I grew up in South Philly and still go there at least once a week. I don’t have to eat an old shoe to know that it won’t taste good even with cheese and onions all over it, and yes, I have eaten at all of the “Emperors Clothes” steak shops, Pat’s, Geno’s,Jim’s and Tony Lukes. Those are the worst places to go. The places with the best cheesesteaks are the corner hoagie and pizza shops scattered though out the neighborhoods. However I will concede that ones man’s old shoe is another mans delicious sandwich.
I said that Geno's was the place with the "speak English" sign and that Tony Lukes makes a pretty good sandwich (I was actually referring to the roast pork with broccoli rabe and provolone).
That being said, when it's 3 AM, nothing else is open and you've indulged a little too much, a provolone with from Genos (or two) can taste okay.
Jim's is just awful.
I agree that there are better places than Pat's and Genos, their biggest attraction is being open 24/7/365.
I grew up eating steaks at Chink's on Torresdale Ave. "A steak and a shake, a meal in itself." American cheese only is my lone complaint.
Being from Philadelphia, you know that the search for the ultimate cheesesteak is never ending and very neighborhood specific.
I completely agree. For all the fuss that’s made about them, I was shocked when I first had a Pat’s steak. They were awful by comparison to the places I regularly go.