One of Philly’s most iconic foods — the cheesesteak — is chock full of beef, cheese, and bread. But everyone’s got different dietary needs and preferences, so that combination of ingredients doesn’t work for everybody.
The good news is that lots of Philly restaurants swap out some of those components for tasty alternatives, making for creations that don’t quite replicate a typical cheesesteak, but can still hit the spot. Here are some alternatives our team tried and enjoyed.
Oh Brother’s Gluten-Free Cheesesteak
City Cast Philly producer Abby Fritz was pleasantly surprised by the gluten-free roll here, which wasn’t too small and managed to pass the sturdiness test (for the most part). You can tell it’s not typical bread, she says, but it did heat up nicely. Oh Brother has locations in Old City, near Temple, and along Roosevelt Boulevard.
Tattooed Mom’s Vegan Cheesesteak
Head to South Street for fun vibes and this vegan-friendly concoction. To elevate the flavor, Abby recommends asking for some extra vegan cheese, plus hot sauce or ketchup. The best part, though? You can get one of these sandwiches for just $7 on TMom’s “Meatless Mondays.”
Larry’s Steaks’ Chicken Cheesesteak
City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri recommends making a trip to this West Philly shop near City Line Ave for a chicken cheesesteak. The restaurant has lots of seating (and Kobe Bryant memorabilia), so you can sit down and relax as you munch on your sandwich. Trenae recommends ordering it with provolone or American cheese.
Little Sicily Pizza II’s Spicy Chicken Cheesesteak
If you don’t like spice, this Indian-style cheesesteak is not for you. But if you do … well, you’re in for a treat. Abby stopped by this South Philly pizza and sandwich restaurant to try this cheese-and-cilantro-topped delicacy, which she describes as “a little greasy, but in a good way.”
Joy Cafe’s Philly Cheezsteak Wrap
This vegan restaurant in Northern Liberties serves up a wrap with a grilled plant-based beef alternative, sweet onion, melted homemade cashew cheese, tomato, and spicy soy mayo.
🧀 For several more cheesesteak-ish recs from the team, tune in to today’s episode of the City Cast Philly podcast!
