The story
Pat’s King of Steaks on Passyunk Avenue holds a permanent place in culinary history as the birthplace of the iconic Philly cheesesteak. For decades, this no-frills counter-service institution has drawn crowds with its reliably late-night hours and straightforward sandwich: thinly sliced ribeye with Cheez Whiz on a perfectly chewy roll. Creator Only Scrans deemed it an iconic version, cementing its status as an essential stop for any food tourist tracing the origins of America’s most famous sandwich.
The experience, however, can be polarizing. Giovanni Fois, while noting Pat’s is superior to rival Geno’s, ultimately found the cheesesteak overrated—specifically criticizing the bread as “too hard” and the chicken cheesesteak as “terrible.” These mixed impressions don’t erase the restaurant’s historical weight, but they remind visitors that pedigree alone doesn’t guarantee perfection. For curious enthusiasts, Pat’s remains a must-visit destination—just maybe stick to the original.
Synthesised by AI from every creator’s review. First reviewed 2025.
Most-loved dishes
AI summary of what 4 dish mentions say about the food
Scrans hails the Philly cheesesteak as the definitive version, with its perfectly griddled meat and gooey cheese. The overall vibe is one of unpretentious, iconic satisfaction.
“This Philly cheesesteak from Pat's, the bread is already sensational. The cheese whiz is the most American thing in the world, and I love that. The bread is so impressive, it's got a real nice chew to it, and it's so thin around the outside. The meat is so soft, you don't need to chop it up. It goes on the grill just until it's perfectly tender. My God, it was delicious.”
“The beef one is mediocre, honestly. The bread is like Neapolitan tarallo — you can't chew it, it's really heavy to chew. The chicken version? Terrible, I'd fail it hard. For $15 it's big and filling, but it's a 6/10.”
What creators say
3 creators have covered Pat's King of Steaks. Most active: Only Scrans, Giovanni Fois
Pat's King of Steaks, the birthplace of the Philly cheesesteak, serves an iconic version with thinly sliced ribeye, cheese whiz, and a perfectly chewy bread roll.
Dishes mentioned
Philly Cheesesteak
This Philly cheesesteak from Pat's, the bread is already sensational. The cheese whiz is the most American thing in the world, and I love that. The bread is so impressive, it's got a real nice chew to it, and it's so thin around the outside. The meat is so soft, you don't need to chop it up. It goes on the grill just until it's perfectly tender. My God, it was delicious.
- Only ScransLoved
What makes a PERFECT Cheesesteak? · @ 0:37
Pat's King of Steaks invented the cheesesteak and serves it with Cheez Whiz and unchopped ribeye.
Dishes mentioned
Cheesesteak
At Pat's, they don't chop the ribeye. They use Cheez Whiz, a processed cheese sauce. The roll is soft and sturdy. The steak is tender and not chopped.
Pat's is the original inventor of the Philly cheesesteak, but I found it overrated — the bread is too hard and the chicken version is terrible.
Dishes mentioned
Philly Cheesesteak
The beef one is mediocre, honestly. The bread is like Neapolitan tarallo — you can't chew it, it's really heavy to chew. The chicken version? Terrible, I'd fail it hard. For $15 it's big and filling, but it's a 6/10.
Chicken Cheesesteak
I ordered the chicken version with peppers — big mistake. It's much poorer, the chicken is dry, and the peppers don't help. Honestly, I'd fail it hard.
