The Cheesesteaks Philly Can’t Get Enough of in 2026

While the national press likes to talk about that other rivalry (see below), real Philadelphians know the true across-the-street friendly cheesesteak feud is between Roxborough's Filetes Dalessandro y Chubby's Steaks.

Dalessandro’s — the Michelin-recognized Henry Avenue shop — has slung massive cheesesteaks with finely chopped ribeye and extra-chunky, hand-sliced sautéed onions at their shop since 1960.

Then in 1987, Chubby’s opened just 100 feet across the street, now standing toe-to-toe with its Northwest Philly competitor, serving a finer chopped steak — with a signature secret seasoning and easy on the whiz — at a diner counter with full bar and a (usually) shorter wait time.

Casi todo el mundo en el país conoce la amistosa rivalidad entre Pat's King of Steaks y Geno's Steaks, ubicados en diagonal uno frente al otro en el extremo sur de Philly. Italian Market.

The O.G. Pat’s is still owned by the legendary Olivieri family, whose eponymous patriarch invented the first steak sandwich in 1930 (see the intro for more).

Geno’s opened up across the pointed intersection in 1966, slinging thinly sliced rib-eye steak under a cacophony of neon, setting off the iconic rivalry between the open-24/7 crossroads competitors, drawing throngs to East Passyunk para degustaciones de carnes.

Abierto desde 1947, Sándwiches de queso y carne Philly de Campo es un lugar perfecto para degustar sabores tradicionales en un entorno tradicional. Ubicado en el corazón de Old City Bajo un toldo azul, rojo y verde, la pequeña tienda de la esquina se encuentra a solo tres cuadras de la Liberty Bell y Independence Hall.

Besides traditional steaks made with high-end ribeye cut against the grain and served on Liscio’s rolls, Campo’s also offers options like the Flyers Ice Steak with cream cheese, the Stockyard with mascarpone spread and the Buffalo-spiced The Heater, along with local brews from Cervecería Yards.

Bonus: Headed to South Philly for a Phillies game? Don’t miss Campo’s location inside Parque del Banco de los Ciudadanos.

Una de las carnicerías más antiguas de la ciudad., Cosmi's Deli has the look of a corner market — and the cheesesteak cred of a champ.

Dating back to 1932, this small South Philly stop has garnered praise for both its traditional steaks — with thin-sliced rib eye packed on rolls from famous Sarcone’s Bakery — and a lineup of specialty steaks like the Godfather Cheesesteak, Buffalo Chicken or spicy Diavolo, or the vegan cheesesteak.

And don’t miss Cosmi’s highly-regarded hoagies o cerdo asado también.

Dividido en dos tiendas, Ishkabibble I y II — situados a solo 750 pies de distancia entre sí en Calle Sur — not only touts itself as the inventor of the chicken cheesesteak, but it also serves a great traditional steak with beef cut into chunks, rather than shredded or sliced.

Both spots offer the same menu, but the newer location between 5th Street and 6th Street (opened in 2014) offers plentiful seating compared to the circa-1979 walk-up window near 4th Street.

Other menu must-haves include Spanish fries (with hot peppers and onions), sweet potato cheese fries and the original Gremlin, a half-lemonade, half-grape-juice beverage.

Ha vuelto, y mejor que antes. Tras un devastador incendio en 2022, Los filetes de Jim resurgió dos años después con excelentes críticas. El Calle Sur staple — a favorite of many locals — continues to offer the same amazing steaks with quality ribeye grilled to perfection at its open cooking counter, now inside an expanded space.

The remodeled shop offers twice the previous seating, a much-welcomed takeout window (open till 1 a.m. on weekends), skylights and walls now covered with glittering previously hidden Eyes Gallery mosaics by the late Philly artist Isaiah Zagar of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.

Fundada en 1949 en Northeast Philly, Joe's Steaks + Soda Shop’La antigua fuente de soda de en Fishtown — opened in 2015 and the sole site since the original’s 2022 closing — offers steaks from a decades-old recipe, alongside handcrafted milkshakes, ice cream sodas, chocolate Cokes and egg creams.

Grab a diner booth, or order from their Girard Avenue takeout window (often with a dozens-deep line on weekends) after a show at Johnny Brenda's o para disfrutar en el bar donde puedes traer tu propia comida. Garaje en sus esquinas vecinas.

Para ser un local con “cerdo asado” en el nombre, este sitio ofrece un delicioso cheesesteak. Aunque es famoso por su sándwich homónimo, Cerdo asado de John is perennially ranked among Philly’s top steak spots as well. Its secret weapon is a crusty hollowed-out Carangi’s Bakery seeded roll — and a strict no-whiz policy.

Opened in 1930, the low-slung luncheonette first grew its reputation as a favorite among South Philly dock workers but gained mainstream recognition over the last quarter-century, as well as Philly’s first “America’s Classics” honor from the Premios James Beard en 2006.

Hay tiendas famosas de cheesesteak y hay tiendas de cheesesteak que son famosas, pero North Philly's Filetes de Max is both. The outlet boasts Hollywood chops como escenario de la memorable película de Michael B. Jordan “Lección sobre ”jawn» a Tessa Thompson en 2015 Credo, la primera serie derivada de Rocky franquicia cinematográfica, así como un cameo en un episodio de 2019 de Esto somos nosotros.

That said, even before its on-screen fame, the neon-lit destination was a go-to spot in Nicetown for decades for its massive two-foot-long cheesesteaks, made from 100% sirloin, and the attached Eagle Bar’s killer daiquiris.

Algunos de los mejores cheesesteaks de Philly ofrecen sabores influenciados por las diversas culturas de la ciudad, tal y como se inició en la década de 1980 por Restaurante Halal de Saad, un antiguo camión de comida que abrió sus puertas University City brick-and-mortar shop in 1996.

The all-halal eatery’s traditional treatment is packed with bite-sized steak pieces, melding with American cheese and mayonnaise. But the star is the Chicken Shish Tawook Maroosh Way, a zabiha grilled chicken skewer cheesesteak with sautéed onions, tomatoes, curly parsley, pickle spears and creamy whiz-like garlic sauce on a toasted hoagie roll. Alternatively, check out the fried tilapia Fish Cheesesteak.

De pie, solo, en una intersección triangular, SQ Philip's Steaks is what you’d expect from a South Philly steak joint: a boxy, nostalgic building with a 24-hour walk-up window, fluorescent outdoor lights, a bright red roof and a checkerboard exterior with no seating.

Opened in 1983 by “Suzie Q” (as in SQ), the spot offers neighborhood steaks — including the Old Fashion Steak with provolone, grilled tomato, long hots, onion and oregano — for take-out or to be devoured standing at chest-level metal shelves along the sidewalk. As if you need more convincing, Philip’s is 100% Aprobado por Ed Sheeran.

Name a better duo than a steak sandwich and a ball game. You can also find an outpost inside the Linc.

Now with four locations, Steve's Prince of Steaks was born in 1980 on Bustleton Avenue in Northeast Philly. Owner Steve Iliescu — who named his shop to honor Pat’s King of Steaks — uses thick-cut eighth-inch slabs of sautéed ribeye (much thicker than most), served chewy and mostly unchopped on a long, thin roll drowned in gooey whiz.

The cash-only neon-and-metal Airstream diner offers two service windows, one for steaks and one for sides and beverages (including a killer chocolate soda). Steve’s offers additional outlets along Roosevelt Boulevard and in Langhorne.

Antiguamente, la ubicación original alrededor de 1992 del famoso Tony Luke's y aún propiedad de Tony “Luke” Lucidonio Sr. y su hijo Nick, renombrado en 2022 como Los filetes de Tony y Nick continues to serve the same classic cheesesteaks everyone remembers.

The shop offers legendary thin-sliced cooked-to-order ribeye steaks in a variety of styles, including a pizza steak with mild provolone, a cheesesteak hoagie, and the Nicky Luke with ham and mushrooms. The red-and-white checkered takeaway window sits just below an I-95 overpass with a smattering of cozy picnic tables along the covered sidewalk.

Casi todos los habitantes de Filadelfia tienen un lugar habitual donde comprar bocadillos, porciones de pizza y sándwiches de carne con queso. Pero para mucha gente, todos esos platos se pueden encontrar en un solo lugar: Pizzería Angelo's South Philly.

The spot’s popular cheesesteaks — piled high with finely sliced steak, oozing cheese and sautéed onions on a housemade roll (along with their top-shelf pizzas de masa burbujeante y sándwiches deliciosos) — are the reasons for often-long lines down the block.

En Bella Vista shop, located just two blocks off South Street, has been a sandwich mainstay for in-the-know locals since it opened in 2019, but now the world knows its name as a Michelin-honored eatery.

En 2020, Anna Marie y Joe Maglio abrieron un restaurante italiano informal. Café Carmela in a Northeast Philly shopping center, never intending to be known for cheesesteaks. But after adding their now-signature take (a tribute to two of their favorite steak joints) to their menu during the pandemic, there was no looking back.

The signature Don Cheech’s Steak, named for Joe’s dad, is 12 ounces of thick house-sliced ribeye melded with lots of Cooper Sharp (like at Angelo’s) and fried onions on a seeded Carangi’s roll (like at John’s). A second branch opened in Montco en 2023.

Prepara tu propio cheesesteak con Cleavers. En Rittenhouse Square spot, lanzado en 2016 por una familia con más de 40 años de experiencia en la fabricación de cheesesteaks, ofrece una gama completa de Menú «Hazlo tuyo» of cheesesteak options that includes all the classic ingredients but also out-of-the-box and gourmet toppings like Sriracha aioli, chicken cutlet, blue cheese dressing, sautéed spinach and plum tomatoes.

Or choose from two-dozen house creations, from a BBQ Cheesesteak topped with breaded onion rings to a series of veggie steaks heavy on portobello. Pair it all with a craft draft from their 20-tap self-serve Pared con grifos de cerveza.

According to many experts and regular ol’ fanatics alike, the best cheesesteaks in the ‘burbs might just be found at Filetes Delco, with locations in Broomall, Folsom and Springfield.

Opened in 2020, this Delaware County negocios: sede del Cheesesteak Bowl anual y Carrito de cheesesteak Food truck: ofrece opciones tradicionales y de pollo, además de especialidades como champiñones portobello y Welshie's Barnyard (con carne, pollo y tocino), en tres tamaños: Delco, Classic Delco y King Delco. Pásate por la mañana para disfrutar de los sándwiches de desayuno, que incluyen un sándwich de queso y carne y otro de huevo.

Inaugurado en 2012, Del Rossi's Cheesesteak & Pizza Co. has become one of the buzziest steak joints in Philly over the last couple of years.

El estrecho Northern Liberties shop just off Spring Garden Street features an expansive menu, including a Long Hot Cheesesteak with the Philly fave spicy peppers and pickle juice, and a Chipotle Cheesesteak of hand-cut ribeye marinated in housemade chipotle sauce.

For lean meat lovers, Del Rossi’s menu features five different chicken cheesesteaks like Chipotle, Buffalo and Long Hot. And before heading out, grab one of their fantastic pizzas to-go.

Una de las tiendas de cheesesteaks de más rápido crecimiento en la ciudad tiene un nombre familiar y significativo en la tradición del cheesesteak Philly. El original Oeste Philly Jim’s Steaks opened in 1939 and remained a staple for eight decades before its 2019 closing.

Then a grand re-opening was celebrated in 2023, with new owners, a new name — Jim's Oeste (not affiliated with Jim’s South Street or Delco’s Jim’s Steaks ) — and a new entry into the cheesesteak wars: a traditional chopped ribeye on an Amoroso’s roll so good that Eater anointed it 2023’s Mejor plato nuevo en Filadelfia.

Fans from across the city zoom-zoom down I-95 and Roosevelt Boulevard for just a taste of the beefy, viral, super-stuffed ribeye masterpieces at La Nova Pizza & Steak en el noreste de Filadelfia.

All the familiar suspects are here: your classic beef and chicken steaks, pizza steaks topped with mozzarella and fresh tomato sauce, and Buffalo chicken cheesesteaks smothered in hot sauce, blue cheese and Cooper Sharp. Cooper Sharp is the standard for the beef and chicken cheesesteaks, but whiz, provolone and mozzarella are on deck if that’s more your jam, plus a handful of other hoagie toppings.

Delicious comfort food is kinda Marlo and Jason Dilks’ thing. The couple behind Slice Pizza and P’unk Burger entered the cheesesteak conversation a few years ago with their South Philly corner spot, Nipotina.  The nostalgic shop delivers an old-school lunch-counter vibe and major Philly flavor with a variety of cheesesteak options.

Check out the Hangover Cure with smashed tater tots, eggs over easy and Sriracha, or The Imposter, a vegan- and vegetarian-friendly sando with portobello and vegan beef and cheese. But the star is the eatery’s classic The Eye, featuring 12 ounces of coarsely chopped ribeye, Cooper Sharp and fried onions on a toasted Liscio’s roll.

Hot tip: The lunch special is available 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and gets you a sandwich and drink for $16 — or a sandwich and a side of fries for $18.

El amor fraternal se desborda en Oh, hermano Philly, one of the city’s newest cheesesteak chains, with locations on Drexel’s Campus in West Philly (opened 2025), on Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philly (opened in 2024), near Temple University on North Broad (inaugurado en 2022) y el local original de alrededor de 2019 en Old City a pocos pasos de Penn's Landing.

The 100% ribeye steaks are served on fresh-baked Italian rolls (also available seeded or gluten-free), including an intriguing French Onion Cheese Steak with creamy horseradish sauce, caramelized onions and Swiss cheese.

Would you believe us if we told you some of the city’s most satisfying steaks can be found in a Home Depot parking lot? Well, add this steak shack to your list of Philly hidden treasures.

With locations at The Home Depot stores across Philadelphia and beyond, Rocco’s Italian Sausages & Philly Cheese Steaks’ sandwich stands have been dishing out tasty steak sandwiches to on-the-go handymen and in-the-know foodies for years. The menu’s got all the classics — beef, chicken, pizza and Buffalo chesesteaks — plus more creative variations like the Cajun steak, the jerk steak, the teriyaki steak and the honey mustard chicken steak.

Un nuevo competidor en el mercado de los sándwiches de queso y carne ha abierto sus puertas en South Broad Street. Sándwiches de queso y carne de Skinny Joey's — del siempre mediático “Skinny Joey” Merlino y su socio Joe Perri, conocidos ahora por The Skinny con Joey Merlino y Lil Snuff podcast — lanzado en marzo de 2025 a pocos pasos de la South Philadelphia Sports Complex.

Located inside the boxy red-and-graphite hut formerly home to Ace of Steaks, Skinny Joey’s steaks are grilled and made to be authentic … possibly by the man himself, who invites customers to, “stop and see me, I’ll be behind the grill making steaks.”

Fundada en 2000, Los famosos filetes de Sonny is new-school with a timeless vibe deep in the city’s oldest neighborhood. On any given day, the Old City tienda — parte de una creciente rivalidad amistosa con su Manzana de la calle Market neighbors Campo’s Philly Cheesesteaks and Oh Brother Philly (all just 60 yards apart) — is filled with equal parts eager visitors from across the globe and lifelong locals.

Sonny’s uses fresh-sliced angus beef ribeye and your choice of cheese layered inside an Amoroso’s Italian roll (gluten-free by request), and boasts a pressure-free casual ordering experience.

Fundada en 2023 en el Centro de la ciudad vecindario de Logan Square, Taste Cheesesteak Bar is touted as the first restaurant to serve a menu of cheesesteaks paired with cocktails, even leading owner Kevin Dolce to trademark the term “cheesesteak bar.”

Dolce infuses his Haitian roots into his steaks, incorporating flavorful epis seasoning (with peppers, garlic and herbs) into not only the beef cheesesteak, but also oxtail, jerk chicken and salmon versions (or a veggie Cauliflower Portobello Mushroom option). Pair your fave with a signature drink from the full bar.

It’s like a supergroup, but for cheesesteaks. Behind a partnership of Tommy DiNic’s, Pearl’s Oyster Bar and Angelo’s Pizzeria, Filetes del tío Gus has quickly become the go-to steak stop in Reading Terminal Market since opening in 2025 despite offering just one option: a traditional tasty ribeye with available cheese, onion, peppers and mushroom toppings.

While Gus’ is currently the only cheesesteak specialist at the market, great steaks can also be found at Por George, Molly Malloy's y Restaurante Down Home, además de tomas alternativas como el desastre ferroviario de Café Cajún de Beck y El giro de Miller’El pretzel con queso y carne de res.

Congratulations, scholar: You are now a master’s-level expert on the classic Philadelphia sandwich, but there’s more to cheesesteak than just beef and cheese.

Sumérgete aún más en la tradición del cheesesteak con nuestra guía de cheesesteaks alternativos, una deliciosa y esclarecedora guía sobre los locales que ofrecen versiones creativas del sándwich tradicional. Piensa en sándwiches de queso y carne hechos con rabo de buey o salmón a la barbacoa, pretzels rellenos de carne o empanadas, y sándwiches que encarnan toda la esencia del clásico, pero sin carne.