ATLGuide
The Best Philly Cheesesteaks In Atlanta
photo credit: Tabia S. Lisenbee-Parker
This one’s dedicated to our friends in Philadelphia who will undoubtedly give us sh*t for trying to replicate their famous jawn. But these eight ATL joints are doing it right, churning out hot beef sandwiches that have us craving Cheez Whiz for the first time in our adult lives. Here’s where Philly’s most famous creation meets the Dirty South.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Amy Sinclair
This Krog Street Market food stall has a collection of generously filled sandwiches that earn them a spot on our best sandwich guide, but Fred’s cheesesteak and burger top that pack as the best thing on the menu. Get the classic with chopped ribeye, caramelized onions, and melted american cheese all on a warm, long roll. One bite into that perfectly crispy roll (made by the General Muir bakery team) should make any Philadelphia transplant question their allegiance to the Amoroso roll. And when you want to mix it up, get our favorite, the Korean cheesesteak with spicy candied jalapeños drenched in gochujang sauce. The combination of sweet, spicy, cheesy, and saucy zestiness gives us all the warm feelings.
photo credit: Tabia Lisenbee-Parker
When our Cheese Whiz craving hits peak levels, we head downtown to Big Dave's flagship location (there's also one inside Mercedes Benz) to get our fix. There are protein options like chicken and salmon, but we usually do the original beef and order it “Dave’s Way.” That gets you onions, mushrooms, green peppers, and sweet banana peppers all melded together with american cheese, provolone, and of course Cheez Whiz. The long Amoroso’s roll hailing from Philly takes it over the edge.
photo credit: Tabia S. Lisenbee-Parker
Since they're open until 4am on the weekends, Woody’s is our first stop for an after-midnight meal that’s ten times better than anything we could get from some torturous drive-thru line. This shabby corner shack started slinging cheesesteaks in Midtown a year before Rocky’s triumphant climb up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. And since then, Woody's has remained a top pound-for-pound sandwich shop contender. Their cheesesteaks are just the right amount of sloppy with thin slices of steak, grilled onions, and gooey white american cheese. And the grease dripping down our hands after every bite takes us back to a carefree age when making a mess was the sign of a good time.
photo credit: Tabia Lisenbee-Parker
The name of this Cheshire Bridge spot signals they know their strengths. Skip past the sauce heavy “pizza steak” with mozzarella cheese and marinara (which isn't one of them), and go straight for the original Philly cheesesteak, which is a triumph. After ordering yours, watch as they chop steak on the griddle behind the counter, adding seasoning, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and cheese with a level of care we always wished we would've given our Tamagotchis. Their slow and steady style comes through in the taste—the meat is tender and moist and the veggies grilled to soft but not mushy doneness.
photo credit: Amy Sinclair
If you're a person who always asks for double cheese, JD's cheesesteak is for you. JD’s is part takeout joint and part convenience store hidden in the suburban streets of Summerhill. Their Caribbean-inspired dishes are all delicious, but one of our favorite items here is their sometimes on-, sometimes off-menu cheesesteak. Ask nicely and the guy behind the counter (usually the cheerful owner) will likely whip it up even when it’s not the special of the day. Their cheesesteak is loaded with an absurd amount of melted cheese and sprinkled with red and green peppers. It’s the ideal sandwich for our fellow cheese-obsessed brethren.
photo credit: JenChan's
This small Cabbagetown spot does a lot of things well: dim sum brunch, creative pizzas, and solid Chinese dishes. And we’re adding cheesesteaks to that list. Purists will roll their eyes, but we love their inventive take on the classic. JenChan’s uses mongolian beef for the meat, giving the saucy cheesesteak a juicy sweetness. And unlike the thinly shaved beef slices most places use, these hunks of beef make this steak sandwich feel like it went to study abroad and came back with a weighty, new outlook. But toppings like grilled green peppers, onions, and melty cheese combine to give you the familiar tastes of a classic cheesesteak.
photo credit: Tabia Lisenbee-Parker
This casual Buford Highway spot with a sports bar aesthetic is better known for its wings. But the cheesesteak proves International Cafe isn’t just a one-hit wonder. We love the globs of melted provolone and tender steak, even if the soft bread gets a little soggy in parts. But the speedy service and laid back vibe of this counter-order joint cancels out our roll complaint.
photo credit: Tabia Lisenbee-Parker
Philly G's simple blue, red, and white signage doesn’t exactly stand out amidst the clutter of Chattahoochee Food Works. But the strong smell of ribeye sizzling on the grill and the scene of happy people taking huge bites of cheesesteaks at the counter will lure you over. Choose from three protein options (ribeye, chicken, or salmon), all served on Amoroso rolls with onions, american cheese, provolone, Cheez Whiz, and mayo. We prefer the classic because the ribeye meat stays moist. And finish off your Philly experience with a cup of three-flavor italian water ice.
