Any Mafia folks know where to get a good cheesesteak in Philly?

[Roundybout]

I’m here three days for a work conference. I don’t want to get whatever the Philadelphia version of Anchor Bar is. 
 

I tried Campos on a whim and it was solid but nothing Earth-shattering. 
 

I’m staying by Independence Hall downtown, if that helps. Also, the Liberty Bell is much smaller than I thought it was. 
 

Much obliged for any advice!

Edited Monday at 11:26 PM by Roundybout

[Pete]

Jimmy’s is my favorite.  Mike Schmidt’s is a good cheese steaks.  Pats and Geno’s are the famous ones.

 

An Allentown cheesesteak is superior imo.  Wit wiz is garbage imo.  Allentown is provolone and a little sauce.  Brass Rail was an institution for decades, but shut down.  They had a cheese steaks omelette that was delicious 

[Roundybout]

8 minutes ago, Pete said:

Jimmy’s is my favorite.  Mike Schmidt’s is a good cheese steaks.  Pats and Geno’s are the famous ones.

 

An Allentown cheesesteak is superior imo.  Wit wiz is garbage imo.  Allentown is provolone and a little sauce.  Brass Rail was an institution for decades, but shut down.  They had a cheese steaks omelette that was delicious 

Jimmy’s is less than a mile from my hotel, nice! Thanks!

[BillsPride12]

I've never been to Philly before but I have always heard Jim's South St had the best. Is that the same place as Jimmy's?

 

I would also imagine trying to find a good cheesesteak place in Philly would be like trying to find good wings in Buffalo. Probably a ton of places outside the big name ones

[Johnny Hammersticks]

Cooper sharp with onions is the play.  The wiz isn’t good unless you’re hammered at 2am, IMO.

[Orlando Buffalo]

I have had 6 different ones, but it was years ago, and the two worst were the Genos and Pats. I got a pork with broccoli rabe sandwich at the old train station market which was really good. I am getting old because my wife ust reminded me the last time we were there was 2017. 

[Another Fan]

3 hours ago, Roundybout said:

I’m here three days for a work conference. I don’t want to get whatever the Philadelphia version of Anchor Bar is. 
 

I tried Campos on a whim and it was solid but nothing Earth-shattering. 
 

I’m staying by Independence Hall downtown, if that helps. Also, the Liberty Bell is much smaller than I thought it was. 
 

Much obliged for any advice!

Geno's and Pat's I'm pretty sure are like the Philadelphia versions of the Anchor Bar.  I had a friend who grew up a few blocks from there tell me more less those places are just tourist traps.  But they are the most famous cheese steak shops and across the street from each other.

 

There's probably better ones I don't know of but remember this place was pretty good

 

https://www.eatatshanks.com

 

Also, Reading Terminal Market is good for food in general.....  if you're in center city that should be nearer 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 02:18 AM by Another Fan

[PromoTheRobot]

The two big tourist traps, Pat's and Geno's, are the worst, too me anyway. Both use Cheez Whiz. 🤢 Jim's on South is good. Uncle Gus and DH Steaks in the Reading Terminal Market Downtown are also good. But if you do go to Reading Terminal, stop at Tommy DiNic's for a Pork & Greens. It's Philly's other famous sandwich.

Edited yesterday at 02:39 AM by PromoTheRobot

[May Day 10]

The cheese wiz actually works.  

[That's No Moon]

16 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The two big tourist traps, Pat's and Geno's, are the worst, too me anyway. Both use Cheez Whiz. 🤢 Jim's on South is good. Uncle Gus and DH Steaks in the Reading Terminal Market Downtown are also good. But if you do go to Reading Terminal, stop at Tommy DiNic's for a Pork & Greens. It's Philly's other famous sandwich.

Pork and broccoli rabe with a nice sharp provolone is the way to go, but if you insist on a cheesesteak Cooper sharp wit is the play. And yes, Pats and Genos suck.

[Roundybout]

On 10/20/2025 at 7:22 PM, Pete said:

Jimmy’s is my favorite.  Mike Schmidt’s is a good cheese steaks.  Pats and Geno’s are the famous ones.

 

An Allentown cheesesteak is superior imo.  Wit wiz is garbage imo.  Allentown is provolone and a little sauce.  Brass Rail was an institution for decades, but shut down.  They had a cheese steaks omelette that was delicious 

Ended up at Jim’s last night. Great stuff! I liked it better than the Campo’s cheesesteak. Thanks again.

[Bill from NYC]

Skinny Joe's.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

On 10/20/2025 at 7:04 PM, Roundybout said:

I’m here three days for a work conference. I don’t want to get whatever the Philadelphia version of Anchor Bar is. 
 

I tried Campos on a whim and it was solid but nothing Earth-shattering. 
 

I’m staying by Independence Hall downtown, if that helps. Also, the Liberty Bell is much smaller than I thought it was. 
 

Much obliged for any advice!

probably too late to chime in, but I used to travel to Philly and stay right around there (Omni independence or hotel Monaco). Would sometimes go up market a few blocks into old Towne and get a cheesesteak at Primo’s Hoagies. Solid cheesesteak. 

[Pete]

On 10/20/2025 at 8:07 PM, BillsPride12 said:

I've never been to Philly before but I have always heard Jim's South St had the best. Is that the same place as Jimmy's?

 

I would also imagine trying to find a good cheesesteak place in Philly would be like trying to find good wings in Buffalo. Probably a ton of places outside the big name ones

That’s exactly what it’s like.  You can go into Wawa and get a tasty cheese steak and pierogies