Ranking 20 Philly cheesesteak sandwiches from your favorite chains

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A good Philly cheesesteak sandwich is one of those comfort food classics that, when done well, is almost a work of art. The thin-sliced beef, cheese and hoagie roll almost become a singular thing, with flavors and textures intermingling on the palate with a soft, meaty, creamy unctuousness.

Add onions, peppers, mushrooms or any number of other delicious accoutrements and it just gets better.

We know that cheesesteaks are a true-blue Philadelphia thing and that the best ones can be found there. But that doesn’t mean a craving for one won’t hit out of the blue, so your “Best of Cleveland” team decided to suss out the better fast-food versions around here.

You might roll your eyes at ranking fast-food options, but because they’re a go-to for more of us than we’d like to admit, we want you to get your money’s worth. Based on the feedback from our rankings of ever-popular chicken sandwiches, we figured this would be worthwhile.

(In case you missed it, here are the links to check out: Ranking 19 fast-food crispy chicken sandwiches and of course the spicy ones: Ranking 13 fast-food spicy chicken sandwiches).

So, here’s what we did: we ordered 20 cheesesteak/Philly sandwiches from national chain sub shops with local locations. We ordered them as they came, without extras. We took notes and put on our “judge-y hats.” Some of you like ‘em deluxe; other’s like ‘em plain.

We came to find that every shop had their own version… with some having two or more.

We ranked each one and noted if they live up to hype. We did all the legwork (and chewing) for you. Did they live up to the photos you see on the menu board? Not always. Some of our thoughts may surprise you… or not. Where did your go-to favorite chain sandwich land on our list? Read on, Philly fans:

No. 20

Panera – Ciabatta Cheesesteak

Calories: Half – 520/Whole – 1,040

Price: Half – $9.39/Whole $13.39

Menu description: Tender, marinated sliced steak with melty provolone, caramelized onions, zesty sweet peppers, and garlic aioli drizzle on our Ciabatta.

Our thoughts: Too much bread, not enough filling. Red peppers and onions were sparse and soggy, bread was toasted, cheese was melted. Chopped up meat was flavorful on its own, but we’ve had better sandwiches at Panera… much better, in fact. We heartily recommend a different choice.

No. 19

Subway – The Outlaw

Calories: Six inch 490/Footlong 980

Price: Six inch $9.49/Footlong $13.99

Menu description: Steak, 2x pepper Jack, peppers, onions, Baja Chipotle sauce, toasted.

Our thoughts: We found the sauce to be boring, with little heat. Red onions, crunchy green peppers and a decent meat serving, but this sandwich should be “outlawed,” according to Yadi. “The meat was bland and boring.” If you like melty cheese, it might be worth asking your “sandwich artist” to toast your sub.

No. 18

Subway – Cheesy Garlic Steak

Calories: Six inch 510/Footlong 1,020

Price: Six inch $9.99/Footlong $14.99

Menu description: Steak, 2x cheddar cheese sauce, peppers, onions, Roasted Garlic, Aioli, SubKrunch, toasted.

Our thoughts: The best of all the cheesesteaks from Subway in Yadi’s opinion. “Nice garlicky sauce,” but that’s where her praise ends. The meat was “thin and disappointing,” mostly clumped in the middle of the sandwich; not flavorful at all. Boiled meat? The “only saving grace was the garlic sauce.” If you are going to try any of Subway’s cheesesteaks this would be the one. Pete only could add, “Meh.”

No. 17

Subway – The Philly

Calories: Six inch 510/Footlong 1,020

Price: Six inch $9.49/Footlong $13.99

Menu description: Steak, 2x American, peppers, onions, mayo, toasted.

Our thoughts: “Boring!!!” Yadi found disappointment in the sparse meat, little peppers and onions. “Stop advertising ingredients that I can’t find!” Uneventful, more bread than anything. Meat was way too thin, with NO flavor. Little cheese that was not enough. Sad sandwich. Pass.

No. 16

Charlie’s Philly – Pepperoni Cheesesteak

Calories: Small – 560/Reg. 890/Large – 1250

Price: Small – $7.49/Reg. $9.99/Large – $12.99

Menu description: Steak, pepperoni, grilled onions and provolone.

Our thoughts: The three pepperoni slices were hidden under the whole sandwich. Fresh veggies, but very few onions to be found. Cheese very melted. Does pepperoni belong on a cheesesteak? Pete’s not sure. “I don’t think adding another meat to the equation does anything for a cheesesteak, IMHO. It feels like a distracting afterthought.“ And this is coming from a guy who never met a piece of bacon or pepperoni he didn’t like! Yadi added, “The fresh veggies helped but just not enough for me to recommend. I did like the pickles, but I would have preferred them in a spear, on the side.”

No. 15

Potbelly – Steakhouse Beef

Calories: Skinny – 470/Original – 790/Big 1,410

Price: Skinny – $4.69/Original – $8.99/Big $13.39

Menu description: Angus roast beef, crumbled blue cheese, provolone, horseradish aioli.

Our thoughts: Yadi: “I am usually a bigger fan of this chain. Sadly, not this time around. The meat was cold, only warm around the edges. Bread was a tad over toasted. Cheese not spread out, clumped together in the middle of the sandwich. Somewhat on the salty and dry side. Bread overpowered the meat. Not satisfying. Very disappointing.” Pete: “What she said.”

No. 14

Charlie’s Philly – Bacon 3 Cheesesteak

Calories: Small – 560/Reg. – 890/Large – 1,250

Price: Small – $8.49/Reg. – $10.99/Large – $13.99

Menu description: Steak, Bacon, provolone, Swiss & Shredded Cheddar.

Our thoughts: Crispy bacon, fresh lettuce and tomato (which was not in the description) and big pickle slices. Plenty of meat but different with the bacon on it. Didn‘t feel like a “philly” or “cheesesteak with bacon.” We love bacon and although it was crispy, the two slices weren’t meant for this sandwich or do it any sort of justice.

No. 13

DiBella – DiBella’s Cheesesteak

Calories: 5 inch – 460/7 inch – 700/10 inch 970/14 inch 1,410

Price: 5 inch – $6.49/7 inch – $9.79/10 inch $12.39/14 inch $16.49

Menu description: Grilled steak, peppers & onions, melted cheese.

Our thoughts: Cheese pulled and melted, a delight to see when you did the cutaway of the two halves! Meat was finely chopped, with lots of peppers and onions which we appreciated… but they were more generous with veg than meat. “Very few mushrooms and too small of pieces, although again not in the description (was that a mistake?). Warm all the way through but soggied up the bottom of the bread,” said Yadi. Pete and Yadi agreed that the over seasoned meat resembled Steak-Ums and the sandwich was compositionally out of balance.

No. 12

Firehouse – Firehouse Steak & Cheese

Calories: Small – 410/Reg. – 830/Large – 1,380

Price: Small – $5.79/Reg. – $9.19/Large – $13.49

Menu description: Tender steak, provolone, caramelized onions and green bell peppers, mayo, and deli mustard.

Our thoughts: Very generous filling. Half mushrooms not small slivers like some other places. But the onions and peppers were cooked way too long, which made them a but mushy. We both got a tangy, vinegary aftertaste from the sauce, but the cheese melted into the meat and filling which was nice and it was served piping hot and steamy. Minor adjustments to the cooked veg would help this crack the Top 10.

No. 11

Mr. Hero – Hot Buttered Cheesesteak

Calories: Reg. – 653/Med. – 1,168/Large – 1,306

Price: Reg. – $7.29/Med. – $9.59/Large – $14.39

Menu description: Made with the creamiest butter & a touch of sea salt. Steak, Swiss American cheese, grilled mushroom & onion.

Our thoughts: Yadi and Pete diverge on this one. Yadi: “Lots of onions. Lots of mushrooms under the onions. Not mixed together. Cheese is nice and melted, but sandwich was bland and tasteless. Cheese is what gives it any flavor. The thin meat was crispy a little to much around the edges. Bread was toasted but soggy at the same time. We know this is a fan favorite, but why?” Pete: “Mr. Hero gets a half-point just for being the CLASSIC that it is. When compared to some of the other Philly sandos on this list, it does pale a bit. I will pick a Romanburger over this with almost every visit.”

No. 10

McAllister – Horseradish Roast Beef & Cheddar

Calories: 740-1,370

Price: $10.39

Menu description: Black Angus roast beef, sharp cheddar, red onions and horseradish sauce on toasted ciabatta.

Our thoughts: Yadi “You did get a pickle spear on the side. The ciabatta was rectangular. Red onions, yellow cheese, large slices of meat. Not pieces parts. SO MUCH mayo though. Lots of bread as well even though the meat was thick, there was too much bread for filling.” Pete: “I’m relatively new to this chain. There was a lot to like about this sandwich, which Yadi said; I feel like I need to dive further into their menu boards.”

No. 9

Charlie’s Philly – The Old School Cheesesteak

Calories: Small – 530/Reg. – 760/Large – 1,050

Price: Small – $9.49/Reg. – $11.99/Large – $14.99

Menu description: Extra Portion of steak, signature CHEEZ WHIZ sauce and sauteed onions.

Our thoughts: Yadi: “Toasted bun, lots of meat, not sure if it was a double portion though. Some of it was crispy. Not much onion, and the Cheez Whiz sauce was melted and hot, but it made the sandwich a bit salty. Fresh and hearty but the sauce overpowers everything else.” Pete added, “This was the first one that actually had me thinking about Pat’s, Geno’s and Tony Luke’s in Philadelphia. They were leaning hard into authenticity, even if they didn’t stick the landing. I liked it, would eat again.”

No. 8

Dave’s Cosmic Subs – Dave’s Peace Steak

Calories: Reg. – 441/Large – 730

Price: Reg. – $9.99/Large – $18.99

Menu description: Steak, provolone cheese, green peppers, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, mayo, and Dave’s Cosmic Sauce. Served hot.

Our thoughts: We both agreed that this one was packed full of beef, with bread toasted but still somewhat soft. Peppers, onions and thick mushroom slices presented throughout the sandwich. The sauce really added a nice kick to it. Served hot all the way through. Enjoyed the fresh tomatoes. Solid sandwich.

No. 7

Jersey Mike’s – Chipotle Cheesesteak

Calories: Reg. – 1,000/Giant – 2,000

Price: Reg. – $9.99/Giant – $16.95

Menu description: Grilled onions, peppers, white American cheese & chipotle mayo.

Our thoughts: Yadi’s wasn’t cut in half; Pete’s was. Not sure how that happened? Toasted on both sides sauce was on the top and bottom. Seemed like the chopped onion and sweet peppers were skimped on. Cheese was melted and the bun was fresh; peppers added sweetness, but Yadi didn’t get any heat. You can taste the sauce, but she thought it was “more of a meat sandwich.” Pete: “I usually like a Jersey Mike’s sub, but this visit didn’t quite land for me.”

No. 6

Quizno’s – Queso Philly

Calories: 390 – 1,140

Price: Small – $7.99/Reg. – $10.99/Large – $13.99

Menu description: Black Angus Steak, Queso Blanco cheese, sautéed peppers & onions, banana peppers on choice of bread.

Our thoughts: Fragrant. Two kinds of peppers, onions and cheese was so saucy. Banana peppers a little sweet with some crunch. Same good thick meat as the other. Meat stands on its own. Generous. Bread was toasted without being hard. Good thick onions that still had crunch. I would go back and order this again. For all of the divergent opinions, Yadi and Pete were on the same page with this one.

No. 5

Jersey Mike’s – Mike’s Famous Philly

Calories: Reg. – 730/Giant – 1,450

Price: Reg. – $9.55/Giant – $16.95

Menu description: Grilled onions, peppers and white American cheese.

Our thoughts: Yadi: “Peppers and onions on this one held all the flavor. Melty cheese but not consistent. Not much different than the chipotle. I found this one to be a bit salty. Meat was so finely chopped, it almost appeared to be ground. Meat was a little bland on its own. I would ask for extra onions and peppers next time.” Pete: “I think being extra hungry and paying a whopping $17 bucks for this seriously impacted my feelings about it.”

No. 4

Charlie’s Philly – Philly Cheesesteak

Calories: Small – 470/Reg. 780/Large 1,100

Price: Small – $7.49/Reg. – $9.99/Large – $12.99

Menu description: Steak, grilled onions, green peppers, mushrooms and provolone.

Our thoughts: Yadi: “Larger peppers and onions, although it could have used more. But they did have a nice crunch left in them. Meat had some seasoning. Bread was soft even though it was toasted. Cross between a sub and a philly.” Pete: “I know we agreed to eat these without alterations, but this only feels like a Philly to me when I take the pickles off. Great sandwich though.”

No. 3

Jersey Mike’s – The Big Kahuna Cheesesteak

Calories: Reg. 780/Giant 1,560

Price: Reg. – $9.55/Giant – $16.95

Menu description: Grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms, jalapeño & extra white American cheese.

Our thoughts: Yadi: “Mushrooms in this one were hard to find. The jalapeños add some needed crunch and heat and mixed well with sweetness of the peppers. It doesn’t burn and helps cut the heat down.” Pete: “Mine had a few more mushrooms than Yadi’s sandwich did. The jalapeños were a really nice touch.”

No. 2

Quizno’s – Chipotle Steak & Cheddar

Calories: Small – 420/Reg. 840/Large 1,290

Price: Small – $7.49/Reg. – $9.99/Large – $13.79

Menu description: Black Angus steak, sautéed peppers & onions, chipotle mayo.

Our thoughts: Very generous with ingredients from meat to the sauce. Nice kick to the sauce. Bread was fresh with a little bit of crunch. Toasted nicely. Thickest meat in any of the sandwiches. Nice crunch and seasoning surrounding meat edges without being burnt.

No. 1

Penn Station – Philadelphia Cheesesteak

Calories: 466-1,514

Price: Snack – $2.99/Small – $8.39/Reg. – $11.39/Large – $15.49

Menu description: 100% U.S.D.A. Choice Steak, provolone, sautéed onions, fresh mushrooms, banana peppers, Your choice: spicy brown mustard, mayo, pizza sauce.

Our thoughts: Pete: “This one is the GOAT on the list. I will go out of my way to find a Penn Station if I want a Philly. It’s S-tier, or A+ and don’t sleep on those fries.” Yadi: “Gooey and cheesy. Mushrooms, lots of meat but thin and shredded. The veggies still had a crunch to them. Meat had flavor on its own and was piping hot. Bread slightly toasted but fresh. This sandwich was filling, fresh, and you could taste and see all of the advertised ingredients. Don’t forget the fries!”

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Ranking 13 fast-food spicy chicken sandwiches

Ranking 19 fast-food crispy chicken sandwiches

Ranking 9 varieties of Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowls from worst to best

Ranking 21 varieties of Pop-Tarts from worst to best

Ranking 20 frozen potato tots from worst to best

Ranking 29 Lean Cuisine Protein Kicks meals from worst to best

Ranking 32 grocery-store ranch dips from worst to best, just in time for the Super Bowl