WHO HAS THE BEST CHEESESTEAK?
The first time I ever had a cheesesteak, I was about 15 years old, on one of my very first cross country roadtrips, back then with my Dad. Our destination was not Philadelphia, but Pittsburgh, and the cheesesteak I got was not a legitimate cheesesteak, but rather Subway's imitation of what they thought a cheesesteak should be. My Dad, a Philadelphia native, was not actually too fond of cheesesteak, and it was suggested to me that I wasn't missing out on much.
Around a decade later, under less pleasant circumstances, I once again found myself in Philadelphia, this time for an extended period of time. One of my cousins, who was also staying in the same house where I was staying, dragged me along with him down the road to Neli's Deli off Southampton Rd in the north of Philadelphia in the Somerton neighborhood. There, I got my first REAL cheesesteak, and it was glorious. The bread, the cheese, the meat! I was in love at first bite, and I couldn't wait to try more! Pats and Genos, the two best known sandwiches in the city. Jims, the disputed local favorite. On my last trip, I even had to try one from Roy Roger's (Fast food, not highly recommended). I've had cheesesteaks from far outside of Philadelphia too: "A Taste of Philly", in Colorado. "Cheesesteak Express", in California. I would venture a guess that at this point in my life, I've had more than a hundred cheesesteaks. I've had the very worst, but I do believe, and this is a high bar to set, I believe I have found THE BEST Cheesesteak in the entire nation, and I'm just gonna lay this out there: Its not in Philadelphia! Sorry Eagles fans, but there's a restaurant to beat and you're gonna have to step your game up, because the best Cheesesteak I've ever had comes from a neighborhood so sketchy I wasn't even comfortable driving my car through it, much less getting out of my car, but I swear, I'd do it again for this sandwich...
THE CONTENDERS
Pat's King of Steaks
Classic PhillyAmazing. Gotta have it "wit" onions and whiz.
Geno's Steaks
Classic PhillyThe way they chop their beef here is the real trick. More like a steak sandwich than cheesesteak. Delicious.
Jim's Steaks
Local FavoriteOkay, this is the Philly bar to beat. Moist, delicious meat served on the best bread in town.
Neli's Deli
Somerton CornerAs with other corner delis, fresh, delicious ingredients made in-house. Killer cuts of meat.
Philly on the Go
Food TruckGreat sandwich, but not big enough or hot enough to qualify at the top.
Taste of Philly
Out of StateYou may be from Philly, but a cheesesteak shouldn't have lettuce or tomatoes on it.
Subway
Don't make me laugh.
Donkey's Place
The OutlierSteamed, round, poppy seed kaiser roll. Overloaded with meat. Onions to make it official. Barely held together by just enough cheese. Hot as hell.
MY WINNER: Donkey's Place
Why Round Wins
Your standard cheesesteak comes on a long bun, perhaps it's stuffed with meat, but with it being so long, you're always getting a lot of bread, and that bread has to take a starring role in the flavor of your sandwich. Enter Donkey's Place. Camden, NJ. When I tell you this place is in the slums, I want you to heed my words. Broken streets, bars on windows, cars parked on the side of the street with bullet holes prominently displayed across their facade. The distinct burnt Drano smell of recently smoked methamphetamine still lingering in the air.
This neighborhood has seen some rough days, so it only makes sense that a corner sandwich store that's been here since 1943 makes a bite so incredible that even the legendary Anthony Bourdain said it was his favorite cheesesteak. Here's the gist: that big round kaiser roll means the same amount of meat that would go in a long hoagie style bun now gets stacked high on top of itself.
Combined with that white cheese and the poppy seeds just to give it that little extra texture, you've got a cheesesteak here that puts every single sandwich that came before it to shame. Arby's roast beef sandwich dreams of having this level of meat when it grows up. Onions are there purely so you're not JUST eating meat, and while they're grilled to perfect deliciousness, they take second fiddle to the awesome meat, chopped to perfection and grilled equally as perfect, that makes up this sandwich.