Donkey's Place
Cheesesteak restaurant · Camden
1223 Haddon Ave, Camden, NJ 08103
Highlights
This Camden gem has been serving its legendary poppy seed cheesesteaks since '43, drawing locals in for hearty bites and a laid-back vibe.
This Camden gem has been serving its legendary poppy seed cheesesteaks since '43, drawing locals in for hearty bites and a laid-back vibe.
"Donkey’s Place was opened in 1943 by local Olympic heavyweight boxing legend Leon Lucas, who was nicknamed Donkey because of the powerful force of his punch. Ever since then, the bar has served one dish and one dish only: a cheesesteak on a round poppyseed Kaiser roll." - ByKae Lani Palmisano
What Bourdain ate: A Jersey—not to be confused with a Philly—cheesesteak. It's on a round kaiser poppyseed roll with steak, fried onions, and American cheese.
"We know you're looking for a Philly cheesesteak, but we need you to go across the bridge into Jersey for this one. Just trust us: because inside this small, unpretentious bar decorated with boxing photos and various tchotchkes is one of the best cheesesteaks in the whole damn country. (It was even blessed by the late, great Anthony Bourdain .) But prepare yourself: Donkey's cheesesteaks do not conform to the image you undoubtedly have of the classic sandwich. Instead, the meat (piled high and so incredibly seasoned you could eat a plate of it, unadorned) is packed into a poppyseed Kaiser roll and topped with onions and American cheese. If you think it sounds blasphemous, take a bite and then come talk to us about how a cheesesteak is "supposed" to look." - Shaun Fitzpatrick
"Donkey’s Place is a restaurant in Camden, New Jersey, that is part of the Anthony Bourdain Food Trail." - Sarah Buder
"Donkey's Place is renowned for its cheesesteak, which Anthony Bourdain once declared as the best." - Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya
