Unearth The Voyage
Philadelphia gets all the credit, but some of Pennsylvania’s most satisfying cheesesteaks are being made far from the city limits. Family-run shops, neighborhood pizzerias, and old-school delis across the state have spent years quietly perfecting their recipes, building loyal crowds one sandwich at a time. These are not consolation prizes for people who couldn’t make it to Philly. These are destinations worth planning a trip around, complete with generous portions, quality ingredients, and the kind of consistency that keeps regulars coming back every single week.
From Delaware County to Pittsburgh and everywhere in between, this list covers 12 spots that have earned serious cheesesteak credibility without a Philadelphia zip code. If you consider yourself a true cheesesteak fan, you owe it to yourself to hit at least a few of these before the year is out.
1. Giovanni’s Pizzeria, Quakertown, Pennsylvania
Since 1980, the Randazzo family has been running Giovanni’s Pizzeria out of the Trainer’s Corner Shopping Center in Quakertown, and the cheesesteak menu alone is worth the trip to Upper Bucks County. Multiple generations of the family have kept the recipes consistent and the portions generous.
Cheesesteaks come in 11-inch and 22-inch sizes, covering everything from a straightforward Cheesesteak and Onions Sub to the Special Cheese Steak Sub loaded with mushrooms, green peppers, pepperoni, onions, and sauce. The California Cheesesteak swaps the traditional preparation for lettuce, tomato, and mayo, offering a fresher take.
The menu extends into strombolis, where the Special Cheesesteak Stromboli packs in steak, ham, salami, pepperoni, mushrooms, grilled onions, green peppers, and mozzarella inside a baked crust. A Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak Stromboli adds another creative option for adventurous eaters.
2. Verona Pizza, Maple Glen, Pennsylvania
Verona Pizza has been making a bold claim since 1978, advertising both the original Jersey Shore pizza and what many regulars consider the finest South Philly-style cheesesteak in Montgomery County. That is a lot of confidence for a neighborhood restaurant, but the reviews suggest it is well-placed.
The cheesesteak here is known for overflowing with ribeye, caramelized onions seasoned just right, and a proper ratio of Cooper Sharp cheese melted thoroughly into the meat. The house-baked seeded roll holds up to the generous fillings without falling apart, which is a detail that serious cheesesteak fans notice immediately.
Portions are frequently compared to Philadelphia’s most respected shops, with many regulars arguing that Verona delivers more meat for the money. The dining area is modest, with limited indoor tables and a few outdoor spots, meaning peak hours often require a short wait. Cherry peppers are a popular add-on among repeat visitors.
3. Pudge’s Steaks, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Named after the original owner Frank Carbone’s nickname, which itself came from Betty Boop’s cartoon dog Pudgy, Pudge’s Steaks in Blue Bell has been a Montgomery County anchor for over 50 years. Multiple Best of Philly and Best Cheesesteak in Montgomery County awards line the walls, and the shop has earned every one.
The menu features cheesesteaks in a regular 12-inch size and a 20-inch version containing two full pounds of beef. Finely chopped steak is the standard preparation, with American, provolone, or Cheez Whiz available as cheese options. The Bourbon Cheesesteak, made with fried onions, roasted red peppers, Cooper Sharp, and a homemade bourbon sauce, is one of the more creative specialty builds on the menu.
For those feeling ambitious, the Cheesesteak Challenge dares customers to finish a 20-inch cheesesteak, a tray of fries, and a large soft drink in 30 minutes for a cash prize and a T-shirt. The atmosphere stays relaxed and unpretentious throughout.
4. Steaks On State, Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Downtown Doylestown already has plenty of reasons to visit, but Steaks On State has given cheesesteak fans one more compelling excuse to make the trip to Bucks County’s county seat. Owners Jackie and John Stover rebranded the former Coach’s Steak and Hoagie House with a clear mission: make this a genuine destination spot for cheesesteak enthusiasts.
Each sandwich is built with 13 ounces of fresh-cut eye round, Cooper Sharp cheese, and Liscio’s Bakery rolls chosen specifically for their ability to hold generous fillings without getting soggy. The Pastrami Cheesesteak with fried onions and Cooper Sharp offers a distinctive departure from the classic, while The Nitt Steak serves chicken with the restaurant’s proprietary Nit Sauce and ranch.
Fresh-cut fries can be upgraded into Philly Fries with grilled steak, fried onions, and Whiz, making them almost a meal on their own. The walkable downtown location makes it an easy and rewarding stop during any Doylestown visit.
5. Cafe Carmela, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Named after owner Joe Maglio’s mother, whose Italian home cooking mastery shaped the entire menu, Cafe Carmela opened its Huntingdon Valley location in June 2023 and earned a spot among The Inquirer’s best new restaurants before the year was out. That kind of recognition does not come without a strong cheesesteak program.
The house cheesesteak, called Don Cheech’s Steak, features sliced ribeye with a choice of Cooper Sharp, sharp provolone, or cheese sauce, served on a sesame-seeded roll with a soft interior. Customers consistently note the generous cheese portions and the quality of the meat as the main reasons they return.
Beyond the cheesesteak, the menu includes Italian specialties like Drunken Rigatoni and the Italiano sandwich with chicken cutlet, broccoli rabe, and sharp provolone. The dining room runs busy enough to host multiple birthday parties at once, yet service remains efficient and attentive throughout.
6. Curly’s Comfort Food, Levittown, Pennsylvania
Winning the 2023 Bucks County Cheesesteak Competition and finishing as runner-up in 2024 is not a small achievement, and Curly’s Comfort Food in Levittown earned both results the hard way. The shop built its reputation on hand-cut ribeye seared on the grill and served on fresh rolls from Aversa Italian Bakery.
Cooper Sharp is the house cheese, though alternatives are available. The Trenton Cheesesteak adds pork roll and extra Cooper Sharp for a regional twist, while the Tailgater piles on pork roll, bacon, fried onions, sweet peppers, hot peppers, and provolone for a sandwich that means business.
Curly’s operates primarily as a takeout spot, though a few small tables are available inside. The loyal following here is so dedicated that the shop was once the most discussed steak shop in a major national Facebook cheesesteak group, which is a badge of honor few restaurants can claim.
7. Johnny’s Pizza Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Chef-owner John Bisceglie renovated a six-decade-old pizzeria and reopened it as Johnny’s Pizza in November 2022, bringing with him a philosophy shaped by mentors Frank Pinello of Best Pizza in Williamsburg and Nick Carelli of Philomena Santucci’s Square Pizza. The cheesesteak program here is not an afterthought, it is a headliner.
Each regular sandwich features roughly 12 ounces of house-cut ribeye, coarse-chopped and cooked with onions, then finished with Cooper Sharp cheese on a toasted sesame-seeded whole-wheat potato loaf sourced from an artisan Philadelphia bakery. That roll, toasted before assembly, gives the sandwich an extra structural advantage over most competitors.
A Monster 20-inch option with over a pound of ribeye is available for serious appetites. The dining room walls are covered in customer signatures and messages, creating a visual record of the shop’s growing fanbase. Regulars strongly recommend calling ahead on weekends due to consistently high demand.
8. Lorenzo’s Steaks, West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester is a historic downtown worth exploring for its own sake, but Lorenzo’s Steaks gives cheesesteak fans a very specific reason to make the drive to Chester County. The restaurant uses 100% Certified Angus Beef, cut fresh daily, as the foundation for every sandwich on the menu.
The signature Town Talk Cheese Steak features ribeye, fried onions, and Cooper Sharp American cheese, with the cheese melted into the meat on the grill and extra slices added on top for thorough coverage. A Create Your Own option lets customers build exactly the sandwich they want, while the Kennett Square Mushroom Cheesesteak pays regional tribute with a generous mushroom addition.
For customers who want something truly oversized, the Fat Subs section delivers enormous sandwiches packed with multiple ingredients, including the Fat Harambe combining cheesesteak, chicken fingers, fries, mozzarella sticks, and marinara. The small counter-order dining room keeps the atmosphere casual and friendly throughout.
9. Uncle Sam’s Subs, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh has its own cheesesteak story, and Uncle Sam’s Subs has been telling it since Sam Dilembo opened the first Oakland location in 1971. More than five decades later, the shop still sources its bread from Mancini’s and its produce from Nino Sunseri, keeping the supply chain local and the quality consistent.
The sesame seed rolls are a signature detail that sets every sandwich apart from standard cheesesteak shops, adding a distinct character to each bite. Customers can watch their steak or chicken cooked on a flat-top grill right in front of them, with cheese melted before the sandwich is assembled.
The Ultra menu takes every classic option and adds extra meat, cheese, and toppings, including the Ultra Uncle Sam’s Special with steak, sweet peppers, mushrooms, grilled onions, and provolone. Multiple best-of awards and a diverse crowd of regulars spanning generations confirm that western Pennsylvania’s cheesesteak scene is very much alive at Uncle Sam’s.
10. Philly’s Phinest, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Steve Bolinger founded Philly’s Phinest in 1995 with one clear goal: bring an authentic Philadelphia-style cheesesteak to the Wyoming Valley. Over 25 years later, the family-run shop is still sourcing its Amoroso rolls from a daily delivery and buying beef from the same Pennsylvania farm it has used since the beginning.
The menu covers Petite, Regular, and Monster size options, with the classic version featuring savory chopped steak and American cheese in a straightforward preparation that lets the core ingredients do the work. The Southwestern Cheesesteak adds Cheese Whiz, jalapenos, and a drizzle of spicy sauce for customers who want a more assertive flavor profile.
Pizza, strombolis, hoagies, wraps, and fried sides round out a menu built for a full range of appetites. Despite sitting in the Susquehanna River’s flood zone and facing real challenges over the years, the family’s commitment to the business has kept Philly’s Phinest a consistent fixture in northeastern Pennsylvania’s food landscape.
11. Pizza Plus, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Pizza Plus has occupied its spot on Keyser Avenue in Scranton for over three decades, and the retro interior with wood paneling and vintage decor has become as much a part of the experience as the food itself. The visible kitchen adds a sense of transparency that regular customers genuinely appreciate.
Cheesesteaks here come as Steak and Cheese Hoagies in regular and two-foot lengths, with customization options including onions, mushrooms, green peppers, hot peppers, sweet peppers, and black olives. The kitchen also incorporates cheesesteak flavors into a Steak and Cheese Pizza and a Steak Stromboli Pizza, giving the concept room to stretch beyond the traditional roll format.
Generous portions and reasonable prices are the two details that appear most consistently in customer reviews, alongside praise for the friendly service and the clean, no-frills environment. Pizza Plus has earned its place in northeastern Pennsylvania food recommendations through straightforward execution and a menu broad enough to bring the whole family back regularly.
12. Mercatino Italiano, Quakertown, Pennsylvania
Part Italian market and part serious sandwich destination, Mercatino Italiano in Quakertown grew out of the Randazzo family’s Giovanni’s Pizzeria operation and quickly developed its own devoted following after opening in 2020. The market concept expanded into an adjacent space, and the cheesesteak program expanded right along with it.
The house Ribeye Panino features fresh shaved ribeye, Cooper Sharp cheese, and fried onions on a New York seeded roll, and it has become the market’s top-selling sandwich by a clear margin. A 2-foot Ribeye Cheesesteak Challenge has attracted food enthusiasts from across the region, with reviewers describing the sandwich as juicy, fresh, and thoroughly cheesy throughout.
The deli section carries porchetta, salami, and prosciutto alongside imported Italian olive oils, vinegars, and a bakery stocked with cannoli, sfogliatella, and tiramisu. A quick lunch here has a reliable tendency to turn into a longer visit once customers start browsing the shelves of imported goods surrounding the dining area.
