On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhoods: South Street District, Society HillMon-Thu. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Loading...
If you want someone to really experience Philly then drive them past Pats and Geno's so they can say they have, "been there" and take them to Ishkabibbles.
Get a cheesesteak and some sweet potato fries with cheese.
If you get a Chicken Cheesesteak tell the cook," baby food" and they will chop up the chicken fine rather than the chunks of chicken breast.
You won't leave dissapointed.
People thought this was:
Whenever a tourist stops me in the vicinity of South Street and asks me where the best cheesesteak is, I send them here. Everything I've ever had from here is delicious. My personal favorite is the chicken cheesesteak, with american and fried onions, but I love their sweet potato fries, I love their cheesesteaks, I love their Gremlins, I even love their veggie burgers.
I especially love watching the line for Jim's across the street as people stand by for a sub-par steak and I order, receive and eat my steak before they get in the door. Makes me smile every time.
People thought this was:
1st meal of our Philly trip and we were hungry upon arrival. Dropped the bag off at the hotel and headed the South Street. Good old Yelp led us to this little joint for CHEESE FRIES and a Gremlin (grape and lemonade)
It's basically Cheese Whiz and fries but the combo is sinfully good :D Went back to the hotel very satisfied.
I have to admit....If a "hole in the wall", template can be applied to any place, this would be the place. The exterior isn't appealing, it is a door and an open service window. The interior wasn't that nice either....our group took up the entire seating space that is located right where you see the magic take place.
I ordered their South Philly Cheese steak special and it knocked my socks off. The Brotha in the kitchen knows what he's doing and I proclaim him, the star of the establishment. (if the cook reads this, you rock!) The fries are top notch and addictive.
The portions were huge.....the sandwich must have been at least a foot long, stuffed with perfectly cooked beef steak, melted provolone cheese and sauteed red bell peppers, onions and spinach.
The Ambiance ended up being nice...plenty of good scenery at this place. The service was pretty good and the prices were right.
I am a fan and will definitely be back!
Pics posted.
People thought this was:
Every time we visit Philadelphia, this is a must stop. Sometimes we plan a trip to Philly just for chicken cheesesteaks.
My boyfriend and I always get chicken cheesesteaks, french fries, and gremlins. We never finish our steaks so we take them home {MD}. Yeah I know holding a steak in a car for two hours? The mister always takes home our leftovers and says it is still great when he gets home. I used to always bring him home cheesesteaks when I was going to school at Temple and would go to MD for the weekend.
The food is in big portions so sometimes its best to share a meal with someone or be prepared to take some home. The chicken cheesesteaks are big chunks of chicken, which I wish they would just cut the pieces a little smaller. But no complaints cause the food is great.
The gentleman who always takes orders there is very nice. I always make sure to leave a nice tip with him before we leave.
I've never had their cheesesteak {Meat} but I have heard its good too.
Will be coming here again, again, again, and again.....
People thought this was:
I love a good cheesesteak. Not with that cheese whiz mess on it. Ishkabibbles had great cheesesteaks. If you like yours cheesy like me, ask for extra provolone.
People thought this was:
This place was so good. It was first ever experience with a real Philly Cheese Steak and I was and still am absolutely blown away by just how good it was.
I really can't put into words how amazing my steak was. The service isn't as quick as Pat's which I also tried, but the extra wait is worth it. They dice the meat up so fine and it tastes so good.
The location on South Street, which is a great street reminiscent of Clark in Chicago, is perfect.
I cannot recommend this place enough. I'm salivating right now while thinking about it.
This review is ONLY for the cheese fries. Being the CF conneiseur I pretend to be, I have to say these are my absolutel #1 favorites.
Gte the large- trust me on this, with cheese, and douse them with as much vinegar as you think you can handle. The combo of the vinegar they use and the cheese is a beautiful combo that melts in your mouth. Now I was a bit wary before as well but vinegar has never tasted so good on any other fries.
Always make this a stop when I am home.
There is not much seating so grab two forks and walk along to the next foodie stop on South Street
One of my favorite steakshops north of Washington ave. Maybe it's the hole in the wall aspect I love so much. An ordering window faces the street, and many times there's a line of a few people. Inside there's a counter for a half dozen lucky patrons. Everything is cooked fresh when you order it, and served hot off the grill.
I love their chicken cheesesteaks, because they use big chunks of chicken instead of the shredded scraps you get at most places. They have a variety of options for ordering it, but I do enjoy the buffalo chicken cheese steak.
The soft rolls they use are more suited to chicken then they are to steaks. Its not bad by any means, just softer than your average Amoroso roll. Cheese fries are really tasty as well. They are also known for the Gremlin, a drink that is nothing more than half grape juice, half lemonade, which is tasty, but nothing special.
The funnies think about Ishkabibble's though, is the fact that it is diagonally across the street from Jim's, one of Philly's overrated tourist traps. The line is far shorter for the far superior steaks at Ish.
People thought this was:
If you go here for no other reason, it's their cheese fries. Not that their cheesesteaks aren't some of the most delicious that I've ever had, but I could only describe their cheese fries as pure perfection. For several years, me and several of my New Yorker friends have gotten bored on a Saturday night and have driven all the way to Philly for no reason other than to crank some tunes in the car and get a cheese steak and fries from Ishkabibbles. I hope that that explains how good this place is, we travelled over 100 miles each way just to eat there. On DOZENS of occasions.
If you're not coming here in the middle of the day, don't expect to sit. There's only 5 or 6 chairs inside, and there's always people at them or waiting for a seat. However, they have a walk up window where you can order and receive your meal rather quickly. Though there's often a line at night, and especially on weekends, it moves pretty quick.
Their cheesesteaks rival any of the "famous" places in Philly, and to me and many others top those places with no problem. I prefer to get a blend of whiz and provolone on mine, but they offer at least 2 other types of cheese for you to play around with and experiment to see what you like best.
However, if you come here and do not get at least a small cheese fries with your order, you're wasting an opportunity to have all cheese fries in your future be a complete disappointment. They use thin cut, lightly seasoned fries and almost drown them in whiz. Does it sound gross at first? Maybe. Do you need a fork to eat these fries? Most definitely. But I can't stress enough that you really really really really really need to try them out. Right now I'm thousands of miles away in a tropical paradise with a good friend, awesome sun, and nothing but fun in store for the rest of the day, but after just thinking about those fries for the 5 or so minutes I've been writing this review, a small part of me wants to hitch a flight to Philly right now and talk a cabby into speeding and blowing through red lights just to get some now.
Alright people, if you're the type of person who would take a chicken cheesesteak over a real cheesesteak while in Philly, just skip this place entirely. It's not for you. And if you're a vegetarian, I can't imagine why you are even considering eating here.
Now, for the rest of you. I have not yet encountered a cheesesteak in all of my travels that even rivals the Ishkabibble's cheesesteak. Literally a hole in the wall, if you don't catch one of the five counter seats they offer, you order from a window outside-- and this is just fine by me. If one does manage to get inside, the wall is completely covered in B list celebrities, proudly boasting their love for the greasy establishment.
Their cheesesteaks, which should be enjoyed with melted provolone, are simply delicious, and far superior to the competing nearby tourist traps. And their cheese fries? Good Lord. Skinny crsipy fries in a cup, smothered with cheddar wizz. A perfect companion to their delectable, sinful cheesesteak.
If there was a magazine for cheesesteak porn, Ishkabibble's would be the centerfold.
People thought this was:
A+++ Sweet Potato Fries + Cheese, This is my go to junk food when I'm craving fries.
I knocked 1 star off, because I ordered the "mixed cheese" hoagie assuming it was only cheese (it didn't list meat alongside the 3 cheeses) and right before biting in the scent of ham came to me and I looked and low and behold it was moreso an italian hoagie with extra cheese (there was something besides ham). It looked delicious, the size of the sandwich matched the price (easily could have been shared) but I had to give it away as I had already left the area.
People thought this was:
So next time I come here I obviously have to try the cheese steaks.
I stopped by for a quick snack.
I got the cheese fries (cold, not appealing, cheese was not melted enough for me).
I also got their special soda/juice. Now that was banging. I could have sipped on that all afternoon. It didn't even need alcohol.
People thought this was:
As far as I'm concerned this is the only place in all the world to get a cheesesteak! The Iska is great, but I like just a plain ol cheese and meat with some sweet peppers. The fries are done to perfection too! Not sure exactly how I feel about the Gremlin, but if you like it sweet, this is the beverage to have.
People thought this was:
Stopped in over Memorial day...
We weren't in the mood for a full-blown cheesesteak, so we got Texas Tommy's - their hot dog specialty. Its a all-beef dog (well cooked), slapped in a bun with two pieces of crisp bacon and american cheese. Its like a grilled cheese dog. Really good.
We also split a cup of piping hot Spanish Fries (french fries with onions and peppers). Delicious.
I should have gotten their Gremlin drink to sip along with the meal, but that was a mistake I will have to remedy in the future.
The most satisfying philly cheese steak place I have been to, to date. The whole summer on the east coast I had been dying to make a trip out to philly and get some authentic cheese steaks from the source. This place definitely takes the cake (steak in this case. haha.). I will miss this place once I go back to California and resume my rotations of amazing sushi and mexican food establishments. I can't go back to any other cheese steak.
I'm reviewing this place only for their cheesef ries. I've tried their chicken cheesesteak years ago, but don't remember how it was. I haven't tried their cheesesteak either. But their cheesefries are amazing, maybe even better than pat's cheesesteaks. No place to sit down here. You can order from a window outside or go inside and order. You must try their cheesefries when you walk by here.
My favorite place to get fries.
It's very centrally located, which is a plus and a minus but honestly, I'm willing to wait for Ishkabibble's fries.
I love the inside even more than the carnival-esque outside. It's a little off, with autographed photos of tons of 'celebrities' that kind of ring a bell? Maybe? One hit wonder in the 90's? But I like it. It's pretty reminiscent of what people are already calling the old-new south street (it's changed a lot in the past three years, even more than it already had) which is comforting to those of us who grew up here.
The service is wonderful, the people on the grill and at the register are friendly, but efficient. There's very little chit chat unless it's dull, but you never feel unwanted (cough::LORENZO'S::cough) and you feel like your money is going to the people, not a company.
People thought this was:
We came here because I had heard that their hot dogs were great. The report was correct. In my opinion they serve the very best in The Delaware Valley . . . split and grilled to perfection.
People thought this was:
Hands down the best french fries I have ever had.... ever.... which says much considering they are my favorite food. I have never had a cheesesteak/chicken steak here but based on the reviews and frequent long lines I imagine that they are delicious. Some of my friends at school swear by their breakfast sandwiches as well. If you are on South St. I believe that this place is worth checking out. The staff is considerably more pleasant and accommodating then a lot of other restaurants in that neighborhood.
People thought this was:
I've walked by this place, oh, I don't know, 1000 times in my life, and always deferred to the big checkerboard cheesesteak mecca across the street. But this day was different... specifically because it was a Wednesday, I had to eat lunch in 15 minutes or less, and the line at Jim's was inexplicably out the door. In my haste I remembered that Ishkabibble's "invented" the chicken cheesesteak. And besides, chicken's healthier... right? Especially when you slather it in grease, cheese, fried onions and put it on a big roll.
So I walked across the street to find the place busy, but in a good way. I ordered the house special, the aformentioned chicken-cheesesteak-with, and the "Gremlin" drink they also claim to their own fame. All told, it was a great decision. The chicken was surprisingly tasty and not dry - I like that they used bigger chunks than the typical chicken cheesesteak, where the meat is shredded up like a regular cheesesteak. Good adaptation to adjust for the type of meat. The cheese was properly melted-in, and the roll had all the necessary substance. The Gremlin was quite refreshing - who know Grape Juice & Lemonade was a good combination?! The place had a good vibe too - on both sides of the counter.
I couldn't ask for more out of the place. I'll be back!
People thought this was:
Ishkabibble's is a quintessential dive, with a sidewalk take out window 6 counter stools jammed inside. You can order and watch them make your cheese steaks (CS) right in front of you. The soft rolls are crammed with a generous portion of lean, thin cut, chopped steak. The meat quality is excellent and it's not overcooked. Meat portion is generous, better than Jim's or any other place I tried. Their chicken CS looks tasty, but I haven't tried them. Their fries are good too, slender and crisp on the outside with large portions. I watched the staff write up a large take out order where the customer wanted each CS to be very customized. The staff patiently took the complex order with patience and absolute kindness.
People thought this was:
Ishkabibble's = Cheesesteak Heaven
Oh to dine at Ishkabibble's... dare I write & dream of my favorite guilty pleasure establishment! My Dad first introduced me to this place & I cringe to think about going anywhere else for this local delicacy. ; ) Even when I still resided in S. Jersey when I got my first car I drove across the Ben to find myself parked on South St. after having skipped breakfast (which, honestly, I typically do) to ensure that I will have enough room to induldge in their delicious delights! ; )
The cheesesteaks are HEAR-TY! You don't ever find yourself searching for the meat & biting into just bread & ketchup like other lame cheesesteak places. (Cough, Jim's, cough cough, Zio's, cough, cough other places whose names don't even register, cough, cough.)
I can just hear the clanging of the metal spatulas that they wield in a double fisted manner to chop up the meat... the gentleman with the dredlocks, whose name escapes me right now (sorry!), truely makes music upon that large flat metal grille! Upon the first clang my animalistic side kicks in & I begin to salivate, I swear! Although I know I can barely finish half of a whole cheesesteak there I always seem to order the cheese fries along with a Gremlin of course! MUY DELICIOSO! The do not skimp on portions so come hungry!
The meat is always hot & cooked thoroughly, unlike Jim's where my cheesesteak WAS COLD! Jim's truely broke my heart that day as I used to go there as a backup if I was in a rush & Ishkabibble's was packed. I have NEVER set foot in that place since that horrible day!
I have a job where folks come from out of town & always ask about the best cheesesteak joint, I only wish I could get commision for sending people to Ish! People have actually arrived with their research & their notes on Geno's & Pat's, but I say, "No, don't do it! I have just the place for you! Besides, once you get your cheesesteak you're in the middle of a residential area of a city you're not from... why not get THE best cheesesteak on a Street that was created for people watching & chock full of fun shopping?!"
Next thing you know I'm mapping out the trip for them & blurting out their address as if it was my own! That's the only place in Philly outside of my home address that I know by heart! ; ) They sort of laugh at me & they return weeble wobbling in the door, grinning a sleepy looking grin from ear to ear & clutching Bare Feet Shoes bags! One woman even jokingly fussed at me saying, "Why didn't you tell me they were so big?! My husband & I both ordered one & neither of us could finish them! Here I brought you one!"
This kind woman who I never met before brought me back a cheesesteak! I felt like I won an Oscar! Hahaha! (Yes, it really was that serious!) Sweet Cheesteak Fairy, whereever you are, if you're reading this you will forever hold a special place in my heart & if one day I remember your name I'll name my 1st born after you. (This is coming from a woman who's not at all excited about the process of childbirth, ouch!) I repeat, it's that serious!
Yes, there are only a few stools inside, but that adds to the fun, you have to be quick on your feet to get a seat! (Man, I'm on fire w/ the slogans today... I made a great one for SEPTA earlier!) ; ) And yes, there are a bunch of random celebs on the wall, but don't forget there's the $20 million dollar man, Actor/Producer Will Smith, Dr. J., Patti LaBelle, Eve, etc. The randomness of the celebs actually make it funny!
So pull up a yellow or pink stool, if you're man/woman enough & thank me later. You're welcome in advance kiddies!
A TIP: Park at the Whole Foods garage & that way you can walk it off a bit afterwards! ; )
Ishkabibble's + Asia = joy unbeknowst to the common man ; )
The consensus on the fries are right on. Their award-winning boasts are well-warranted. They are crispy, golden delicious!
The cheesesteak is good, but I'm not in love with it. It is pretty cool sitting inside and being so close to the cooking. The people behind the counter are really nice-I'd check out Jim's across the way for a cheesesteak thoough.
People thought this was:
I live next to Pat's and Geno's steaks and see the crowds wrapped around the building or standing in the middle of the street to eat at those places. I used to work on 4th & South and would see people also lined up at Jim's Steaks. WHY?
Less than a block from Jim's (aka Tourist Trap!) is Ishkabibbles, a tiny spot with limited seating that is easy to miss amongst the hubbub of South Street. The difference? They make your cheesesteak when you order it. They don't have a bunch of meat cooking all at once that they dole out to the masses. It takes a bit longer but it is truly fresh.
And: chicken cheesesteaks. They also have toppings such as broccoli, mushrooms, and peppers.
Also: the best french fries. Sweet potato fries for me please! Yummy.
People thought this was:
I just went there but I had to review it. I had never noticed this place- right across from the TLA. I am vegetarian and only had the cheese fries, but they were amazing. My friends loved the chicken cheesesteak. One friend even said it was better than Jim's.
At lunch, it was not crowded and the food was made fast. There's not much room to sit. The prices seem a tad bit high, but it's South St, so what do you expect?
Remember Purplesaurus Rex Kool Aid?
Well they have it here, a tribute to it at least, and it's called Gremlin. Awesome.
Great chicken cheesesteaks. I love bbq chicken steaks and theirs are my favorite. Huge pieces of tender chicken, no frozen sheets of mystery meat here.
It is easily overwhelmed due to the size, so try to visit during low-jersey-trash tide.
People thought this was:
I've had their cheese fries many times.
I've also had a sip of a friend's soda once.
And did I mention how great the cheese fries are?
So what you should take away from this review is that the cheese fries are really good.
People thought this was:
Best effin fries EVER.
Their fries are crispy yet not over burnt, or too thin. They have a good amount of thickness to it and is still in PERFECT condition after 4 hours (surprisingly tastes good cold too and doesnt seem to get soggy).
I've had the sweet potato fries with cheese. Its awesome but the cheese really overpowers the taste of the sweet potato. Perfect place to get a snack while waiting in line at Jim's steaks.
People thought this was:
This is my SPOT! They have the best cheese fries, best chicken cheesesteaks(real chicken breast chunks, my cousin gets hers with broccoli), best steaks, sweet potato fries, good hoagies, great turkey burgers, did I leave anything off? I bring my friends here who aren't from Philly, and they lose it, cause they can order with all the fixings they like and not just all the classic Philly fixings! You can walk up and order, or sit down inside, but based on the 5 person seating inside, its best to order your food and keep walking down South Street and to Penn's landing. The one Chef has been there for at least 15 years, so I think that's another thing that makes the food here so exceptional! And while you're here, please get a Gremlin: grape juice and lemonade! it's a ishkabibble's original, and it just helps the grease of the cheese fries slide down smooth!
Tip: when ordering a chicken cheesesteak get it with the following: provolone cheese, mushrooms, fried onions, pickles, salt, pepper, ketchup and mayo...trust me, the provolone cheese brings out the mushrooms and the flavors!
Disclaimer: I have never eaten food from here before 1 AM.
With that said, it's one of my favorite Friday/Saturday late night stops. I'm not a huge cheesesteak fan so I can't really comment - they all taste the same to me. I know, I'm a heathen Philadelphian. But the ones I've had from here were good, as far as I can tell.
However, their fries taste like what might be served in heaven (if it, in fact, exists and allows trans fats). Crispy outside, warm gooey inside, happy drunk girl. I don't like cheese fries (super heathen) but they are outstanding on their own or with ketchup.
Also, the service is quick, efficient, but FRIENDLY. You don't get barked at, even when it's incredibly busy and people are milling about on the sidewalk. They get major points for that, because I really hate the vibe at some other cheesesteak places - ok, it's Philly, you're gruff, I get it. But I asked politely, and you have a job in the service industry. Now it's your turn to be polite.
Yay Ishkabibble's!
People thought this was:
this place is super small and finding a spot to sit is near impossible unless your timing is perfect. they have a walk up window which is the way to go if its a nice day. they have the best chicken cheesesteak in the city if you ask me...and your reading my review so technically you are asking me. big chunks of chicken. you don't see that to often. the thing should be called the "super ishka chunky chicken cheesesteak from heaven on south st"
People thought this was:
i love the cheese fries with hot sauce n ketchup
A hole in the wall cheesesteak joint.
These 5 stars go soley to the chicken cheese steak.
Huge chicken chunks.
The best chicken cheesesteak period.
Parking = street
Where do you eat this essence? On the sidewalk standing.
Peep the pic.
People thought this was:
The last time my friends and I visited Philly, we left with $150 worth of cheesesteaks from Ishkabibbles.
I think that speaks for itself.
People thought this was:
I am not going to base my review on one sandwich (Chicken Cheesesteak). Someone claims that they make the best Chicken Cheesesteaks, so I went and tried it. They used these chucky chicken pieces, but they were very dry. The only good thing were the spicy fries, which were very addictive and greasy. I will definitely come back to try other items on the menu.
People thought this was:
I really liked this place for the food, service and overall feel.
The people were down to earth, and didn't treat us like idiots since we were tourists and didn't have a cheesesteak ordering routine like some of their regulars. They even asked us halfway through the meal if we needed any sauce, and one of the cooks even wrapped my leftovers from me. That's pretty excellent service for such a tiny, inexpensive place.
Our cheesesteaks were delicious (and huge!) and I'm glad we didn't try one of the larger, fancier looking places down the street.
went for the chicken cheesesteak. not bad. the regular cheesesteaks looked tastier though. fries were also good.
wait time was just as bad as Jim's just across the street, even though Jim's appeared to have 5 times the customers... not sure what this was all about.
one cheesesteak, small fry, and medium drink ran $12.. there are better meals on south street to be had for less.
probably won't be back.
Yummy sweet potato fries! :)
People thought this was:
Definitely not good for a big groups, but the food is awesome! Just their fries alone, you can eat forever. As I recall, AOL ranked their fries as #3 (i think) in the nation. The gremlin (grape & lemonade) drink quenches your thirst!
Win free weekly sandwich for a…
Philadelphia, PA
$4.99 Meal Deals
Bellmawr, NJ
Neighborhood: South Street District
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: South Street District
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: South Street District
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Society Hill
Category: Pubs
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Sandwiches
Where to grab a quick slice/hoagie/bbq rib…
Places I remember from Philly, Bryn Mawr, and…
Oh, the cheesesteak. Such a simple sandwich, yet…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Restaurants I would take my friends to if they…
