went to paganos to get a steak haven' t been there in years and i mean years. that was the most nasty steak i ever tasted. they have a pile a steak on the grill (the steak look like they use steak ums now and not steak i grew up on sirolin) they put the steak in the middle of the grill and then they hit it with all this oil and the cheese is not melted. when i got home my bread was sooo soggy you couldn't pick it up with out breaking. never thought the steak shop i grew up with has went down the drain. never again read more

I came here specifically to get a cheesesteak and they delivered a scrumptious delight! I had the Pepper cheesesteak... they mix sweet and hot peppers together. Add pickles and fried onions I was in Heaven! The cheesesteak was good and the service was great! I did not order my pepper cheesesteak to eat there so they packed it up. No biggie, they unpacked my sandwich and hooked it up for me. Great cheesesteak and great service... a stop to this place is a must the next time I visit. I got a Pepper cheesesteak hoogie to go for my husband.... I will put another review after he eats his sandwich. read more

I am a little disappointed. I went for the 1st time experience a 40min drive to and from. I have to say the way they piled the meat. I thought it was going to be amazing. I got the triple cheese chicken steak & 2 triple cheese steaks all with mushrooms and hot wings also. My chicken had no season and I made sure I asked for seasoning. The other two were not pleased at all with their food as well, It was really bland. I don't think I will be returning. I do hope this was just a bad day and no one else gets the same experience. read more

It's sad to even write this, but since the days of my childhood this place has gone downhill. The food quality, the culture, and the customer service has gone from satisfactory to horrible within the past five to ten years, and this seems to be a popular consensus among locals....So because I'm from the neighborhood and this place is special to me, it actually took me a while to write a review about my last few visits here which have not been pleasant. So I'll share a bit about my last visit here was on Friday May 3rd at 11:15pm. I walked in hoping to grab a cheesesteak from here before they closed at 11:30, only to be welcomed by the snark remarks of disgruntled employees. One male worker grunted, "I thought I locked that door". Which I let that fly by. There were a few other customers in the store still who were being serviced. So one of the young ladies says, "I hope y'all are giving us a tip for coming in so late." I let that slide by as well, saying to myself "okay, whatever", I just want my cheesesteak. So as I'm waiting to make my order another female employee comes out of the back chattering with the other employees, then she says in a jokingly yet sly tone, "The guy with the burgundy shirt needs to turn around and leave out." Okay now you all wanna get personal. Now I go into a whole discussion with these employees about how the store says that it closes at 11:30 and I made it here 15 minutes prior, which is more than enough time to make a cheesesteak. Why am I now going back and forth with employees about a service that they filled out an application for doing, and it's still before 11:30 as we're talking lol? I then try to end the discussion by saying to them well the sign says that the store closes at 11:30, so whatever. One of the younger female employees then says, "We close at what time "we" say we're closed". This back and forth exchange goes on with different employees all the way until I get my steak made, which consisted of reheated dry steak meat that they got from the back which was apparently cooked and left over from earlier. Smh, not the first time this has happened, and now the meat is filled with gristle every few bites. Needless to say, after that experience I didn't even eat the sandwich. That horrible experience was the last straw towards keeping me from going to a place that meant so much to the neighborhood and the tradition of Philly. R.I.P to the spirit of the old Pagano's. read more

My first authentic Philly cheesesteak!!! I really enjoyed it! They didn't make it the way I normally see it made but it was still good none the less. Actually, the way they made it was more convenient if you ask me. The cheese was the first layer on the bread which made for a great net so that the meat doesn't fall out the bottom. The staff was awesome, we were greeted as soon as we walked through the door and they all made me feel like hey knew me for years. I saw this one lady ask for extra ketchup and I thought to myself, dang that is a lot of ketchup; upon consuming my sandwich I understand now why she wanted hers that way. Don't get me wrong my cheesesteak was still bomb but I now know how to make it that much better. I ate the entire thing in like five minutes. Being very hungry could have a small part in the speed too...maybe. I want to thank the staff there on April 14 for a phenomenal first time visit to your establishment!!! read more

Pagano's Steaks - Sandwiches Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Steaks were horrible! Took one bite and in the trash it went. No flavor and tastes like rubber.

Not what they used to be..meat was clumpy and tasteless..ruined my whole cheese steak experience. ...now I gotta awhile and go back 2 delassandro..smh..I was trying to stay local.. read more

I came back home for New Years hoping this steak would be everything I remembered growing up- it wasn't . It was satisfactory- but lacking in the seasoning area. The wings were delicious though!!! read more

Something is wrong with the meat they're using. It tasted like a meat-substitution and not actual beef. It was worse than frozen steak-um meat. Along with the price increase, it's not worth it to buy a cheesesteak from here unless they fix this. I I've been eating here all my life, but what I ate today was a shame coming out of Philly. read more

One of my favorite spots in the city. Great size sandwiches and great employees. I get my food quick and I'm in and out in good time.

I have been a loyal customer since the 70's. I went today and the steak was HORRIBLE. I will never go back. Smh

Pagano's has the worst Cheesesteak in Philly! I don't know how it got such a great reputation. Why is it so awful you ask? Well let me break it down for you. They use a very cheap grade of meat and when they cook it, they chop it up so fine that it becomes pulverised till it's like the consistency of baby food. It's chopped and grilled to death! Pagno's gives you a lot of meat-which is what the budget-minded consumer loves, hence the reputation. But again it's a cheap grade of meat so I'm definitely not feeling it. Then they use a regular Amoroso roll! And any Philly sandwich aficionado will tell you that this roll will not stand up to a lot of cheap meat. The result is a sloppy, gooey, smelly hot mess. I ripped it, so skip it! read more

Paganos is the real deal. They give you a ton of food; it's usually enough for at least two meals. Cash only FYI

I came here for years but I was grossed out when the young lady used the cleaning rag and wiped down all of the counters and then used that same rag without washing it out to wipe off the knifes that they used to cut the steaks in half. I asked them not to use the knife on my sandwich, they still used it anyway. I refused to buy the sandwich in fear of salmonella poisoning or bacteria. Yuck! Never again. The workers need to take a Safe Serv training ASAP! Correct this problem before the Dept. of Health is called! read more

They gave me my steak quickly but there was so much meat in it that I couldn't eat it. I started taking bits of steak out and noticed that most of it was gristle. I kinda wondered why they kept asking if I wanted onions or something else on it but after I tasted it I knew. I couldn't even taste the cheese because there was so little on it in comparison to the meat. Most places I have been to melt the cheese onto the meat while it's still on the grill. They just put it in the bun and expected it to melt once the meat was put in the sandwich. read more

My first authentic cheese steak from Philadelphia PA. It was incredible just meat cheese and ketchup. I drove back home that same night to eat it, and it was definitely better than any cheese steak in Baltimore. Only downfall is that they only take cash. Had to go across the street to the ATM. read more

I always loved this place growing up in Philly. Hands down the best cheese steak to me! If your like me and want a cheese steak that actually has more than enough steak on it than visit them see what i mean. So many places charge you 8-10$ for a steak and you are getting more bread than steak...if i want cheese bread i will go to pizza hut or domino's right??? Pagano's is not only good but has reasonable prices and you get way more than you ask for. Please is you are visiting Philly and want a good cheese steak come here. Don't get caught up in the hype about the other cheese steak places because they are popular go to one that's good. Reasonable prices and very delicious go try!! read more

Quality has gone down tremendously! Their beef does not taste the same at all. They use steakum meat, not the block of meat they use to use. They are skimming on the regular hoagies too. Ive been going there for years. No more !! read more

Overrated... A bunch of meat on a roll...not in my Philly top 10...i live 5 minutes away and will travel to other spots for a better steak

So if this was back in the day, I would've given them 5 stars without hesitation but I've been back twice in the last month or so and I think they've fallen off. Now, I might be showing my age here but I grew up on Pagano's when all they had were hoagies and steaks. You want a hoagie? Line up to the left---a steak? Stand on your right. They still have that in place but so much else has changed. They offer a lot more than just steaks & hoagies and I think they even take phone orders now. That's new to me too. It used to be you placed your order and side-stepped down the counter to the register to pay. Sandwiches were made and cashed out in the order in which you placed them. These past two visits, complete chaos around whose sandwich belonged to whom and people who ordered chicken cheese steaks behind me getting their orders before my regular steak--what's up with that? Also, my steak didn't seem to be hot enough because it seemed like more chicken cheese steaks were being ordered and made fresh while the beef pile of meat was just sitting. I think on busy nights, they need to have a person working the beef grill and another on chicken. The food is still good--no complaints there. I would be willing to give them a higher rating if they got the counter together. I went on 2 nights that didn't seem to be extremely busy and both times witnessed a bunch of confusion with the orders. read more

This has to be the best cheesecake I've had in life!!!!! Pats , Geno's, Ishkabibbles has nothing on Pagano's. The customer service was just as good as the food was!!! I almost wanted to drive back for another one. Anytime I'm in Philly I will definitely be stopping here! read more

My husband was born and raised in Germantown. Once he took me here no other cheesesteak comes close. Pats, Geno's please!!

This was my second time getting a cheese steak here since I couldn't actually remember if I had ever had one before which isn't a good thing. Once I got there I remembered I had been there once before which is why it took so long to go back. The steak was below average, and chopped way too fine. I asked for extra American cheese and I could barely taste any cheese on it at all. The roll was very soggy and the sauce was a clumpy mess. This place may have been good in its heyday but their are far better steaks at your local pizza shops. read more

Pagano's is my absolute favorite place to buy a steak in Philly. They kinda taste like one of the well mentioned South Philly steakhouses, specifically the one on South St.......except Pagano's steaks have more flavor IMO. The price is pretty reasonable and you get a ton of meat in which I love to watch them as they cook said meat. Even their pickles are my favorite pickles to get from philly LOL. The only downfall I'd say, for me personally is the meat, sometimes it's just way too much and I'll end up taking half of it off which isn't a bad thing being I can decrease it to my liking:) But for those who also enjoy steaks but would like a little less meat that's something to consider. Don't ask me why I've never asked them to simply put less meat on it! read more

My absolute favorite place to get cheesesteaks and I love cheeseteaks a lot. They pack the sandwiches with meat and the bread is always soft and fresh. The aroma makes your mouth water even before you can taste it. I also like that they chop up the meat thinly instead of leaving it chunky. If you're out and are planning on getting something quick to go, this is the place to go. Get a movie and make a night out of it. Very competitive prices, and it'll hard to be disappointed. read more

As a customer of 30 years of Pagans, it was hard to stop patronizing this business. About 2-3 months ago, they changed ownership and staff, ok. But when they changed the rolls, I had to walk away, sadly! read more

Hands down my favorite place for a cheesesteak or hoagie. Been coming to this spot for over 30 years and they never failed on taste and value for a buck. The sandwiches are huge and made to order. My first stop on each of my visits as my dad's house was around the corner. Love the travel option of wrapping the meat and bread separate for a plane ride as far as Hawaii, TX and Ohio. Just bring extra ziplock bags to store your food. Ownership has changed hands over the years but it still remains a great spot for a cheesesteak. Forget about those mainstream spots, this is the place to be. See you real soon. read more

I'm sorry, but idk how people gave the steaks a good rating. Maybe they aren't from Philly or never taste a REAL steak. First the meat is cheap and disgusting. It tastes like somebody chewed up the meat and spit it out. Secondly, the meat had no taste at all. You'd be better off eating paper. The only good thing about these steaks are the amount of meat they give you. read more

Pagano's: Not for the faint of heart or the small-stomached.lol If you're looking 4 a dainty little treat of a sandwich..my dear, you've come to the wrong place..this is where the big boys (and girls) roll..Yes, they are sloppy but they are equally delicious. So come get ur grub..and be sure to grab some complimentary pickles and peppers AND plenty of extra napkins b4 u walk out the door!! read more

Since bill pagano sold this shop, it took a turn for the worst, I've been going here for 34yrs. And they changed within the past 6. The liquid cheese whiz is a no no, the pre-cooked steak with added water, takes the true taste away, the steaks are much smaller now.. the true & real pagano's customers know, the real from the fake, & the steak now are a joke. I drive 1hr 15min to mt.airy, for a steak from pagano's, never again, they're horrible now, & some of the staff have nasty attitudes, you know when the steak is not so good, when they started selling wing's & burger & fries.. what's next, doughnuts & fried rice.. somebody who knew how paganos used to be, I would like to say this... hellllllllllllllllp!!! Please go back to the old paganos... please.. read more

In my opinion the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia. The meat is of the best quality and the rolls are soft and fresh. The portions are very generous; one sandwich is usually enough for two people. And the hoagies are equally good and even larger! read more

Philly cheese steak here was awesome it's really good,cheesy and huge.love it so much can't wait to go there again. But just ignore the cooks lol they r annoying.. just enjoy the cheese steak coz it's so damn good and big. Imm going to buy cheese steak there yummy and cheap.:) read more

The Best steak in Philly to me...I been going there for so long...the meat is just cooked well an the rolls are nice an soft...

First, let me just say, I have eaten thousands of cheese steaks all over Philadelphia and Pagano's has the ABSOLUTE BEST CHEESE STEAK I HAVE EVER HAD!! I grew up near them and had them almost every weekend and whenever I ate outside my neighborhood, I was repeatedly disappointed... My experience has been that people who think it is too much meat or that it gets soggy is missing the point of a great cheese steak, It SHOULD be messy and delicious as Pagano's always has been. In the 30+ years I have been their customer, the quality has not declined in the least!! They are fast, courteous, and DAMNED delicious. I introduce as many people as I can to Pagano's and anyone not satisfied is not really aware of what this gem of a cheese steak place is. And their ham and cheese hoagies are JUST as amazing. Make the trek, and you will not be disappointed. read more

I came here from a friend's recommendation. Everything here is like what she told me: friendly people, good service, cheesesteak w/ overload of meat for cheap; except that it's not the best cheesesteak I've ever tasted. The beef is chopped into tiny pieces. When the beef was cooking the juice that keeps the beef tender evaporated into the air due to the multiple flips of the beef. read more

The first cheesesteak in Philadelphia. This place has set the standard really high. Although it's not a looker for a sit down, but it great for takeout. Also don't ask for a a steak and cheese sub, it's not a good look. The proper way to order the cheesesteak is "cheesesteak with the whiz and salt, pepper, ketchup". This place was awesome and thanks for the ordering etiquette. read more

I went to Pagano's tonight and ordered 4 cheese steaks for my family. I'd been hearing a lot about this place lately and decided to check it out tonight. The steaks were chocked full of meat and the rolls were fresh and soft. Aside from that, they were nothing to write home about to momma. One reviewer said she preferred cheese steaks from The Explorer's Den. I don't know if they're still in business, but I stopped going to TED years ago. They had several fat ladies making the cheese steaks. It was very hot outside and inside as well. Their fat bat wings were swinging back and forth as they cooked the steaks and sweat was just dripping down onto the steak. It totally grossed me out and I left after seeing that and never returned. Hey, I wanted a cheese steak with extra cheese and fried onions, but not someone's body secretions! read more

I love the steaks... the hoagies are awesome too!!. I love the fact that I have moved back to the area and I can now walk to get me a steak any time. The staff is very nice and pleasant. Always clean when ever I visit ..... read more

Listen, I used to go to this place when I was a teenager. I was in the area with my kids and took them there a couple of days ago to try some steaks. Let me tell you, they make the BEST cheesesteaks in Philly PERIOD! Tony Luke who? South Philly what? Pu-lease, Pagano's is the truth. Soft rolls, loads of moist, juicy, seasoned perfectly chopped steak w/ sweet onions and whatever toppings you want. You have to try the Triple Cheese Cheesesteak. And I treated my husband to one with provolone and american cheese. I wanted to take pictures so you could see the genius creation for yourself, but the fellas wolfed the food down before I could. It is worth EVERY penny and I promise you will be back. Put it this way, Pagano's has been in business for 40+ years. They are definitely doing something right, and the something right is the food. read more

I drive more than 100 miles for these cheese steaks. Get it to travel if you aren't eating locally (no seating & CASH only). ATM on premise. Have a Tahitian Treat or Wissahickon black cherry soda too read more