Notice I said favorite, not best. I realize that these things are subjective… within reason.
I am not a Philly native but I’ve been here for three years so take that into account:
I am partial to Jim’s Steaks. The locals get irritated with me and if there’s a line at the South Street location, it’s not worth it to me to wait on it when there are places around that do just fine. But the bread and texture of the meat are quite pleasing to me, the best combination of the two most important parts of the sandwich. And I don’t care if it’s touristy.
I am quite willing to try new places and have not tried every place by any stretch of the imagination so feel free to recommend places. And say how you do your steak. I usually do Wiz With but sometimes change it up with Provolone With if I want something a little less hefty.
Whoops! Wrong forum - I read it as “Out Of Town!” That’s what happens when I start reading forums without sleeping… Can someone kindly move this somewhere that makes sense?
D’Alessandro’s, on Henry Avenue in Roxborough. The best. Within two blocks of that, Chubby’s and Fiesta’s, both also excellent.
Provolone or Whiz, I like both. And onions and sauce, of course. D’ally’s cuts their steaks up pretty fine, but it doesn’t get dry, bread is awesome (bread can make the sandwich). It’s a moist, sloppy, succulent mess of a meal, as all good cheesesteaks are.
When you’re done, you can walk right down to Fairmount Park and walk along the trails of the Wissahickon to work off the calories (I’d tell you to look for the statue of Chief Tedyuscung back there, but that’s too long a walk from D’ally’s).
Born ‘n’ raised Philly. No apologies if you like Pat’s, Geno’s or Jim’s. None. What is required if you like these places is knowledge of other places that are very local and non-touristy. It’s not about having a required aversion to the well-known touristy places, it’s about being a native and knowing all the places and spots.
Sometimes I want a Geno’s, provolone without and some hot sauce.
Sometimes I want a LaSpada’s in (Philly burbs) Delaware County, ( American without). Sometimes I put hot cherry peppers on these.
While it may be true that all the tourists go to Pat’s and Geno’s, there seemed to be plenty of locals as well when I’ve been there, so I’m guessing these are as valid choices as any.
Anyhow, they comprise most of my limited Philly cheesesteak experience (provolone wit’ every time), and of the two I prefer Pat’s by a very slim margin. The bread is just a little bit softer, which I like, and the onions are tastier. I think they grill them longer to get them a bit more carmelized.
My friend, who gets them without onions, said he preferred Geno’s but also by a very slim margin. He just said he liked the taste of the meat better. Bottom line, both yummy.
I got a cheesesteak at the Philly airport once on a stopover, but I don’t recall the name of the place. It was surprisingly good, though, for airport food.
I tried Jim’s once, and it was like eating cardboard-- No flavor at all. The dive just off-campus at Villanova did a better job. Heck, I did a better job, when I was working short-order at the student union.
Of the places I’ve tried, I like Pat’s the best, but I should add the caveat that I’ve never actually tried Gino’s. I mean, they’re both right there, and I know I can get a damn fine steak at Pat’s, so I was never really able to justify the risk.
Why, because taking a wiz means urinating? Yeah we say that here too. You’re not the same British poster who thought no one in America would possibly know that straight=heterosexual and dope= idiot are you? Don’t you know that WE laugh at YOU for your ceremonial monarchy and ridiculous notions of a constitution based on common law? Biscuits are not cookies! Stop adding extra u’s to things! ROOAAR!
Kidding, kidding, I don’t think Quartz was that poster and I’ve nothing but respect for the English. I love your muffins.
Back to the OP, I prefer Gino’s to Pat’s but you can get a good cheese steak at alot of different places in Philly. I take mine with Wiz, hot sauce, and a little bit of ketchup.
For the record, you can also get a great steak at Citizen’s Bank Park or the Wachovia Center. But strangely enough, the ones at Susquehanna Bank Center across the river suck absolute ass (or maybe not strangely, since it’s technically in Camden).
Another vote for D’Alessandros, although Chubby’s has good fries. I also like that place next to the gas station near the Wachovia Center or whatever it’s called now.
