Coming for 40 years. Best cheesesteaks ever! I now stop by every time I am in Philly.

I just heard that Mama's Pizzeria is closing, which is sad news for all. Mama's Pizzeria served an amazing cheesesteak in a humble ambiance. Their cheesesteaks are (or soon to be were) incredible. The kind of sandwich that anyone would serve proudly. This is truly a shame. I wish the best for all involved on their future endeavors. read more

I've been coming here for over 25+ years. They are a hidden gem. If you know, you know. Parking: a small private lot. Atmosphere: old world, family owned restaurant with old Rickty tables. Service: People always smiley and always eager to help you and Services good most of the times. Food: i'm not even sure if they sell other things even Pizza but I come here for the cheese steak . their cheesesteaks are the best they make their own rolls and have a variety of cheesesteaks. You have to get there early because they have sold out. You can dine in or you can take away. When coming from city line Ave once you come down the hill and as you go up the hill, you don't wanna go too fast because you will blow right by it. Overall I enjoy the cheesesteaks here and I will continue coming here and bringing my family and friends when they come from out of town because their cheesesteak is one of my favorites. read more

All hype. Just a cheesesteak with a pound of constipated cheese. Didn't like it, nor my mom liked it. Hoagies wasn't good. Mom gave it away. I should of know better. I will stick to my cheesesteaks in Philly. If you like cheesesteak with a pound of weird cheese on it then go for it. read more

They're closed now, so I'm just writing to say "goodbye" to a place that was a staple in my family going back before I was born. There won't ever be another like it. Pictured is a steak from the last time I visited in 2024 read more

Mama's Pizzeria - Sandwiches Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

Great Philly Cheesesteak. Always have Mama's every time I am in Philadelphia. If you are a foodie, you won't be disappointed.

Traveling on Belmont Avenue there is a hidden treasure, Mama's Pizza. Great food, drinks, service & setting. The hoagies and steaks are filled with plenty of meat, cheese and add-ons, as requested, no slacking even during economic challenges. They remain reasonably priced. Better get there early if you're getting lunch or you'll be waiting with hungry Construction Workers, lunchtime regulars and casual guests. Definitely worth the wait & remembering! They may even remember your preference from previous orders. read more

Great cheese combination for steak steak sandwiches. Unique flavor with good rolls. The texture is so good.

The absolute best cheesesteak in the Philly area. We stop in as often as we can for lunch when near Bala. I always get the mini as pictured. However, the chicken Cordon Blue cheesesteak is amazing according to my friend Scott. Definitely not a tourist trap like other Philly spots. Go where the locals go! Go Mama's on Belmont Ave. read more

Mama's Pizzeria - Moma's Mini Cheesesteak. - Sandwiches Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

Today, August 16, 2025, was my first visit to Mama's Pizzeria for a cheesesteak. I was impressed with my findings. It was the best cheese steak ever and was made with a combination of thinly sliced quality steak, melted cheese, and sautéed seasoned onions. The Roll had a soft texture and delicate crust, making it an excellent choice. The steak was tender and flavorful, easy to chew with a smooth texture that was not chewy or tough. There was melted cheese throughout the steak. Cheese in every bite. Absolutely Delicious! On Point - done Right!!!      The cost was $20.00 a pop - but was well worth it. The size and Quality of the sandwich is huge! You can feed 3 people from one sandwich. It was the best cheesesteak that I have had since "Pat's Steak House" - back in the day. Mama's Pizzeria - is now my "go to place for Cheese Steaks". A pleasant surprise, and joy to your taste buds.  While the Ambiance is super dated, the service was welcoming, and friendly, read more

A terrific cheesesteak. Really as good as anything I've had in the Philly area and that's a LOT of cheesesteaks. The whole size is definitely just right for lunch now, dinner later. A good hard roll, but the tender meat and cheese (and onions) inside are not engulfed. The meat is not dried out. Every bite was terrific. I've always eaten my first half there, second half at home. It's not a large room, but I always was able to find a table. The people are very nice, bring your food right to your table. The leftover half is great heated up in the oven. The hours are somewhat limited, and the owner is said to be retiring soon, so don't waste time....! read more

4/11/23 My wife was meeting friends in the area and she knows how much I love Mama's Pizzeria in Bala Cynwyd so she grabbed me one to reheat for dinner. I always order pepperoni & fried onions with a side of their amazing tomato sauce which I lovingly ladle it every on every other bite. I had them pack up the meat in a separate container and wrap the roll separately. All she did is reheat the meaty cheesy pepperoni concoction in the pan for a few minutes till it was all melty and then slap it down on the roll. Tastes just like as if I ate it there. Couple stats since I've never paid attention before. Total weight 1 1/2 lb. Total cost with side of sauce $20 Total time to finish 5min 52sec. It's been my favorite for the last 37 years and still my top. But there are still many that are close second: read more

I'll never wait in line at Dalessandro's again. This is one of the best cheesesteaks in town. I don't think they even sell pizza anymore. They should probably change their name. Don't be fooled by the term "mini" on the menu. Their mini steaks are full-sized hoagies. The large ones could easily feed two people. The meat is tender and you can request they use pizza cheese, which is delicious. It's got a very old school vibe, with their dry erase menu boards, checkered table clothes, and small dining room. It all adds to the charm in my opinion. Plus they have a parking lot. Huge win. read more

Mama's Pizzeria - Mini Cheesesteak - Sandwiches Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

My family and I love to get cheesesteaks from mamas. It's ironic that they don't make pizza anymore but they at least have mastered the cheesesteak. The blend of cheese that they use is very different from what you might be used to in a Philly cheesesteak. It's delicious and the meat and cheese are plentiful. The only thing is I really feel like the sandwich is much better when you add ketchup. read more

Mama's Pizzeria - The regular cheesesteak. One of the best in Philly. The cheese is different from other cheesesteaks - Sandwiches Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

Best cheesesteaks ever. Forget the tourist traps. This is the place to go. I've been going for years.

These cheese-steaks are epic! Huge, tasty, packed with both cheese and beef. I just consumed an entire large one and I feel like I need to crawl into bed and get into the fetal position. These steak sandwiches are massive!! Yeah it's called Mama's Pizzeria but they don't serve pizza... no big deal, it just adds to the Philly charm of this place. read more

See all

I've been a fan of Delassandro's for decades. I try to make there every time I am in town. This trip my coworker said I really should try Mama's. So we went there for lunch and I have to say I may have a whole new number one! We got the half or small size which as you can see is huge!! Their bread is probably the best I've had!! The ONLY thing that is keeping me from rating the best is they have a proprietary cheese blend they use. I like a combo of cheese whiz and provolone so I missed that flavor. But make NO mistake this is one outstanding sandwich!!! read more

Mama's Pizzeria - Small portion soooo much meat - Sandwiches Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

See all

The absolute best hoagies cheesesteak pizza & stromboli I've had been going here for 30 years and I'm never going to change Cie Fitzgerald-Benton read more

The first thing you should know about Mama's Pizzeria is that they don't sell pizza. The second thing you should know is that they used to sell pizza, for decades, as in we used to get Mama's Pizza delivered for parties at nearby Bala Cynwyd Middle School in the days when microwave ovens and VCRs were both new and enormous. The third thing you should know is that their cheesesteaks are fantastic. This is my second entry in my "Dining in the Age of Corona" series. FellowYelper Michael P and I had to run an errand - we were going to the same place, so carpooling, yay! - and he offered to buy lunch at Mama's afterwards as thanks. Works for me, though the last time I had Mama's was back in those days above. So we head over there. I say "Get me a pepperoni or whatever" and he says "Oh no, they haven't sold pizza in five years or so." Huh? He highly recommended the cheesesteak. Okay, sure. Michael called ahead with the order. There's a decent sized parking lot to wait in, he hopped out and very shortly came back with the bounty. OMG that was the most amazing cheesesteak. Juicy meat, gooey delicious cheese, and a roll that soaked it all up and held up. This, my friends, is the cheesesteak spoken of in legends. It's that good. Definitely on my list now. read more

Mama's Pizzeria - Cheesesteak mmmmmmmm - Sandwiches Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

Still my top choice for a cheesesteak, going on around 45 years now! Also, I want cheese in my cheesesteak and Mama's does that right, too. The meat is plentiful and the roll is excellent. All that means nothing if taste isn't preeminent and Mama's has been nailing that for 5 decades! read more

Best cheesesteak ever!! Quick takeout service. Highly recommend this long standing place.

I hear they are closing soon. Do yourself a favor. Get a cheesesteak there. Plain. No sauce. No nothing. Just a cheesesteak. The absolute best in Philadelphia. By far. Nothing comes close. Dellasandros. Nope. Jims. Nope. Larrys. Not even close. Go. read more

Highly recommend by many in my family so I finally checked it out. Got the small cheesesteak to eat there and the small tuna to go. For my taste the cheese on the cheesesteak was way too much and not incorporated throughout. The roll was nice and the meat flavorful and the small was very filling but won't get again. The tuna was good but not special. What really got to me was the layers of dust hanging from the neon sign in the window...yuck. read more

Best steak sandwiches period nothing is even close and these guys have been doing it for over half a century!

It has been way too long since I had a Mamas Cheesesteak. I was in town from Austin to celebrate my sisters 60th. I made sure Saturday for lunch was open. At 11:30 I arrived at the Mecca of Philly steaks that I have eaten for the past 40 years. You got that right 40 friggen years and you know what it was awesome. Why? Because Paul has been there all those years. We grew older together. LOL Whoever says Mamas is not as good is crazy. The same man manning the grill forever is making the steaks. Listen carefully rookies and so called experts. Mamas cheesesteak is a rich sandwich. Sauce , onions and hot peppers are a must to cut all that richness. That's basic cooking chemistry. No acid and the experience is going to be different. The Philly Inquirer finally got their head straight and named the Mamas cheesesteak the best sandwich in Philly. The photo had sauce, onions and peppers. Paul it was great talking fish with you. I hope not to wait too long for my next bite but I promise to keep it cheesy. All the best! Just like your gourmet sandwich. read more

Went back to this place after not having been to it for years. Was worried it wouldn't be as good as i remembered. But it was as good as ever. You'll get a cheesesteak that's filled with meat and a great cheese sauce. No 'all bread' sandwiches here! Highly recommended. read more

Not bad....not bad. I heard so much about Mama's pizzeria and I'm glad I got the chance to check them out being as tho they were closed the first two attempts. I guess third times the charm. I came to mama's pizzeria and the line was pretty long but it moved fast and everyone practiced social distancing. I ordered my cheesesteak and I believe I paid 15.00 for my sandwich. It was worth it cause it was definitely a hefty cheesesteak! When I first tried it, I was confused with their choices of cheese. I think they have their signature 3 cheese blend however everyone knows american is the best cheese for a cheesesteak. The more I ate it.. The more we got acquainted the cheesesteak and I. It was flavorful and the bread was tasty. Overall I learned to adapt my taste buds to this unique cheesesteak and I'll definitely check out mama's pizzeria again! read more

Best cheesesteak in the Philly suburbs... no question! If this place were within the Philly border, it would be number 2 in my book. Or maybe 1b. John's is tough to beat. But Mama's is one of the few cheesesteaks that ever made me sigh in pleasure after the first bite. What a sandwich! Just go get one and thank me later. read more

Mama's Pizzeria - Sandwiches Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

This place is so good, it was (honestly and literally) my uncle's dying wish to have one last cheesesteak from Mama's. Let alone the fact that he had tried every cheesesteak in the city over the three+ decades he lived there, with every possible last meal request, the week before he passed, it was their sandwich on his mind. I had it for the first time after my wife picked up a slew of them for the family to enjoy with my uncle. Even eating half of it room temp an hour and change after it was made and the other half reheated, it may have still just been the best cheesesteak I've ever had. Until then, for reference, my favorite had been Delassandro's. Mama's bread and cheese were even better. Thank you Mama's for giving my uncle years of wonderful meals and memories he held with him and enjoyed until the very end. He joked that his dying wish may have been to know what the proprietary cheese blend was, but that going to the grave would answer one of his life's greatest mysteries so he may as well preserve the other. I can't wait to visit again and have the sandwich fresh at the restaurant. read more

Best Cheesesteak (Just outside philly) Need to go immediately if you love provolone cheese and and cheesy cheesesteak with a casual friendly vibe... run. read more

In the past I frequently visited Mama's Pizzeria, but I haven't visited for a while. Today, I finally decided to stop back in after playing some tennis in the area. Walking into Mama's is like walking back into the 1960's. The menu is entirely hand written, there is no self-serve drink machine, the seats are torn and the restaurant has a lot of picture-hooks on the walls, but they don't have any pictures. The decor really needs to be updated. I decided to order a cheesesteak, which I have heard great things about. They recently won "Best Cheesesteak on the Main Line." I got my cheesesteak in the mini-size, which was only 6 inches, but still filled with tons of meat. The cheesesteak came out very fast and was nice and hot. They also gave me a fork to eat it with. The steak sandwich was fairly solid, but not the best I have ever had. The steak was good, but there was a little bit too much cheese. The thing I didn't like about it the most was how greasy it was. I did like the bread that Mama's put their cheesesteaks on. It was very fresh tasting! Altogether, Mama's serves a solid cheesesteak, though they could improve their decor. read more

See all

I recently visited Philly. I live 2 hours away and I had not been there in 10 years... which means I have not had Mama's in 10 years...Had the cheesesteak...STILL Great!!!! read more

The best cheesesteaks around in my opinion!! Easy to call and pick up, and have very generous portions.

My family ordered takeout here on June 30th and immediately got sick. We thought the cheesesteaks were delicious, but unfortunately will not be coming back. My sister is pregnant and food-borne illness from a dirty kitchen or bad meat due to a bacteria could be extremely serious. We're sure it was the cheesesteaks because the next day my brother-in-law bravely ate the leftovers and was left even sicker than before for the next 24 hours. Hoping to share this PSA not to trash this establishment but to make them aware so they can try to find the root of the issue and avoid getting othe in the future. read more

Mama's Pizzeria - Cheesesteak - Sandwiches Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

Delicious cheese steak! Come give them a try I did and I loved it! A little out of the city and it's clearly been kept intact since ET made a debut in 1982 but pretty good! read more

Mama's Pizzeria - Regular cheese steak with grilled onions and American cheese - Sandwiches Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

When in Philly, you should eat a cheesesteak. That's all anyone talks about and that's all anyone refers me to. But for a long time I had to be gluten-free. So I would politely smile and nod while people went on and on about these magical cheesesteaks. Until yesterday. I have been slowly reworking gluten into my body, like an athlete training for a marathon. And I was taken to what I can only imagine true Philadelphians know of: Mama's. It's a small joint, with not a lot of markings or distinctive unique pieces that restaurants often do when they're trying to compensate. Nothing to compensate for here. I ordered the cheesesteak with sauce. The sauce is like a marinara sauce but calling it that still isn't quite justice. I came home and took the first bite, the bread melting in my mouth and the cheese filling up every sense, and the meat diced in a perfect delicious way, that I truly have not raved about a piece of food in I don't even know how long! This sandwich is the tits! As soon as I consumed it, more like inhaled it, I could've easily eaten more. We got the minis because apparently the regular size ones are the size of a human baby, and I'm glad. But the taste of it lingered and I woke up this morning still thinking about it. I'm really glad I don't live near there or I would be the size of a house because I would have no shame in getting at least one every day for the rest of my life. Am I over selling it? I doubt it. I just know that it is the holy grail and I will be back. read more

Mama's Pizzeria - Looking forward to a mini! - Sandwiches Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

The most decadent cheesy cheesesteak you are going to find anywhere.. This steak is huge and it literally weighs a ton. All are made to order so you will wait a bit but its worth it. Not any different than you will get inside Philly Delicious. As good as you are going to find on outskirts of Philly proper. Definitely worth the trip for any true Cheesesteak connoisseur. read more

Do not come here looking to order pizza. They don't make any. Do not ask them if someone forgot their jackets that are sitting in the first booth by the register..... they are the employees' jackets. Do not ask for cheese whiz on your cheesesteak. They'll probably laugh at you. That being said, I ordered a regular sized cheesesteak with onions. It was $14.85 after tax. For just the one sandwich. 10-inch roll. Nothing else. Yep, you read that right. FOURTEEN DOLLARS AND EIGHTY FIVE CENTS. Also known as a dime and a nickel short of two times the PA minimum hourly wage (approximately). They make their own cheese blend, and load the sandwich with onions, cheese, and a lot of steak... but it is still very pricey for a cheesesteak. All in all, I am glad I tried it as I am on a quest to try every steak place in Philly. This crosses another one off the list, and while it was a very good tasting cheesesteak, I would not rank it in my Top 5 Cheesesteaks in Philly. This isn't actually even in Philly (St. Joe's University people would beg to differ), so I guess it wouldn't matter anyways for that list of mine. It is not worth the price tag, and there are too many other places to try to come back here for another steak. read more

I had the cheesesteak. Oh Mama!! Mama knows Cheesesteaks are a three legged stool; roll, meat and cheese. Mama has 3 great legs!! Love the roll and the awesome amount of cheese. Don't dottle, when the rolls are gone Mama stops making CS's for the day. read more

See all

Ok so hear me out. They don't serve pizza. Why they have huge ovens right there?!?'It's not very clean in the backroom /dining area dark outdated, kinda strange in there. And the guy cooking reminds me of the soup nazi. Don't make eye contact with that guy, he looks tough. But I swear this place has one of the best cheese steaks I've ever had in my life! I HATE PATS AND GENOS and we all know they are not the marker for proper Philly steaks. This is a gem, if you can look past the flaws. The cheese steaks here are clearly professional. I see why that's all they cook. It's done right. The meat to cheese ratio is insane. That cheese the use isn't American cheese but it's tangy and when you ask for toppings it's well balanced. They take a debit card, cash, or major card. So order plenty. Oh and a large is gigantic so you might not need that thing unless you intend on sharing. (I ate it for 3 servings). Oh they have strange hours too. Google has it wrong and yelp hasn't changed it yet either. Don't blame there store but everybody has the hours wrong. I did notice they have the tendency to shut things down early, so I can say if you think you're gonna pull a last minute order, they been gone for 15 minutes lol. Think again. It's legit. Go for it! read more