The Great Western Steak & Hoagie Co.

Probably the best cheesesteak I’ve found in the LA area. Super hot when served and worth burning your mouth for. You can add jalapeños or serranos to the filling if you want it spicy. The overview says cash only but they do take card as well.

This is one of the best places to eat in Venice let alone west side the same two gentlemen it’s a nostalgic place much like you’d expect to go through to a drive-through with your convertible impalas and it brings back that feeling, this is the place to be this summer The grill is tight, but it is good grilled onions, mushrooms, peppers, cheese, steak, man, toast the bread on it. This place is good and they know how to do it too. It’s authentic cooked to your liking every single time. get here early is busy on the weekend.

I have been to this place a good 10 + times.. anytime im in this area, this is the place to look foward to the most.. very much fulfilling, very cheesy, good amount of meat, honest price.. i'll be back lots and lots of times

Okay first of all hands down to the food. The food hit me good. I've been around SAMO to Venice all my life and always missed this spot. Nonetheless, today was the day to finally try it out. While I was doing street photography along my way, I finally made my pitstop. And Yes! Finally that lemonade I HIGHLY recommend it! Too damn good. Not sweet not sour. Just right. The mushroom cheesesteak was hella good. Definitely coming back for the double cheeseburger I was recommended to try. And yes they are hella welcoming.

Vibes was dope, service was great but the sandwich (the steak) wasn't seasoned much. I had to add sweet and tangy bbq at home. Expected more from the reviews.

November 22,2024 I've never been to this spot before and I was told by one of the customer that their hoagis (sandwiches) were good so I gave it a try. Their portion was pretty big for their price and the taste wasn't bad exept it wasn't actually anything special like what the other customer was telling me becauae it was just a Philly cheese steak sandwich with mushroom in it.

Went to this place today. Totally under-estimated the size of the sandwich. In hindsight, it probably would have taken two of me to finish. The steak was thinly sliced instead of chopped. Mine came with onion, cheese, and tomato sauce. It was steamy hot, to the point that the gentleman serving my food had to repeat the warning “be careful! It’s very hot. Don’t burn your mouth!” twice. Thanks to him, my tongue was saved. Great sandwich. Great people. Great atmosphere!

This was the best cheese steak that I've found in California. The service was amazing, the food was hot, and it was delicious. Will be returning.

Hadn't been here in a long time. Boy the neighborhood had been really cleaned up. Mushroom, pepper cheese steak with onions! Just as good and messy as I remember.

Pretty close to being great. Maybe just a little more salt? Idk. I got the Number 9 and it tasted pretty close to some home made ones my dad used to make. Would try again. They got lots of options for sandwiches I'm sure others are delicious too. Just can sodas and bagged chips on the side.

Finished an appointment around the corner and we were ready for a bite to eat. We split a cheesesteak exactly as it's prepared. It was perfect. The steak was tender, cheese melted, bread was soft and every bite was delicious. The staff were great too! It's a whole vibe. We're definitely coming back when we're in the area.

Hubby wanted me to try this spot. He knows I'm a sandwich person. Hubbies 2nd time, my first. This is a cool hole in the wall spot. With ample parking. We walked in and right away we were greeted and our was order taken right away. Hubby had the Hoagie Steak and I had the Cold Hoagie. These sandwiches are made HEARTY. Packed with protein and fresh ingredients. This spot does not skimp on anything. The sandwiches are big enough to share. I brought my other half home for dinner. They only have outdoor seating. Which for us was perfect. Weather out in Venice is always nice. So if you're ever in this part of town and want to treat yourself to a hearty sandwich, give this place a try. By the way, this place has burgers too.

I would eat here everyday if I could. It is the best cheese steaks in Venice and on the westside!! I love it and have been coming here for almost a decade. Delicious food

This place is perfect. I wish more restaurants would do it like they do it, not onlyhas delicious food, but they don't have any weird hoops to jump through like finding their information on Instagram or Cash only. Just old school delicious food. Nobody calling themselves cheff. Just delicious sandwiches at a price you could still afford.

Ten plus years I've been going here for Cheesesteak with no problem... delicious BUT, some things have changed The MEAT...? I was TOUGH, and CHEWY... It's like different, It's poor Quality... I found it INEDIBLE...!! Shameful

Food is delicious. The workers are nice. I love the burgers & pizza steak. They are my favorites.

The meat is tasty and flavorful. They overload with cheese and peppers and onions! Delicious food great people working there would recommend to everyone

30 year customer I always get the same thing; pizza steak with onions and mushrooms with sauce on the side. But I think their other sandwiches are good too because I take everyone I know there and they always like it. No complaints and many return visits. Used to but no longer have a public restroom so plan accordingly, I sometimes just get "to go" but usually sit at one of the few outside tables because hot off the grill is really the best. Having spent a lot of time in Philadelphia, I've tasted great sandwiches all my life and I have to give credit here. Their bread beats most everywhere. I highly recommend this.

Honestly the bathroom hygiene was horrible I hope they dont wash their hands there no soap or towels. The sandwich was ok not something I would go out of my way to get the meat was alright but the portion was small not enough cheese and wayy too much bell peppers and onions the bell peppers were cut too big like most of the sandwich was vegetables. The staff was nice though.

Amazing! My favorite Hole in the wall spot in Santa Monica, feels very authentic may not be the fanciest place but is very wholesome and huge portion sizes that always slap. Ask for pickled veggies on the side and extra marinera

Old school since 1973. I held back to have dinner at this shack and it did not disappoint. I ordered the Philly cheesesteak with added mushrooms and bell peppers since the cook said this was the popular sandwich. I had to wait a few minutes as the sandwich was steaming hot with added tomato sauce. The sandwich was really good and super messy so get plenty of napkins.

I'm From The Bay Area and Mills Hoagie is My Spot out there! This Spot is Definitely giving them a Run!! This was one of the Best Hoagies I've had in My Life! You should Fa Sure give this Spot a Shot!!

Been eating there for 40+ years. Always great food at reasonable prices. Mushroom steak hoagie is my fav. Always too hot to eat right away. Sit down, an chill first. Family owned, eat in or Togo.

Super duper delicious. I called in an order and the person on the phone was super efficient, polite and helpful. I'm told that this is not only a local favorite, but a well known cheese steak spot. For good reason, because these things are amazing. Not much else to add. Go try. Its very extra good.

As a kid my pop and I were regulars. This last week I took my 14yr old to the Venice (my hometown) and realized how close we're where to this iconic LA classic must try. So we stopped in and ordered the mushroom and peppers... ugh it's still hits the taste is exactly the same!!! Sooo good we also happened to be the for there 51st anniversary and they had a mini car show along with a few vendors/ small marketplace where I got to see people I grew up with selling merchandise designed and made by local Venice originals ( Venetians ). Honestly, I couldn't have had a nicer time stopping in and enjoying a delicious cheesesteak and getting to see so many people not just in the marketplace but actually while I was ordering, I ran in to even more Venice originals.

The hoagies here are fantastic! They now accept credit cards, which is super convenient. Just a heads-up--burgers and hot dogs are served on French roll bread. The place has a classic, old-school vibe that adds to its charm, and the flavors are truly one of a kind.

I was lucky enough to have stayed at an AirBnb right next to this establishment. Walking by a few times, I saw a bunch of people waiting for their food here and my interest was piqued. It also showed on Yelp (woohoo!) that they make their hoagies with spaghetti sauce which I never had. Interest even more piqued! The food came out relatively quickly and the hoagie was piping hot! Make sure to give it a minute or two to cool down before eating. The hoagie was delicious! It was packed with meat, veggies, and a good amount of sauce. Very sizeable as well especially considering the price. I wish I went back here before leaving!

You always know what you're getting at this decades old Venice fixture. The menu is simple and delicious, the grill is clean and on full view while your sandwich is made. Your chef had built sandwiches for decades here until he was able to buy it from the retired owners. The owners have left the famous Hoagie spot in great hands. The sandwiches now taste as good as they did in 1980. Thank goodness they haven't "mixed it up" or turned it into a Quiznos. I won't tell you what to order, though. It's all good.

A few weeks ago, I drove out to Venice for a concert being held at The Venice West. I arrived early just to make sure I secured a parking spot and to grab dinner before the show started. Luckily, just across the venue is a local gem in the area - The Great Western Steak & Hoagie Co. It's easy to spot this cheesesteak sandwich, burger, & hotdog shop by its unique, worn look. The outside of the shop is painted a fading sky blue with a mural of happy beach goers on the side wall; the windows are completely plastered with various stickers; a vintage pale yellow and red sign looms overhead with the name of the restaurant; and a collection of brightly decorated electrical boxes sit in front. Even the outdoor seating patio is a bit eclectic as each table and chair are different styles. The front area is quite small with only enough space for a handful of people to go in and place an order at a wooden counter. FOOD: The friendly cashier recommended to this first-timer an order of their Bell Pepper, Mushroom Cheesesteak ($14.24). Their sandwich is a delicious offspring between a standard cheesesteak sandwich and an Italian American sub. In the heart of an ultra fluffy and airy hoagie roll is a molten hot bed of thinly-sliced steak, melted cheese, tomato sauce, and a mix of grilled green peppers and onions. It's all the yummy things - meaty, cheesy, slightly tart and sweet, etc. I'm glad to be able to add this spot to my bookmarks of good eats whenever I'm in the area again.

This is genuinely the worst steak sandwich I've ever had in my life. You would be better off buying some ingredients at Dollar General and making your own sandwich. Save some money and eat shitty food at home instead. The meat tasted bad. There is a very good chance it was old or not stored properly. The grill probably hasn't been properly cleaned in ages. You could just taste how dirty this meat was. I ordered 2 sandwiches and didn't even touch the 2nd. I threw it in the trash whole. It was no surprise to me that I saw zero other customers in my time there. Everyone else already seems to know to stay away. I made the drive over from LAX after dropping someone off. I genuinely feel like this place should refund both of my sandwiches, as well as provide money for my gas, time, and mental and physical anguish associated with this disaster of a sandwich. I threw up repeatedly immediately after arriving home. The sandwich tasted mildly better on its way out. Whenever I have a discussion about food with someone and the topic of sandwiches comes up, I make sure to mention this place to advise them to stay away at all costs. They could offer me $100 and I wouldn't eat their sandwich again. Just to make sure, I'll add some more appropriate words down here. Disgusting. Vile. Possibly a War Crime, depending on which treaty we are using. Definitely a human rights violation. STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS. THE FOOD IS GENUINELY DISGUSTING.

Fire. This place is so good. The sandwiches come out piping hot and delicious. Hope in the wall kind of spot. But a gem. Love the hoagie with cheese meat and marinara sauce. Don't forget to the pepper on the side.

Excellent food. Great authentic and unpretentious vibe (increasingly hard to find in this part of LA) and very reasonable prices. Friendly team that cooked from fresh and served with a smile and were very kind and generous with my nieces who I brought with me.

Had this bookmarked for awhile and finally got to try it. Unfortunately it was pretty mid. Bread wasn't good (low key important), Meat and veggie was decent. I grew up in South Jersey so I guess you can say I have some pretty high expectations on a good cheesesteak. They put pizza sauce on it too which was a little weird (usually cheesesteaks don't have it unless you get a pizza steak, I asked to put it on the side). It scratches the surface I guess but I'd probably try other cheesesteak spots in LA... or wait to fly back to Philly and get an authentic one.

This place surpassed my expectations! I ordered the bell pepper mushroom cheesesteak and the cheeseburger. The bell pepper mushroom cheesesteak was super flavorful. The steak is cut really thin and had plenty of meat inside. Combine that with the bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions, and you have a great tasting cheesesteak. It can get a bit messy but they gave us plenty of napkins with our order. Don't forget to ask them for some peppers. They have four or five different options of peppers such as jalapeño peppers, banana peppers, dry peppers. I got lots of the banana peppers to eat with my cheesesteak. This added some more crunch and a nice kick to each bite. I'm always looking for the type or burger that tastes like it was grilled at home with that char flavor so I just ordered the cheeseburger on a whim. Figure I might as well try it out since I'm here. Initially, looking at the burger, I was thrown off by the use of the same bread they use for the cheesesteak. But once I took a bit into the cheeseburger, I was so happy I ordered the cheeseburger too! The burger patty was well seasoned and had a nice char flavor. I got everything in the burger (lettuce, tomatoes, raw onions. The bread was nice and toasty and held up well. Word of caution: they put a lot of chopped raw onions in the burger, so if you don't like onions then let them know to not put that inside. I love onions so it added a nice crunch and balance to the burger. Pair any of their menu items with a bottle of Coke and enjoy! You can also call them and order your food in advance. Refer to my menu pic for their phone number

HUGGGGEEE portions! We came here around 8pm and it was soo empty, but when we left it started to get busy even tho it was so late! This location has a pretty spacious parking lot for the actual restaurant. Service was super friendly and quick. The variety of cheesesteaks was pretty solid for a small hole in the wall like this! I got the regular cheesesteak and it was pretty unique because it had marinara sauce in it. The cheese was melted so well and there was a decent amount of meat in our sandwiches! I'd definitely come back again.. good cheesesteak spots are rare.

Rustic but epic. Their signature is the pizza sauce on the sandwich. But with it without, the hoagies are heavenly. It's not health food tho. If it's a cheat day, get your cheesy meaty goodness here.

Never thought I'd find a cheesesteak in California to match my New England palate. I grew up on cheesesteaks. I even worked in a Boston pizza/sub joint for 6 years, and my son got his start in that same joint, so I KNOW my cheesesteaks! I've driven by this place for years since moving to LA more than 6 years ago. Out of morbid curiosity, I was stuck in traffic and saw this place, so decided to Yelp it. I was shocked at the number of high reviews this place received, so I brought both my boys in yesterday. All I can say is after our meal of 2 steak and cheeses, and one full hoagie, we have a new go-to place. My daughter may have ChikfilA, but we men of the house have the best cheesesteak in LA, and one less thing we have to miss about being away from home. My only regret is not coming here sooner. LOVE IT!

This sandwich used to be the bomb, but they changed to some crappy different cheese to the cheesesteak now and it's not close to as good

Great local spot. One of the last places in Venice where you can get a cheeseburger for under $8.00 nothing pretentious about this place. Ive been coming here for quite some time. Great service, great food, great people. Lives up to their name and such a local hang out.

LA Westsider badge unlocked right here. My boyfriend and I finally made it and now I just wish we went here sooner. This place doesn't look like much, a stand in a middle of a small parking lot, but I guess that so LA. What's inside is delicious sandwiches. I got the #9 and that was the right way to go. My one regret is not getting hot peppers. Great cheesesteak, this sandwich earns the name Hoagie. Everyone who worked there was super nice and made great recommendations. There's a few covered tables around the side if you want to eat there.

I've been coming here for years. The food is always delicious! Almost as good as being in Philly.

I love The Great Western they have the best Cheesesteaks I've had in California and I'm a stickler for them. Everything about it is great bread is toasted properly the seasoning is always on point and the pizza sauce adds such great flavor. The Double cheese dog is also great the dogs are grilled perfectly and the melted cheese gushing out is always a plus. Would highly recommend.

This place is a family run business so it deserves support. The food is good for sure. Make sure you bring cash. Parking lot is small so plan for street parking. I wish they would serve fries and not just chips. But definitely a hole in the wall worth checking out.

This is a true Hole-in-Wall place for a great Cheese Steak. Sandwiches are delicious and made to order. Bread is great and all ingredient is fresh. FYI, most of the cheese steaks are made with their special pizza sauce, not my favorite and I don't really get it but It seems like lots of people like it. You should know you can order your sandwich without it ( that's how I like mine )

We just finished replacing the breaker, and treated ourselves to a "Philly" Cheesesteak at Great Western. I have passed this small corner hut on Lincoln many times, and my son wanted to show his appreciation by splitting a # 9 Steak sandwich with me. What a delightful experience! The same family (father and sons) have been at this site for the fifty years! The grill is the same grill, and you can tell by the taste and the way the sons treat the ingredients on the flatiron. Mushrooms, onions, peppers and the beef grilled and chopped together in the natural fat, then the local hoagie roll, lightly toasted, then assembled and topped with a dusting of secret marinara and a shake of salt and pepper. We agreed that this was way better than the Philly Cheesesteak tourist joints in Philadelphia! Plenty of free parking, a steady stream of eager diners, a neatly wrapped sandwich bursting with beefy, succulently juicy goodness, and the anticipation of the 50th anniversary celebration in August: what could be better?!!! Congratulations! Heading to George's just down the street for an order of fried zucchini to make it a healthy lunch!!!

Been coming here since I was little! They have the BEST hoagies and I guarantee you'll never leave hungry! My family is from Philly and this is the closest we've found :)

Iconic location. Fast. CLEAN and GOOD! Considering tje current times a good value too! $20 for a great Hoagie combo!? Fuhgetdaboudit! Friendly service and always great to see your food cooked right in front of you! A great story behind d the building too! Check it out!

This place is actually called Great Western Steak and Hoagie. It used to be a really cute hot dog place and the building was in the shape of a hot dog, but all that is gone and all that is left is a small, quite ugly little building with little space inside. They sell hoagies and they make them to order. They are average. Sometimes they are burned. I try to avoid this place, but my husband really wanted one so off we went. The place inside was super dirty--Covid people-- and there were quite a few people crammed into a small space, all orders are to go--again--Covid and the law people. My husbands hoagie was okay. He was not pleased with how well done the thin steak was, but he ate it. Mine I could not eat, but the dogs loved it. They just don't make the best and they never have. But if you like well done, I mean super well done, hoagies this is your place. They have grilled onions and the food is always hot when served.

Wow! Wow! Wow! Second to none! We just got back from Philadelphia, and craving a cheesesteak, what a fantastic, authentic place, great service, good price and amazing food!

This place has a legit old school look and feel. Friendly staff that has that, "keepin it real" attitude. This place gets busy quick so I'd recommend calling ahead. Over all, the sandwich was great. Hot and fresh ingredients. It lacked a little seasoning for me so I added extra salt and pepper. I also think it was a tad overcooked for it containing thin sliced meat. If this sando had more seasoning, came with a sweet pepper, and wasn't as well done, it would've been a 10/10. I give it a solid 8!

Cook is also son owner, traditional and fantastic hot food. Would recommend getting it the way intended but you can customize however you want

I have been going to this place for 50 years, and I have always had a wonderful experience! Growing up as a Philly Girl, I am always suspicious when people say they got a great Philly cheesesteak in L.A. I've been all over Los Angeles and have eaten my fair share of cheesesteaks and NONE COMPARE to Great Western Steak and Hoagie. They are the real deal! Absolutely delicious, authentic and reasonable priced! And the owners are lovely. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

An LA staple for good reason.... If you're from LA & your Date won't eat a Hoagie with you, they're not The One. Simple. Also I've never been to Philly so I can't truly compare. Pardon my ignorance. If they had fries the neighborhood would go crazy.

I've been going to this place since I was a little kid it's nostalgic every time I go back you can't go wrong with there classic cheese steak pizza steak and the double cheeseburger

I've been going here since I was a kid with my parents. Now, I take my kids here. Even though the ambiance can be considered 'an acquired taste', the hoagies are nonetheless spectacular and one of a kind. Im glad im able to share this place with 3 generations.

I've been coming to this hole in the wall place for as long as I can remember. My parents grew up in Venice and have been eating here since the place opened! Once I was born and could manage one of these big sandwiches, it became a staple in our family! We brag to each other when we go here! We would regularly drive an hour and a half from out of town to eat here. Once I moved away for college, I make SURE I stop here if I'm in the LA area for any reason at all. Today is their 50th anniversary of feeding the community and my family, and they're still high quality and delicious. The staff is kind and even remembered my parents names! Everything we asked for was made correctly and to perfection. Sandwiches dripping with sauce and toppings hit the spot and will continue to hit the spot. This time I brought some great friends who had never been here before and they were all thankful for being shown this place. If you're looking for a satisfying mess of cheese and meat and grilled onions and pizza sauce, this is your place! Seriously!!! Get your but over there yesterday!

Thank you for saving me 3000 miles and a $400 plane ride. My God was this place absolutely amazing. Very friendly service I'm going to have to come back and try the provolone and mozzarella combo.