With major events like the World Cup and MLB All-Star Weekend taking place in The City of Brotherly Love this summer, I found it imperative to educate the expected influx of tourists on the best places to enjoy Philly’s most famous meal, the cheesesteak. These rankings are based primarily on the quality of the cheesesteak itself, but I also factor in factors such as the price and eating atmosphere. My order at each restaurant was a provolone wit cheesesteak (I got a seeded roll when possible but did not take off or add points based on the seeding between restaurants).
This list includes cheesesteak establishments owned by mobsters and disgraced judges, as well as one which had to change it’s name because it was considered racist by some. Welcome to Philadelphia.
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10. Pat’s King of Steaks
Address: 1237 E Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Distance from stadiums: 13 mins
Price: $19
Rating: 7.7/10
Rationale: Would it really be a Philly cheesesteak ranking piece if I didn’t add my two cents on the Pat’s vs Geno’s debate? Pat’s takes a close battle and they do so with their extremely cheesy sandwich, which also earns a rare edge being less oily than their cross-intersection counterparts. However, it is important to note to non-Philadelphians that while the rivalry is famous, these two do not come close to the best steaks in the city. While each are respectable and worth trying to join in on the run of the rivalry, if you only plan on having one steak, pick from further down the list.
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9. By George
Address: 1136 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA, 19107 (Reading Terminal Market)
Distance from stadiums: 17 mins
Price: $17
Rating: 7.9/10
Rationale: By George puts together the definition of a solid cheesesteak with no clear mistakes, but one which is missing a true superstar amongst it’s makeup. Their steak is prime quality, and rolls very well done. If I had to nitpick, I’d say the meat could be paired better with a bit more cheese. Still, going to By George isn’t a bad choice and it’s location within an attraction such as Reading Terminal Market gets it a bonus notch.
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8. Skinny Joey’s
Address: 3020 S Broad St., Philadelphia, PA, 19145
Distance from stadiums: 5 mins
Price: $18
Rating: 8.0/10
Rationale: Skinny Joey’s is strong when it comes to mixing in their cheese well, but compared to the top scorers, extremely weak in some other areas. Their meat is not as well seasoned as a Shay’s, and onions not as well cooked as a Jim’s. Even so, the cheese is high quality and seeded roll balanced perfectly with the inner workings. Plus it is just outside walking distance from the stadiums and within an easy drive, making a quick stop easy.
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7. Uncle Gus’s
Address: 1136 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA, 19107 (Reading Terminal Market)
Distance from stadiums: 17 mins
Price: $18.50
Rating: 8.5/10
Rationale: The second of two Reading Terminal Market staples makes it’s appearance at No. 7, and while this ranking may infer there’s a weakness within the steak, there really isn’t a clear one. Similarly to By George, Uncle Gus’s puts together an all around solid sandwich, with well cooked onions, a fresh roll, and perfectly balanced steak. My only knock is they don’t have a true wow factor to make them stand out. Uncle Gus’s is a steak most restaurants should strive for, but some just go further.
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6. Angelo’s Pizzeria
Address: 736 S 9th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Distance from stadiums: 15 mins
Price: $18
Rating: 8.6/10
Rationale: The taste of Angelo’s is something rarely beat in the Philly cheesesteak scene. Even so, I didn’t love the presentation or overall cheesiness. The meat and cheese kind of clumped together in the middle and didn’t have the gooey look some of the top steaks did. On the other hand, Angelo’s cooks their onions well, and their seeded rolls are among the best I’ve had. If you’re planning to try multiple steaks, Angelo’s is a top choice.
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5. Jim’s South Street
Address: 400 South St., Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Distance from stadiums: 15 mins
Price: $14.50
Rating: 8.8/10
Rationale: Jim’s earns their high ranking with a more underrated aspect of their cheesesteaks, the onions. I tend to prefer onions which are more cooked compared to fresh and crunch. Jim’s cooks theirs right in the sweet spot of flavorful and easy to enjoy. You also get to witness the cooking firsthand while waiting as the grill is right next to the waiting line. Watching your sandwich get made always seems to help improve the taste.
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4. Del Rossi’s
Address: 538 N 4th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19123
Distance from stadiums: 15 mins
Price: $19.20
Rating: 8.9/10
Rationale: Similarly to a few of the other top steaks, Del Rossi’s masters cheese dispersement. Every inch is adequately complimented with your cheese of choice, and the steak and onions are each cooked well in addition. Del Rossi’s also has the second best roll behind first place, with their seeded roll serving as the perfect border between the gooey insides and pleasant eating atmosphere on the outside.
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3. Shay’s
Address: 200 N 16th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19102
Distance from stadiums: 16 mins
Price: $19.95
Rating: 9.2/10
Rationale: If it wasn’t for a smaller roll and higher price than most other restaurants, Shay’s could easily make a push for the top two, if not first. That being said, what it lacks in size, it makes up for in flavor. This flavor stems from fresh prime rib steak sliced directly onto the grill in front of you when you walk in, and the wide variety of seasoning options you can add. Shay’s is also located within walking distance of major attractions such as the art museum, LOVE Statue and City Hall.
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2. John’s Roast Pork
Address: 14 E Snyder Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19148
Distance from stadiums: 8 mins
Price: $15.50
Rating: 9.3/10
Rationale: When it comes to portion sizes, John’s takes the cake. You never have to worry about bang for your buck, and the bang comes in a big way itself. The cheese is evenly distributed throughout, and the meat comes well seasoned and sticking to the roll. John’s also earns some bonus points for being right down the street from the stadiums in the opposite direction of traffic getting on or off the highway, making it the most accessible for a game day.
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- Cafe Carmela
Address: 2859 Holme Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19152
Distance from stadiums: 30 mins
Price: $16
Rating: 9.5/10
Rationale: If you’re willing to make the trip to the suburbs, you’ll find the best cheesesteak in all of Philadelphia. Not only can Cafe Carmela boast a fresh Carangi Bakery roll outlining each sandwich, but within it is the best cheese/meat combo of any establishment on this list. Cafe Carmela’s signature cheese sauce is what powers their sandwich over any other. I recommend getting the sauce in a light to moderate serving rather than risking going overboard, but it’s nearly impossible to have too much of it.
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Additional Note: While my order of choice is a simple steak with provolone cheese and onions, there are plenty of other add-ins which can improve a given order. For example, some locations such as Uncle Gus’s and Jim’s offer Italian long hot peppers as a side or topper. Shay’s is the master of variety in this realm, providing customers with a laundry list of possible seasonings and topping combinations. Less is typically more when it comes to cheesesteaks, but don’t shy away from some variety if that’s what you’re into.
Other signature dishes scatter Philly’s dining scene as well, including roast pork sandwiches, and the “Main Event” hoagie at Datillo’s Deli. A personal favorite, the main event features an unusual flavor combination with provolone, hot capicola, homemade roasted peppers and artichoke hearts all mixed into one. If you happen to not be a big artichoke fan (similar to me) don’t let this description shy you away though. The way the flavors blend together is something I do not see often, with the lesser used ingredients not being as overpowering in flavor as many may fear. If you’re looking for something other than a cheesesteak during your trip, I highly recommend Datillo’s or a John’s Roast Pork for their namesake sandwich.
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