives of the city, these sandwiches are a serious matter. Throughout the years, rivalries emerged and battle lines have been drawn as deep as the Schuylkill River that runs through the city. Discussions of what ingredients make up the perfect steak is fodder for endless debate — Amoroso or Vilotti-Pisanelli rolls; whiz or provolone. Getting served can be a ruthless experience for the newcomer. Some places require the customer to bluntly give their order by stating their cheese of choice followed by “wit” or “wit-out” to communicate if they want onions. Whether this to speed up the endlessly long lines, or to add to the mythos of cheesesteak culture, remains unclear.

Pat’s and Geno’s

Among the most famous steak shops are two Italian Market neighbors: Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks.

Pat’s founded in 1930, is said to be the birthplace of the first cheesesteak, while Geno’s is known for the brash conservative-leaning founder, the late Joey Vento, and his catchphrase, “This is America, when ordering, please speak English,” which can be seen on signs along the walls of the building. While the fame of these two rivals might seem appealing to visitors looking to jump feet-first into the cheesesteak culture, most locals are not fooled by what they consider inferior steaks, and they dismiss Pat’s and Geno’s as tourist traps.

Chubby’s and Dalessandro’s

To many natives, the true Philly cheesesteak rivalry lies between Chubby’s Steaks and Dalessandro’s Steaks, two lesser-known heavyweights of Roxborough. Unique to this area, both steak shops serve beer to their patrons — Chubby’s even having a full bar.

John’s Roast Pork

Among the other famed cheesesteak restaurants are Jim’s on South Street, Tony Luke’s in South Philly, Sonny’s and Campo’s in Old City, and Steve’s Prince of Steaks, which has various locations throughout the city. Perhaps the best steak in Philadelphia, however, is not really a cheesesteak shop at all. John’s Roast Pork, as evidenced by its name, is not primarily known for its steaks. Sitting along the Delaware River in Pennsport, this lesser known restaurant is secretly home to a true Philly cheesesteak. To some, the sesame-seed Sarcone roll is blasphemy — but to others it is what makes it divine among the rest.