Philadelphia, PA—Cheesesteaks and Huagies are civic icons, tourist draws, and cultural obsessions. While they are often imitated around the world, the sandwiches are rarely duplicated successfully outside of Philadelphia.
What Is A Cheesesteak?:
A cheesesteak is a long, crusty roll filled with thinly sliced sautéed ribeye beef and melted cheese. Generally, the cheese of choice is Cheez Whiz®, but American and provolone are common substitutions. The art of cheesesteak preparation lies in the balance of flavors, textures, and what is often referred to as the “drip” factor. Other toppings may include fried onions, sautéed mushrooms, ketchup and hot or sweet peppers.
What Is A Hoagie?:
Mayor Ed Rendell declared the hoagie the “official sandwich of Philadelphia” in 1992. It is a built-to-order sandwich on a long Italian roll, typically filled with deli meat and cheese, garnished with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, and finished with a drizzle of oregano-vinegar dressing. Subs can also be filled with tuna, chicken cutlets, and roasted vegetables, among other fillings. Because of its simplicity, a Hoagie's quality depends on the quality of its ingredients.
Cheesesteak History:
The cheesesteak made its official debut in 1930. Pat Olivieri was a South Philly hot dog vendor who decided to put some beef from the butcher on his grill. A taxi driver noticed the aroma and asked for his steak sandwich. The next day, the rumor of the delicious lunch had spread, and cabbies came to Olivieri demanding steak sandwiches. Soon after, Olivieri opened a shop on 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue, Pat’s King of Steaks, to sell his creation. Eventually, he added cheese to the recipe. Today, Pat’s grills are sizzling 24 hours a day, as are Geno’s Steaks, the rival shop across the street. For nearly 50 years, the two shops have waged a friendly competition, with Geno’s founder, Joe Vento, claiming it was he, not Olivieri, who first added cheese to the steak.
Hoagie History:
Accounts of the submarine’s origin vary greatly, and scholars still debate exactly where and when the sandwich was conceived. Here are a few of the stories that pinpoint the hoagie’s origin to Philadelphia:
- According to a 1967 article in American Speech, the word “hoagie” was first used in the late 19th or early 20th century among the Italian community in South Philadelphia. In those days, “On the hoke” was a slang term for poor people. Deli owners would give away meat and cheese scraps on a long roll called a “hokie,” but Italian immigrants pronounced it “hoagie.”
- The Philadelphia Almanac and Citizen’s Manual tell of early 20th-century street vendors named “hokey-pokey men,” who sold antipasto salad, meats, and cookies. When Gilbert and Sullivan’s opera Pinafore opened in Philadelphia in 1879, bakeries produced a long loaf called the pinafore, and the enterprising hokey-pokey men sliced it in half, filled it with antipasto, and sold it as the “hoagie.”
- In 1925, a Chester couple opened the A—diCostanza grocery store, which stayed open past midnight to accommodate gamblers. One night, a hungry card player walked to the back of the store when Catherine DiCostanza was cooking peppers and asked if she would make him a sandwich. She wondered what kind of meat he wanted, and he said, “Put everything you have in the case in it.” She took a loaf of Vienna bread, sliced it open, and stuffed it. He asked her to put some of her peppers in, too. He left, and an hour later, the place was full of hungry gamblers asking for the same kind of sandwich, which would later be known as the hoagie.
Best Places To Find A Cheesesteak:
Nearly every pizza shop on any corner of every neighborhood in the city serves up the mouth-watering delicacy. Here are a few notable Center City and South Philadelphia spots, but first, here is a lesson on ordering. Those who want a cheesesteak must answer two critical questions: What kind of cheese do you want? And do you like onions? Those who wish to Cheez Whiz and onions ask for a “Whiz Wit.” Those who want to go to Provolone without onions ask for a “Provolone Without.”
- Cosmi’s Deli is a relative newcomer among the cheesesteak contenders, winning recent accolades from Philadelphia magazine. 1501 S. 8th Street, (215) 468-6093, cosmideli.com
• It may be across the street from the oldest cheesesteak joint in town, but Geno’s Steaks is a formidable competitor going roll for roll with Pat’s for nearly five decades. 1219 S. 9th Street, (215) 389-0659, genosteaks.com - The brisket cheesesteak at Jake’s Sandwich Board can be adorned with either mild provolone and caramelized onions or, less conventionally, wasabi spread and crunchy onions. 122 S. 12th Street, (215) 922-0102, jakessandwichboard.com
- Jim’s Steaks has multiple locations, but the classic smell of fried onions wafting down South Street makes that outpost memorable. 400 South Street, (215) 928-1911, jimssouthstreet.com
- A small shack amidst shopping plazas, John’s Roast Pork is frequently cited as one of the city’s top steak spots. Its secret weapon? A crusty seeded roll. 14 Snyder Avenue, (215) 463-1951, johnsroastpork.com
- The original home of the cheesesteak, Pat’s King of Steaks, is still owned and operated by the Olivieri family. 9th Street & Passyunk Avenue, (215) 468-1546, patskingofsteaks.com
- With rolls from Conshohocken bakery, many cheese choices, and daily-cut sirloin, Spot Burger’s food cart has been repeatedly named a favorite among cheesesteak lovers. Locations vary, (484) 620-6901, twitter.com/spotburgers
Best Places To Find A Hoagie:
From South Philly to the suburbs, there are go-to hoagie shops in every borough and every neighborhood. Here’s a look at some of the most sought-after hoagies in town:
- An Old City institution since 1947, Campo’s Deli is well situated for visitors of historic sites craving classic hoagies like Italian (salami, ham capicola, peppered ham, pepperoni, prosciutto, and provolone) or Italian tuna (oil-packed), available on regular or seeded bread. 214 Market Street, (215) 923-1000, camposdeli.com
- For those who like their hot peppers, Reading Terminal Market stand Carmen’s Famous Italian Hoagie is the place for authentic hoagies stuffed with all manner of meats. 12th & Arch Streets, (215) 592-7799, readingterminalmarket.org
- The award-winning Chickie’s Italian Deli’s notable menu items include the Original Veggie (baked eggplant, sautéed broccoli rabe, roasted peppers, and Chickie’s blend of sharp provolone) and Tuna Special (olive oil-packed tuna with provolone, roasted peppers, lettuce, tomato, and onion). Each delectable sandwich comes on a roll from Sarcone’s Bakery. 1014 Federal Street, (215) 462-8040, chickiesdeli.net
- A South Philly shop that’s grown immensely in recent years and now blankets the region, Primo Hoagie has elevated the art form with a long list of hoagie variants, including the Turkey Diablo and the Knuckle Sandwich (provolone and roasted peppers). primohoagies.com
- At Bella Vista hoagie mecca Sarcone’s Deli, freshly baked seeded rolls are lovingly stuffed in combos like the Italian Market (hot capicola, turkey breast, roasted peppers, sharp provolone) and the Junk Yard Special (turkey, prosciutto, sautéed spinach, roasted peppers, mozzarella, sharp provolone). 734 S. 9th Street, (215) 922-1717, sarconesdeli.com
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