Decided to stop by on a random Tuesday afternoon. It was my first time here and was intrigued by the blue and white signage claiming to be voted Baltimore's best cheesesteak. Came in to one person also waiting to order. The person who took our order was very friendly and joked easily with us both. There's a few tables for dine-in patrons so I decided to escape the cold weather by dining in. The food came out quickly and I was suggested to add this 'hot' sauce which has the flavor of a standard hot sauce without the heat. Game changer. It really elevated my cheesesteak which was great on its own in my humble opinion. I downed half before even thinking about taking a picture. I'll def be back. Great spontaneous decision. read more

The Real Thing - Cheesesteak (onions, hot peppers. Provolone cheese, and a drizzle of a pepper flavor sauce) - Sandwiches Near Me - Towson, Maryland

Haven't been here since my college days ‍ This used to be the spot after a night out. The Real Thing in Towson still got it! Still one of the best cheesesteak subs I've had. read more

The Real Thing - Cheesesteak sub - Sandwiches Near Me - Towson, Maryland

Amazing food, the man working the shop was incredibly nice. Gave us free drinks on the house. read more

The Real Thing - Sandwiches Near Me - Towson, Maryland

Although my fish sub was good the service and attitude of the owner was less desirable. He was insistent that I pay cash for my order even though the patron ahead of me he happily accepted her card, offered her a free drink and was extremely friendly I assumed I would get the same pleasantries. So I am confused as to how he determines who he will be friendly with and accept card payments from and who he insist he will only accept cash from. Definitely will not be patronizing this establishment again which is quite disappointing considering I have worked in the Towson area for many many years and used to love this sub shop when it was under the old owner. read more

Heard about the cheesesteaks here and decided to give it a try. Picked up the food and the guys were very funny, joking around and helpful and kind. We got a couple of cheesesteaks, a chicken steak, and a chicken finger sandwich plus onion rings and fries. The steaks were very good. I don't think they quite had the flavor to get to 5 stars but still very good. Just need a little more seasoning or some extra sauce or something. The onion rings are homemade and very good, very crispy. read more

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I have been working in Towson for quite some time. And when I get in the mood for a sub, The Real Thing is my go to. The restaurant is small but always clean. Tony the owner is always welcoming and quite the joker and has a crazy personality. The subs here do not disappoint. I have both cheesesteak and chicken cheesesteak. The portion is plentiful and very tasty. They are a bit but pricey, $14 and up but so is everything else. Do know he only does cash. And parking is challenging so be prepared. Check this place out of you are in the Towson area. read more

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Terrible service. The guy was rude and made me feel unwelcomed. Even worse was the cheesesteak. I was excited to try it but the sandwich was greasy and tasteless. I threw it out and got something else to eat. read more

Maaaaaaaaannnnnn this breaks my heart to do this bc I loved this place but Tony, if you're reading this, you are a GREAT owner & make an amazing cheesesteak. But whoever this other guy is that cooks the food, and runs the cashier needs to GO & I don't say things like that lightly. My first encounter with him was about a year ago, and he was so rude that I hadn't come back. Today, I was in Towson on business & decided to visit my fav cheesesteak establishment again, and when I walked in, and saw him, I instantly knew there was going to be a problem. For starters, his customer service is basura. He acts like he's mad that he has customers whenever someone comes in and places an order. From his bad energy, lack of warmth and the way he mumbles comments under his breath, the entire experience is just uncomfortable. Second, I forgot that you only take cash & approached the register with my debit card. The way he communicated to me that I needed cash was how you'd imagine an abusive Parent talking to an abused child. Who are you talking to w/ that tone? And what makes matters worse, there's an ATM inside of the building so there really shouldn't be as much hostility when I could simply walk five feet that way and get cash. After getting my cash, I came back to the register & tried to get his attention to pay for my meal & he completely brushed me off as if I was a fly or an animal. Straight racist vibes & that's an awful accusation to make so please know that I don't throw that around lightly. But, I'm glad he did bc while waiting for him to acknowledge me, I noticed him using his hands, ungloved to put together a customers cheesesteak, even using his hands to add the toppings. The customer was seated so he didn't see it but I kindly asked if he could put on gloves when he makes mine to which he snapped: I WASHED MY HANDS! Initially I remained calm, and told him: I understand but you're also touching a dirty counter. This makes me uncomfortable(having just recovered from Covid), could you please put on gloves. He snapped again: THIS STOVE IS 300 degrees!! At that point I had had it and met his energy telling him how rude and unprofessional he is and had been from the moment I entered the establishment. He could've grabbed my bun with foil. Anything. But he was so stubborn & plain mean. After going back and forth for awhile, I said: I need you to put gloves on before you touch my food & he refused & suggested I leave to which I gladly obliged. Tony, whoever he is, be it a friend, or family, he is damaging a brand that you worked so hard to build. He doesn't care about the community or quality bc he lacks it x a million. Sorry for the long review & I doubt you'll even see it, but man I wish you would. read more

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Happened to be in a hotel nearby and scored super cheesesteak sandwiches! Busy Sat. night around midnight. Owner cooking - funny too. Been in business 40 years and it shows. Be nice to get extra hot sauce - they make their own. No tables at that hour, no frills, cash only. Highly recommended!!! Parking seems unlikely at this hour. read more

The Real Thing - huge cheesesteaks - Sandwiches Near Me - Towson, Maryland

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food is good, older guy is great and gives great experience. If u see the other guy he's terrible and gives you attitude. ask for a sandwhich and he asked 3 rhetorical questions. if you head over hope it is the ethnic older guy as he isn't there to play games like the other. The other guy will try and look funny. lied about the menu and gives attitude over it. read more

I moved to Lutherville Md in October 2025 from the Philadelphia suburbs. Most pizza and steak shops here, are not nearly as good as Home. The Real Place was definitely an exception. I had the Cheesesteak with fried onion and sweet peppers ( you cant find sweet peppers here) The sandwich was expensive ($ 18.00 ) but was stuffed with great steak, and was on a great roll as well. Definitely the BEST sandwich I have had in 5 months. Will be going back again soon for another ! read more

I stopped in for takeout yesterday. The Philly Cheese Steaks was soft, pillowy, and packed with fresh meat and veggies stuffing. The portion sizes were generous, and prices were very reasonable for the quality. The sandwiches were really good and so delicious. The server knew the menu inside out and made great recommendations. They have lots of great flavors to choose from. The place was clean and has nice ambiance. The friendly staff too. The prices were good and very reasonable. read more

Yelp fam! This review goes all the way back to my college days. The Real Thing is the best cheesesteak in Baltimore/Towson. (RIP Pizans) I recently went back and was pleasantly surprised that nothing has changed. Same owner, same amazing taste, great portions & same location. This spot has saved me several times for my late night cheesesteak cravings! My go to would either be Cheesesteak hoagie- mayo,hots, provolone. If I'm feeling froggy- Either Mikes way or the "Real Thing" The service reminds me of Philly, no nonsense, make your order, move to the side. Pro tip****This spot is cash only **** also call in your order ahead of time & miss the line**** The inside is chill, a few tables if you can't wait to get home. Overall the Real thing is bringing consistently tasty cheesesteaks to Baltimore and doing it very well. I ate my food before I could take the pictures. So I'll def be back! read more

35+ years ago, my father used to take me for cheese steaks at The Real Thing at their old location whenever we were in Towson. I thought they had closed, and I since moved out of state. I was back in town for the holiday and saw the sign while driving by. Stopped in today and had the best cheese steak I've had since my last visit probably 25-30 years ago. It tastes exactly the same! It was so good and brought back so many memories that I was tearing up. It's the best around. Shukran! read more

Best cheesesteak in town! It actually wins local awards for them. Ambiance is minimal. They do have tables, but most business is carry out. But if you're looking for an excellent cheesesteak, hand sliced beef, rolls from Philly, with great toppings, this is it. They have other things like chicken cheesesteak, gyros, fries, etc. note- they only take cash. read more

I just realized I've never reviewed this place. I haven't been in here in 2 years. The times I've been here the food has been delicious. I've had the cheesesteaks, chicken cheesesteaks, and fries. I would get this sauce they have that's similar to hot sauce and deep my subs in it. Since I no longer eat beef or chicken I no longer visit The Real thing, unfortunately. But if I did I would drive across town just to get some subs from here. Correction: I just saw they have veggie subs and tuna so I will be back! read more

this was the worst cheesesteak I have ever had. Shared with the counter person about it and he said I was a lier. He went on to say he was going to refund us and them turned his back on us. Told him No flavor at all, went on to say a peanut butter and jelly sandwich would be better. Bottom line never will go back. 11-21-25 read more

The only real Philly cheesesteak we've found in the area! Wiz Wit! And they use Amoroso rolls so they're legit.

I got a cheesesteak from here. It was definitely one of the best cheesesteaks in Baltimore. However the worker made my cheesesteak, and multiple other others with his bare hands. I don't know if this is why, but I did receive food poisoning after eating from here. read more

What a great small business to support here in Towson. Great selection from the grill. Really huge pile of meat with your choice of toppings. Being from Philly, I loved the sound of the spatulas chopping on the grill. They've been here over 30 years for good reason. (Some parking in rear) read more

This spot is a Yelp find. I saved it and sort of forgot about it. I was in Towson and was looking for a new place to try and The Real Thing was on the list. A small place and easy to miss. That said, don't let the humble, understated exterior cause you to pass on by. We ordered a variety of Cheesesteaks as they are billed to be the "Best Cheesesteak in Baltimore." Mushroom Cheesesteak, The Real one with jalapeños & one without peppers. Overstuffed Sub on a soft roll. Steak was tasty and the sauce had just the right kick. I really liked their jalapeño mix which took it over the top. I've had some of the best in Philly and the Real Thing's cheesesteak is right there with some of Philly's best. The gentlemen taking the orders and prepping the food were friendly and we had a laugh about my big order. If you can't make the 1.5 hour drive to Philly for a cheesesteak, this is the spot! read more

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Drove down from Westminster to check this place out. Paid $5 for parking. The place looks like it is closed and shut down. Went around the block and had great hotpot instead. On the walk back to the car, we see that it is now open. PLEASE! Post new hours if you can't adhere to your posted business hours. It's very disrespectful to customers... I'm so disappointed you didn't care about me. read more

This spot has been a fixture in Towson for 40+ years and it is truly 'The Real Thing'. Look, I've been in Bmore the majority of my life and I have had my share of subs and fries. This spot is it as alot of the previous spots that I came to know are no more. I recently ordered a cheesesteak sub at The Real Thing that had onions, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo with fries. Let me break it down for you... the bread is legit where it is lightly toasted and whatever you get on it, believe me, the bread will hold it and still give you a slight crunch along with that chewy texture. Now, on to the steak that made it to my bread... fresh and tender (not a steak-ums); the provolone cheese was fresh and melted over everything and for that reason, going in on this sub was just a moment of perfection For me. YUUUUM! This spot has a neat and clean eating area where you can sit and enjoy. The entire place including the kitchen is clean and just gives off a plain and easy chilled vibe to sit and eat a banging sub. Do know that before I pulled off to head home with my food, I had to open my sub and take not just one bite but I had two bites. After that meditative state that I fell into, I called the owner, Tony and let him know that he definitely has 'The Real Thing'. He is so nice and funny too. Call Tony if you need to park around the back - he will guide you in - it can get busy in Towson and parking can be hard to find. Consider giving Tony some love if you are on board with what he prepared for you. Reviews are a good thing especially for small businesses. Let's keep Tony and The Real Thing in Towson for another 40 years in the Towson community. Thank you and God Bless! read more

The Real Thing - Cheesesteak with provolone, LTOM... sooooo good! - Sandwiches Near Me - Towson, Maryland

I came from across town to check out this restaurant and when I got there at 3 pm the doors were closed. After repeatedly banging nobody answered, opened or came to the door. Today is Wednesday and not a good look for first impressions. read more

Employee at counter and making food was rude, when I asked about CC he asked what I was ordering and told me no, cash only under $20. Not even sure if that's allowed by CC companies, but I won't return. read more

They don't stay open to match their posted hours. I arrived at 7:47p on 10/1 (a Tuesday) and the place was already dark and completely shut down. Poor customer service. A real inconvenience to the customer to waste time driving out of their way to the restaurant to find out the place had probably already been closed for 15-30 mins. read more

The Real Thing - Sandwiches Near Me - Towson, Maryland

I was looking for food in the area and saw The Real Thing on Yelp with great reviews, so thought I'd give it a try. The gentleman working was super friendly and offered his recommendation immediately when I told him it was my first time there. The Philly Cheese Steak was phenomenal - easily the best cheesesteak I've ever had. The homemade hot sauce and three different cheeses absolutely hit the spot! I can't recommend this place enough, both for the delicious cheesesteak and the friendly service! I'll be coming back next time I'm in town for sure! read more

The Real Thing - Philly Cheese Steak - Sandwiches Near Me - Towson, Maryland

Don't know how it good the food is this review is only about the customer service since I walk away even before getting to finish the order Here's why: 1. Dude to took the order acted like i was bothering him when I walk in to the place. 2. They don't accept cards only cash. (To be fair they do have a atm) 3. I asked if he had combos or lunch specials and dude rolled his eyes was short and not willing to give a good customer service. Since he was acting this way I told him to cancel the order and left. I had good hopes but the person there ruined it for me. read more

I heard about this place and immediately stopped by because good quality cheesesteaks are hard to come by. The location is right next door to Barleys. The interior reminds me of a spot you stop by on a late night after having a lot of fun. Anyway, greeted soon as we entered and was advised to not even check out the rest of the menu, owner said "just get the cheesesteaks" ... So we did! One Chicken and one Beef. Both with provolone. We got our food to go. Five minutes later we were home and tried them both. Honestly, nothing that I haven't had before or couldn't make at home. I was expecting the wow factor and it was just regular. Glad we live close and both subs were still hot temperature wise. read more

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Listen let me just say this was sooo good or maybe I was hungry. I traveled from Texas and staying at an air bnb not too far and we had just left Walmart and needed some food ASAP and it was late. So we stumbled upon this place. Wait was about 15 min the fries weren't all that but I came for the sandwich so that was good and I was satisfied with that. read more

The Real Thing - Sandwiches Near Me - Towson, Maryland

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There isn't a better place around for a cheesesteak. Bread is clearly at a different level.

The Real Thing was a real surprise! The chicken cheesesteak with lettuce, mayo, light hots, and American cheese was a tasty delight. The chicken was fully cooked and juicy. Fries are fries, but these fries were just as good as boardwalk fries! The owner/cook seasoned my fries like he knew what to do, lol; salt, pepper, ketchup all over. The Real Thing is a quaint spot on York Road, between E Pennsylvania Ave and E Chesapeake Ave. The owner is friendly; I got a free Arnold Palmer for being a good guy. Next time I will try the original cheesesteak. But, when it comes to Chicken Cheesesteaks, give The Real Thing a try. You will remember the meal! read more

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Your cheap, late night dream food. The Real Thing is hidden among the larger restaurants in Towson's downtown area with an ancient sign pointing to their takeout menu. What it lacks for in style, The Real Thing makes up for it in substance, as their menu is perfect for grabbing a quick bite or the pre-game for a night of partying. The Real Thing is most famous for their cheesesteak sandwiches, of which they offer a surprising variety of. These bad boys are stuffed with meats, cheeses, and onions. For less than $10, you'll be left full and satisfied. The rest of their menu consists of other sandwiches and side dishes. The side dishes are your typical "junk food" accompaniments such as fries, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeno poppers. None of these sides are particularly noteworthy, mostly being frozen before their are deep fried, but they are the best way to enjoy their epic sandwiches. Always bring cash with you, as The Real Thing doesn't accept cards. They do have an ATM located in their establishment, but it has a steep withdrawal fee, so be warned. When you want to treat yourself to the best greasy sandwiches in town, The Real Thing is the real deal. read more

I love this place I follow cheesesteak gurus on Facebook. I was not surprised to see it mentioned as a favorite there. They actually increased their business during covid on take out orders alone. People orded multiple sandwiches. Don't be surprised at the wait time for an order of up to an hour. One person alone works the phone taking orders as they stack up. Waits up to an hour. Plan ahead. It's well worth it. read more

The best cheesesteaks in the area, hands down. Never disappointed! We have been coming here for many years.

To my darker skinned people beware. I walked in and the lady cooking looked at me as if I was insane coming in there then proceeded to ask me "huh" instead of how may I help you. I instantly walked out. Maybe their customer service is like that with everyone though. read more

I had been hearing about this place from social media for a little so I was curious oh how good their cheesesteaks are. I was a little shocked with them being a cash only place so I ran down to an atm down the street and returned. It's a little spot but the food spoke for itself. The owner took our order and even upgraded our fries to a larger amount for my disabled sister. Our total for my mom, my sister and I to eat was very inexpensive and really worth it. The cheesesteaks came out with the cheese perfectly melted and packed with steak. I will definitely be going back for more!!! read more

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The name says it all. This pace is the "The Real Thing"! I am very picky when it comes to a chicken cheesesteak and there's only a couple of places I will go for one. I heard good reviews about this place so I tried it out. The chicken cheesesteak was filled with a lot of meat and it was seasoned perfectly. It was so much that I couldn't finish it. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture! The service was phenomenal. It was my first time there so the guy took his time with suggestions and answering my questions. The real thing is certainly worth a visit! read more

I got a chicken cheesesteak with everything no hots and provolone cheese and it was delicious! However, I paid $26 for two subs only no fries or a drink. They only take cash and do not deliver which are two things that make a difference for me. read more

The real thing is a serious sub shop. I've eaten subs for over 50 years and Tony know how to make a serious cheesesteak sub with everything. Everyone have their own taste, but for serious sub lovers this is the real thing JB signing out. read more