# Do people really put mayo on Philly cheese steak sandwiches? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 26, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662 "2014-06-26T01:52:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/21 "2014-06-26T12:42:48Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I find it more perplexing that people call that thing at Subway a “Philly cheese-steak” Sandwich. The first time I went to a Subway was when I realized cheese steak was not a universally known sub. To me growing up, if you wanted a sub you got a cheesesteak or a cold cut. I asked for one there and they looked at me like I had 2 heads. That and the weird ordering process turned me off the place for good. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/22 "2014-06-26T12:49:20Z")
I put mayo or nothing on it. Never ketchup. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/23 "2014-06-26T13:25:13Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I know I’m going to touch a nerve with this one, but to me anything with steak and cheese calls out for: > > KETCHUP! > > I did warn ya’s. I grew up just outside of Philly, and a lot of people did this (sometimes even me). Cheesesteaks were just like cheeseburgers to us (no mustard though, that’s for hot dogs). ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/24 "2014-06-26T13:39:02Z")
A family member who will go nameless puts mayo on almost everything: Corn on the cob Barbecue Fresh tomatoes Watermelon the list goes on and on. It’s easier to make a list of what mayo _doesn’t_ go on for this person. Likewise, though not with the same person, Tabasco Ketchup (or catsup) Yellow mustard Dijon Tartar sauce Ranch dressing Karo syrup (no lie!) again the list is practically endless ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/25 "2014-06-26T14:06:22Z")
Yes, mayo is pretty much required on my cheese-steak. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/26 "2014-06-26T14:34:45Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > From a jar, not a can. And Whiz wasn’t on the original cheesesteaks. It’s “authentic” in that it’s a popular and common cheese topping, but many a cheesesteak connoisseur will eschew it, in my experience. According to the son of the founder of Pat’s Cheez Whiz was the first cheese they used because their observant Jewish customers wouldn’t eat a steak sandwich if cheese had been melted on the same griddle. [NPR interview](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5573992) ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/27 "2014-06-26T14:39:51Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > A family member who will go nameless puts mayo on almost everything: > > Corn on the cob > Barbecue > Fresh tomatoes > Watermelon > the list goes on and on. Just drink the fucking mayonnaise. /Oblig. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/28 "2014-06-26T14:55:24Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Just drink the fucking mayonnaise. > /Oblig. Not quite the same, but spooning it out of the jar is not all that rare. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/29 "2014-06-26T14:57:52Z")
First trip to New Orleans, I saw a big sign that said ‘Blue Plate’. I assumed it was a restaurant. My friend said it was the Blue Plate mayonnaise factory. I laughed at my mistake and said, ‘Yeah, I’ll have the mayonnaise plate.’ Another friend said, ‘And can you put some gravy on that?’ ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/30 "2014-06-26T16:31:00Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > A family member who will go nameless puts mayo on almost everything: > > Corn on the cob > Barbecue > Fresh tomatoes > Watermelon > the list goes on and on. In my experience, mayo on sliced tomatoes isn’t that unusual, and it is pretty common to serve mayo and cotija cheese on corn in Mexico. Watermelon, though? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/31 "2014-06-26T16:36:47Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Watermelon, though? Yeah. Pretty hard-core. Probably no worse gastronomically than salt. Be like putting whipped cream on a filet mignon, though. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/32 "2014-06-26T16:45:45Z")
THIS is why we need trigger warnings. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/33 "2014-06-26T16:50:01Z")
Oh – While I do put mayonnaise on hot pastrami sandwiches (or did, since it seems the last many time I’ve had them I didn’t put any on), I don’t put it on cheese steak sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/34 "2014-06-26T17:47:39Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Yeah. Pretty hard-core. Probably no worse gastronomically than salt. > > Be like putting whipped cream on a filet mignon, though. Salt on watermelon is good. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/35 "2014-06-26T17:49:39Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Salt on watermelon is good. Yeah, it’s okay. Used to use salt quite a bit. Pepper on cantaloupe is more often the trick nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/36 "2014-06-26T17:51:18Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Yeah, it’s okay. Used to use salt quite a bit. Pepper on cantaloupe is more often the trick nowadays. Or pepper on strawberries! Mayo on watermelon is just plain weird. I can understand mayo on the other stuff, though. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/37 "2014-06-26T19:11:43Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > The first time I went to a Subway was when I realized cheese steak was not a universally known sub. To me growing up, if you wanted a sub you got a cheesesteak or a cold cut. I asked for one there and they looked at me like I had 2 heads. That and the weird ordering process turned me off the place for good. 😕 They ask you what kind of sandwich you want, what condiments to put on it, and if you want a combo. What’s odd about that? That they do it in front of you? It’s not like the Soup Nazi runs it. > [@pulykamell](#): > > Or pepper on strawberries! Mayo on watermelon is just plain weird. I can understand mayo on the other stuff, though. Pepper, and balsamic vinegar! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/38 "2014-06-26T23:51:28Z")
I have no doubt that the sandwich on a Subway menu which is labeled a “Philly cheesesteak” is often eaten with mayonnaise. Which is wholly irrelevant to the actual cheesesteak sandwich found in Philadelphia. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/39 "2014-06-27T00:47:18Z")
There are 2 different things being talked about here. A cheese steak sandwich and a cheese steak hoagie(aka sub). A cheese steak sandwich describes something with bread, meat, cheese and maybe hot peppers or fried onions and ketchup is a more common condiment. A cheese steak hoagie has lettuce onion, tomato, and usually has mayonnaise as a condiment. There is a little variation here and there, but those are the basic differences. The terms are easily confused and often used interchangeably. Some of the most famous places only sell sandwiches; for example Geno’s or Jim’s, but cheese steak hoagies are also very common anywhere I have been. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662/40 "2014-06-27T02:01:10Z")
For me, a cheesesteak has meat, grilled or fried onions, and cheese. That is it. Mr. Raventhief asks for lettuce, tomato, and yes mayo. That’s simply terrible in my eyes. His son will dip chicken nuggets in mayo. Which is even worst. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-put-mayo-on-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/691662.md?page=3)