Great location with picnic tables and plenty of parking. Sadly the Chicken Cutlet Italiano lacked any flavor. No seasoning on the chicken and the spinach was flat too. Only bright spot was the view and the sarcones seeded roll. No comparison to the sandwich at Tony Luke's. read more

A top sandwich shop in Philly. Finally someone knows how to rock an Italian Hoagie! Such a perfect menu.... all great choices. Plenty of parking to pull in off Columbus Blvd. I always like to sit out in their tables. They have some of the best cheesesteaks in Philly. Bread is always so fresh... This place is a must try if you have never been. (My daughter loved the eggplant tomato provolone on seeded roll) read more

I gave Shank's a star more than John's because I've never even heard of scrapple fries before. They weren't all that great, but it's rare I get to try a food I've never even heard of. There is some seating outside and you can watch ships pass on the Delaware River. I also saw cormorants, which we don't get back home. My companion has a roast pork sandwich and declared it good, and huge. I also had a "birch beer." It tasted just like root beer, which is to say "vanilla," since root beer doesn't taste like root beer any more either. Now got off my lawn! read more

Has potential but the cheese is way to drippy. The onions are huge also. The meat is the best part really good, just gotta pull it together.

Definitely not what it used to be. ordered Chicken Cutlet Italiano and a drink. Cutlet was deep fried in what tasted like shake n bake. Hardly any broccoli rabe and very little provolone . Drink was mostly ice. Very dissatisfied. Will not be returning. Seems like they are cutting corners to maximize profit. read more

After hearing my friends talk about this place I decided to take the family down there to get sandwiches. The place does not look like much but they definitely make a good cheesesteak. The prices were on par with the rest of the sandwich shops in the area. I definitely recommend this place if you are a fan of cheesesteaks. read more

I have noyt been here in a while but thing are bad they burnt my chicken fingers; who does that; pizza steaks just taste like sloppy joe and look like a hoagie role dipped in tomato paste ; the sprites were flat; I don't know where to begin I was a regular at shanks; to be fair the fries were okay but its over priced BAD tasting food. I didnt see the regular cook but the taste is gone I spent $60 bucks and got fish food literally through the food in the delaware river. Wow I'm so disappointed.may. May 2020 read more

I have been here a few times and every visit I try something new. My favorite is Old School Italian Hoagie..today I found another favorite...I had the roast pork sandwich and fries. It was clean and the staff was friendly and greeted me as soon as I walked in! I will be thinking about that hoagie all night! I will be back soon! read more

Shanks Original - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Chicken cutlet parm was average at best. Sandwich wasn't even that hot. Cheese wasn't melted. Also saw a giant rat outside the building

If heaven has sandwiches, Shank's would do the catering. Roast beef and sharp provolone with broccoli rabe? Amazing. The only way they could improve it is to give you a wristband to catch the grease dripping down your hand as you devour his Hoaginess. The balsamic chicken is not to be missed. read more

Great hoagies and good breakfast sandwiches. Chicken Parm is good too. Cheesesteaks have gone down hill MAJORLY. I remember going there just after they opened and they easily had the 2nd best cheesesteak I have ever had. It is not the same any more and it is a shame. It seems like they chop the meat up so much that it really kills the flavor that the bigger slices use to have. I even went as far as to ask them twice to not chop it up but they said no because it cooked faster that way. read more

I don't get it. The roast beef with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe really had nothing going for it except for its size. It is really big. I suppose if you like unfathomably hard bread and unremarkable, tough roast beef that repeatedly catches between your teeth and makes you wish you'd gone to the grocery store for your meat to make it yourself instead, you might like this sandwich. Yeah that might have been a little bit of a run on sentence but that's how strongly I feel about my high expectations which were unmet. On the action-movie-parallel-satisfaction scale, this establishment is Pay It Forward. read more

Great sandwiches. I'd put their cheesesteaks up as one of Philly's best. The Chicken cutlet Italiano is good (Cosmi's Lagasse with the addition of long hots and prosciutto is best, though). Great location. I like being on the river watching the boats go by while eating at Shank's. read more

Shank's is good. Not great, but good. Don't get me wrong, it's worlds better than anything Pat's or Geno's (vomit!) have to offer. I just remember the old location being better. $9 for a steak and a soda is pretty decent too. Pros: Great location for stopping while on the road in/out of the city. Great bread--those who are complaining about the hard, seeded rolls do not understand the magic of a Sarcone's roll. However, I do concede that the Sarcone's rolls should have more meat on the sandwich. Another great pro is the variety: cutlet sandwiches, eggplant/veggie sandwiches/steaks/pork/roast beef. Friendly and fast service too. Cons: Quality has declined slightly over time, but it's still decent. The pork sandwiches are a bit too sloppy for me. No indoor seating, so if you're there on a rainy or incredibly hot day, you may want to take your order to go. read more

I looked up best hoagie in Philly and was directed here by more than 1 site. Figured I can't not check it out at that point, so I walked down. First thought was how unassuming the place is - it's basically a trailer on the side of the road in the warehouse district off the Delaware River. The menu is on the side, and they have a window to order ordered the Italian hoagie on normal bread. It came out ptlretty quick (they weren't really busy) and I grabbed a seat and dove in. The bread was soft, but kind of tough. But the best part for sure was the most- incredibly flavorful and mouthwatering. They had just the right amount of veggies and oil to make it great. I think the only improvement that comes to mind would be in the bread, but that's easy enough to overlook. read more

Stopped at Shanks for the first time on our way to go run some Sunday errands on Columbus blvd (i.e. Somehow finding a way to turn a $150 grocery shop into $300 at target-how does that happen?!) food: my husband and I split the roast pork Italian (roast pork, sharp prov and broccoli rabe). Pretty good-plenty of roast pork and a good amount of cheese. broccoli rabe was pretty good-more bitter than I'd probably like. overall satisfied, but I think johns overall is better. people/service: wasn't crowded at all but our sandwich came out fast. the guy at the counter was nice - not overly nice, but perfect for what you expect at a place like this. ambiance/location: it was a beautiful day, so it would have been nice to sit out at the tables and eat while looking out at the water, but the baby was napping in the air-conditioned car so we ate in the car. we'll be back! read more

In my cheese fry eating career, I've come to understand that there are a few varieties of canned, ready-made whiz for restaurants to choose from. This place serves the really good kind. I lived in Manayunk for a summer and found a place with this whiz, and ate it all season long. It will literally be the primary deciding factor in bringing me back in the future. The fries themselves aren't really anything to write home about, but that whiz is just so good. Their cheesesteaks are also very good - a good portion of tasty, chopped meat at a decent price. Definitely a worthy stop for hungry waterfront walkers. read more

Got an email this morning from their mailing list. I thought it was just another regular ad for their catering or something and was surprised to see it was a offer for a free sandwich for my birthday. I was looking forward to my sandwich all day and walked about 20 blocks round-trip out of my way to go get my dinner. When I told the girl behind the counter I had a coupon and showed her the email, she said "I don't think we accept those anymore." I told her that it had been sent out this morning so unless policy changed mid-day it should still be good. She called a manager on the phone and then hung up and told me the coupons were from "the old ownership" and they weren't accepting them. And that was it. She didn't try to offer a drink or an order of fries or anything. Very disappointing. I will be taking my money elsewhere to get dinner. read more

Shank's is a great place for a sandwich. Chicken cutlet with spinach and sharp provolone on a seeded roll can't be beat! The chicken cheesesteaks are great, too. I can take or leave the fries. Haven't tried too many other things because of how good the chicken cutlet is every time. Special Note: Join their club and get free sandwiches for your birthday. Also, they have promotions all the time...the last one being a chicken cutlet for $.79 the entire month of September! They've been in business for 50 years, so they're doing something right! Just be aware, rush hour can make it cumbersome to drive and Phillies games ensure a long wait. We call ahead every time now. Also, the view is not so bad and it's great to sit outside if the weather permits. read more

Horrible! The only reason for the 2 stars and not one is because they are fast and nice. Place is a place where you order at the front, they take your name, and when the order is ready, they call you and get go get the meal. I ordered a regular cheesesteak with provolone and fried onions. It was by far the driest thing I have ever eaten. It was dryer than the Sahara dessert! Lol. In my opinion, a great cheesesteak is one that does not require any extra condiments. You should be able to taste the meat and cheese. I also believe a cheesesteak should have melted cheese. I have never put so much ketchup on anything. The only thing that made it somewhat edible was the loads of ketchup. Also, the cheese wasn't even melted. I used my cheat day on this? So sad Overall: I won't be back. In a city known for cheesesteaks, you can find better literally around the corner. read more

Great Chicken Sandwich Spot! I normally get the balsamic Chicken Sandwich or the Chicken parmigiana. Chicken is freshly grilled and the ingredients are always fresh and delicious! I want to preface that I went to the Pier 40 Shank's location 1st! Recently I went to the one on 15th street because I was being lazy and didn't feel like walking to the Delaware when I live in CC. That is a mistake I will never make again. My Balsamic Chicken sandwich was a disgrace at the CC location. Chicken was cooked on the girdle, not sliced, with horrible tomatoes and lettuce. The balsamic was more of a creamy dressing that before I even took bite one, the dressing soaked the entire sandwich causing all contents to break thru the bottom of the Hoagie Roll. My suggestion to you, is to go to the Pier Location specially on a nice day! read more

So has a plastic room out front to sit at when its cold. Nice picnic tables on the water when it's nice. The guys are super friendly when you go in and the sandwiches made to order. I think they have the best pork sandwiches in the city. ( beating out Tony lukes by a wee margin). The sandwiches come on either seeded or unseeded rolls. There fries were amazingballs!! I am going to try the spicy ones next time. It's a crowd favorite with the kids and the man read more

My husband loves Shanks, so when I'm in need of a chicken cutlet sandwich, this is his first suggestion. I think the quality has gone down recently. The chicken on the last sandwich I had was WAY too fried, to the point of being burnt. The provolone wasn't sharp enough and the broccoli rabe was a bit bitter. The spot is a little strange- tucked away in an industrial-ish section of the riverfront. But it's easy to get to from the highway, if you are traveling on 95 and want a quick taste of Philly cuisine. And the prices are pretty standard for the area and are reasonable for the quality/quantity. Shank's always wins "Best of" this and that, but overall I feel like there are better spots to get chicken cutlets in the city. read more

Had no idea this was here. The only time I gave Pier 40 a thought was when I rented a Budget truck last summer. But now, there's this cheerful sandwich stand with quite a respectable picnic area - even more charming if you're into the whole industrial thing, which I am (looks out over the rear of the Coast Guard station). It's also far enough off Delaware Ave to avoid exhaust fumes. Easy access and plentiful parking to boot. The menu holds everything you would want out of a sandwich stand. I ordered the Shank's Veggie with fried eggplant with broccoli rabe, spinach, roasted peppers, mushrooms and sharp provolone. I think my friend ordered the Chicken Cutlet Italiano, or if it wasn't, it was something very similar. I was so enamored of my sandwich that all else floated right out of my head. I'll pop this up to four stars if the fries step it up a notch. I highly suspect my crab fries were of the frozen Ore-Ida variety, and did not have near enough Old Bay. I'd be happy to see that changed. But, fries aside, I'll certainly be back - the sandwich was heavenly. One note - when your sandwich is ready, your name is called through the loudspeaker facing the outside tables. Do not stand next to the loudspeaker, your eardrums may never recover, but at least you'll never miss your sandwich. read more

Take a pass on their eggplant, tomato, and provolone sandwich which is overpriced and sent out bad vibes. Loser tomatoes and gray greasy eggplant. And the sharp provolone for $1.50 extra worked as the only viable ingredient. Place was near empty on a Tuesday at lunch hour which tells you something. *They need to figure out how to make this location work, as the store is getting lost with the growing traffic volume on Columbus Ave. read more

My craving for a sandwich got me at Shank's. It is right next to Pier 40 bldg. There is no dedicated parking at Shank's. They are actually sharing what limited parking spaces Pier 40 bldg. has. They have only alfresco dining with very limited seating. They usually cater to take out customers. I don't know where they order their bread from, but it is fresh and delicious. The Chicken used in their cheese steak sandwiches are in big chunks, and grilled perfectly. Not minced / over cooked and dried out like those other guys..... (you know who you are). The Eggplant Shank's Style is piled high with lots of eggplant and Broccoli Rabe. You will get stuffed with just eating half of the sandwich. The Spicy Cajun Fries brings me back to the last time I was at Wildwood Boardwalk. It was fresh off the fryer and delicious! read more

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Here's the deal. This place can be as inconsistent as they come. MOST of the time, the sandwiches I get here are absolutely delicious, but every once in a while, you get one that just isn't quite what you were expecting: Cold meat, not enough meat, etc. But with a deal like the current (and potentially ending soon) 79 cent roast pork sandwich, it's definitely worth a try. If you're there on good day, the pork is moist and tasty and the roll is both crunchy and soft in the right proportions. And if you're there on a bad day, you still get a pretty good and filling sandwich for cheaper than you could find anywhere else. read more

Hadn't been here in 10 years, was looking forward trying it again. Showed up 30 minutes before close and they said they were "sold out of food." How do you sell out of food when you're a food place. Thanks for wasting my time read more

Can't fathom what the hype is about. Ordered Philly steak sandwich with onions and mushrooms and it was tasteless. Wife's chicken Italians with broccoli rabe slightly better but not great. Fries, though, we good. Not worth a second trip. read more

Groupon can lead you to some interesting places, but this one was a solid hit. We've driven past here many times coming home from Shoprite and IKEA, so why not give them a try? The Chicken Cutlet Italiano with rabe and roasted red peppers is an excellent sandwich. I enjoyed the cheese steak, but I'm beginning to prefer my meat sliced rather than chopped. The place is clean and the service is really friendly, which is not the case at some of their competitors. My biggest gripe is the price. It is easy to come out of here in the $25-30 range for two sandwiches and an order of fries. read more

Really great sandwiches, fast friendly service. On a nice day it's really nice to sit by the river!!! Glad we gave it a try! I got a great breakfast sandwich, husband had a wiz wit steak. read more

The best cheesesteaks in the area hands down. The scrapple fries are so good. I would recommend this place to anyone wanting a really good cheesesteak. There is indoor seating as well as outdoor. It's on the Delaware river near penns landing. read more

The food was ok it not as good as it use to be and they have a cook in there that's sweating bullets he even sweats on the rolls and on the food he is preparing. Yuck! that's what kind of turned me off. read more

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NEVER AGAIN. SHANK's should be embarrassed to put their name behind this sandwich and the owners should be embarrassed to serve it. Seriously. Place is lucky to get one star. Got the cheesesteak with sharp provolone (extra .50). Disgusting. So dry and tasteless. Steak was in crumbles. Falling all over my lap. Cheese not melted. Loaded it up with ketchup and that still didn't help. Absolutely horrible. I used to come here a lot when it was the original owners. Not sure who it now but they obviously don't know a thing about cheesesteaks. Steak -ums at home on bread would have been 10xs better. Don't waste your money or time! You'll only get aggravated like I did. Stick with Philips or Jims or somewhere else. Absolutely disgusting. Don't even deserve one star. **Take note that mostly all the good reviews of steaks are old reviews when previous people owned this place. Not current reviews. What you see in the pictures are not the same sandwiches. Those pics are from when Shanks was actually pretty good. NEVER AGAIN. read more

Best GD breakfast sandwich in the city! The roast pork is no slouch either!

Yes, you read that right. I am a winner! I entered Shank's make a creative sandwich contest several days ago, and I won. But my sandwich for which I entered was the "Abomination" it consisted of a burger topped with steak and fried onions, blanketed under a layer of cheddar,mozzarella,and provolone and on top of that, if that wasn't enough it had pork roll and a fried egg with a side of brown gravy. That concoction won me the contest of a Shank's gift card and my sandwich made for me as well. Now I really couldn't wait to see this monstrosity in person so we heading down to fetch it. After showing the counter girl who was very nice, but unaware of the contest informed me that they didn't have burger,porkroll, or brown gravy. SHIT! Now I was in a pickle. She asked if I wanted a substitution for the items. I pondered for a short bit and concluded the only things I could think of for a proper sandwich. A new creation. The Farm sandwich. I replaced the burger with a chicken cutlet and the porkroll with bacon. Sadly no sub for the brown gravy. But I think this would have won any who. The Awesome and super cool under pressure Chef Luis whipped up the "Farm" sandwich for me in a jiffy. He proudly presented it and posed for a picture. Now to eat this bitch! I sat right outside by the water to engulf this "farm" meal sandwich. Beef, check. Chicken, check. egg,check, pork,check, dairy,check check check. So to recap. A wonderfully soft Italian roll layered with steak and fried onions, a fried egg, three cheeses, bacon and a chicken cutlet. Lets begin. The flavors were just spot on, nothing superseded anything and it all worked together in a harmonious mouth protein-gasam. I only hope I will still be able to someday try my winning sandwich, if not this sure as hell was a great last minute runner up. Thanks Shank's you ROCK! read more

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I think there is a new cook just had 3 pizza steaks and some Cajun fries and everything tasted like crap even the soft drinks were off que. This is my former best lunch hang out I've​ been coming here for over 15 years they officially became losers like the eagles foot ball team what a travesty. Edgar colon read more

Shanks Original - The day the food at shanks tasted like shit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

No offense meant but please change your name. Your not Shanks. I remember Shank and Evelyn and Whitey and Theresa and the girls and guess what? This place has nothing to do with that. I loved Shanks , even the picture of El Duce on the wall. It optimized South Philly breakfast and lunch. It's not that your not ok or even good. You're just not Shanks! read more

Great place. Friendly staff, reasonable prices and really the best chicken sandwich I've ever had. No surprise tho, it's won awards. Cheese fries that were just the right amount of crispy and salty without being overdone. Beautiful view to sit outside during nice weather, the only seating. If you are from out of town and looking for great cheese steak, come here and you won't be disappointed. read more

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Since my first review, I have went here about once a week, and have sampled almost the entire menu. Hot damn, it is good. The sausage sandwich is spot on. Sweet and a touch spicy with sharp prov. NO SAUCE! Out of this world. The chicken sandwiches are meaty and juicy. The chicken parm is not swimming in sauce; just enough, but it doesnt soak the roll. I love this spot. read more