Philadelphia is known for its must-see art and architecture, and even serving the “best sandwich in America,” the roast pork — but there are few things more iconic about the city than the cheesesteak. And potentially one of the longest-standing arguments still heavily debated in the City of Brotherly Love is where to find Philly’s best cheesesteak. Whether they’re a “Whiz Wit” devotee (meaning they love gooey, processed Cheez Whiz smothered on their cheesesteak) or stand on business that provolone is the only way to go, cheesesteak connoisseurs are chock-full of heated opinions about who does it the best.
While those outside the city might call it a “Philly,” in Philly, it’s simply a cheesesteak — but it’s anything but simple. The cheesesteak isn’t just a sandwich here; it’s part of the city’s identity, and loyalty runs deep. But for visitors trying to eat well (not just eat at the place with the most famous reputation), reviews can guide you through the noise.
So we’ve narrowed our hands-down best cheesesteak list to places that consistently earn high ratings across review platforms like Google, Yelp, and Tripadvisor for their cheesesteaks. We also focused on names that come up repeatedly in local cheesesteak ranking discussions — Reddit is a treasure trove on the topic. Some have been around longer than others, but what they all share is a reputation for quality steak, “proper” rolls, and execution that you can rely on. With so many cheesesteak options in Philly, this list isn’t exhaustive. But if you only have room for one (or five), these are the places — in no particular order — that reviewers and locals agree are hands-down worth it every time.
Angelo’s Pizzeria South Philly
If you’ve been researching Philly cheesesteaks, Angelo’s Pizzeria in South Philly probably came up early — and for good reason. Though it’s also beloved for its pizza, Angelo’s has become a well-known cheesesteak destination thanks to its attention to detail. Reviewers consistently praise the freshly-baked seeded rolls, thin-sliced ribeye, and balanced cheese distribution that never overwhelms the meat. The bread is made in-house — in fact, founder Danny DiGiampietro married into the Sarcone family, which is practically bread royalty in the city…