Pat’s King of Steaks – Famous Cheesesteak Joint in Philly (USA)

It was early in the morning and we were on our Lyft ride to Pat’s King of Steaks, one of the most famous cheesesteak joints in Philadelphia. We had skipped our hotel breakfast just so that we could check out the popular cheesesteak here.

History of Pat’s King of Steaks

According to legend, the famous Philly Cheesesteak was invented by Pat Olivieri, founder of Pat’s King of Steaks. He was a hot dog vendor who decided to cook some beef on his grill one day for lunch. He then placed the meat on an Italian roll and dressed it with onions. His innovative lunch was spotted by a cab driver and eventually it became wildly popular among the locals. Sometime later, cheese was added to enhance the taste. And this was how the famous Philly Cheesesteak came about!

Rivalry with Geno’s Steaks

Pat’s is also known for its fierce rivalry with Geno’s Steaks across the street. Pat’s was founded in 1930, while Geno’s was set up in 1966. The two have been engaged in a cheesesteak turf war even since (though there have been some reports that this is a manufactured rivalry that has been played up).

How to Order

Before I went down to Pat’s, I made sure that I knew exactly how to order my cheesesteak. This was because I had heard that the staff gets really annoyed by customers who are unsure of their orders. The large signboard on the storefront states drily: “If you make a mistake, Don’t Panic, Just go the back of the line and start over”

*Gulps*

Fret not, here’s my quick guide on how to survive ordering a cheesesteak in Philly:

1. State your quantity.
2. State your desired cheese (plain, provolone or American). If you do not want cheese, specify that you want “a steak”.
3. If you want your cheesesteak with onions, state “wit”. If you do not want onions, state “witout”

Therefore, my order was “One Provolone Wit”. (The no-cheese version would be “One Steak Wit”)

“One Provolone Wit” – Awesome Cheesesteak!

I went to the counter and ordered my cheesesteak ($10) like a pro: “Hi, one provolone with, please!”

Nailed it.

I was served the cheesesteak very shortly, and I was hoping not to be disappointed. Luckily, the cheesesteak was delicious. The rich flavours of the cheese, onions, beef and touch of ketchup was a joy for my palate. The beef was really juicy and tender and went perfectly with the soft bread to create an awesome savoury treat.

Pat’s King of Steaks Menu

Conclusion

I’m glad we made the trip down to Pat’s King of Steaks, one of many great eateries in Philadelphia. Yes it may be a bit of a tourist trap, but the cheesesteak was indeed very delicious and satisfying. We didn’t check out Geno’s because we had read online that Pat’s cheesesteaks are a lot better. Let us know in the comments below if you managed to check out both. And make sure you know how to order your cheesesteak properly!

Pat’s King of Steaks
Address: 1237 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147, USA
Phone: +1 215 468 1546
Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours