Can you possibly go wrong with steak and cheese on bread? Apparently you can, which is why we’re here to rank steak sandwiches from worst to best.
#PhillyCheeseSteak #Restaurants #FastFood
Domino’s | 0:00
Which Wich | 1:05
Outback Steakhouse | 2:06
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse | 3:26
Firehouse Subs | 4:39
Panera Bread | 5:41
Chili’s | 6:48
Charleys Cheesesteaks | 7:32
Potbelly Sandwich Works | 8:25
Jersey Mike’s | 9:16
Del Frisco’s Grille | 10:42
The Capital Grille | 11:28
Voiceover by: Emily Brown
Read Full Article: https://www.mashed.com/1421058/chain-restaurant-steak-sandwiches-ranked-worst-best/
Can you possibly go wrong with steak and cheese on bread? Apparently you can, which is why we’re here to rank steak sandwiches from worst to best. Invented in Philadelphia in 1930, the Philly cheesesteak initially consisted of roast beef and grilled onions. Cheese — or more specifically provolone — was added to the sandwich in the 1940s. Domino’s Philly cheese steak sandwich consists of green peppers, onions, and mushrooms, as well as provolone and American cheese. This chain’s take has received predominantly tepid feedback from patrons. Consumers highlight that while the sandwich has a decent amount of cheese, the same can’t be said for the steak, which is noticeably scarce. Mickey Wilstone of the Orulio News Network comments that although the beef isn’t quite as bad as he expected, it’s more akin to a pizza topping than steak. Wilstone adds that the sandwich comes with plenty of bread and very little meat. Meanwhile, one Tripadvisor reviewer isn’t as diplomatic, saying, "Disgusting Philly cheese steak sandwich. They should be ashamed to even send this out the door. I’ll bet the person who made it wouldn’t even eat it." "That’s weird. Why is there a Domino’s guy here?" Which Wich has a pretty unique ordering system. To purchase a sandwich, patrons get a paper bag with the corresponding sandwich type they want or one that allows them to build their own culinary creations. They then mark the bag with their name, pay for their purchase, and wait until their name is called out. Unfortunately, the ordering system is where the excitement stops because the chain’s Philly cheesesteak sandwich seems to fall short of expectations. Composed of sirloin steak, provolone, sauteed bell peppers, and caramelized onions, the Philly cheesesteak sandwich has left some diners underwhelmed. One Reddit reviewer says that the sandwich was much smaller than they expected, adding, "Welcome to Flavorless Town! […] Unseasoned steak, as in no salt, pepper, nothing! Basic cheese, which I’m guessing they ran out of halfway [through] making it, basic green peppers, and probably the skin of an onion." One YouTube reviewer describes the Which Wich cheesesteak sandwich as messy and somewhat strange tasting. This person believes it has a flavor reminiscent of eggs, which seems a bit odd for a Philly cheesesteak. Despite its name, the Outback Steakhouse isn’t an Australian invention. Instead, the chain was founded in Tampa, Florida, in 1988, when four friends decided to venture into the world of casual dining with an Australian-themed twist. While the chain specializes in steaks and seafood, it does have a steak sandwich on its menu. The prime rib sandwich includes roasted prime rib, provolone cheese, grilled mushrooms and onions, and the chain’s spicy bloom sauce. All the ingredients are nestled in a toasted baguette. It’s important to note that when it comes to ribs, the prime designation relates to the cut of the meat rather than its quality. While Outback Steakhouse’s prime rib sandwich may sound good on paper, the menu item has failed to impress steak sandwich connoisseurs. One dissatisfied patron on Tripadvisor says, "Prime rib is supposed to be served med rare. This resembled something like dried shoe leather. It was not even just med but well well done 10x {"ten times"} over." Another reviewer writing for Complaints Board says that what they were served didn’t look anything like the picture online. This consumer explained, "They brought me the sandwich and I was shocked. It was as if I had ordered something entirely different from the menu! It was covered in mayonnaise, mushrooms, chopped up tiny pieces of beef, and dark brown onions on a crappy hamburger-like bun." "Outback Steakhouse Extreme. Punish. Your. Toilet." Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse’s steak sandwich seems to have all the right elements, save for the slightly hefty price tag. The menu offering comes with a sliced filet that’s cooked to your desired level of doneness and a creamy béarnaise sauce. Somewhat similar to hollandaise, béarnaise is made with white wine vinegar, butter, egg yolks, lemon juice, shallots, and herbs. The sandwich comes with USDA Prime beef, which is of higher quality than Choice and Select beef and features abundant marbling. Instead of a flavorless roll, the item is served on garlic bread. Despite its pedigree, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse’s steak sandwich seems to have failed to impress some of the chain’s patrons. One unimpressed Grubhub customer complains that the sandwich they were served looked nothing like the photo on the menu, saying, "I ordered a steak sandwich which in the photo had lovely slices stacked next to one another. And I ordered medium rare. In reality, the sandwich was various sizes and shaped pieces of meat in varying degrees of doneness." That being said, some reviewers disagreed and enjoyed the dish. One YouTuber describes the sandwich as "awesome," adding, "The bread, more precisely, garlic bread, was buttery. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The filet was amazing. It had blue cheese on it, which was awesome. […] I definitely want to get one again." True to its name, Firehouse Subs was founded by two firefighters in 1994. While the Firehouse steak & cheese sandwich is one among many beef sub offerings, this one comes with sauteed steak. The other ingredients in the sandwich include melted provolone cheese, bell peppers, caramelized onions, and mayo. Firehouse’s steak & cheese sandwich has seen a range of feedback, both good and bad. One sandwich enthusiast on Reddit says that Firehouse Subs is their favorite chain, elaborating, "I may be slightly addicted to the Firehouse Steak & Cheese. It’s a little pricey for a sandwich, but the quality is always good and worth the extra cost." Unfortunately, that’s not the reaction of all consumers, as some see the sandwich in a completely different light. One Grubhub customer says, "Steak and cheese sandwich was dry and had no condiments with it." Another patron on Yelp unfavorably compares the sandwich to the Philly offered by Jersey Mike’s: "The firehouse sub has significantly less meat in it, and the meat and bread don’t taste as good as Jersey Mike’s. The bread does not seem to be freshly made, or it is a different type of bread that is harder and tougher." Although Panera started out by selling freshly baked bread, the chain has since expanded its menu to include pizzas, soups, salads, and, of course, sandwiches. One of the more interesting offerings is the toasted steak and white cheddar sandwich — an artisanal ciabatta filled with grass-fed beef, aged white cheddar, pickled red onions, and horseradish sauce. Despite its seemingly well-balanced medley of flavors, the sandwich has garnered mixed reviews from patrons. Andrew LaSane from Insider ranked it as his favorite Panera Bakery menu item, praising the way the perfectly melted cheese and crispy bread complement the juicy and flavorful steak cuts. However, not everybody agrees with LaSane’s review. One patron on Reddit says that while the toasted steak and white cheddar is their favorite sandwich at Panera, the offering can be hit or miss. They explain, "Most of the time it’s fine but sometimes, like today, it’s just gross looking. Red, undercooked meat, greasy melted cheese, and just generally unappealing." A Yelp reviewer echoes this sentiment, saying, "The amount of horseradish on this sandwich is burning my nose. This is the worst sandwich I’ve ever received from Panera. I usually love this sandwich but it’s almost uneatable." Chili’s has a Philly cheesesteak that’s composed of thin slices of steak, grilled onions and peppers, white queso, and jalapeños, all served in a toasted buttery roll. "Smell that Philly steak. How about those onions and bell peppers?" The sandwich lacks consistency; some customers love it while others find it disappointing. The main issue seems to be the type of cheese used. While the menu lists the ingredient as "white queso," one reviewer on ReviewStream identifies it as either provolone or Cheez Whiz. Regardless, this consumer appears to enjoy it, adding, "They both were good. It was something about the provolone, though, that made the sandwich richer." A patron over on Grubhub remarks that there is something rather runny about the sandwich, saying, "Bun was saturated, couldn’t even pick up the steak sandwich." If you’ve stepped inside a mall food court in the last 30 years, you’ve probably run across this popular steak sandwich chain. Charleys Cheesesteaks’ unique take on the classic cheesesteak sandwich consists of steak, green peppers, mushrooms, provolone, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayo. It’s made with grilled USDA Choice steak, which is a high-quality beef with less marbling than USDA Prime but more than USDA Select beef. Since it’s on the leaner side, it tends to be tender but slightly less juicy than its higher-grade counterpart. The reviews of Charleys’ Philly cheesesteak sandwich are mixed. One patron on Tripadvisor calls the sandwich "excellent," adding that it’s the best Philly cheesesteak sandwich they have ever tasted. Another reviewer on Tripadvisor echoes this sentiment, saying that the menu item is "very tasty." However, not everybody is as excited about the sandwich; one Tripadvisor user writes, "The so-called ‘steak’ on my sandwich tasted like burned paper." Potbelly Sandwich Works features around 20 choices on its menu, making it one of the go-to places in the country to enjoy freshly made sandwiches. One of the stars of the menu is the steakhouse beef sandwich. Simple yet indulgent, the menu item includes Angus roast beef, provolone, blue cheese crumbles, and horseradish aioli. For purists, the chain also offers the roast beef version of the sandwich with Angus roast beef and provolone. Despite the somewhat unusual combination of flavors, the sandwich has received overwhelmingly positive reviews. The Southern Snack on YouTube rates it 8.5 out of 10, while another YouTuber, Stupid Food Review Show, gives it a 9 out of 10. However, not everybody is on the same page when it comes to the meaty meal. One Doordash reviewer in particular seems unimpressed with the offering, saying, "My sandwich was a mess of horseradish aioli, with more sauce on it than meat." At Jersey Mike’s, all subs are assigned their own numbers, and when it comes to steak, the chain offers four choices. Number 17 is Mike’s Famous Philly, which includes steak, onions, peppers, and American cheese. Number 66 is Portabella cheese steak, which is identical to Mike’s Famous Philly but also includes portobello mushrooms. Number 43 is a chipotle cheese steak, which is also essentially Mike’s Famous Philly with an extra kick of the chain’s spicy chipotle mayo. Lastly, number 6, roast beef and provolone gets its name from its contents — roast beef and provolone. The sandwiches can be made on white bread, wheat bread, rosemary parmesan bread, or a gluten-free option for an additional cost. Despite the fact that it’s made with USDA Choice beef, Mike’s Famous Philly sandwich has received relatively positive feedback from customers. It has been ranked as the second most popular of Mike’s subs by Tasting Table, which praises the menu item for its balance of flavors. In particular, the outlet applauds the item’s finely shaved and flavorful beef, the creamy and slightly salty American cheese, and the hint of sweetness imparted by the onions. Over on Tripadvisor, one reviewer says that they love the menu item, adding, "Thin, tender pieces of sliced beef, flavorful with each bite, onions, peppers, and white cheese on a soft sub bun. Easy to bite [through] the soft bun and tender meat. Just a really good hot sub." "That takes me to my happy place … oh wait, Jersey Mike’s IS my happy place." The shaved steak sandwich at Del Frisco’s Grille comes with USDA Prime top round, which is sourced from the upper portion of the hind legs of a cow. Since these muscles aren’t exercised as much, this cut is more tender than other sections of the round. The meat is served with creamy horseradish on a soft French roll and comes with au jus. This shaved steak sandwich has received mostly positive reviews from patrons who have lauded its blend of flavors and the option to personalize it to their liking. Some, however, have mixed things to say. One Tripadvisor reviewer compares the dish to a French dip sandwich, adding, "The au jus and horseradish were a nice touch and really brought the otherwise bland meat to life." Another customer writes on Tripadvisor, "The bread was uninteresting [though] the actual steak was good." Capital Grille’s ribeye steak sandwich may not be the most budget-friendly lunch option, but it stands a world apart from your ordinary, run-of-the-mill steak sandwich. Simple yet indulgent, the item consists of a ribeye steak expertly grilled to your exact specifications, caramelized onions, and creamy Havarti cheese. All of this goodness is nestled between two slices of freshly grilled French loaf. The Capital Grille also serves miniature tenderloin sandwiches with mushrooms and herb cheese, which are perfect for sharing. This sandwich is a hit with patrons. One happy reviewer on Tripadvisor explains why they are partial to the dish, saying, "The ribeye sandwich is the best you will ever have. I was served the sandwich with a steak knife but didn’t need it, the ribeye was tender and melted in your mouth." Another customer agrees, commenting on Yelp, "The steak is literally cooked to perfection — medium rare! The French loaf looks like it will be very hard to bite into until you actually do and it’s that flawless crunch on the outside with the soft breading on the inside."
49 Comments
Who do you think makes the best steak sandwich?
i had a firehouse philly chease steak i had not made it home when it hit my intestines, did not make it to a bathroom instant diareah had to pull in the back side of my driveway, dropped my pants and shorts, my wife had to hose me off never again, my guess was cheap me or spoiled cheese, BEWARE of firehouse, true story 11-4-2023
Really? You dumb arses put Ruth Chris in there with the fast food places.
pat's, geno's or jim's in philly, all others are bastardizations 🙄
This list is incomplete. Where's D'Angelos? Their steak sandwich is awesome and affordable, but their consistency is amazing. The one I had last week was the same as the first one I had decades ago. Hats off to D'ANGELOS. Tim S.
The best philly ive had is a little known place here in wesley chapel fl, called "Chicken N Fun".
Great Steak and Potato Company
Jersey Mikes is pretty darned good.
I'm in Denver and my favorite cheese steak sandwich is at A Taste of Philly
Off the topic Outback Steakhouse got the best carrot cake 😋
I didn’t see TOGOs on the list of reviews. It’s a local favorite here in the BayArea. It’s always good and it’s the standard in Silicon Valley
So I visited a Charly's Cheesesteaks for the first time, that was inside a Wally World. They had a huge blackboard of a Cow, sectioned off by different cuts of steak/beef. So I asked the cashier what cut of steak is their cheesesteak made from? He replied that it was 100% Choice steak. I said, NO, that is only the grade of beef. I pointed to the blackboard & said show me on the blackboard, what cut of beef is it. He said he didn't know, since it wasn't in the training manual & got his manager to answer my question. She also didn't know & told me that it is not told to employees. Sounds shady to me. I will say my sandwich was okay, but for the price, not great or even good enough to buy another one.
Mom n pop corner stores tend to make damn good sandwiches.
My favorite cheese steak was from J's Submarines in Quakertown, PA. An abundance of thinly sliced steak, provolone or american cheese, you could add grilled onions, mushrooms, peppers and topped w/ marinara and pickle slices. Their large, 12-14" might be a little soggy on the bottom but everything was mixed together w/ sauce & pickles on top. Moved to Florida and found "The Buffalo Wing Company" which had a Pittsburg transplant as an owner. They had regional cheese steaks, 6, from all over PA and they were all true to the area. Of course all good things come to an end and their wings were excellent also. We had an Italian restaurant, Scampies, that had great food and cheese steaks but disappeared. 051 restaurant just down the street from my business got a lot of orders w/ 6 different cheese steaks and got a lot orders from myself and employees but they sold was soon closed due to loss of business. We had a Charley's open in Apopka, maybe I'll try it but I know I can make a sandwich @ 60, just lazy.
No Philadelphia cheesesteaks have green or red peppers in them, just fried onions if you want them.
" Burned paper "😅
Totally not judging, but to be fair, the steakhouses (Outback, Ruth Chris) shouldn't really be expected to deliver a 5-star cheesesteak. They're specializing in steak, not steak sandwiches
Grew up near Philly and living in California the past 30 years, Jersey Mike's does a great job of scratching the cheesesteak itch.
Talk about bad firehouse WINS HANDS DOWN!
Flints big John's steak and onion will beat all these
😊😊😊
I returned my Outback steak sandwich because it was overcooked and dry. I was told they are made from leftover steak.
Any Jersey Mike's sandwich is outstanding. I love the BLT sub that has a ton of bacon.
Its driving me crazy ???? I was at the outback's in 1988
While Jersey Mike's steak sandwich is good, it is very expensive.
Culver's had a great one then stopped making it
Best I’ve had is from Takei’s in Fells point
If you call it a "Philly cheesesteak" it likely will suck.
Perhaps because you seem to be focusing on national brands, you missed the three blindingly obvious choices.Fair warning: I' m from Philly, so if you detect a local bias, you are correct. Here goes:
Tony Lukes….about 15 or 20 stores….family owned, excellent.
Chickey and Petes…..about 30 stores in the Philly area. A little bit more like a higher end national chain( big restaurants,laminated menus, etc.)…but never had a bad cheese steak there.
And: the secret weapon: your local mom and pop sandwich joint…
There literally hundreds of these, sometimes 3 or 4 per square mile,
all fiercely loved and supported by their neighborhood….no two are perfectly alike, but, just like the big guys in our little city, there are constants: meat is rib eye cut on the bias, then torn apart by the grille guy using two enormous spatulas. The cheese: American, or cheese wiz. The bread, a crucial component, all locally sourced from top grade commercial bakers: Amoroso's, Conshohocken Rolls, etc.
Your topping options: traditionally just one of two….fried onions, so you order it "wid", or nothing else "widout".
Condiments: put your own catsup or hot pepper sauce on it, you lazy thing.
Want to be treated like a Russian spy? Ask for mustard….
If you want a really good cheesesteak, you gotta come here.
50 miles from City Hall….they just are not as good.
My favorite: Oliveries.
Happy new year, everybody. And never eat a lousy meal. Life is too short……
a steak and cheese sandwich has the following ingredients:: ribeye steak thinly sliced, your choice of one of these three cheeses provolone, American or cheese wiz , grilled onions (optional) peppers (optional), mayo, lettuce and tomato and a soft hoagie roll. the people who did this video have no clue. Never roast beef, filet minion or sirloin
GrubHub/Uber eats/Door dash reviews can't be trusted. If you want good fresh food go to the restaurant and dine in or at least pick it up yourself. I work at a restaurant and we will have orders done perfectly and not picked up for an hour! #NotOurFault It's the same with ordering delivery sushi! WTF are you expecting! Get off your ass people!!
Why would someone expect a takeout steak to be like the picture?
What happened with Philly's Best? It is franchised from one of the best cheesesteak shops in Phila. As a Philly native, this is the BEST.
All this video proved was can't please everyone, especially online reviews
Domino's cheesesteak is the worst of the worst. It's a complete joke, as are their other sandwiches. They are all devoid of meat. Between their sandwiches and pasta, I don't know which is worse. They are now really skimping on the amount of pasta they put in the orders. Pasta is a restaurant money maker as it's cost is pennies on the dollar. That they've chosen to skimp on the amount of pasta in an order, only 4 ounces, is beyond ridiculous. If you want pasta on the less expensive side, go to Pizza Hut. They give you a full service of pasta and toppings.
I'm surprised that Jerry's Pizza and Subs wasn't on here for their Steak 'n Cheese subs. For being a chain, and outside of Philly, I found their subs to be a lot better than Jersey Mike's and several others mentioned here.
Dear Mashed, Jersey Mikes also has a secret menu #99. big kahuna chipotle cheesesteak, and a #98 big kahuna chipotle chicken.
I've given up on the cheesesteak sandwich. In theory, they're great, but they are served with the worst fat, gristly beef they can find.
You'll find the best steak sandwiches at an Italian deli….
Green peppers? lmao And Jersey Mikes is the worst crap ever.
100% of the people will not agree on a sandwich. Imagine that.
Jersey Mikes is awful..go someplace else
I haven't tried them all, but I can say that of the ones I have tried, I like Charley's the most. I've had it many times at the location I go to and not once has anyone served me one where the steak tasted like burnt paper. Hey, you can't judge a place by one visit. People need to keep in mind that accidents can happen anywhere and not all cooks are equal.
The best Philly cheesesteak is Penn Station from the Ohio area. Those sandwiches are to die for!
The last time I went to Firehouse I got a 3.5 inch sandwich with none of the toppings for $6 bucks plus. Why did they not put cheese or toppings on it?
I ate Domino’s once. I threw it in the garbage and never ever had Domino’s again. Taste buds in many Americans for decent food slowly are disappearing. Thank God I am Italian and can cook with family.
Who orders a Philly cheese steak from dominos? You got what you deserve
What people don't realize there's four state sandwiches at Jersey Mike's one is called the steak Big kahuna and they're not using fresh steak meat at Jersey Mike's they're using the Frozen meat called steakums that you can get in the freezer at the grocery store none of the four steak sandwiches Jersey Mike's offers has real estate on them it's a generic stuff called steakums which have no flavor and as greasy as hell.
You need to ignore the 5 star and 1 star ratings and read the average review. Also, quoting 1 reviewer isn't accurate at all. Next time, go to each place and test their sandwich 10 times on 10 different days at 10 different locations. Sorry, poorly done and doesn't help.
Since Newsom attempts to destroy competition by customizing laws to keep Panera profitable and drive all other fast food places out of business I will never go to Panera again.