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Philly Cheesesteak from United States

Philly Cheesesteak

📍 Philadelphia ★ 4.4
Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Reviewed by the WhatWhereVacay editorial team

Thin-sliced beef and melted cheese in a hoagie roll.

About Philly Cheesesteak

Thinly sliced ribeye is griddled with onions and folded into a long roll under melted cheese (often Cheez Whiz or provolone). It is Philadelphia’s defining sandwich.

🏛️ History & Culture

The Philly cheesesteak was born in Philadelphia in the 1930s, when Pat Olivieri, a hot dog vendor, grilled sliced beef and served it on a roll; the sandwich quickly gained fame, and Pat’s King of Steaks remains a landmark. Its origins are not disputed—Pat’s story is widely accepted—but the exact recipe evolved locally, with cheesesteak stands across the city adding their own twists.

Regional variations center on the cheese: Cheez Whiz is the classic, though provolone and American are common, and onions are optional but traditional. The sandwich is a point of civic pride, a defining street food of Philadelphia, and a fixture of tourist visits, with rivalries like Pat’s vs. Geno’s highlighting its cultural weight as a working-class icon.

🍳 How to make Philly Cheesesteak

AI-assisted, not kitchen-tested

Philly Cheesesteak

Thinly sliced ribeye griddled with onions and melted cheese, piled into a crusty hoagie roll – the definitive Philadelphia sandwich.

Prep
15 min
Cook
10 min
Total
25 min
Serves
2
Difficulty
Easy

Recipe ingredients

  • 450 g (1 lb) ribeye steak, well-marbled, partially frozen for easy slicing
  • 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 slices provolone cheese, or 150 g (5 oz) Cheez Whiz, use one
  • 150 g (5 oz) Cheez Whiz, optional alternative to provolone, if using
  • 2 hoagie rolls, soft Italian rolls, split lengthwise
  • 15 ml (1 tbsp) vegetable oil, for the griddle
  • salt and black pepper

Steps

  1. 1 Freeze the ribeye for 30 minutes (or until firm) to make slicing easier. Then slice as thinly as possible against the grain – aim for shaved slices, about 1-2 mm thick.
  2. 2 Heat a large cast-iron skillet or griddle over high heat until it just starts to smoke. Add the oil and swirl to coat.
  3. 3 Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove the onions to a plate and set aside.
  4. 4 Add the sliced ribeye to the hot pan in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Season with salt and pepper. Let sit undisturbed for 1 minute, then flip and cook for another 1–2 minutes until the beef is just cooked through – no pink remains, and the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C) if you're checking.
  5. 5 Return the cooked onions to the pan with the beef and toss to combine, about 30 seconds.
  6. 6 If using provolone, lay the slices over the beef mixture and let them melt for about 1 minute. If using Cheez Whiz, warm it in a small saucepan or microwave until pourable, then pour it over the beef and stir to coat.
  7. 7 Pile the cheesy beef and onion mixture onto the split hoagie rolls, pressing down gently. Serve immediately, while hot and melty.
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