Yes, There's A Difference Between A Philly Cheesesteak And A Steak And Cheese Sandwich - Chowhound (2024)

ByAlicia Betz

"Wit or wit-out?" No, this isn't a foreign language. Ask any native Philadelphian and they'll tell you that those are the only two "right" ways to order a Philly cheesesteak. Though you may think this is talking about the cheese (Cheez Whiz, Provolone, or American, depending on the shop you visit and your personal preference) wit or wit-out refers to whether you want onions. Other hallmarks of a true Philly cheesesteak include an Amoroso's roll and sliced or shaved ribeye.

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A steak and cheese sandwich, then, can be defined by how it differs from a Philly cheesesteak. If it uses a different type of cheese, steak, or roll, it's a steak and cheese sandwich. Similarly, if your sandwich has a lot of extra toppings, it's a steak and cheese sandwich rather than a Philly cheesesteak. While we're getting the terminology down, you might want to shy away from calling it a Philly cheesesteak if you're in the city of brotherly love; the simple term "cheesesteak" will suffice. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone in Philadelphia or even in all of Pennsylvania who calls it a Philly cheesesteak.

What is a Philly cheesesteak?

Yes, There's A Difference Between A Philly Cheesesteak And A Steak And Cheese Sandwich - Chowhound (5)

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The New York Times reports — depending on who you believe — the first cheesesteak was made with onions and no cheese, so it's safe to say that onions are an accepted topping. Though if you're not a fan of the vegetable, it's okay to leave it off. Many cheesesteaks you'll find in Philly are served on Amoroso's rolls. Amoroso's Baking Company was founded in 1904 in Camden, New Jersey, which is just across the river from Philly. The company moved across the river in 1914 and has served Philadelphia ever since. The rolls are delivered fresh to restaurants and venues around Philly daily. The hearth-baked rolls are a bit crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, and they're strong enough to hold in all of those delicious cheesesteak ingredients without breaking apart.

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Where do you get a genuine Philly cheesesteak? The jury is still out on this one, as everyone seems to have their favorite cheesesteak spot. Many swear by Pat's King of Steaks, which claims to have invented the Philly cheesesteak in 1930 when Pat Olivieri put some chopped meat and onions on an Italian roll. Others prefer Geno's Steaks, a restaurant that got its start in 1966. Geno's uses sliced ribeye steak, another component that many claim is a hallmark of the Philly cheesesteak. It's common to use shaved or thinly sliced ribeye steak, which results in thin and tender meat.

What is a steak and cheese sandwich?

Yes, There's A Difference Between A Philly Cheesesteak And A Steak And Cheese Sandwich - Chowhound (6)

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What is a steak and cheese sandwich, then? Pretty much anything else. Many Philadelphians would argue that it's not a true Philly cheesesteak if you add too many additional toppings, like ketchup, pizza sauce, lettuce, or mayonnaise. They might also scoff at chicken cheesesteaks and alternative cheese choices. Beef that isn't ribeye or that's cut into larger chunks will also get your cheesesteak placed into the steak and cheese sandwich category.

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Want to tell for yourself? If you want to make your own Philly cheesesteak, use Amoroso's rolls (they're shipped nationwide), shaved ribeye, and Cheez Whiz or Provolone. Compare that to any other steak and cheese sandwich recipe to see which reigns supreme. And if you want to taste a true original, you'll have to visit the Keystone State. Rivals Pat's and Geno's are located right across from each other, so next time you're in Philly, buy a cheesesteak from each and determine which you think is best.

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Yes, There's A Difference Between A Philly Cheesesteak And A Steak And Cheese Sandwich - Chowhound (2024)

FAQs

Yes, There's A Difference Between A Philly Cheesesteak And A Steak And Cheese Sandwich - Chowhound? ›

Other hallmarks of a true Philly cheesesteak include an Amoroso's roll and sliced or shaved ribeye. A steak and cheese sandwich, then, can be defined by how it differs from a Philly cheesesteak. If it uses a different type of cheese, steak, or roll, it's a steak and cheese sandwich.

What's the difference between a steak sandwich and a Philly cheesesteak? ›

A classic cheesesteak uses thinly sliced, sautéed ribeye beef, a tender cut of steak from the outer ribs. If a different cut of beef is used, like skirt steak, or if the beef is cut into thick slices or served in a different manner, then it's a steak and cheese sandwich.

What is the difference between a hoagie and a Philly cheesesteak? ›

The hoagie doesn't scream Philadelphia like the cheesesteak does, because deli meats are so different. Each hoagie is different, whereas cheesesteaks, even when you add toppings, are, at their core, the same sandwich, with bread, ribeye or sirloin steak, grilled onions, and cheese.

What are the two types of Philly cheesesteaks? ›

A mushroom cheesesteak is a cheesesteak with mushrooms. A pepper cheesesteak is a cheesesteak with green bell peppers, hot cherry peppers, long hot peppers, or sweet peppers.

What makes a Philadelphia cheesesteak and cheesesteak? ›

Philly Cheesesteak is a sandwich made with super thinly sliced ribeye steak, caramelized onion, and provolone cheese. That simple combination is the original classic as made popular on the East Coast.

What is considered a real Philly cheesesteak? ›

It is a sandwich made of thinly sliced beef — usually frozen chip steak — cooked on a griddle and served on a sliced roll with cheese and either “wit” or “witout” onions. The cheese is typically American cheese, provolone or melted Cheez Whiz.

Is a chopped cheese the same as a Philly cheesesteak? ›

No, chopped cheese is not the same as a Philly cheesesteak. While both are popular sandwiches made with meat and cheese, a Philly cheesesteak is made with thinly sliced ribeye steak and melted cheese, while a chopped cheese is made with chopped ground beef and cheese on a hero roll.

What do they call hoagies in Philadelphia? ›

A submarine sandwich, commonly known as a sub, hoagie (Philadelphia metropolitan area and Western Pennsylvania English), hero (New York City English), Italian (Maine English), grinder (New England English, Fulton County, NY), wedge (Westchester, NY), or a spuckie (Boston English) is a type of American cold or hot ...

What's the difference between a Chicago cheesesteak and a Philly cheesesteak? ›

The Windy City's known for its Italian Beef--roasted at places like Al's (where they keep it in the oven four hours) before being topped by sweet/hot peppers and dipped in the beef's juice. In Philly, they chow down with cheesesteaks, grilled atop onions and then topped with (you guessed it) cheese.

What do they call a hoagie in New Jersey? ›

Few things in New Jersey ignite a more contentious debate than what to call the long sandwich known as a “sub” in North Jersey and a “hoagie” in South Jersey.

What is the secret to a good Philly cheesesteak? ›

Shredded Ribeye Steak for the Best Philly Cheesesteaks

The first secret to the perfect philly is the meat. You need very thinly cut ribeye steak. I'm so blessed to have a stand-alone butcher shop in the tiny town that I live in, so I have my butcher cut my ribeye in thin slices with his meat slicer.

What is the best cut of meat for Philly cheesesteak? ›

You want a cut that isn't too lean—the fat is necessary for juiciness and flavor carry-through. Obviously, ribeye steak is the best, but it can be a little pricey for a few sandwiches. Chuck could work for a budget approach, but you might get it cut just a little thinner than the ribeye.

What is the best bread for Philly cheesesteak? ›

The Ingredients

Hoagie Roll: The perfect roll for cradling the juicy mixture of cheesy beef, onions, and peppers. You could also use a large baguette cut into 4 sections, sausage rolls, or any other “roll” type vessel of your choosing.

Is a steak and cheese sub the same as a cheesesteak? ›

Other hallmarks of a true Philly cheesesteak include an Amoroso's roll and sliced or shaved ribeye. A steak and cheese sandwich, then, can be defined by how it differs from a Philly cheesesteak. If it uses a different type of cheese, steak, or roll, it's a steak and cheese sandwich.

What cut is used for Philly cheesesteak? ›

A classic Philly cheesesteak consists of thinly shaved steak (usually ribeye or top round) and is traditionally cooked on a griddle. It's a wonderful sandwich.

Does Philly cheesesteak have mayonnaise? ›

Crafted with premium steak, grilled onions, American cheese, mushrooms, bell peppers, provolone cheese, light mayo on our fresh-baked bread.

What's the difference between a steak and cheese and a steak bomb? ›

The difference mainly comes from the addition of other ingredients in the steak bomb, some of which are optional for cheesesteaks and some of which don't appear at all, like salami.

What is the name of the Philly steak sandwich? ›

What Variations of the Philly Cheesesteak Are There?
  • Mushroom Cheesesteak. While not one of the traditional toppings for a cheesesteak, mushrooms have become quite popular because of what they can add to the sandwich. ...
  • Pepper Cheesesteak. ...
  • Steak Milano. ...
  • Cheesesteak Hoagie.
Oct 12, 2020

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