The first bite into a cheesesteak from Angelo’s feels like stepping off the airplane at the beginning of a vacation. All the problems of daily life fade away after just one bite of the shredded steak and melted cooper sharp that’s layered into warm, toasty, and crackly seeded rolls. The Bella Vista cash-only spot may be more packed than the crowds outside of Walmart during Black Friday, but since they serve the best cheesesteak (and some of the best pizza) in town, it’s all worth the wait.
Anytime somebody tells us they haven't seen Uncut Gems yet, we’re jealous that they'll get to experience Kevin Garnett's incredible acting performance for the first time. The only thing that can that comes close to giving us the same “first-time” feeling, no matter how many times we have it, is a cheesesteak from John’s Roast Pork. They masterfully dice your beef, and the sesame seeds on the edge of the crackly edges of bread only add to the flavorful mound of provolone and steak.
There are a few things that we always do when we find ourselves on Lincoln Drive: hit up the Wissahickon Trail and pick up a cheesesteak from this Roxborough spot (in that order). The bread here is long, soft, and chewy, and the cuts of beef are chopped into dense stringy shreds that are the perfect weight. The toppings here are free, so you should remix your steaks with crushed red pepper flakes or smother them in american and sharp provolone (our favorite).
When people think of stellar cheesesteaks, they don’t usually think of the Northeast. But if you stop by this casual Italian restaurant in a shopping center on Holme Ave., you’ll see a line of people waiting for one like it’s the hottest club in town. The signature here is the Don Cheech’s Steak—it’s the perfect combination of thick-sliced ribeye, melty Cooper Sharp, and fried onions on a seeded roll. We’re considering writing it a love letter (or at least a Megan Thee Stallion-esque verse).
Before the Pizza Jawn team opened Bar Jawn, we had to light a prayer candle and hope the busy Manayunk pizza place didn’t sell out of cheesesteaks. Now, you can head to their new rowdy, corner Manayunk bar and order one while watching the Flyers let you down. Just know this sandwich—with hunks of ribeye hanging out with melted cooper sharp on a long, crackly seeded roll—won't ever do that.
If you’re grabbing a steak from Woodrow’s, order it the Woody way. That means you’ll get a long roll packed with thinly-sliced ribeye, spicy cherry pepper mayo, onions, and a creamy housemade truffle whiz that makes each bite more velvety than the next. It’s the kind of sandwich you’ll end up craving whenever you see anything that’s a shade of cheesy orange, or will just have you counting down to your next visit like it’s a NASA launch.
Cheesesteaks in this town are sacred, and choosing the place to spend your money on one can be a bigger show of trust than having your friend park your new car. It won’t be a wasted journey if you get one from this Dickinson Narrows corner spot. They believe in big portions—you would probably only need one or two for a picnic or tailgate with a few of your friends—and they can be topped with things like grilled onions, peppers, and broccoli rabe.
Jaxx Steaks in Dickinson Narrows offers you something not every spot on this list does: a place where you can sit back, eat a cheesesteak, have a few drinks, and stare at some Philly-themed chalk art on its walls. While they do have a few steak options here, the regular steak is still the best. That’s because of how toasty the bread gets, and the way the blend of onions, cheese, and super thinly-sliced beef becomes a showcase of gooey cheddar.
Like a few other places on this list, stepping into Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop is like walking onto the set of Grease. On a casual weeknight, this Northeast Philly place with a throwback jukebox and antique-looking barstools is the go-to spot for a cheesesteak that will have cheesy lava pouring out of it after just a single bite. And, just like the famous musical, the oniony bites full of provolone, thick slabs of beef, and mayo may have you randomly breaking out into song as you enjoy it.
When Oh Brother Philly gets a little bit busy, we deeply consider doing an army crawl to weave through the line and see if anyone notices. It would be worth the sketchy behavior just to get our hands on a cheesesteak from this Old City spot a little sooner. The toasted roll gives the sandwich a crispy edge, plus the amount of beef you get in one sandwich feels like it came from a whole ribeye.