Pat's King of Steaks
Cheesesteak restaurant · Passyunk Square
1237 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Highlights
Original Philly cheesesteak inventor, open 24/7, outdoor seating
Original Philly cheesesteak inventor, open 24/7, outdoor seating
"Credited with helping launch the Philly cheesesteak tradition after a 1930 hot‑dog‑cart experiment, this longtime institution is a must‑stop for the classic steak‑in‑a‑roll experience — thinly sliced beef cooked on a griddle and served with your choice of Cheese Whiz, provolone, or American and optionally sautéed onions ('wit' or 'witout')." - Pamela Vachon
"If you have a pulse, you've heard of Pat’s. The East Passyunk spot upgraded from hotdogs in 1930 when they accidentally invented the cheesesteak (or so they say). Tourists have been lining up for a low-tier but permissible-when-drunk cheesesteak ever since. The menu is straightforward: a $15-and-under multiverse spanning from classic and pepperoni pizza cheesesteaks to hot dogs and roast porks. It’s not a place you go willingly—or without being forced by your out-of-town cousin who watched Rocky once—but there are worse meat-on-bun options in the city (though not many)." - Candis R. McLean
"Pat’s King of Steak is famous for being the birthplace of the world’s first cheesesteak, created by Pat Olivieri in 1930. Expect long lines on game day, but they move quickly." - Regan Stephens
"One of Philadelphia’s emblematic cheesesteak purveyors, frequently invoked in the city’s long-standing rivalries and cultural conversations — notable enough to be singled out by public figures in debates over which spot serves the definitive sandwich." - Eater Staff
"I note that Pat Olivieri of Pat’s King of Steaks in South Philadelphia invented the cheesesteak in 1930; the classic is a long Amoroso roll stuffed with thin-sliced, salt-and-pepper seasoned ribeye and cheese (preferably provolone, American, or Whiz) with the option of grilled onions—ask 'wit' or 'witout'—though notable variations now use chicken, salmon, or brisket." - Ernest Owens
