#The entire world thinks a Philadelphia cheesesteak is some monstrosity that they can insist is authentic while putting random shit on it

[a-very-tired-jew]

Alright, in the spirit of causing psychic damage to me and other Philly folk I have an ask for the rest of you.

What is the cheesesteak like where you live? Obviously they call it a Philly cheesesteak or even just a “Philly”.

They likely put bell peppers on it which we don’t do and insist on using a cheese sauce (Geno’s and Pat’s tourist traps are exactly that and we don’t eat their gross whizz covered monstrosities unless out of town family insists).

In fact every restaurant I have ever been to that insists they make a “traditional Philly” outside of eastern PA and Jersey put bell peppers on their shit. That’s literally an Italian beef and it’s Pittsburgh’s fault that this is the norm tbh.

But I’ve also seen queso dropped on a “Philly” and called authentic. I’ve seen havarti used instead of provolone or American cheese (Swiss is acceptable if you’re doing SW Philly style).

I’ve only had a legit cheesesteak in a few places from small sandwich shops run by Philly expats or ones who went up and learned how to make them.

So I ask, what’s your local “authentic” cheesesteak look like?