I originally set out to rank my top 10 cheesesteaks (or steak and cheeses) in Maryland. After eating well over 100 of them across the state, I figured narrowing it down to a simple top 10 would be easy.
As I got closer to finishing the list, I realized I had a handful that I thought were exceptional, another 20 or so that I’d happily recommend to anyone, about half of the sandwiches I’d gladly order again, and then the rest. Somewhere along the way, the project stopped being about ranking Maryland cheesesteaks and became something much bigger. I started asking myself a different question… How do Maryland’s very best cheesesteaks actually compare to Philadelphia’s?
The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that many of Maryland’s best cheesesteaks belong in the same conversation as Philadelphia’s best. Now, before anyone jumps on me, I know we’re comparing an entire state to a single city. Philadelphia is still the cheesesteak capital. If someone asked me where to go for the best overall cheesesteak culture, variety, history, and sheer number of great shops, I’d still tell them Philadelphia without hesitation. My point is much narrower than that…