When you think of Philadelphia, you may conjure up images of Benjamin Franklin, the Liberty Bell or maybe even brotherly love, but there is one quintessential item missing from the list: the Philly cheesesteak. The cheesesteak is the most iconic sandwich from any city, anywhere, and apparently Philadelphia is the only city in the world that knows how to make it just right.

Now there are many places where one may find this cheesy fix. This is not about just any cheesesteak, my friends. It’s to document the greatest cheesesteak in all of Philadelphia, in my opinion. Only one establishment can claim the top spot and call itself the best cheesesteak in Philly, and that is Geno’s Steaks.

When walking up to this establishment, one of two thoughts may enter your mind. You may be thinking that you are ready for the greatest steak experience of your life, or you may think the restaurant looks like a race car.

Located at the intersection of Ninth Street and Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia, Geno’s Steaks is a one-of-a-kind establishment where you can get a taste of Philadelphia’s culture, and eat it too.

Cheesesteaks are all about the golden ratio, the perfect amount of meat and cheese. If you are not a cheesesteak purist, there is also the option of peppers, fried onions and mushrooms.

At Geno’s there is a very particular way you must order your cheesesteak, for example, “One, American, with.” For those who did not grow up on South Street, this means, “I would like one cheesesteak with American cheese and all of the fixings. This may seem like a strange way to order until you notice the line is half-way down the block.

Now, if you are skeptical of my taste in cheesesteaks, don’t take my word for it. Come to Philadelphia and try them all for yourself. There is a cheesesteak joint on almost every corner, and each has a specific style it brings to its sandwich.

A true Philly cheesesteak is not just a sandwich; it’s an experience, and this is one experience that I would advise you not to miss.

— Andrew Risch, intern