On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhoods: South Street District, Society HillMon-Thu. 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Loading...
BEST CHEESESTEAK I'VE EVER TASTED. I had to start off with that. Earlier in the day, I tried out the Passyunk Dynasty and tried Pat's and Geno's. They're both not bad but I've always heard of a place called Jim's Steaks that people were claiming that was better. Little did I know what was up.
I walk in and find a different style menu than the other two. There are a lot of different options at this restaurant. i went with the traditional cheesesteak. This one did NOT disappoint. I took a bite of the steak and WOW. The texture of the steak IS SO GOOD. I can't explain the flavor and overall taste that this steak outputs into your mouth. I tried my steak with onions and cheese wiz. Wow I can't believe how good it was. It blows Geno's and Pat's out of the water! Try this place out! You won't be disappointed!
For some reason, a cheesesteak sounded like a good idea for a late breakfast whilst strolling down South Street on a Saturday morning. Thus began my first sober, daylight experience at Jim's.
I had the pleasure of enjoying their first steak of the day. I was gluttonously overjoyed.
Pat's is too greasy, Geno's has no flavor, Jim's is just right, and they serve beer amongst photos of Philebrities and circa 1985 Playboy Playmates.
The steak was just as good at xx:xx AM (not gonna say how early it was) as in a post-bar-time stupor, and it was just as massive as I foggily remembered. I couldn't finish it wondering how I routinely powered whole steaks down by myself at one time.
Jim's is still my favorite, even if it did require a stop at Whole Foods for detox supplies and a dose of Lipitor on the way home.
Every single time I visit a new city outside of the Bay Area, I need to do at least three things.
1) See the sights.
2) Try a signature dish or food item from that particular city.
3) Karaoke.
So #2 is why I came here. The line to eat here went out the door and circled around the corner. But in the end, this place is a tourist trap.
The cheesesteak sandwich here is mediocre. Nothing is fresh. The beef is bland and tasteless, the bread is a bit soggy, the peppers and mushrooms are canned, and the staff is surly and rude.
One guy that was more rude than the rest was the guy bussing tables upstairs in the seating area barely wiped the table I was going to eat on. He was definitely too fat to bend over and wipe it properly. And at the end of the meal, he got mad at me for not putting a can on top of the garbage for them to recycle it. He pointed to a different bin that said "CANS" but it was so scratched up it looked like it said "CRAP" to me. Sure, he has a job to bus tables and clean up litter in that upstairs area, but he is too fat and lazy to get up and put the can in the right spot. He'd rather place his body against the wall and take out his frustration on me. Get up, fat boy, and do your damn job!
Philadelphia is a great city and they invented the cheesesteak sandwich; but in the end, they just taste better in the Bay Area since we have fresh produce and can use fresh mushrooms and peppers.
My first question is..are you sure this is meat or Philadelphia Pigeon on an old crusty roll?
Really?
Really?!
I mean... seriously Philadelphia.. don't you want to leave a good impression with your neighbor New Yorker? ;-)
Do you have that much time on your hands to wait in a line that goes around the corner for what you call a "Philadelphia Cheesesteak"?
This seems to be the same curse as Magnolia's Cupcakes in New York City (Or what I call Magpoolia's). Lines and lines out the door for the famous "Sex in the city" show cupcakes! Only to find out in the end.. you have been standing outside and numbing your tush off for a dry overly sweet, dull piece of cake.
You tricked me Jim's Steaks, shame on you!
I shall not be back to this establishment but my love of Cheesesteaks will continue. I will be searching Philadelphia for a number one spot!
Next stop on the list...John's Roast Pork!
Jims is by far the best Philly cheesesteak I've had. Too bad, It was actually the first I experienced in Philly in the Summer of 06. Nora A., local PA'ian brought me here, said. Don't mess with the others. It was pretty good back then.
So now having been to all three local faves, I declare Jims the winner. On all counts. Bread, meat, cheese. They also have seating upstairs.
Jims [is greater than] Pats [is much greater than] Genos.
Out of the three main steak places - Jims, Pats and Genos... Jims is by far my favorite! I've definitely had better at other places but I loved the chopped up meat and the soft rolls.
The staff is great too, funny and friendly.
I won't go near Pats or Genos.
I went to Philly and wanted to taste the original cheesesteak. Based on what I've heard, Gino and Pat's are equally un-impressive although they are the original birthplace of cheesesteak. So, I came to Jim's Steaks based on a recommendation that locals usually hang out at this place for a cheesesteak on weekends.
This place appeared like a diner and I was expecting a good cheesesteak session. Everything looked decent - the ingredients and the way the sandwich was made. I got a mushroom steak with whiz, and I was so disappointed. It was quite bland and whiz cheese was sorta watery. I realized that the cook didn't put any seasoning when he was preparing the meat.
Such a disappointing experience, and this was the only time time I had for cheesesteak during my trip. To be honest, I think there are better cheesesteak place in California. Buster in San Francisco offers better selection - Chile cheesesteak and you can't beat that...
My friend and I took a random trip from Rockville, MD all the way up to Philadelphia to do things: 1) eat cheesesteak and 2) visit Condom Kingdom. Both were epic but I'll focus on the former for now.
I was brought here as an unknowing participant. My eyes just blew wide open when I saw this massive line outside the place. The line snaked around three times the inside of the building, out the front door, along the front of the store, and then wrapping around half way to the back of the shop. Not realizing what greatness was stored in this tiny shack of a building, I was telling my friend "This better be the most mind blowing cheese steak ever!" And mind blowing it was.
The bread was so light and fluffy, not dense like other cheese steaks I've had. The cheese steak of it was also great. I didn't have it "with whiz", but I did get it with provolone and banana peppers. So yummy!
I really think you gotta have a strong stomach to order the cheesesteak with whiz. For the entire hour I was in line, I was watching the cook slap on globs of cheeze whiz from this massive can and he went through two cans of that stuff by the time I came around. The next time around, I will man up and try it with whiz.
In short, I love this place. There's a ton of history here and it's a good eat. The walls are lined with a ton of autographs so there's something to do when you are waiting in line. I'm still not sure whether this place takes credit cards or not so just bring cash just in case. If I happen to have another 5 hours to kill, I have no issues driving up, standing in line, eat, and drive home. It's just that good.
Pros: Recommended by the locals. Selection from 3 types of cheese - American, Prov, or Whiz - to be placed on your cheesesteak.
Cons: Refrain from the meatless cheesesteak.
In two days, I ate four different cheesesteaks "whiz with". This was the best out of those four. They all tasted great. But this one was the best.
The people working there are a lot nicer than at the other popular cheesesteak places, too.
My first thoughts upon going inside were... "dirty, dirty, dirty!"
Once inside, you snake into a line designated by some rope and stanchion and wait your turn to the grill, at which time you give 'em your order. The line moved quickly and the food was plated lightning fast. However, the downside, they seem to be in such a rush they don't always plate what you requested. In conjunction with my order, I watched them incorrectly plate three different orders in front of me.
Things I noticed while standing in line and dining in thereafter... If you are faint of heart or queasy when it comes to how your meat is cooked, you probably shouldn't eat here. It seems they grill the raw meat right with cooked meat. Furthermore, they used the same grill utensil they utilized to serve the cooked sandwiches, to cut, chop, and cook the raw meat. Yum! No health department issues there...
Did I say this place is dirty? The bathroom was like walking into an outhouse at a summer camp that hadn't been cleaned in at least a week.
The food: The steak sandwiches weren't spectacular by any means. I am not sure if some of that had to do with watching them cook and the overall level of cleanliness at the place, but I found the meat itself a little bland. I have had better steak sandwiches through the years. Hopefully this isn't the best Philadelphia has to offer.
Jims.. this place is nice, means the services so nice and kind, many choices and the cheese steak itself soo good so far, better than Geno's or Pats. I personally dun really like cheese steak that much, but sometimes i do consume it for my lunch since i worked @ south street, so yea.. ^^
Tear. So very disappointed with my very first cheesesteak. Did I build it up too much? Did my overanticipation set me up for disappointment? Sigh. We'll never know. The meat was cold! How is that even possible? I saw the guy making it on what appeared to be a hot, steamy grill...the cheese didn't even fully melt. What a jip.
On the other hand, the bread was quite tasty. I should have just eaten a loaf of that.
Plan on waiting at least 30 minutes to get your food on the weekend. Unlike pat and geno's, there is one dude manning the grill so its a slow process. The steak itself is marginally better then the other two "iconic" places. In the end though, you're still paying close to eight dollars for street meat on a bun with some cheese and onions. Take a tourist here but don't seek it out otherwise.
I have to agree with the negative reviews. This tourist hotspot, serves the worse cheesesteaks. When I first moved to Philadelphia a friend took me to Jim's Steaks in West Philadelphia. The service was fast, the employees were friendly and the cheesesteak was excellent. When I saw Jim's Steaks on South Street I expected the same quality / service / ambience .. boy was I wrong. The lines are ridiculously slow and long (don't get me wrong, if the food is fabulous I'll wait in line all night) but the service is downright rude, the poor quality grease laden steak is slopped on the mini roll (yes I said a mini roll) seating is limited (due to the volume of customers) and the food is very overpriced.
Maybe it's me, but when I visit new places, I ask the locals where to find the best food. I never rely on tourist guides.
Did you ask why I stopped going to Jim's in West Philadelphia? Oh I went there around 11pm on a Friday evening 1997 and the place was robbed at gunpoint. The Offenders began shooting and a bullet, yes a real bullet, grazed my leg and destoyed my favorite pair of jeans. As much as I love good food, there is no food worth getting shot over .
Never been to Pat or Geno's but I don't really eat at places to compare them to each other...
Jim's steaks are... wow awesome. I always get the one with whiz... I don't know what that magical water/sauce it is that they pour in there... but the meat is delicious. Our friends just started school in Philly so we tried this place since it was nearby. Our friends were actually nice enough to bring us one back when they came home. We shared it with my sister and her bf and they fell in love too.
Can't get a philly cheesesteak like that here in cali thats for sure.
There are multiple locations. I just got back from a weekend in Philadelphia and visited the location on South St. Benjamin Franklin rocks.
On WTR!!!
Menu:
Simple and straight forward:
Cheesesteak with either wiz, american or provolone, comes with onions, you can add peppers, mushrooms, pizza sauce, etc.
They also have egg-n-cheese sandwiches along with their variants.
Bonus: They also sell beer. I fell off my chair when I took a bite of the standard American Cheesesteak with onions. Holy cow!
Quality:
Juicy, flavorful meat. This stuff AIN'T steakums... this is thinly sliced eye round that is just PERFECT for this sandwich. Served on this perfect hoagie roll (sub roll for us in the NYC area) that has the right amount of crispy crust and chewy inside. The gods eat this.
Service:
This is fast action please order right - and we'll treat ya nice kinda place. One guy flips the meat, one guys deliver the grub, another guy charges ya. Its simple and its blue collar perfect. You want a maitre d'? - Look elsewhere. 40 people served in 20 mins. I am impressed.
Decor:
The place is filled with all sorts of famous people portraits with handwritten 'shout-outs' to Jims. It's a bar-stool kinda place that is just an edge above any fast-food place. You're not here for the decor. Period.
Ambiance:
LOL - ambiance - hungry people eating greasy food. Yeah. No candles, no waiters. Just table cleaners and grill masters. That's all you need really - you can go here with a date who likes greasy yuminess. You do not propose here... although.. there is a pic of a wedding couple going here for afterparty munchies.
Price:
$7.50 for a standard heavenly cheesesteak. $2 for a can of heineken. Additions add a few cents to the sandwich. I heard the other locations are a little cheaper - but not bad for the bar section of town.
Parking:
Um.. parking? LOL - i parked at the hotel and walked a few blocks. It's tough around here. Be prepared for traffic on weekends. Lots of it. So the parking is based on that fact - more cars equals less spaces.
Location:
Right on the corner of 4th and south. You can't miss it. Its black with silver shimmering linings. It will be the building with the line of people inside. A few blocks from Old City.
Conclusion:
I tried the wiz. I tried the American cheese. This place is great for anyone that has never had a real cheesesteak. I'd recommend this above all others in the vicinty. Do no be fooled by Pat's or by Geno's - this is better. I now know this.
Pros:
Best Damn Cheesesteaks
Not to expensive
Greasy Fun
Cons:
No parking
H-Cane's Final Spin:
Wow. Just Wow. I learned what a cheesesteak really is this weekend. Everyone from Philly: Props to you! People- go here and love it. It's awesome.
One of my goals while visiting Philadelphia was to have an authentic cheesesteak. The first time I ever had one was in SF, then subsequently Denver where I now live. Basically, I've never had the real deal.
We headed here after I got in. This location is conveniently located next to where my friend's place was. They kept telling us this is the place to go..so I trusted the locals. There was a pretty long line already and the smell already had my mouth watering. I ordered my steak with provolone which I later proved to be a terrible choice. In the past, I've always had the cheese melted in with the steak. Not so here. They just slab it on one side of the bread then scoop the meat on to it. I asked for sweet peppers (which I really thought were hot peppers, BOO!) and I wasn't really impressed.
The BF tried the wit wiz and my other friends got the pizza steak. I should have totally gone w/the wiz!! I was really grossed out at the thought of cheez wiz on my sandwhich but after I tried it I saw the light. The cheesesteak I had ordered seemed a little on the dry side. Had I gotten the whiz, it probably would have tasted a lot moister.
Now I know what to get upon my next visit!
The cheesesteak w/whiz was good, but not as good as Pat's IMO. I'll give it a couple more tries as locals have raved about this place. The people who work at Jim's are a lot nicer than the people at Pat's or Geno's.
Do you want you taste buds to hate you? Then, eat at Jim's
If this is "the place" to get a a true cheese steak, then I think I may hate cheese steak, which is news to me. I got a basic cheese steak with provolone and onions. The bread was good, but the meat was dry and lacked seasoning, the cheese was tasteless, the onions were too sweet from being cooked too long, and my whole sandwich was dripping in grease. Not to mention that the line was out the door, the food was overpriced, and they don't take credit card. In this day and age, if you aren't going to take credit card, you better have a damn great product - and Jim's doesn't.
Having had a cheese steak place around the corner from me growing up in California and loving their food, I longed to get to Philly for a "true" cheese steak. I was told Jim's was the place and I thought the line out the door was a good sign, but I think Jim's is just a tourist trap for people who don't know better. I can't believe how let down I was by my cheese steak experience!
If you want a good Philly cheese steak (which, ironically, looks exactly the same as Jim's but has one million times the taste), go to Philly's Best in California (Fountain Valley or Irvine). It is owned by a native from Philly, who specially buys their bread from Philadelphia. Philly's Best has a delicious cheese steak - well, unless, traditional Philly cheese steaks are supposed to be like Jim's; and in that case, they are supposed to be a tasteless, greasy mess that leaves your stomach and taste buds wondering why you hate them.
I was visiting Philly for a week and on the last day of my stay I was strongly encouraged to have a Philly Cheesesteak before I left. I was then strongly encouraged to eat at Pat's or Jim's and since I was just hungry and didn't care which one we ate at, I let my boyfriend decide. He was told to try Jim's.
Great location. Very busy area of South Street. A little hard to find parking, but I loved all the people watching from upstairs. But this place could use a good cleaning.
We both got cheesesteaks with Whiz. They were ok. Nothing really outstanding or memorable. I was hungry so I scarfed mine down, but I've had better outside of Philly.
I love this place and keep going back for more. Great food great service yummmmyyyy
Disclaimer...I'm from out of town, never had an authentic chesesteak before, and went to Jim's on the advice of a few local friends.
Jim's was awesome! We arrived very hungry, and at first I was a little bummed they didn't serve fries. Who doesn't love a good side of fries with their sandwich? But, once I had the sandwich, I realized I didn't need anything else (except a million napkins). Friendly staff, really good food. The meat was very good, not over-processed or salted. Bread was fantastic.
I'd for sure go back, and am open to trying several cheeseteaks for an accurate comparison (as long as my cholesterol stays normal).
Those who have poorly rated appear to be first timers to Philly. Yes the shop is not an immaculate five star restaurant, but Jim's defined the Philly sandwich. If you want an authentic philly, come to Jim's. Exceptional food, (but don't come on a diet!). Take in the culture of the event as you down your sandwich, and live a little. Be prepared to wait in line. There is a reason all those people are standing there.
Fresh but bland meat doesn't redeem this place. Another boring cheesesteak in Philly.
After trying Jim's, Geno's, and Patt's, I now treasure "Fat Philly" in the San Francisco Mission. Oh, Bay Area, why must all your food be superior???
You know I really don't like giving 5 stars and I usually try and find a reason to deduct a star but in all honesty I can't find anything wrong with this place.
Remember, you never find the best food in fancy restaurants. And, because the chesse steaks are so good, you have to expect it to have publicity (from Food Network or whatever) and therefore higher prices. Hey, it's a business and everyone needs to make money however then can.
I took a day trip to Philadelphia. It was my first time ever in the city. I was in town primarily for a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park, but I figured I'd do everything I can in the city tourist wise, and that included getting a real cheese steak. I didn't know anything about places to get one, and it was recommended to me (by numerous locals) to go to Jim's or Geno's. Lucky for Jim's, I didn't know how to spell Geno's so my GPS couldn't find it.
I went at about 4:45pm. The line wasn't long at all. I got lucky; it took no more than 5 minutes to order and pay. The place has that feel as if it used to be a local spot then blew up with tourists, typical of something you'll find in, say, NY.
Hey, I'm a tourist, so it's exactly what I was looking for.
The cheese steak was so delicious. Of course I got one with whiz. The steak was nice and juicy, it melted in my mouth, and the mushrooms were sauteéd perfectly. Prices weren't bad... hey, being my first time I would have paid more simply for the experience.
They have seating upstairs, in which you half walk through the kitchen. The workers aren't friendly, but then again this has the feel of a local's spot.
Like I said, it's part of the experience. I'll definitely be back if I'm ever in Philly, and I'm ordering 2 steaks.
YUM!! The line was long on a late Saturday afternoon but it wasn't a long wait, before I knew it, I was face to face with the grill and heaps of beef and onions. YUMMY.
We ordered a regular with mushrooms and pizza sauce. It was juicy goodness! Seating is limited but the turnover is pretty quick so you never wait long.
We got our fill of Cheesesteaks during our weekend in Philly!
This was recommended by a local friend. I said I want a real Philly Cheese steak. When I got up to the cook to order, I said I came all the was from San Francisco to have THIS cheese steak. I got the steak, provolone, pepper's and onion. I have to say, it hit the spot. A good amount of meat and very tender and tasty.
Best cheese steak of my night. So good that I ate one and a half here after going through one at Pat's and then another at Geno's. I've had few things better than this on a late night - the perfect snack. The cheese steaks are amazing here and they are generous with the meaty goodness. It's actually a bit sad when you're halfway through it and you realize you're already halfway through it. Jim's is as good as it gets for authentic cheese steaks - no need to visit Passyunk anymore.
I went here specifically to prove a point. Recently, I was having a discussion about Philly cheesesteaks with a few people...and they were swearing allegiances to several different (and well known) cheesesteak places. The general consensus was that Jim's on South Street was the "worst" and a "tourist trap".
I thought that was silly. In the years I've been coming to Philly, I'd never actually been to Jim's. (I'm a Tony Luke's man, myself). l always thought it was a silly argument. Are cheesesteaks delicious piles of heaven wrapped in grease & bread? Yes they are...and I love them. However...it's not exactly a culinary work of art. It's bread, meat & cheese.
Now...onto the subject of Jim's specifically. I decided to wait in the line as part of the experience. It was approx. 30 minutes from teh back of the line, until I was eating...so it wasn't THAT long of a wait.
Having consumed many a cheesesteak in this city...I was fairly competent in my ordering style and got exactly what I wanted: "Steak, provolone, onions". I did enjoy watching the tourists fumble over the ordering...then complain about the finished product.
What I got was a nice-sized, cheesy, juicy Philadelphia Cheesesteak. Jim's was a lot of fun, it was worth the wait to get the whole experience...and while I probably wouldn't wait on line that long again...I believe that I proved my point that if you judge it based on its merits...instead of some perceived loyalty to another cheesesteak place...you'll find that Jim's is just as good a place as any in the city.
No place with a line that wraps around the inside and then the outside of the building can be that bad. The only thing I don't like is that if for some reason you can't talk or have a weak voice your order is hard to get across since you basically talk to the cook directly to order what you want. Extra Wiz, Onions and Provo is my staple sub. Add Ketchup a chocolate milk and you have a fantastic meal
I waited on line for probably an hour at about 4 in the morning on a Saturday night for one of these steaks. It was POURING outside and when we got into Jim's it was hot and steamy and there were a ton of people on line, but we made friends during the wait and it was seriously worth it.
THIS BY FAR WAS THE BEST PHILLY MEAT I HAVE EVER PUT IN MY MOUTH. Granted, I was trashed, but it was sooo good. I wish they made things like this in New York. The meat was cooked perfectly, the onions and mushrooms were sliced perfectly and bangin, there wasn't too much cheez wiz and the roll was fresh and mmmm. Not to mention the staff was pretty entertaining which is good for when you are waiting on an insanely long line with 75 drunk people. I am considering moving to Philly.
As usual with these things the line rapped around the door. But it was definitely worth the wait and a hoovered the thing like it was my job. I am now a true fan of cheese steaks because of cheesewiz but it is definitely a great place
It's located on South St., a hoppin part of town lined with shops and restaurants, ending at Penn's Landing. So the line started out onto the street, something my friend informed me of as being the norm. The line was huge inside and at first it turned me off because I craved the damn thing so bad and didn't want to wait! ( a NY thing?). It did give time to chat and take in all the photo history and memorabilia on the walls. There's real tradition here, and that's what I loved. So we made our way slowly but steadily to the front by the sizzling meats and toppings and yelled out our formulas. I had the onions and peppers w cheez wiz. Man o man, when that thing came to me, with the ice cold beverage, it was heaven. The entire process is climactic, I realized that later on. I've heard of the other famous places, and intend on going to them as well, but this was indeed a terrific Philly's cheesesteak.
Get this, I spent over $200 coming from NYC (using amtrak) making a day trip just to eat the cheesesteak sandwich here lol. I didn't know that there was a cheaper transportation method called bus when I did this lol. So heeeeere goes my story.
I remember back in the days when I was a kid living in Philly, I would walk by this place and think, "What the ^$&% is all this line about?" Years has passed since, and I've grown into a handsome (plz don't throw rocks at me) young man. Well, I recently had a chance to visit Philly and try out their famous cheesesteak. It was,,,good. It was a true authentic Philly cheesesteak sandwich, but I seriously thought that I could of made the same cheesesteak here at home if I had the ingredients.
What I liked about this restarurant was the vide. A true Philly atomosphere which made me feel nostalgic. If I'm near South St. again, I'll probably come back here. Not for the taste, but for the Philly experience and memories.
One Liner: Best cheese steak I have ever had to-date.
Food: (scale of 0-4) 3.1
After having a serious and positive experience with Geno's, I was going to try Pat's. Fate took me to Jim's instead. Unlike Geno's and Pats, Jim's had an incredibly long line. We gave up the first time around. The second time we went there, we stuck it out. I ordered a whiz wit for now and one for later.
It's going to be very difficult to describe the experience in a PG-13 way. All I can say is that it was the best cheese steak I ever had by far. I am going back there every time I'm in town.
Extras: (Scale of 0-1) 0.6
Service 0.2: The guys there are surprisingly nice. The cook was masterful. He even struck a conversation while he was busy making 6 sandwiches for the 3 of us. (yes, we all decided to get one for now, and one for later)
Decor 0.1: I was busy with the cheese steak.
Speed 0.1: The line was incredibly long, but getting the sandwich was quick once we get up there. The cook could have done it in his sleep.
Dessert 0.1: I forgot what I had to drink. I think water would have been fine as long as I get to eat that cheese steak.
Prices 0.1: It's the same price as every other cheese steak around town.
My score for this experience is 3.7 stars.
I won't be needing any excuse to bump this up to a 4 star.
Out of the famous places for a steak in Philly this is my favorite. Behind Tony Luke's, Pat's then Geno's.
I always make sure to get extra steak in my sandwich.
I think Jim's is one of those places that gets way over-hyped. That being said, their steaks ARE much better than some of the other famous cheesesteaks in Philly.
I am a purist and do NOT think Cheeze Whiz belongs on a cheesteak, but if you like that, that's your right. Thankfully Jim's offers regular ole American too. I think Jim's Steaks are a little on the small side too as far a cheesesteaks go. My favorite cheesesteak places all are selling them for the same price as Jim's and they are double the size without sacrificing quality.
I also don't think Jim's is a clean as it could be. And they're sooooooo busy you feel like cattle both during your purchase and while you're eating. Hurry up and get out already. Customer service is NOT the name of the game at Jim's- volume is. But as I said, Jim's does make a very good cheesesteak. If you're from out of town and are wondering which cheesesteak icon to try, this is the one. It's in a great shopping district with lots of good people watching.
5 / 11 of my cheesesteak pilgrimage (see my list!)
Ok, so the sandwich here beats nearby Pat's and Geno's, but I had to rate a bit Pat's higher because of its historical significance. The bread and steak were a bit higher quality, but I was disappointed by the size of the sandwich and the amount of cheese they added. I was also kind of sad that they only had chips instead of fries.
I did like how there was a lot of well-lit, indoor seating. The staff didn't carry the usual air associated with South Philly, though they did seem a bit hard of hearing. Too many people pick here as their alternative to waiting in line at Geno's and Pat's...there are other places too, ya know?
I think Jim's Steaks is acquired taste. You have to take two bites to know it's good.
This is one Philly experience you can't miss!
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: South Street District
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Category: Sandwiches
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Pennsport
Category: Sandwiches
I have come to Philly ..give me a steak like god…
Where to go to get a steak sandwich that actually…
I fancy myself a semi-sophisticated diner, but my…
Sure....we gripe about you in the summer...you…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
if you happen to be on the road this holiday…
I was in Philadelphia from 7 to 11 of March, for a…
From January '09 to April '09, I was assigned to…
