Pennsylvania has no shortage of opinions about this sandwich, and I respect every loud one of them. Still, this little corner counter keeps landing on best-of lists, and the MICHELIN Guide gave it a Bib Gourmand in 2025.
The rib-eye here gets chopped on the flat-top the whole time it cooks. That constant chopping turns the steak tender and lets the cheese and onions fold right into it.
Then there’s the cheese question. You can pick Whiz, American, or Provolone.
You can also ask for all three, which feels like cheating in the best way.
The whole operation runs through an order window. Seating is scarce, the line can stretch, and the sandwich somehow makes all of that feel like part of the deal.
The Rib-Eye Gets Chopped Until It Practically Melts
Steak takes the spotlight at Dalessandro’s Steaks & Hoagies, and it earns every bit of it. The kitchen uses fresh-cut rib-eye, which is a cut known for good marbling and big beefy flavor.
What really sets it apart is the chopping. Cooks chop the meat continuously on the flat-top grill as it cooks, instead of searing big slices and leaving them alone.
That steady work breaks the beef into small, tender pieces. Those pieces soak up the cheese and onions, so every bite tastes like the whole sandwich at once.
Some cheesesteak fans prefer thicker slices, and that’s a fair debate. Here, the finely chopped style is the house signature, and it’s the reason so many people make the trip to Roxborough.
The result lands on a fresh, soft hoagie roll that holds the filling together. Expect a messy sandwich, so grab extra napkins before you even sit down.
My advice is simple. Order the classic first, before you start experimenting with toppings.
You’ll get a clear taste of what this Philadelphia counter has been perfecting since the early 1960s, and you’ll have a baseline for your next visit.
Whiz, American, Or Provolone? You Can Say Yes To All Three
Cheese choice is the great Philly argument, and Dalessandro’s lets you settle it however you like. The options are Cheez Whiz, American, and Provolone.
Each one brings something different. Whiz is smooth and salty, American melts gently into the meat, and Provolone adds a sharper, tangier bite.
Indecisive eaters, here’s your moment. You can actually request all three on one sandwich, which sounds wild until you realize it covers every base.
Because the steak is chopped so finely, the cheese mixes right in rather than sitting on top like a blanket. That makes the cheese decision matter even more than usual.
If it’s your first visit, think about what flavor you love most. Fans of bold, punchy flavor often lean toward provolone, while comfort seekers usually go American.
Whiz is the classic tourist pick in Philadelphia, but plenty of locals order it too. There’s no wrong answer, only different moods.
A smart move for a group is ordering a few different cheeses and swapping halves. You’ll leave with a real opinion, and in Pennsylvania, having a cheesesteak opinion is practically a civic duty.
Learn To Say Wit Before You Reach The Window
Two little words do a lot of work in Philadelphia: wit and witout. They tell the kitchen whether you want fried onions on your steak.
At Dalessandro’s Steaks & Hoagies, fried onions are a standard option. Saying wit gets you that sweet, soft onion layer cooked right into the meat.
Once your sandwich is ready, the fun keeps going. A counter offers free toppings, so you can dress things up however you like.
The lineup includes crushed hot peppers, banana peppers, sweet peppers, marinara sauce, raw onions, ketchup, and mayonnaise. That’s a lot of power for one person with a sandwich.
Roasted green peppers and mushrooms are also available if you want them cooked into your order. Mushroom fans especially should keep that in mind.
A little restraint helps here. The steak and cheese are the main event, so start light with one or two toppings and see how they play together.
Hot pepper lovers can go bolder, of course. Just remember the sandwich is already juicy, and too many saucy add-ons can turn lunch into a full-contact sport.
A Corner Counter With Roots Going Back To 1960
William Dalessandro opened this shop in 1960. The first location sat on Ridge Avenue in Roxborough, but it didn’t stay there long.
By 1961, the business moved to the corner of Wendover Street and Henry Avenue. That’s been home ever since, which means generations of Philadelphia families have known this exact corner.
In 2009, Steve Kotridis and his wife, Margie, bought the business from the Dalessandro family. They kept the name, and the shop kept its old-school, mom-and-pop personality.
Longevity like that is rare in the restaurant world. Plenty of places come and go within a few years, while this one has been chopping steak for more than six decades.
Part of the charm is how unfussy it all feels. It’s a neighborhood spot first, not a flashy tourist attraction built for photos.
That history matters when you take your first bite. You’re eating a sandwich shaped by a long line of cooks who stuck with what worked.
So when someone asks why a little corner shop in Roxborough gets so much love, you can tell them. It’s had a very long time to get good.
The Spotlight Found It, From Late-Night TV To MICHELIN
Back in 2011, The New York Times pointed to Dalessandro’s when describing Philadelphia food. The paper noted that Philly food could be summed up by those cheesesteaks.
That’s quite a compliment for a counter shop on a neighborhood corner. And it wasn’t the last time the national spotlight swung this way.
In 2016, Jimmy Fallon served a Dalessandro’s cheesesteak on The Tonight Show. Suddenly, a Roxborough sandwich was getting airtime in front of viewers across the country.
The biggest recent honor came in 2025. The MICHELIN Guide awarded Dalessandro’s Steaks & Hoagies a Bib Gourmand, a distinction that highlights great food at a good value.
Seeing a cheesesteak counter on a MICHELIN list is a fun twist. It proves that serious food recognition doesn’t require tablecloths or tasting menus.
The shop has also landed on many best-cheesesteak rankings from publications and local polls over the years. That kind of steady praise is hard to fake.
Still, none of the attention changed the basic setup. You order at a window, grab your sandwich, and eat it wherever you can.
Fame never looked so casual.
Hungry For Something Besides Beef? The Menu Has Backup
Cheesesteaks get the headlines, but the menu goes well beyond them. Hoagies show up in both hot and cold versions.
Cold options include an Italian, imported ham, capicola, and turkey breast. Those make a nice pick for anyone who wants something lighter or plans to eat later.
Chicken fans have choices too. The chicken steaks use 100% white meat, cooked in that same chopped style on the grill.
One standout is the Buffalo Chicken Cheese Steak. It brings hot sauce, blue cheese, and American cheese together for a spicy, tangy, very messy combination.
Angus burgers and salads round things out for anyone in your group who isn’t in a sandwich mood. Every crew seems to have at least one person like that.
Then there’s dessert, which is easy to forget after a giant sandwich. The lineup includes cheesecake, carrot cake, chocolate peanut butter pie, and puddings.
Here’s a practical tip for groups. Mix up your order with a cheesesteak, a hoagie, and a chicken steak, then share.
You’ll taste more of the menu, and nobody has to pick just one favorite.
Bring Cash And A Little Patience To The Order Window
Cash only. That’s the first thing to remember before heading to Dalessandro’s Steaks & Hoagies, and forgetting it can derail your whole plan.
Luckily, there’s an ATM on-site. Still, showing up with cash in your pocket saves time and keeps you moving with the line.
Orders go through a window rather than a traditional dining room counter. You place your order, wait for it to be called, and pick it up when it’s ready.
Calling ahead for pickup is also an option. That’s a smart move on busy days, especially if you’re on a tight schedule.
There are no reservations here. Everything runs first-come, first-served, so timing your visit matters more than you might expect.
Lines can get long, which tells you how popular this spot has become. Treat the wait like part of the ritual, and use it to decide on your cheese.
The shop opens at 11 a.m. every day. It stays open until 10 p.m. most weeknights, 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9 p.m. on Sundays, so late-night cravings are covered.
Grab A Sidewalk Table Or Take Your Prize To Go
Seating at this corner shop is limited, so plan accordingly. Outdoor tables sit along the sidewalk, and that’s where many people eat when the weather cooperates.
A lot of folks simply take their order to go. Honestly, that can be a great call if you have a favorite spot nearby or a car seat with your name on it.
The vibe stays humble and casual from start to finish. It feels like a genuine Philadelphia neighborhood joint, with zero interest in being fancy.
That no-frills setup is part of the appeal. There’s nothing to distract you from the sandwich, which is exactly the point.
Eating outside on a warm evening has its own charm too. You’re right there on a Roxborough street corner, enjoying one of the most famous foods in Pennsylvania where it belongs.
Bad weather changes the math, of course. On rainy or chilly days, a to-go order makes more sense than juggling a dripping sandwich at a soggy table.
Either way, pack napkins. A cheesesteak this juicy has no plans to stay neat, and your shirt will thank you for the preparation.
Roxborough Is Worth The Short Trip From Center City
Finding the shop is easy once you know the corner. Dalessandro’s Steaks sits at 600 Wendover St, Philadelphia, PA 19128, right where Wendover Street meets Henry Avenue.
The neighborhood is Roxborough, northwest of Center City. It’s close to Manayunk, so you can pair your sandwich run with a wander through that nearby area.
Getting away from the busy downtown core has its perks. You’re eating where the neighborhood eats, in a residential part of Philadelphia with a relaxed, everyday feel.
There’s no dedicated parking lot, so plan on street parking in the surrounding blocks. Give yourself a few extra minutes to find a space on busier days.
For visitors exploring Pennsylvania, this makes a fun detour off the usual tourist path. You’ll see a side of the city many first-timers miss completely.
Hikers have extra reason to stop. Wissahickon Valley Park is nearby, and a big sandwich after a trail walk feels well earned.
So map the route, grab your cash, and head northwest. After more than sixty years on that corner, this old-school counter isn’t going anywhere, and your appetite shouldn’t either.
