According to the researchers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, we owe the invention of the cheesesteak to Pat and Harry Olivieri, a resourceful pair who owned a hot dog stand near the South Philadelphia Italian Market in the early 1930s. Pat went on to open Pat’s King of Steaks, a cheesesteak landmark still in operation today.
While the regional delicacy is a bit uncommon in Los Angeles–perhaps owing to the popularity of our local version of sliced beef on a roll, the French Dip–there are still opportunities to enjoy this Philadelphia export.
Boo’s Philly
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When Andrew Ahn’s parents immigrated to the U.S. from Korea in the 1970s, his father found his first job in America working at a cheesesteak shop in Germantown, New Jersey, and then eventually his mom and dad opened a place of their own. When Ahn moved to L.A. years later and observed a dearth of good steaks here, the family launched Boo’s on the West Coast.
4501 Fountain Ave., Silver Lake; 3377 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown
Philly’s Best
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With 20 locations all over the region, Philly’s Best might be California’s foremost ambassador of the cheesesteak tradition. In a nod to local tastes, Philly’s Best even offers a vegetarian cheesesteak option. There’s also a full menu of hoagies, burgers, and other options.
1419 W. Olive Ave., Burbank; 12008 Lakewood Blvd., Downey, 1998 Ximeno Ave., Long Beach, other locations
Papa Jake’s Sub Shop
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Tucked inside the Original Farmers Market is this shop that wins fans for the house-baked bread they use for their cheesesteaks as well as for the fillings. While the shop itself may be small, the sandwiches certainly aren’t: a cheesesteak here measures an entire foot long.
Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., Beverly Grove.
Authentic Philly at the Corner
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In addition to the namesake “authentic” Philly cheesesteaks, this spot not far from the Forum features some less traditional menu options, like bacon-hot Cheeto cheese fries. They take some liberties with the cheesesteak tradition itself, specifically serving on a baguette-style bread, rather than the iconic softer, Amoroso Bakery-stye rolls.
1855 W. Manchester Ave., Morningside Park
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