Probably THE best Cheese Steaks I can find in LA and Orange County. And I live far. And I don't like driving. But I'd sure as hell drive to this place just for their sandwiches. (But usually I just hit this place up when I'm by LAX.) Fun fact: I was held up by TSA because my sandwich, which I placed in my bag, was caught by the bag X-ray. Since it was still hot, it set off some sensor. When the TSA lady inspected it, she laughed. Then I mentioned it was the best sandwich ever. I meant business. read more

I committed a cardinal sin of cheesesteak ordering at Big Mike's Philly Steaks. I PILED. IT. ON. Part of my piling on was an accident, but most was intentional, albeit misguided. Cheesesteak aficionados often counsel that a real philly steak is just a soft Italian roll (never a baguette) with steak, whiz or provolone, onions, peppers (sweet or hot), maybe mushrooms and possibly mayo if you want to be all fancy and eat with your pinky up in the air. You really don't need condiments at all but I'm a sucker for mayo, so I give myself a pass on this one. Here's where the accident came in. I also asked for a side of cole slaw, but they don't do sides of sole slaw. The only way Big Mike's serves cole slaw is on the sandwich. Really, Big Mike? Really? I can't have a side of cole slaw with my cheesesteak? You can see where this is going. I ordered my Combo with mushrooms, hot peppers, mayo, AND lettuce and tomato, plus COLE SLAW. I should have stopped after the mayo, and especially the slaw was duplicative and over the top. Back East, when you order a cheesesteak, the only question you are asked is "wit' or wit'out" - that's about the onions. My sandwich was great, but it was a sloppy mess. The meat part was awesome - truly exceptional - but the two salads on top weren't cheesesteak-appropriate. My own fault, but it could have been avoided if Big Mike's had let me have my side of cole slaw, and if the Big Mike's menu hadn't tempted me into dressing my 'steak into some sort of hoagie hybrid with its fresh and delicious-sounding California choices. I'll order more traditionally next time. The other weirdness on my sandwich was the hot peppers, which were more of an oddly sweet tasting hot pepper relish. I'm used to actual peppers in with the meat, cheese, etc. Oh yeah - and for the uninitiated, FYI, you never, ever add avocado to a Philly cheesesteak, lest you risk rupturing the time/space continuum. This means YOU, California. Not to worry - the thought never even crossed my mind. read more

Big Mike's - El Segundo - There's a Combo Cheesesteak (with mushrooms) under my lettuce and slaw - Sandwiches Near Me - El Segundo, California

Best Philly cheese steak in South Bay and always friendly and great customer service.

Always loved the great service & variety of food offered. I have been going for 25 years plus. Big Mike's is the best!!!!

Bomb cheesesteaks. Not as many options as at the original Hermosa location. But man, the cheesesteaks are all you need. Good cold hoagies too. Big Mike's are my favorite restaurants in town. read more

This place did not disappoint! Theres parking, easy ordering and pick up system. I came after a lunch rush so there was no wait to order. I got a grilled mushroom one and it was super delish! Bread was soft, meat and cheese was flavorful. read more

Even though I have been here many many times over the few years, I have only tried three things on the menu. My usual is the 6 inch PHILLY CHEESESTEAK. I only add grilled onions to it, but you can add peppers, lettuce, pickles and tomatoes. I have never had cheesesteak from Philadelphia, but Big Mike's cheesesteak is pretty good. The thinly sliced steak was juicy and flavorful. There are tons of meat. It's very satisfied. The second thing that I had is the eggplant parmesan sub. When the eggplant is good, the sub is good. But sometimes, the eggplant is dry and chewy. I think I will just stick to the cheesesteak. My favorite thing is the GARLIC FRIES. The garlics in here are strong, and they can be spicy sometimes. But, it is just so delicious! I really can't stop eating that. I come here for dinner on weekdays most of the time. And, it's always empty. But they close at 5pm on the weekend, and they are always close on public holidays. read more

Big Mike's - El Segundo - Philly Cheese Steak with onions - Sandwiches Near Me - El Segundo, California

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Went here the other night craving a "real" Philly Cheesesteak. This place didn't disappoint. The bread was perfect. Really soft and chewy but a bit crisp on the outside. The meat was thin and tasty. I don't need all the options of veggies, cheeses, and such but are nice if you do. They offer the important ones, onions and whiz. The sandwiches aren't the only reason to come by and grab a bite to eat. The fries are awesome too. We had a basket of garlic fries and magically made them disappear . The fries are fresh cut and not those frozen cookie cutter style. They fry then to perfection. To top it all off they have fountain coke. I will be back for sure. read more

Big Mike's - El Segundo - Menu is posted on the outside so you can decide before heading in . - Sandwiches Near Me - El Segundo, California

-good parking in the back lot on a Sunday afternoon -Philly combo was very good -friendly staff I decided to drive out to El Segundo. The restaurants along the street had alot of weekend patrons dining and chatting. I pulled into the back lot and walked into Big Mike's Philly Steaks. The staff was nice and friendly and patient as I decided what to order. The Philly combo with mushrooms and cheese and added lettuce tomato was paid with a debit card plus a tip. My sub was made quickly and I was out the door and on the way to the beach. Thanks Big Mike. Returning in the future. read more

Big Mike's - El Segundo - Philly combo-mushrooms, cheese, tomato, lettuce. Delicious - Sandwiches Near Me - El Segundo, California

Delicious. Ordered the Philly cheesesteaks with cheese wiz and fries and onion rings. All delicious. Highly recommended picking up food here- during covid 19. Clearly a popular spot with people to pick up their lunch. I would recommend them adding horseradish sauce as an option. Not sure if that currently exists. Definitely plan to be back. read more

Decided to stop here while in the area earlier this week. Place was clean and the staff decent. I ordered a chicken philly steak with provolone. The sandwich I received was more of a "philly styled" steak. The bread was really fresh (kudos to the bakery/supplier), as were the added condiments. The chicken was plentiful but had zero seasoning/flavor, and very little cheese. After paining through the first half due to sheer hunger, I took the remaining half home and doctored it up before eating it. As I think about it, this is probably the result of a poorly trained cook and not the norm at this establishment. I mean, they have everything they need to make a great sandwich - all they have to do is execute. read more

Great. This place is one of the best food places I have been to in El Segundo. I recommend the pastrami dog as it is nothing short of a godly meal. Best staff, best owner, and best service. read more

Coming from the Northeast and growing up in Jersey, I'll admit, I'm a little bit of a cheesesteak snob.. I've often found the local Philly steaks to be silly steaks. This place is not that.. this place actually surprised me. Great taste, full of flavor, and packed with meat. I work in Aerospace and often pop over for lunch- service is quick and the regular size is enough to get me through the day. I can't vouch for anything else on the menu , but If you want a good Philly Steak, try this place. read more

Honestly really impressed with their cheesesteaks. Having grown up in PA with the luxury of Philly cheesesteaks at my disposal, it's as close to authentic as I've experienced here in LA. The bread, shredded steak, and grilled onions are cooked just right and they even have a cheese whiz option! Anything now I'm in El Segundo I'll have an excuse to grab a cheesesteak from this place. read more

I don't want to tell you about this place, and if you come here you'll understand why. Born and raised in CA, so I wouldn't know a real cheesesteak from what I have had, but I have been told by a friend who took a sandwich to her step-father (from east coast) that this is the best one he has had on the west coast. So, you don't have to take my word. But, if you just came in through LAX and want something to eat, I would come here, though make sure they are open as they close early (part of the charm of El Segundo). Staff are great, get your food out quickly. Also, the locals, I like them a lot, very friendly genuine people, just tell them a friend told you to come here cause they said it was awesome and they will be sure to smile and agree. May even talk to you while you wait for your food. Might have to park on the street, but shouldn't be an issue. Oh, and the prices are right where they should be for what you are getting. read more

Big Mike's - El Segundo - Sandwiches Near Me - El Segundo, California

Horrible service. Ordered sub and waited for 30 mins inside store, asked every 10 mins about my sub and went to counter and asked where is my sub and the girl says she just gave it to someone else. Then they screwed up my refund. Avoid this place. Sucks read more

I am a fan. They have incredible sandwich's. I tend to keep it simple with bread, meat & cheese nothing else. I do not tend to allow too much room for screw up's when it comes to my food. Once again I turned my girlfriend onto this place and she digs it as well. We actually only go out once a week and try new places and tend to stick to the places we love. This location gets quite a bit of traffic during the lunch hours. It is located directly across the street from El Segundo High School. Plenty of parking street or parking lot. They close early on Sunday's which kind of stinks during football season (which is over now). There is another location in Hermosa Beach but that Big Mikes got me sick BIG TIME. I actually called the Health Dept on that one. I have zero complaints about the El Segundo location. They have nice little East Coast treats like Tasty Cakes which are pretty much DA BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Love their cheese steaks. Most like the ones at home in philly. Price is reasonable too.

Yum! This place doesn't look like much, but my sub was really good! We kind of customized and and made our own sandwich to share--turkey, salami and veggies. I really enjoyed it, and it was a really reasonably priced lunch. read more

Big Mike's - El Segundo - Turkey and salami sub - Sandwiches Near Me - El Segundo, California

Stopped in for lunch while attending a training at Dockweiler State Beach. I ordered the Chicken Combo which is a Philly Chicken with mushrooms and cheese. It was delicious. The fries were fresh and tasted like they were fresh cut. The staff was friendly and the food was served swiftly. read more

Whoa. Big Mike's does good subs. Running late and unfamiliar with the hood, I stood on the corner of Main and scanned the storefronts for a quick, tasty lunch option. Big Mike's. When I entered, I saw a fairly busy lunch crowd with 4 El Segundo cops dining there. Always a good sign about the food when cops are patrons. I ordered the Atlantic City sub with hot peppers to go. Within 5 minutes, I had a 6 inch sub in a brown paper bag ready to go. I was pleasantly surprised after the first bite. There's quite a bit of quality meat and just the right mix of veggies and sauce. The bread was perfect. Crusty on the outside, but delightfully chewy and soft on the inside. I was glad I decided to hit Big Mike's instead of going to the usual Jersey Mike's down the street. This place does good subs. read more

I am born and raised in philly and a cheesesteak snob. I'll start by if you are ever in philly don't go to pats or Genos. They are both not good. However Big Mikes was GOOD! It was like getting a cheesesteak from back home. The bread was soft and it was meaty. The cheese was melted as it should be. Just great. My new go to place for a cheese steak. read more

Yummmmmm! I got the chicken teriyaki which came with pineapple and it was so good! They make it fresh right in front of you on the grill. Great location on the main drag and nice space inside. read more

Big Mike's - El Segundo - Sandwiches Near Me - El Segundo, California

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1st time here so not much to say but it's a typical place to eat. Ya have to pick your own condiments for your sandwich there's no standard condiment that comes with it. Example you have a choice of hot or sweet peppers. read more

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Fries were undercooked but they tasted good. Sandwiches were huge. Six inches was plenty. The bread was not toasted. The steak had no flavor. Cheap for how much you get however. This place goes for quantity not quality. I would probably not recommend it to someone else. read more

It was ok, I've definitely had better. At the mall even. Something seemed off about the bread they used for the sandwiches. Now I'm not a philly cheese steak expert, but if I wanted tough, chewy bread that cuts the roof of my mouth I'd eat at Lee's Sandwiches. If the bread was slightly better quality and more importantly toasted then they'd win another star in my book. Prices were decent, I'd try it again maybe but wouldn't go out of my way. I think I stood at the cashier's station ready to order for about 5 minutes before the workers stopped chattering enough to help me. Even after they approached he asked "how can I help you" then turned around to talk to the others again. I just remembered this, so I'm changing my vote from 3 to 2. PS: I never knew downtown El Segundo was SO LAME read more

Part dos of my back-to-back steak sammy weekend excursion. I will not be dating vampires anytime soon. Especially after Saturday morning surf sessions with Marc S. Trust me when I say, Big Mike's garlic fries are probably better than anything from the Stinking Rose... why not take the savings and get a few more orders of these fries? The steak sandwich is a 3. I must have ingested a little too much salt water from the tropical oasis, known as El Porto... there's no other reason why I forgot to 86 the lettuce. I know I'm in a beach community when the steak comes standard with lettuce, sweet and spicy peppers and tomatoes (instead of the correct condiments consisting solely of cheese and onions). "Hey, Mrs. Spicoli... can Jeff come out and surf? What?! Hand gave him weekend detention? For eating his steak sammy with lettuce? Serves him right!" Oh Southern California... you wily coagulation of coke-addled celebutantes and fashionistas. What's next... throwing avocado on a burger? I digress... Big Mike's: Average steak sammies. Disgustingly awesome garlic fries. So disgustingly awesome, I missed the first round of Yelp's fantasy football draft. Minus one star for effectively killing off a third of my potential dating pool. I'm not the only one who's had visions of becoming embraced into a vampire coven, am I? read more

Due to a street closure, I ended up parking extremely far from this place, okay okay, it was a whole block away, but damn it, I was hungry and tired and it felt like the block kept getting longer and longer. After the long trek, we made it to Mike's only to discover they have parking in the back, DAMN YOU, STREET CLOSURE!! The place had one lonely customer, eating a hardy cheese steak. I took a look at the menu and decided to get a 6' cheese steak with mushrooms with lettuce and tomatoes along with a side of garlic fries. It didn't take long for our food to be ready; my cheese steak was ginormous and stacked high with yummy steak! I had no idea how I was going to finish it. The garlic fries were too garlic-y for my taste. But other than that, it was delish. Next time I'll consider getting a combo, to get a bigger bang for my buck. Besides the long trek, the only problem I had with this place is that the cashier/waiter had the personality of a doorknob. I was a new customer and wanted some suggestions from someone who sees a majority of the food that goes out, instead I got a WTF face. I'll definitely try Mike's again, at a different location. read more

it's really amazing i'm not fat. for lunch at work we went to south street in westwood. during lunch someone told me to try big mike's so i added it to my to do list. that same evening my friend in el segundo just returned from a trip so i went to go visit her. i left my before she landed. my intent was to take random surface streets from culver city to there and try to find a new hole in the wall mexican place. driving and driving i kept taking the roads with no food. soon i ended up in el segundo, it was 8:50pm and from experience i knew half of this city shuts down pretty early, i began to worry. but then while driving down main street i see big mike's and a lit open sign. dear god, what am i doing to my body. i park and enter. inside was just one guy eating with a girl, no one behind the counter, most the chairs already stacked for closing. oh no! did i just miss it?! the guy eating gets up and smiles and asks what i would like to eat. my nerves settle and ask the man for a cheese steak with grilled onions. he makes it while i sit. minutes later he hand me a basket with a halved roll overflowing with god's tears, aka meat and cheese. at first the beast is too hot to bite into. i wait a few and take some pictures and watch bowl game highlights on the tv. and soon enough my pet is ready to eat. and hot damn it's good! the meat is shredded and diced with the cheese and onions melted thoroughly within. the best part was that there was so much meat it was hard to even get my jaw around the whole thing. soon i was done and very happy. i got up and thanked the meat man for a great pile of meat. on my way out i kicked myself for not seeing the condiment bar, oh well, next time. the only reason i didn't like this place over south street was the bread. here it was a bit thicker and chewier, it took away from the joy of meat and cheese. still damn good overall! read more

Big Mike's - El Segundo - overflowing with love - Sandwiches Near Me - El Segundo, California

I love a great Philly Cheese Steak, and after seeing all the glowing reviews here, I got some great friends together and off we went expecting some pretty darn good sandwiches....i guess expectations set you up for disappointment, cause that's all any of us got. The guy who took our order could have given us a lil more information than he did, being that we clearly stated it was our first time, and could have volunteered that you must request items you want on the sandwich, where as I thought everything was already going to come on the sandwich unless we requested them not to be put on it, or maybe I just can't read english well, but I definitely missed that info, and we paid for it when we rec'd the final product The portion size on the meat was substantial, even by my greedy standards, but with nothing else to add any flavor, it was definitely very bland...a pile of bland meat placed into a french roll with cheese....hmmmm Sauteed onions and mushrooms probably could have made it decent (no guarantee..but anything would have helped...well maybe not anything, the sweet and hot peppers didn't, and that was all we had at our disposal), and the garlic fries were not topped with delicious roasted garlic, but just RAW chopped garlic thrown on top...ingenious!...ly bad! Maybe he can serve it up on some some raw potatoes too instead of fried potatoes...to keep it consistent So, since the sandwich, fries and the customer service were lacking, I guess I'll have to find other places to get my philly cheese steak cravings fulfilled read more

When I think of a Philly Cheese Steak, I think of what WiIl describes on the Fresh Prince. If the bag or tray ain't greasy then it's probably not authentic because that's where all the flavor comes from. Well sorry Big Mike, but you failed me. Yeah there's plenty of parking, and yeah you weren't shy on the meat but... bleh. Booooriiiiiiing, bland you are my friend. I was expecting the Philly Cheese Steak to be more tasty but really you didn't have much to offer. Even the "hot sauce" was wiggity wiggity whack jack. Wahhhhhh ='[ read more

Ive been reading reviews of this place for quite some time and I finally made it in there today. Its located in El Segundo which is an awesome little city. One of my best friends lived there growing up so I have spent many an hour in that town. The place was deserted. 3 guys working. One eating on his lunch break, one cashier and one cook. I ordered a 12 inch cheesesteak with onions and sweet peppers. I got american cheese because I didnt scope out the other options. They have whiz and provolone too. Took a seat and within 5 minutes my sandwich was ready. This mothafucker was huge!! Packed to the brim with meat, onions, melted cheese and topped off with sweet peppers. The sweet peppers were the only weak point of the sandwich. They were cut in chunks like bell peppers. I prefer my peppers on sandwiches to be more diced, like a relish almost. Anyways....that didnt detract from the overall goodness. It was a perfect blend of everything. Its served up on some sort of a baguette. Not a traditional roll for a cheesesteak but it worked well here. The bread had a crusty outside but a super soft inside and it had a little chew to it. Excellent bread! Total for a huge sandwich and a drink $10.50. Not to shabby. If they improved their sweet peppers a tad, this would be in 5 star territory making it one of the best cheesteaks you can get in LA. If ever passing through El Segundo I would suggest you stop and grab a bite. Excellent cheesesteaks! read more

I hope we went on an off day, but pretty much the worst food I've had in a long time. And I was so excited to try it! I got a straight cheesesteak, with sweet peppers, cheese, and grilled onions added. They lumped a mass of cheese in one spot, so it didn't melt, there were hardly any sweet peppers and they totally forgot my grilled onions. The meat was super dry, and the whole sandwich was extremely bland. My bf got the sausage sandwich, which for some reason took 15 minutes to cook, and arrived was finally prepared when I had practically given up on my sandwich. We also got garlic fries, and although I love garlic, i was not prepared for freshly minced garlic thrown right onto the fries. Talk about taking a risk, most people expect their garlic fries to be a little milder, but they just threw it right on there. The guys cooking, never called numbers so everyone was standing around pointing at the baskets and speculating who's was who's. The cooks all looked so confused, or lost, as if they didn't know their way around the kitchen, or as if they were doing 10 things at once, and forgetting steps in between. Afterward we speculated that this place used to be really great at one point, but maybe had gotten lost along the way. The pictures on the menu of the dishes looked really appetizing. It had all the decor a Philly cheesesteak joint should have (lots philly stuff), tastey cakes, and what not. But the food and service was incredibly lacking. I was severely disappointed. I've had bigger, tastier, cheaper, and faster cheesesteaks in Humboldt count California, of all places. read more

The last time I ate here, I got SEVERE FOOD POISONING. I was sick for 3 days. I'd seriously think twice before eating here. read more

Every time I read other people's reviews it reminds me how hard the restaurant business is and what colossal asses people can be. Let me get this part out of the way: food here is great. Cheese steaks are great, chicken cheese steaks are great, atlantic city haogie is downright bombtastic. Fries are amazing ( I recommend garlic and cheese) onion rings are also awesome. Been coming here for prolly around 8 years now (yikes, I'm old) and never been disappointed. Staff is awesome and food comes up quick. People complaining about having to wait a minute or two for their sandwich or giving a 2 star review because you think they didnt put enough cheese on yours (which would literally shock me as they CRUSH the sandwich in cheese)... smh. I just hope people dont decide to not come to this place because of your desire to look like a high-end foodie on yelp. Best cheese steak in LA. Period. read more

Having now been to Philly to try an "authentic" cheesesteak, I'd rather have Big Mike's. Well seasoned, lean steak. Soft, slightly caramelized onions. Sweet peppers and hot peppers. Soft baguette style roll. Cheese Whiz. So simple, yet so amazing. And for those reviewers that say they don't have whiz, are you sure you were at the right place? I've always had whiz on my sandwich here, and they're plentiful with it. The garlic fries are amazing here as well. I was really close to giving the place 4 stars for the ketchup alone (really, can't you get Heinz, the economy grade stuff you guys serve is awful), but after having the "real philly cheesesteak" at Jim's, I realize what a gem Big Mike's is. read more

I was pretty disappointed. I love Philly Cheese Steaks (like LOVE IT... if they made Jelly Belly flavor Philly Cheese Steak, I'd be downing it like no one's watching). I do admit, the prices are really really reasonable. Usually a small Philly Cheese Steak will cost you an arm and a leg but the price here for the amount they give you was really fair. The garlic fries, man oh man, just chop up some garlic and throw it on top of some fries. Man oh man, I found it hard to swallow (literally). The meat and cheese were bland and a bit on the dry side, and the bread, oh something about the bread didn't seem to go right with the sandwich. Did it not have that oomph to it? Or was because the ingredients inside the sandwich dry that made the bread dry as well? =/ All in all, it just didn't suit my palette. read more

Excellent Philly Steaks + Tasty Garlic Fries = Big Mike's Do the math, the place adds up to a delicious, yet un-nutritious equation of a meal. The sandwiches are so huge! One time I ordered the 12 inch by mistake and wound up looking like a gluttonous bastard in front of my co-worker. Couldn't even finish the mother, had to take the rest home for dinner. The subs come out to you loaded with toppings and dripping with cheese and meat. A fork may be required to scoop up all of the goodness as it falls out of your roll. Might as well throw in a basket of fries for the table while you're at it. Better make that Garlic Fries, just to ensure that no pesky co-workers will want to bother you after wards. read more

So I did the whole LA veggie thing for some years... Mock at will. I loved to order their grilled veggie and cheese with hot peppers (key extra). Sooo, delish. When I fell off the bandwagon I ordered the philly cheese-steak. Now I must say it is in fact very, very good but it doesn't compare to the grilled veggie and cheese which is my staple at this joint. Some good habits die hard. The garlic fries are very good too. Granted the chunks of garlic don't stick to the fries but that's what ketchup is for right? Clean restaurant and good service. So not healthy, but oh so good. read more

Well Well Well BIG MIKE... We finally meet.. I've been hearing alot about you... SUPPOSEDLY, you make the best Philly Cheese steak sandwich around. They say you make a MEAN batch of garlic fries. I want to believe such claims BUT... Does your yellow pages of a menu have to be posted OUTSIDE of your store to deter away innocent south bay lunch dwellers? And does that same menu have to be scatter all around the inside, making me look as if im trying to find WALDO? Do you really have to dress your sandwiches as if they were garden burgers? Is that REALLY necessary? Does your staff need to take some English lesson to understand that I don't want Cheese Whiz (worst Cheese EVaRR!) and tomatoes in my sandwich? It doesn't take 20 minutes either to make a philly steak. (Yes, I timed it) Don't get me started on the price! Good thing your sandwiches are tasty because if it were any different you'd never hear from me again. *HIT IT & QUIT IT BABY! Oh we'll meet again BIG MIKE... but next time I may not be so nice Fin. read more