Thin-shaved rib-eye on a long Amoroso roll, griddled with chopped onions and finished with melted Cheez Whiz, American or provolone. The South Philly sandwich that travelled the world.
The cheesesteak was invented in 1930 at 9th and Wharton in South Philly. Pat Olivieri, a hot-dog vendor, threw a handful of thin-shaved beef on his grill, slid it into an Italian roll and sold the result to a taxi driver. Cheez Whiz was added in the 1950s. Geno's Steaks opened directly across Passyunk Avenue in 1966 and the two-vendor rivalry has run uninterrupted ever since. John's Roast Pork on Snyder, open since 1930, runs a parallel claim to the city's best version. Ordering is its own language: one-Whiz-wit means one cheesesteak with Whiz and onions, one-Whiz-witout means without onions. American and provolone are accepted answers. Ketchup is not.
4 editor picks for Philly cheesesteak in Philadelphia, ranked by editorial score. All Philadelphia signature dishes · Philly cheesesteak across every city.
John's Roast Pork ★ 4.8
14 E Snyder Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
John's Roast Pork in Philadelphia is the 1930 South Philly counter at Snyder and Weccacoe, James Beard America's Classic 2006 with the city's defining roast pork sandwich.
Pat's King of Steaks ★ 4.5
1237 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Pat's King of Steaks in Philadelphia is the 1930 founder of the cheesesteak at 9th and Passyunk, where Pat Olivieri ladled chopped steak onto a hot-dog roll for a taxi driver.
Geno's Steaks ★ 4.4
1219 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Geno's Steaks in Philadelphia is the 1966 Joe Vento cheesesteak corner across Passyunk from Pat's, the orange-and-neon South Philly rival half of the city's cheesesteak duel.
Jim's Steaks South Street ★ 4.4
400 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Jim's Steaks South Street in Philadelphia is the 1976 South Street counter that reopened May 2024 after the 2022 fire, expanded into the next-door Eyes Gallery building.