Who Invented the Philly Cheesesteak?

Philadelphia is rich in history. From it being the birthplace of our nation to the Liberty Bell crack, what else comes to mind when you think of Philadelphia? Aside from Rocky, the diehard fans and their sports teams (go birds), and dirtbikes, there is the Philly cheesesteak.

Yes, the Philly cheesesteak has its rightful place in our town. But how did it begin in the first place? Who invented the Philly cheesesteak anyway?

If you’ve never been to Philadelphia or have never had a cheesesteak before, allow us to educate you. You’re in for a real treat as we dive into the history of this beautiful concoction. Read our guide below to learn how this Philadelphia staple got its roots.

Yo Cuz, What’s a Philly Cheesesteak?

A Philly cheesesteak consists of thinly sliced sauteed rib eye beef with melted cheese on a long Italian roll. Many “cheesesteak-heads” will get theirs topped with onions (fried or raw), peppers, mushrooms, and ketchup.

Some say they taste better when drinking after a Phils or Birds win but we’ll leave that to you to decide.

Who Invented the Philly Cheesesteak?

In the 1930s, Pat Oliveri owned a hot dog cart in South Philly. One day, he got the hankering for a steak sandwich for lunch, so he decided to throw some on an Italian roll. Moments later, a cab driver came by and thought it looked and smelled so good and asked Pat to make him one too.

Sooner rather than later, word caught on amongst the cabbie community. Pat opened Pat’s King of Steaks on 9th and Passyunk. The cheese didn’t come until the 40s when Pat’s manager Joe Lorenza made the suggestion.

The Battle of the Philly Cheesesteak

Now that you know who invented the Philly cheesesteak, how about a little brotherly love? In the 1960s, Geno’s Steaks popped up across the street from Pat’s. People love to fight over who is the winner here (Rocky anyone?).

How to Order a Philly Cheesesteak

Whether you order online or in person, you’ll want to know how to order a Philly cheesesteak the right way. If you don’t, you may get sent to the back to the line to try again (sorry, that’s just how Philly is).

The only thing you have to know is if you want onions or not. If you do, you’d say the cheese you’d like and with. So it’d sound like, “wiz wit” or “wiz witout”.

Is Your Mouth Watering Yet?

Before you know it, you’ll be yelling “yo cuz, lemme eat that jawn” and taking the broad street line to a game. If anyone asks, “who invented the Philly cheesesteak?”, be sure to let ’em know.

As a foodie, you’ll want to educate yourself wherever you go. Our blog is here to guide you on your culinary journey. Read it and never look back.