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Name: Geno’s Steaks
Address: 1219 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Telephone: (215) 389-0659
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 2.53

Geno’s Steaks

1219 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19147

(215) 389-0659
Store is closed

Geno’s Steaks Menu

Cheesesteak

Steak

Pizza Steak

Mushroom Steak

Pepper Steak

Mushroom Cheesesteak

Pepper Cheesesteak

Steak

Pizza Steak

Mushroom Steak

Pepper Steak

Mushroom Cheesesteak

Pepper Cheesesteak
Steak Hoagie

Steak Hoagie

Steak Hoagie
Cheesesteak Hoagie

Cheesesteak Hoagie

Cheesesteak Hoagie
Steak Milano

Roast Pork

Hoagie

Freedom Fries

Cheese Fries

Soda & Bottled Water

Roast Pork

Hoagie

Freedom Fries

Cheese Fries

Soda & Bottled Water

Foods for Diabetics:

Diabetics at Yogen Fruz:

Diabetics can look for No Sugar alternatives of frozen yogurt. Yogen Fruz offers a variety of different sugarless probiotic frozen yogurt and smoothie options to help diabetics enjoy the tasty treat without any compromises. Diabetics should be extra careful while enjoying the tempting flavors of frozen yogurt at Yogen Fruz.

Foods to Avoid at Yogen Fruz for Diabetes:

Diabetics need to regulate sugar intake as well as monitor the cholesterol levels to reduce heart risk. Yogen Fruz offers regular as well as no-fat, no-sugar light yogurt at the restaurant. It is highly recommended to avoid the regular frozen yogurt at Yogen Fruz. Also, avoid all kinds of Low-Fat Chocolates at Yogen Fruz. While most shakes served at Yogen Fruz are low in sugar, there are a few such as Candy Cane, Gingerbread, and Keylime Pie that every diabetic must avoid. Although low in sugar, an 8 fl.oz. serving of Egg Nog contains 22g cholesterol. A diabetic must avoid Egg Nog at Yogen Fruz.

Foods Suggestions for Diabetics at Yogen Fruz:

Probiotic Frozen Yogurt Low Fat Chocolate (4fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 48mg sodium, 19g carbs, 18g sugar, 5g fiber, 3g Protein

Probiotic Frozen Yogurt Low Fat Vanilla (4fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 57mg sodium, 19g carbs, 19g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein

Probiotic Frozen Yogurt Low No Fat Vanilla (4fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 62mg sodium, 21g carbs, 19g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein

Probiotic Frozen Yogurt Low No Fat Tart (4fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 55mg sodium, 20g carbs, 18g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein

Non-Fat Frozen Yogurt – Passion Fruit Tart

Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 54mg sodium, 22g carbs, 19g sugar, 0g fiber, 4g Protein

Low Fat Frozen Yogurt – Lemon

Nutritional Facts: 120 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 56mg sodium, 22g carbs, 21g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein

Healthy Meal suggestions for Geno’s Steaks

Cheesesteak

Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pizza Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepper Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom Cheesesteak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepper Cheesesteak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pizza Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepper Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom Cheesesteak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepper Cheesesteak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Steak Hoagie

Steak Hoagie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak Hoagie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Cheesesteak Hoagie

Cheesesteak Hoagie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheesesteak Hoagie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Steak Milano

Roast Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hoagie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Freedom Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soda & Bottled Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roast Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hoagie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Freedom Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soda & Bottled Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Foods for People with High Blood Pressure:

People suffering from high blood pressure problems can also opt for the non-sugar frozen yogurt options to have a fun meal at Yogen Fruz. They can also try the non-fat variations of frozen yogurt and smoothies available at Yogen Fruz to taste the richness of frozen yogurt without any health concerns.

High Blood Pressure at Yogen Fruz

If you have high blood pressure, then it is highly recommended to go for fresh dairy yogurt or Greek yogurt as calcium-rich foods are helpful in lowering blood pressure. Never ask for cheese or any salty food items as the toppings on your yogurt smoothies or flavored frozen yogurt. Always try fresh fruits or berries without any added salt to compliment your frozen yogurt or yogurt smoothies at Yogen Fruz.

Foods to Avoid at Yogen Fruz for High Blood Pressure:

While most food items on Yogen Fruz menu seem healthy, there are a lot of flavors and mixes which contains a high amount of sodium. To maintain blood pressure levels, avoid ordering cheesecake mixes at Yogen Fruz. Other dessert mixes like Apple Pie, Keylime Pie, Oreo Vanilla, and Oreo Mint also contain a high amount of sodium levels. Avoid these mixes while ordering your frozen yogurt at Yogen Fruz for high blood pressure. Try avoiding all kinds of Shakes at Yogen Fruz as all the flavors contain a high amount of sodium levels in a single serving.

Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Yogen Fruz:

Smoothie Dairy Peach Berry Sunset (8fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 26mg sodium, 21g carbs, 17g sugar, 1g fiber, 2g Protein

Üsensations Pina Colada (4fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 6g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 26mg sodium, 26g carbs, 24g sugar, 1g fiber, 3g Protein

Raspberry Blast (8fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 120 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 30g carbs, 24g sugar, 2g fiber, 0g Protein

Strawberry Banana (8fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 120 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 29g carbs, 21g sugar, 1g fiber, 0g Protein

Very Berry (8fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 26g carbs, 20g sugar, 2g fiber, 0g Protein

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Low-Cholesterol Foods:

Yogen Fruz understands the need for healthy food choices. Hence, the restaurant chain offers multiple variations of frozen yogurt, smoothies, and fruit cup to serve people with different health choices. You can either go for sugarless varieties or choose a non-fatty option from the menu to enjoy a healthy meal at Yogen Fruz.

High Cholesterol at Yogen Fruz

Frozen yogurt is available in both dairy and non-dairy alternatives at Yogen Fruz. You can either opt for the non-dairy alternative or ask for non-fatty or low dairy-based yogurt to enjoy your rich smoothies at Yogen Fruz. To further control your cholesterol levels, you can choose strawberry, raspberry, or blueberry toppings for your smoothies as these berries are rich in anti-oxidants.

Foods to Avoid at Yogen Fruz for High Cholesterol:

Most food items served at Yogen Fruz are low in fat and cholesterol. However, there are a few food items that you must avoid for high cholesterol. Cheesecakes such as Strawberry Cheesecake and Pumpkin Cheesecake are a big no for high cholesterol. It is also recommended to avoid Egg Nog at Yogen Fruz to keep your cholesterol levels in control.

Food Suggestions for High Cholesterol at Yogen Fruz:

Üsensations Green Tea (4fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 57mg sodium, 19g carbs, 19g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein

Üsensations Acai Blueberry (4fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 55mg sodium, 19g carbs, 20g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein

Üsensations Lychee Green Tea (4fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 47mg sodium, 20g carbs, 19g sugar, 1g fiber, 3g Protein

Non-Fat Frozen Yogurt – Passion Fruit Tart

Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 54mg sodium, 22g carbs, 19g sugar, 0g fiber, 4g Protein

Low Fat Frozen Yogurt – Lemon

Nutritional Facts: 120 calories, 2g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 56mg sodium, 22g carbs, 21g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein

Probiotic Frozen Yogurt Low No Fat Vanilla (4fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 62mg sodium, 21g carbs, 19g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein

Probiotic Frozen Yogurt Low No Fat Tart (4fl. Oz.)

Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 55mg sodium, 20g carbs, 18g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Rolando F.

Over rated! This is not worth the hype. I got a cheesesteak. The taste is plain boring. Not sure if its something I missed or what. But i would never come back let alone recommend someone to stop by
(1)
Allen R.

Did both spots and to be fair check out the other review. Okay... it's done and the one more check off the bucketlist.... Meat was lacking in flavor... nuff said...
(2)
Kris B.

I can honestly say that most local pizza shops have a better cheese steak than Geno's Steaks. Overrated doesn't begin to describe the let down that you will have when comparing them to other local steak shops. Aside from the lack of wiz, the sandwich just lacks a strong beefy flavor. When looking at the sandwich you could swear it was made yesterday.
(1)
Christine V.

My friends were in town and wanted to experience a Philly Cheesesteak. Of course, they've heard about Geno's and Pat's so I took them there. I personally didn't have high expectations from Geno's because I haven't heard many good things about it. Nevertheless, I did expect a decent cheesesteak from here. I ordered a provolone cheesesteak with onions. Very fast service! I got my cheesesteak in less than two minutes. They sure pound those babies out here! Onto the actual cheesesteak now. I'm not too big a fan of cheesesteaks, so I can't judge them as well as many other people. I've had a few of them to compare Geno's with though. That being said, I was extremely disappointed with my cheesesteak from Geno's. The bread was so chewy and awful. I had to yank it from my mouth to get an actual bite out of it. It wasn't toasted at all and was just stale. The meat was mediocre at best. It was not tender, and they definitely skimp out on the meat. I barely tasted the cheese in my order. Onions are onions so it's a bit hard to mess that up. Overall, I wouldn't recommend going to Geno's for your first Philly cheesesteak experience. I give it two stars: one for the food and one for the quick service. Save yourself the trouble and head to Tony Luke's! I have yet to try Jim's, but that's next on my list.
(2)
Sara D.

Hoagie heaven. Tourist trap, but worth the try. The cheese whiz fries were addicting, and you had to keep it classy by eating them with fork. Would I go here again? Maybe try a whole in the wall instead for a Philly cheese, but I'll definitely dive into some more of those whiz fries.
(3)
Jordan G.

Pretty disappointed by a mediocre cheesesteak. Cheese wasn't melted. Steak lacked flavor. Glad I tried it, but don't have any reason to go back.
(2)
Lanijah P.

3 stars because while the staff was nice and not pushy even when the line was long.. I did not like the steak at all. It was thick cut and had little to no seasoning, chewy, and way too greasy. The onions were sweet and perhaps the best part. Still a fun experience to try both Pats and Genos but I wasn't impressed with either.
(3)
Kimberly H.

This is my second time visiting, and I reaffirm my opinion that this place is just okay. I find it better than Pat's with the meat texture better and less greasy, but there are many other places serving the same food in Philadelphia, only better. And for some reason, the meat tasted under seasoned when we went yesterday. Maybe they forgot the salt? In my opinion, this is just an average place made popular by great marketing via a combination of food network and rivalry; a place for tourists. Ironically, there's a sign demanding patrons speak English. So, maybe this isn't a good place for international travelers with limited English fluency. Cash only.
(2)
Steve S.

Cheese Steak challenge. Who's going to win? Geno or Pat? My coworker & I each bought a sandwich from each place. Armed with 1/2 a sandwich from the iconic cheese steak shop, it was time to decide the winner The cheese steak at Geno's was very good. It had a more tender steak & bigger sliced meat. I ordered it with the Whiz. I have to confess, I like Cheez Whiz. Yum!! The winner: GENO's Philly slang to order your cheese steak: Whiz for Cheez whiz (other cheese option are American or Provolone) With or Without = Grilled onions or no onion So if you want a cheese steak w/ Cheez whiz and w/ onion, you say: "Can I please have a cheese steak whiz with" lol Don't mess it up or they will give you a hard time (all in fun) Same as at Pat's, they have 2 windows. One for the cheese steak order and one for the beverage. You pay separately for each. They have plenty of picnic tables & chair. Note: Geno's & Pat's are the touristy Philly cheese steak joint. They made the sandwich famous and should be equally recognized for it. Note: if you want a better cheese steak sandwich (per our cabby & others) try Jim's Steak or Tony Luke's. Do your own taste test and decide for yourself. Enjoy!!
(4)
Monica F.

I am in Philadelphia and the philly steaks in CA are much better than this. BOOOOOOOO. It's really gross and disgusting. I feel like they need to put more love in their sandwiches.. i mean.. they can slow down a bit making them...but don't be serving what looks like a bird crapped cheese whiz all over some meat. Ew. I don't like how they sliced their meats. So many things I don't like about this place. JUST GO NEXT DOOR.
(2)
Rajesh J.

I chose Geno's over Pat King's simply because I saw on their banner that they "Support the troops". Not sure how exactly they do that but it's the thought that counts I suppose. Anyways. I ordered a cheesesteak with whiz and it came up to 9.50. I got a Pepsi on the side for an additional 2 dollars. It's important to note that they only take cash. The sandwhich itself was good. I had not eaten all day and walked around 4 miles so maybe that played a role in my hunger but nonetheless it was good. The problems with the meal were the lack of table space for patrons, and the lack of a bathroom or wet naps for your hands. We all know Philly cheesesteaks are supposed to be greasy so it would be a nice idea to have a way to clean your hands after eating.
(3)
Kevin P.

You have to be a complete idiot to eat here. It's tourist hell and the food is abysmal garbage. People that apparently have no idea what good food tastes like line up like cows to stuff grade D meat on a white roll with canned cheese poured over it into their mouths. Do you like frozen french fries (they call them freedom fries because they are complete morons) thrown into a deep fryer with canned "cheese" poured over them and served in a cup? Then you're gonna love it here. Enjoy your diarrhea!
(1)
David M.

Long lines, extremely rude and miserable looking employees, cash only, have to stand in a second line for fries and drinks, and worst of all, worst cheesesteak I've ever had in my life. The meat was dry and flavorless, the onions were undercooked. I've had better tasting cheesesteaks from Arby's. Went to a bar across the street afterwards and complained to our bartender and she was like "yeah, I don't know why anyone goes there. We have a better cheesesteak and it comes with fries." To top it off, there is racist / xenophobic signage everywhere. They even have an award posted from a anti-immigration group congratulating the owner for "speaking out what everyone else is thinking." Yep, he got an award for being such a racist. As we choked down our mediocre cheesesteaks I turned to my companion and said "I guess this is what hate tastes like" and she responded "hate tastes dry."
(1)
John F.

Geno's cheesesteak sandwich was ok. I tried both pat's and geno's and i prefer pat's. Geno's sandwich just had way too much grease and flavor wasn't there.
(3)
Gillettie R.

So glad to finally make it here! #delish on so many levels. This is truly a must do/consume while in #Philly! The tasty cheesesteak, soft/fresh bread and locale...simply perfect. #philly staple!
(4)
Phyllis H.

If my palate is different from everyone else's, I accept that reasoning for giving this place one star. I don't get it. I've seen this restaurant on the Food TV Network and fell in love with the place. But more so for the feud with Pat's King of Steaks across the street. Drew really wanted to try this place and try it we did. The last time we tried a restaurant that we had been on television, we were in line for over an hour and still had not really moved. We ended up going elsewhere. So, again, Drew and I were in line for an hour ironically for a philly cheese steak that I would eventually hate. Drew had the philly cheesteak with cheese whiz and onions. While I ordered mine with provolone cheese and onions. Drew's sandwich tasted ok. just ok because the cheese whiz rendered a wetness to the sandwich. I absolutely hated my sandwich. It was dry as hell. What's with the raw onions and there was hardly any cheese on the sandwich. The bread was a weapon. The place takes cash only. After you receive your sandwich at one window, you go to another window for fries and drinks. There were pics of celebrities who had visited the place over time. Good for them. As for me, I won't be back. I just don't get it.
(1)
Marissa R.

Geno's is the Las Vegas of South Philly - open 24/7 and bright as heck at night! This place draws completely different crowds, depending on the time of day. My fair assessment: Lunch = Tourists | Dinner = Locals | Overnight = The After-Partiers. Whenever you go, be prepared to stand in line and/or lose your place if you don't order in English. But, who doesn't love a splash of orange fake cheese on white bread with lots of grease-soaked meat!? (I sometimes do!) While "Pat's and Geno's" is the slogan that resonates throughout the City of Brotherly Love for good cheesesteaks, my favorite will always be Jim's on South.
(3)
Jennifer N.

A girlfriend and I shared with me two steaks, one from Genos (American cheese steak) & one from pats (whiz cheese steak) and I actually liked Genos better! The whiz cheese was too overwhelming on the steak, couldn't taste the steak much. It's 50 cents less and better service! The cashier at pat's were bit rude bc we didn't know how to order. Lol. But the cashier from Genos were nice and friendly. I wouldn't go back to Pat's if I'm from Philly!
(5)
Casey G.

Oh yeah this place is doing it right. Steak is good, cheese has flavor, bread is toasted. All in all a steak sandwich done right. Tip: bring cash, cash only.
(5)
Matteo R.

Not that good. When you get to Geno's the first thing you'll notice are the ultra-bright, white neon lights that look like the cross between a cafeteria and an ER waiting room. The cheese steak (I got one with provolone) was limp, semi-cold, and devoid of flavor. I couldn't even tell it had cheese in it. A disappointment. Also, maybe I just don't like whiz, but the fries with whiz were just inedible. On a side note: what's with the sign that warns patrons "This is America, speak English!"? This just sounds xenophobic. Why so confrontational towards foreigners? Are people who work at Geno's able to speak the local language every time they travel abroad? French fries here are indicated as Freedom Fries on the menu, and I don't think this was a joke. Perhaps Geno's even donated money to return the Statue of Liberty to France at the time of the Iraq invasion. Finally, all the various police emblems, which under other circumstances could have been seen as a colorful, interesting collection, end up contributing to the overall unwelcoming, menacing ambiance. ---------------------------- PS: If, like me, you're planning a nice, long walk from downtown to get to this neighborhood in the evening, think again. Although not necessarily unsafe, you'll walk through dilapidated neighborhoods with completely empty streets before reaching your destination.
(2)
Steve L.

I think Pats is the best 5 Stars I give Gino's 3 stars.And Tony Luke's 3 stars.Go to Pats.
(3)
Shirley D.

Pros: The bread was delicious and the sweet peppers were tasty. Cons: Not enough cheese!! The steak wasn't as plentiful as one would have hoped when they visit a renowned establishment such as Geno's. They only accept cash.
(4)
Diego G.

Food is garbage. Why anyone would support a racist establishment in this day of age is beyond me. Not even worth the wait. I can make a better Philly cheese steak and I'm from cali. Never again am I going back
(1)
Jean-Michel D.

Ive had a lot of cheesesteaks in my life and the one I had at this legendary establishment was the best that I've ever had. To put it into context, I've always been guarded when going to a place that has a great reputation. I always wonder if people just say something is great because of a famous name. When I ordered my plain cheesesteak I was half expecting to be disappointed, I wasn't, it was excellent. I'll try Pats across the street the next time that I'm in town to compare and contrast.
(5)
Alan N.

Not as good as pats. Geno is a bit stingy on the onions and cheese, and for some reason lacked flavor.
(3)
Rich A.

Too much hype here. Even if there the originator of the cheesesteak, it doesn't mean there the best. Sorry Geno's, Dalessandros FTW.
(2)
Tanasha K.

Better than pats in my opinion ! Steak with extra wiz is where it is at! Longer line, but it goes pretty quick. Open kitchen to see them do their magic
(4)
Stephanie F.

Oh good god, how is there even a contest between Geno's and Pat's? I think the only reason they have any business is from the overflow of Pat's customer's who don't want to wait in line. Or maybe it's from all the hype surrounding their supposed rivalry. LOL, good job paying Food Network for talking that one up. Anyone with half a set of taste buds will know that Geno's cheesesteak tastes like day old cardboard layered in yummy cheese on the stalest bread in all of Philly. I mean, they have sliced steak, cut into the biggest slicest ever! They're thick slices that are tough and hard to chew. I could've chipped a tooth. The meat in general was lacking in every department. Less meat, tough meat, thick sliced meat. It was just BAD! And the bread was bad! The only saving grace is cheese but c'mon. When the steak is the main component of the sandwich, you need to put in more effort into making it good.
(1)
Irene C.

Bread was chewy, slices of meat was bland and dry. I think cheesesteaks with cheese whiz is much better than provolone since it gives the meat some moisture and flavor. Pats over Genos
(2)
Ariell R.

I'm so mad I traveled from Brooklyn to Genos philly cheese steak. To try the Nasty crap they serve This place is seriously horrible and the fries are disgusting first of all the Philly cheese steak is dry the meat isn't seasoned it was seriously the worst $10.00 I ever spent and the fries ?! $4.00 for the nasty soggy fries they don't even deserve the 1 star I gave them NEVER AGAIN !!!!!
(1)
Marthy S.

Okay so you've gone next door to Pat's. Now you're looking to go to Geno's because you need to figure out where you're gonna go in this 'hood for your cheese steak. So we ask for one, "whiz wit". (keep it short people and know how to order) Whiz wit means with cheese whiz and onions. Conclusion.... sorry Geno's, overall Pat's gets my vote. I do like your whiz (although a little more please), but bread and meat from Pat's wins. Even when adding onions for more flavor, it was evident that the meat was missing that flavor profile a cheesesteak needs! Actually, if I could make my own, I'd take the bread from Tony Luke's, the meat from Pat's and the whiz from Geno's - not sure where I'd go for onions yet. They're the same from either place - not fried/cooked enough. I do still have to go to Jim's though, and I hear Ishkabibble's has some worth cheesesteaks. I don't need to talk about their service. It's window order service, it's Philly..it is what it is.
(2)
Brent C.

The debate will forever rage on Pat's or Geno's. Just know they are 1A and 1B you can't go wrong either way. JUST REMEMBER BRING CASH.
(4)
Edgar L.

Eat at the Mexican spot behind Geno's. it's way better than both Geno's and Pat's. Geno's food is awful. Dry meat, stale bread and awful service.
(1)
Joshua S.

Essentially a copy of my Pat's review with detail adjustments If you're going to order the standard, classic Philly cheesesteak you can only order it one way: wiz with. I was staying in Philly for the weekend and got in a little late so my friend and I decided to grab cheesesteaks from Pat's and Geno's. Honestly not my first choice, but they are both open 24/7 so it was the first that came to mind so late at night. I was surprised to find that a cheesesteak was $10, but shrugged it off. Geno's is most certainly a tourist spot, but it's not a trap. These cheesesteak are most definitely original Philly-style cheesesteaks and won't shatter any dreams. Are they the best? Probably not. Do they satisfy my cheesesteak craving? Yes. Going to Geno's late at night I got faced no line and unluckily faced pre-chopped steak; this makes for a dryer and less-tender steak. The onion to wiz ratio was way too high. It's a cheesesteak, not an onion steak. Pat's is better in my book, but only marginally.
(2)
Steven U.

So...after visiting Pat's, Geno's was my next stop. I made sure to order the same thing I had at Pat's (cheesesteak wit, with provolone) ,except I don't think Geno's has mushrooms.... I got my sandwich and I slowly unwrap it.....and again no magic faeries.....oh well. I don't know....after traveling all this way, I thought there would be some sort of magical aura, but no...just a quickly made cheesesteak. I ate it and found out that I am a Geno's guy. On this particular day, the onion to meat ratio was almost one to one at Geno's. Pat's has meat with a little onion....for me that was the difference. That and the fact that the cheese slices in Geno's were thinner so it melted a little faster...to blend the flavor. The bun was still nice and soft here, but the onions (that have been soaking up flavor juice from the well seasoned grill) made this cheesesteak better. My wife ordered cheese fries and those were good as well. Crunchy fries with soft cheese sauce....good times.
(3)
Chien-Rong C.

boring and uninspiring cheesesteaks. For $10, you get a cheesesteak that feels like it's made in mass and by profit driven owners. I feel like at this point Geno's is just riding on momentum and the notion that it is a famous cheesesteak place in Philly. Don't bother coming here, you'll just feel disgruntled afterwards.
(2)
Susan N.

I bought both Pat's and Geno's to try them side by side. I didn't feel Geno's meat was seasoned as well and the meat was harder to chew since it wasn't chopped. Service? Lol...
(2)
Tony D.

When it comes to the debate on the best cheese steak between Pats and Geno's I have always voted Pats. Saturday night cemented this decision for me. We arrived around 10pm and were in a time crunch. Pats had a line half way around the building, but Geno's surprisingly only had two people in front of us. So, we decided to give them a try. It has been at least 5 years since I have had a steak from Geno's. My wife has never. The steak was very dry, despite the onions and whiz. I'm not sure how that is even possible! The roll was very tender however, so that was one plus. My biggest complaint of Geno's is that they always seem to have less meat than Pats. Maybe it's because they don't chop the meat up? Either way, when I bite into a Pats cheesesteak, I taste meat. This cheesesteak was more roll than anything. Now it is clear why Pats had the line. Next time, there will be no decision.
(2)
Kathryn S.

When I visited Philly I had one mission in mind and that was to try one of their famous Philly cheese steaks. I would do anything to get one, even take the subway and walk what felt like 5 miles in 10 degrees to get it. I tried Geno's instead of Pat's because it was closer to me. I was freezing and I could not bear the thought of even crossing the street. I got a cheese steak with wiz and it was pretty good. Definitely better than anything I've tried in Miami. The guys who served it to me were the real issue. The customer service was atrocious. Sorry guys, but you know everyone is not a Philly native and doesn't know how to order a cheese steak exactly how you do it and doesn't know how your system works! Would I go again? Probably not. I'd try to find something better and closer to the center of the city.
(3)
Michelle T.

A coworker and I took a cab from the Convention Center to Geno's for a cheesesteak while we were in Philly for a conference. It had just snowed all day so there was no way we would've walked or taken the bus. We both thought it was pretty worth it. I'm not a cheesesteak expert - i've probably had 1-2 authentic ones my entire life so I can't judge if this was by far the best or the worst. I just thought it was a solid cheesesteak. Maybe we caught them on a good day (no line and barely any people around because of the snow). Regardless, the service was fine. I was treated nicely and I got my food in a very prompt manner. I thought my sandwich was good. The cheese fries were pretty tasty as well - a bit on the salty side though. This is also the first time I've had Red Cream Soda. Tastes like regular cream soda to me...but it sure did hit the spot.
(4)
Lucas A.

Every time I go to Philadelphia I go to Pat's and Geno's Steaks. All other times I've been there it's been great but not so much this time. The location is 5 blocks east of Ellsworth-Federal Station on the SEPTA Broad Street Line. It isn't a scary walk from the restaurants (9th & Passyunk) to the station. After a long line, like usual, I got my steaks. I got a steak w/ onions & no cheese. The Pat's sandwich was good, the meat was juicy and the onions were warm. The Geno's Steak had no onions, so the meat was dry and left out the warmth of the onion. If I had to choose between the two, I would give Pat's 3.5 to 4 stars & Geno's 2 to 2.5 stars which leaves me with a 3-star rating.
(3)
Sarah K.

So I rarely come to south philly, let alone get a cheesesteak but I'm here late at night and my friend is craving some cheesesteaks. Now the place is quite attractive with the neon lights so Geno's looks good at first sight. The menu is limited and the prices are high. $10 for a sandwich is not worth it but again my friend is hungry. So we ordered standard cheesesteaks with whiz and provolone. Orders came out quick so big props to them. Now the size of the cheesesteak is small, two strips of meat, and a sprinkle of cheese. Bummer. As I took my first bite, the bread was oh so delicious. Everything is else was nothing to talk about. So 1 star for service and 1 star for the bread. Overally there are a whole lot of places better than this, seriously.
(2)
PatrickJ T.

When we visited Philadelphia, I had to go to the two famous Philly Cheesesteak places. Are they tourist traps? Maybe, but I enjoyed going to both places. Geno's was our first stop. Found street parking right next door. Our timing was perfect cause there was no line of people. I ordered the Cheesesteak with cheese wiz and onions. The sandwich tasted delicious! The combination of the rib eye steak, cheese wiz, and onions inside the bread was yummy. No ketchup, mustard, or relish needed. I enjoyed the ambiance and charm of the place. The bright orange building with the neon lights was touristy cool! Even the service was fine. Now everytime we return to Philadelphia, Geno's will be on my places to go list.
(4)
Ken A.

The only place worse than Pats King of Steaks across the street is this dump. If you want to be treated with poor service by someone with half of their teeth missing then this place is for you. You pay $10.00 for a cheesesteak that tastes as if it were made by college frat boys at a tailgate party. Man in front of me spoke broken English and was treated like a refugee. The woman at the counter responded with "this is America and here we speak American". The ignorance is on a different level. After you get your slop of cheese and steak on a crusty roll you have the pleasure of sitting by people reving motorcycle engines along the street side. Typical regular Philly trash, just like the neighboring city dump, Pats "King" of Steaks. I guess Genos has to use all the flashing lights and glamour to compensate for the lack of flavor in what they call a "cheesesteak". Anyone is better off going to Walmart and getting a frozen ready made meal than eating at this landfill of a' establishment.
(1)
Brandon T. L.

I have seen this restaurant hyped up on Food Wars, and was excited when my girlfriend told me we were going to try both Geno's and Pat's. Got the Philly Cheesesteak with wiz. After paying for the sub, I saw a sign at the bottom of the window saying, "This is America. When ordering Speak English". It didn't even say please. C'mon, a 'please' and 'thank you' would've been nice. The sign tasted like injustice stuffed in bigotry with Amuerika oozing out of it. Skipping this and heading to Pat's.... speaking of which, here's my review of Pat's yelp.com/biz/pats-king-oâ€¦ Had to do the food war, and see which one tasted better. Seems like Pat's won it with me; not because of the better tasting food, but without the snarky attitude.
(1)
Yogesh C.

Had lots of hopes from this place. Worst philly steak I ever had. I'd rather go to Charly's.
(1)
Alice C.

Cheesesteak run: Second stop! When you can get a cheesesteak outside of Philly that is superior to a famous local shop... Eek, I think there's an epic failure here. While it's not exactly a one-star failure (the cheesesteak is still on the edible part of the spectrum), I wouldn't come here again as I'd rather gain my fat via other yummier ways. What went wrong? The meat was tasteless, and the cheese didn't help a bit. All I tasted was the metallic taste of beef, and it was dry and chewy. The bread was tough, and it just simply didn't cut it. Throw in outdoor seating in the chilly winter, and you're left wondering "whyyyyy?!" On the bright side, cheezwhiz is pretty consistent wherever you go.
(2)
Danette C.

Me and my boyfriend were on our way back from Pittsburgh and decided to re route to try the famous "Philly" cheesesteaks. We couldn't decide on which spot to choose from (Genos or Pats) so we got one cheese steak from both places and split each one. I have to say, I was very disappointed with Geno's cheese steak. With all those lights, you would think their cheese steak would hold up to it's store front appearance. The cheese steak was cold, the provolone cheese wasn't even melted! It had no flavor really, had to add ketchup to make it better. Pat's on the other hand was awesome!! Their cheese steak was piping hot and loaded with steak and cheese wiz!!! It was flavorful and juicy! For those of you having trouble choosing, Pat's is definitely the way to go. Sometimes, less is more ;) My boyfriend and I both wish we each had gotten a whole cheese steak from Pat's. Well, there's always next time!
(2)
E B.

What a waste of time and money. I'm 50yrs old and my friends from Philadelphia had told me all my life; hey we should go to Geno's yadda yadda for years whenever I would visit. over the last 30 years whenever the Grateful Dead would play the spectrum or other bands in nearby venues. I went yesterday with my girlfriend for the first time and it was the worst experience for food I have ever had. I can make a better steak sandwich myself. To be fair, the bread was OK. But the grease bomb they serve is nothing but a long stay in the bathroom awaiting you several hours later. Hey; I'm all for belly bombs (White Castle comes to mind) but it should be when expected not a result of hype and tasteless "meat" and a slop of caramelized onions. Their fries, while proclaiming "freedom" are nothing but the cheapest frozen fry they can find and dump into uninspired oil. I would never recommend this place to anyone. I'd rather go to Nathan's in Coney Island. At least what they sell tastes good! (one last thing... what is up with that hot sauce? - it is not for the weak kneed - but man, ya gotta give warning on that - that is a present that re-presents itself upon expulsion as well)
(1)
Matthew K.

The worst restaurant in US. Impolite, rude and over priced. The only restaurant in US which they don't give away cup of water
(1)
Alexandra F.

Had 1 with mushroom and with onion and provolone and 1 with American and with onion. Both very dry! So disappointed! I've had better in Roanoke Virginia! I'll take some of the other reviewers advice and try Johns on my next trip through.
(1)
Richard R.

CHEESESTEAK WAR - Geno's vs Pat's I know nearly every food lover who wants to come to Philly has heard of Geno's Steaks and its rival across the street by the name of Pat's. I would also assume if you are a food lover, then you've seen the many challenges on the Food Network that pit them head to head against each other. Now, I might be making an even crazier assumption here, but if you are anything like me, you've been wanting to come to Philly just to do your own taste comparison. It's okay, you can admit it, you're in a safe zone here. No judgment. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE EXPERIENCE Geno's and Pat's are indeed literally across the street from one another, probably within 300 feet. I had no preference which I ate at first, but it happened that Pat's had an open parking space just outside their place, so we stopped there. Less than 10 minutes after splitting a steak with my two young boys, we were ordering our second steak here @ Geno's. The time was about 11:45am, so there were no crowds. If there is one thing I immediately notice it was how incredibly clean Geno's is, both inside and out. I'm talking immaculate. The exterior counters were spotless, the sidewalks and table were swept clean and inside the kitchen was like stepping into an operation room in a hospital. It was so clean that it looked almost new. This was a huge unexpected bonus for a germaphobe like me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE CHEESE-STEAK COMPARISON Let me just say as plainly as I can that you probably will not be disappointed with either of these steaks. I spent hours reading through local blogs (not yelp) trying to decide who has the best cheese-steaks in the city. After all, I may not be back this way in a very long time and wanted the best experience. Pat's consistently made multiple top 10 lists while Geno's did not. I almost decided to try two other places instead, but stuck to my guns and fulfill a long standing food goal. I'm not a fan of cheese whiz, which is an understatement. I hate the stuff and wanted to go for provolone instead. But I didn't. I wanted a real Philly experience, so I chose the whiz and the whiz won me over. I can't explain why it tastes so different and so much better on an authentic Philadelphia cheesesteak, but it does. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the flavor was and I am now a converted believer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FINAL THOUGHTS These two cheese-steak Titans are worthy of a visit despite what you might read in other comparative articles on the internet. Locals may feel there are other places around town that are better, but I can say for certain I was happy with my first authentic experience being at these two long standing locations. Both have been in continuous operation since the 1930's. As an out-of-town tourist, I have to give the edge to Pat's. They seem to dice the meat more finely whereas Geno's gives you larger slices. I think that slight difference makes ALL the difference. I also liked the fries much much better @ Pat's but the bread was more to my liking @ Geno's. Decide for yourself, but my personal taste preference leans heavily towards Pat's. youtube.com/watch?v=i78Bâ€¦
(3)
Lucy K.

I definitely did a Pat's vs Geno's challenge here and to be honest I was kind of disappointed with both. Pats is definitely far more low key than Geno's and to be honest I liked Pat's over Geno's although I find Jim's on south street to be my fav! Geno's is definitely a flashy joint. The signs and I mean having fries and calling them freedom fries kind of says it all. The service is super fast, know how to order, have your CASH (only!) up front and ready to go. As soon as you place your order is as soon as they will slap some cheese steaks down on the counter - it goes that quickly! THe cheesesteaks I found to be sloppily put together. Didn't think there was really enough meat cheese or flavor in it. All show no taste. A bit disappointing. However, I will say the staff here was a bit more friendly. Oh and don't bother with the freedom fries they are bland and simple and not worth it. Oh yeah, order your drinks and sides down the counter at a different cashier. Weird, Yes. But it keeps the line moving.
(2)
Sean H.

Went to Philly, needed to get a cheesesteak, called a friend to find out he said Geno's was the best...my fiance and I decided that seeing that Pat's was there we would each get one from the different places and sample the two. Geno's was ok but the meat wasnt seasoned, like no salt no pepper, nothing to bring out the flavor, so i would push it to a pass.
(2)
Michael N.

What else is there to say about Geno's? A mediocre tourist destination for expensive and sub par cheesesteaks. Definitely not worth the wait in line. Granted, after a long night of drinking, anything this greasy will taste good and help you sober up. If you are in this neighborhood, do yourself a favor and skip Pat's and Geno's and go over to Jim's. Sure, Jim's is still a tourist spot, but it's a lot better.
(2)
Joe D.

Where ever you go in Philly for a cheesesteak it is going to be good, and finding what type of steak you like that is your biggest problem to solve. Pats and Geno's are chopped, but offer the best nostalgia for newbies, and are consistently solid cheesesteaks for a pro. I personally go to geno's for my cheese fries, then head to pats for a steak with double cheese: "whiz/American, whit"
(4)
Aimee F.

Went to Gino's tonight so my husband could get a "black and blue" steak sandwich. I went to Fish Cove for my sandwich. Get home and he has a chicken with sauce sandwich and I called to tell them they made a mistake. The answer was, drive back 7 miles "now " or to bad. Never again will we order sandwiches again and have the order wrong and be treated like that. Absolutely no remorse for giving us the wrong order.
(1)
R. K.

Stopped by for a cheese steak, fries, and a drink. As always, the steak was perfect! Highly recommend visiting this place.
(5)
Marybelle P.

You can't go to Philly without getting a Philly Cheesesteak. And you can't do it without trying Pat's or Geno's. But regardless of where you go, I recommend sharing it so you can go else where and try another one. It is ultimately just an experience rather than the flavor. You can go to any other diner or restaurant and get a philly cheesesteak and it may taste the same if not better. My most recent experience with Geno's was unimpressive. Could it be because it was my third place to try or could it be because I thought the bread was stale and hot peppers not as flavorful, compared to its other counterparts. Who knows... everyone will have their own opinion. But while at Geno's take a look at all their pictures of celebrities and memorabilia/patches from places all around the states. It's actually pretty fun finding your city there.
(3)
Leanna A.

What's a trip to Philly without a visit to the rivals on Passyunk? Before I start, I want to mention that I'm from Arizona, and before coming to Philly, I have never had a cheesesteak before in my life. I'm not a huge fan of steak/roast beef/red meat sandwiches, so essentially I never really got around to trying an authentic cheesesteak (and being from Phoenix, a mediocre one at that). But I decided, When in Rome, and saved my first ever cheesesteak experiences for my first ever trip to Philly. Me being me, I had to try a steak from both Pat's and Geno's to compare. From all the people I survey, the favor between Pat's and Geno's is a pretty stark 50/50. So how could I try one without the other? Answer: I can't. Our first steak was from Geno's, and it was pretty good. However, I enjoyed the steak from Pat's significantly more. The cheesefries here, though, are seriously awesome. In my personal opinion, the cheesesteak here was a bit too dry. I don't know if it was the steak itself, or just from a lack of Wiz. Also, the steak here was a bit less flavorful. That doesn't mean it wasn't enjoyable though. As every reviewer posts it is cash only, and expect to pay around $10 per person for a steak, drink and cheese fries/fries. Additionally, don't expect stellar service from the staff either. I found that the service at Geno's, though, was much friendlier than the service at Pat's. Especially the older gentleman who was working the fries/drinks window that particular day. However, they get you in and they get you out. Other than that, you're not gonna get much more. But in an odd way, I liked the brief and short interaction with employees; a reflection of that rough around the edges Philly/East Coast charm that I was so unaccustomed to. I'm sure there are much better cheesesteaks around, but for my first cheesesteak experience, I have to say I am impressed. Granted, we went for more of the tourist experience, but it was still enjoyable from a diner's standpoint.
(3)
Daniel W.

Went on a cheesesteak tour and after being disappointed with Talk of the Town, I came here. Cash only. Cheesesteak was bland and flavorless as well.....like they just boiled the meat. Fries were very lackluster. All in all the worst cheesesteak and fries I have ever had.
(1)
Porter S.

I lived in Trevose, Pennsylvania, which is North of Philadelphia, between the ages of 2 through 10. Those years were 1972-1980. A family vacation in 2008 saw me driving from New Jersey / New York City to Washington D.C. I asked my wife if she would like to stop in Philadelphia for an early lunch. She (A life long west coaster) replied by saying she would love to have "A real Philadelphia CheeseSteak." INSTANTLY I thought of Geno's. I love when I am watching a Phillies baseball game on tv and before a commercial see someone cooking nothing but CheeseSteaks. Geno's did NOT dissapoint. I ordered one with cheez-whiz and my wife looked at me like I was nuts. Until she took a bite of of mine. My wife and step-son (age at time was 16 and he also was new to Philadelphia) loved the place. Another vacation in 2011 saw yet another trip through the city of Brotherly Love, and yes another lunch at Geno's.
(5)
Ann Y.

I am tourist from Florida. I admit this outright. I did the challenge on Monday July 7th at 3:00pm. I headed to Geno's and Boyfriend grabbed Pat's. He had only ever had pat's and I said this was unacceptable. He also didn't want to get whiz and I said we had to get whiz at both to have a comparison. He reluctantly agreed. Walking up to Geno's, it looked like a long line but that was because it was a bunch of people standing around the fries and soda line. Growing up in Orlando I have been annoyed more than once by a tourist, so I looked up the proper ordering technique and did my best to execute it properly. It seemed very appreciated because the guys were friendly. I had to ask if I was at the right window and they said I was and I rattled off "one wit whiz". They handed it to me, I said thank you.I already had my cash out. They said "here, have a pen for a souvenir". Victory! I suspect it was a reward for my effort. The soda and fry window was a cluster with tourists who didn't understand. I didn't waste my time on the fries, I was there to try the steak, but they did have birch beer on fountain which I happily got. We don't have birch beer on fountain in Tallahassee or anywhere I have been in Florida... Ok, the cheese steak sandwich: It was good and flavorful. It tasted like it was seasoned with Italian spices and I liked that it was shaved instead of chopped. Their onions weren't anything to write home about but they put a generous amount of whiz on. Their bread was outstanding. It had a great flavor that really added to the sandwich. It brought out the flavors of the beef and added its own dimension. It was what I hoped it would be. Prices are less at Geno's compared to pats. For sure on the soda which was 2 dollars at Geno's but 2.50 at Pats. I preferred Geno's to Pats in the Whiz category. See my Pat's review for the contrasts and the revelation that was provolone. **People have remarked in reviews that they didn't like the signage etc,. I didn't notice it but maybe that was because I wasn't standing in line. I didn't have any issues with service because I was kind and tried to do things properly. A lot of people on yelp seem to mark them down because the flow of their line or cash only or their signs about the right to refuse service. I say to those people "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."
(4)
Sissy K.

I have to say this one is my third favorite behind Jim's (1st) and Pat's (2nd). It is an iconic Philly establishment, so if you have the time and appetite, try it to see what you think!
(3)
Brooke B.

Years ago my husband I chose to do the Geno's vs. Pat's challenge. We got a steak from Pats and one from Geno's. We did a side by side comparison and chose Pat's as the winner. Today we brought our family to do the same taste test so they could decide for theirselves. Today, we bought our steaks from Pats and walked over to Geno's to meet our family. As we were ready to sit down, some dude from behind the glass tapped using his annoying ring to signify we could not sit. I understand that we had some Pat's food but we also just spent money at Geno's. So where the fuck are we supposed to sit now? Thanks Geno's for making the decision for our family. Based on the asshole behavior we received here, we will now only tell people to go to Pat's. Forget the taste test.
(1)
Presley E.

I love that Pats and Genos are right across from each other, makes it a great tourist hot spot to compare and contrast these 2 sandwiches. I must say I couldn't decide who's I like better. But I thoroughly enjoyed having one of Geno's Steaks, I'd recommend them to anyone visiting the area!
(4)
Matt P.

Even worse then Pat's. When you are going to cook steak all the way through it needs to be ground or sliced real thin, this place doesn't slice thin enough. Their steak reminds me of steak-umms. They are also xenophobic assholes. Jim's and Ishkabibbles on South St have a far superior cheesesteak. If you are going to spend your money here, get the pork sandwich instead.
(2)
Amin A.

3.5 stars. This joint and pats are the most famous cheese steak joints in Philadelphia and there are key differences between the two, pats does not cut up their steak while genos does. Both provide an authentic Philadelphia experience!!! Though I prefer pats, genos is very good as well... Neither are the best. But If you go to Pats, you might as well go to Genos too in order to compare. Genos is a little flashier in their decor. Signs they have can be offensive to non Americans and employees are not noted for their kindness so know how to order... Or they well be extra rude- that's the Philly way. Get the wiz with. Cash only.
(3)
Jessica N.

Mehhh is right. I was so excited to try this place out! Seeing it on the travel channel, the food network. I always told myself once I make it to philly - cheesesteaks are our first stop! So we checked in and headed on over to Genos. The line was very,very long. Cash only - which I'm sorry annoys me at high volume places like this. They have tons of tables outside but you have to be quick to grab one. Two mushroom cheesesteaks, two sodas and two fries came out to a little under $40. FORTY! Way over priced. The steak tasted a bit bland? they were cheap on the cheese and I even ordered extra on mine. The mushrooms were out of a can which disappointed me..at least throw some salt and pepper on those before you throw them on the sandwich! The sandwiches are huge, and I feel they should offer a half size for those staying in hotels and can't really keep food. No bathroom, even for customers who just spent $40 on bland mediocre cheese steaks. The best part about our visit was the cheese fries.
(2)
Mohamed R.

Lady at the front desk Naaaastyyy She should have stayed home My son thought she was not courteous Go to pats
(1)
Randy E.

Philly... Check Cheese... Check Steak... Check Worth the Hype...I think not How could I not visit The City of Brotherly Love without a trip to South Philly for a matchup between cheesesteak rivals? On a recent Sunday morning I managed to avoid the crowds, in fact I was one of only three people in line. Armed with the knowledge of the precise ordering process...One, wit, whiz...and cash in hand I felt thoroughly prepared for a toe to toe cheesesteak face-off. Was my sandwich bad? No. Was it amazing or worth a repeat visit? It was not. The steak was tender but lacked any real flavor. The whiz was warm and melty but nothing exciting. Overall it was a pretty mediocre sandwich but an interesting experience none the less. If you're in Philly I'd still recommend visiting and comparing for yourself. Why not say you have visited the birthplace of cheesesteak?
(2)
Leslie W.

Very mediocre. Nuce that they claim to support the troops. But very intolerant when it comes to non English speakers
(1)
Michael S.

I just love a Geno's wiz wit, I can't help myself. People complain about this place, but I go late and never have a problem. You're ordering a cheesesteak from a window, not sure what kind of service people expect. I get my cheesesteak almost immediately and enjoy every bite. I prefer the strips of steak more than the chopped up stuff that places like Pat's, Jim's, and Tony Luke's use.
(5)
Xerxes N.

Kudos for finding a parking spot right in front of the place. Even better was that I only had a five minute wait. I suppose it was the time of day? Either way, I was pleased to finally try this place out. This, however, wasn't a disappointment but I wasn't blown away, either. I can't remember the name of the coffee shop next door but they do allow you to bring your cheesesteak over to eat inside if you made a purchase. A drink or coffee would suffice. All the outdoor seats were full and it started to rain so this was a great option. Had this been my only cheesesteak in the two days I visited AC/Philly I would probably rate this visit four stars. It was good but I felt after having one of their competitors the day before I felt like there was more to be desired. It was juicy, healthy in size but I felt the hype I've had over the years just wasn't there. I would say that I felt this place to be very commercialized from what all my friends have told me. These folks were a lot nicer than others made them out to be. The dude in the coffee shop gave us the lingo to use so we didn't look like chumps when ordering. Still good, not great, but certainly worth trying...
(3)
Thu N.

The reviews for this place aren't great but it's so popular that I thought it wouldn't be too bad. Pat's is supposed to be better and both lines were long but we chose Geno's since the line at least didn't go out into the middle of traffic. I got a mushroom cheesesteak and the sandwich was semi warm - the bread, the steak, the mushrooms. I'm surprised the cheese was melted. Probably would've tasted better if I had just taken it home and toasted it up before eating. Cheese fries had a nice crunch, no complaints there. I'll risk my life a little bit next time and just try Pat's.
(2)
Julie F.

Geno's and Pat's both have their fans and critics. Although Geno's Yelp reviews aren't as great as Pat's reviews, I found the cheesesteak at Geno's to have a slight edge due to the more generous helping of Cheez Whiz. Geno's sandwich also seemed to have more meat. Geno's restaurant clearly had friendlier and more personable service. The building itself is also more colorful and eye-catching as it has photos and a whole wall of police patches. When it comes to which place has the better cheesesteak, judge for yourself. Clearly everyone has their preference and favorite.
(4)
Food T.

Close second to Pat's sorry. Not enough "wiz", uncooked onions and overall less flavor than across the street. Only my preference
(3)
Calvin P.

They are not that good!. Just got one from both Geno's and Pats. Along with Pats, they are the worst ones I've had since I started eating steaks... I met my wife at King of Pizza in Gloucester NJ while on leave from the Army in '91. I've been back to Jersey two or three times a years since then and eat steaks for breakfast lunch and dinner while I'm here, since I can not get them where I live in Texas. I have to say the South Jersey steaks are far better than the two famous places in Philadelphia. I recommend skipping the tourist trap! Go to King of Pizza or Sal and Pats in Gloucester or even Mr. Bees in Gibbstown. I'm sure there are other great places too but don't waste time at either of the above!
(2)
Nate H.

I don't get it. Great drunk food, or a quick sandwich on your way out of town. Philly is starved for good restaurants if this place is as good as it gets for sandwiches. WAY too overpriced for a lot of bread too. The cheese whiz version is way to greasy and hard to eat without making a mess. Only option is onions. Yes, tourist trap.
(2)
Jessica J.

First time visiting Philly, so of course you have to try a cheese steak. Genos was good. My boyfriend and I shared one. It was a little in the soggy side because the cheese wiz but overall a good taste. The steak was like butter. The staff could be a bit more friendly....otherwise it was a great experience.
(3)
Julia R.

I was visiting from Miami and of course had to do the typical Philly Cheesesteak run. My best friends FiancÃ© recommended Geno's as one of the best. We were driving back from New York around 12 PM and all craving a cheesesteak sandwich. Geno's did not disappoint with their "Open 24 hours" operations. Although I had nothing to compare it too, It was everything I expected it to be: Smooth Cheesy sauce and finely shredded layers of steak all on a slightly toasted white roll ... Delicious! I'm a sucker for anything doused in cheese. The restaurant was kind of an order through the window situation with pictures of famous celebrities photographed with none other than Geno himself.
(4)
Ryan K.

Dickheads and honestly LOUSY ass cheesesteaks. Go to Phil's or even walk across to Pat's. If expensive and asshole service is your thing than this is 100% your place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)
Matt S.

Overall, Geno's was okay. I know that it is suppose to one of the places to go for a cheese steak (or Pat's), but it wasn't anything great. A cheese steak with onions is like $8.50. The meat isn't very flavorful. I've been to Pat's too, but it was about 5 years ago so I can't really compare. When I was in Philly I had a cheese steak from 3 different places and I'd say this was tied for 2nd/last. Maybe I just don't just cheese steaks, because none of them were that great.
(3)
Kim B.

2 stars only for the good bread! Had friends come in from out of town and of course they wanted to do the Pat's/Geno's challenge. I've now lived in the Philly area for 18 months or so, and in this time I've had countless people tell me to avoid those places like the plague. But, when your friends fly in from Florida, you take them where they want. Genos only redeeming quality was the roll they choose to serve it on. The outside was clean kept and hey have a great collection of police patches, but I won't give in to peer pressure again. If I friend comes in from out of town, I will not give in and take them to Genos.
(2)
Connie C.

I don't know if it's because I had Pat's wiz wit first or.... All cheesesteaks just taste the same to me. Geno's didn't really wow me; it lacked the luster I was hoping for. Again, since I live near in the neighborhood, I was able to come at a time when lines weren't super long. I think comparatively the meat wasn't as hot and meaty, if that makes sense. Otherwise, Geno's would deserve 4 stars like Pat's. I am still on the hunt for the best cheesesteak in Philly though.
(3)
Jessie J.

Finally got to try the famous Geno's. I asked for extra meat on my cheesesteak, it cost $19 bucks NOT including fries or a drink. I thought it was overpriced plus I was a little annoyed that there wasn't any indoor seating lol. We were eating outside in 13 degree weather. The cheesesteak was pretty good though, I was surprised that the cheese wiz actually made it taste even better.
(3)
Vivian S.

This place sucks the employees are all very ignorant assholes.. The steak and cheeses are like rubber pats across the street is 1,000 times better than this place. I order a sandwich and I ask for peppers and onions on it they made me buy a whole new sandwich $11.00. Then one of the employees at the register was being a complete dick for no reason yelling at me then threw my sandwich and told me to throw it out. I highly do not recommend coming here. Worse philly cheese steak I ever had!!!!! Go to pats the staff lot more friendly and the food is GREAT!!!! I wouldn't give Genos a star if I had the choice! They need to hire better staff with friendly personality so far 3 of them had I talked to were complete assholes and the boy that I had to deal with for new philly cheese steak needs to get a fucking better attitude before working around people. I should left him 2$ to get a lap dance so he could blow some steam off don't come to work if your having a bad fucking day!
(1)
Matt B.

Cool place to go to in S. Philly. Cheesesteak was good but I think TV over hypes the food. Yet would still return and take visitors.
(3)
Jr A.

I enjoyed the place! My wife and daughter didn't like it! I was pleased with the service! I ate a lot!!!!
(4)
Lisa H.

My husband and I love the food network, so of course we have to visit multiple food destinations on every trip. We started at Geno's and I was a bit apprehensive that there was only one option for sandwich, no add-ons like mushrooms, or pizza stuff like Pat's, pretty much take it or leave it. But after the having the sandwich I understand why they only serve one variety, if you got something good, don't mess with it ;). My husband and I started at Geno's, then went to Pat's, then back to Geno's because we were so much more impressed with Geno's (and yes disgustingly enough this was all in one afternoon). What made Geno's stand out in my mind was the steak and the bread, both had more flavor, and the quality of the steak was better.
(4)
Rubio R.

Meh. Not too impressed.So I had to do the Pat's vs Geno's taste test for myself after seeing it on The Travel Channel.Lets start with the building.....it looks like Snooki & Jwoww live there.VERY GAUDY.If they put the effort they put into making the outside of the building gaudy into their Cheesesteaks then maybe their Cheesesteaks would be really good.I ordered a Cheesesteak add Provolone,American and onions.The bread was really chewy compared to Pat's and the meat was very dry.The meat to bread ratio just wasn't right either,there was just too much dry, chewy bread & too little meat.At one point while I was chewing a bite I felt like I had cotton mouth.(Beleive me,that's not a good feeling.) There was definitely less meat and cheese on my Geno's cheesesteak & overall the sandwich was just bigger at Pat's. I know that there are waaay better cheesesteak places than these 2 in Philly because we asked some locals but I had to do the "touristy taste test "thing for myself.The results are in, and the winner is..........Pat's. Next time I come to Philly I won't be coming to either one of these just because I wanna go try other places but if you absolutely had to choose from these 2 then it's definitely Pat's hands down.
(3)
Jay W.

I tried Geno's once. I didn't like it. Stop asking me if I want to review things, yelp.
(1)
Rob D.

They say Pat invented it... But Geno's definitely has better bread.....Pat does have better oinions ..... That's it I'm calling it. Geno's wins, between these two anyway :)
(4)
Bill G.

Had my first authentic Philly Cheesesteak at Geno's. Cheesesteak was good. The onions were tasty and the service was fast. Parking was crazy, so if you want to do a quick "drive by" then take someone with you so you don't have to park the car.
(3)
Twana C.

Just ok. Tourist trap. Nothing to return for. Had a better Cheesesteak elsewhere. Tried both Geno's and Pat's and both fell short on taste.
(2)
Tiffany H.

Going to Philadelphia for the first time, you had to try the two biggest philly cheese steak rivals so I did. Pats vs Geno's. I personally prefer Pat's ( I feel like Geno's people would kill me ). Let's talk service first, the line was much slower than Pat's and when they saw me holding a Pat's wrapper, they were a bit rude which was understandable. At Geno's, you'll never forget where you are because they slap that logo everywhere. Across the street they even have a Geno's place for motorcycles, but that might've been there before, obviously I'm a tourist. The meat was sliced instead of diced, it was kind of dry yet oily at the same time? And the cheese whiz was dripping everywhere.
(2)
Dan H.

good steak for sure... i had to eat one steak from them and then go to Pat's and have another one just to see the difference. for sure you need to try this place , its part of the tourism sites of Philly!
(4)
Maipu A.

Not sure what the hype is. My husband kept bragging about this place, but I wasn't impressed. The steak is bland and smothered in wiz cheese. I loved Jims better.
(2)
Dan J.

Inferior to pats in all departments but size. I do love this place but you get less meat, less toppings, and friendly encounters with the staff is sporadic. The 3 stars are a reflection of the rude service and lower quality ingredients when compared to pats not the amazing taste of the messy cheesesteak. There will never be a time I pass through philly and don't go to both places no matter how touristy and overhyped they are.
(3)
John F.

A must stop if you are in Philly. The service at both Pat's and Geno's is pretty much nonexistent.... But that's part of the Philly Charm! Speak English of go home! Order correctly or go to the end of the line! At this point there are already well over 2000 reviews but here is my take on the Pat"s vs. Geno's battle. Pat's fries are way better than Geno's, but Geno's wins the Cheesesteak battle by a nose. Geno's just seem to be juicier. The real truth is that I have had better cheesesteaks at other locations, but you are a true foodie, you have got come to the hallow spot at least one in your life!
(4)
Leslie T.

This place is definitely hailed as a can't-miss Philly institution, and I could clearly see that from the line this place had. The cheesesteak was good, but I thought it could be a bit cheesier. The bread was soft (good), there was lots of grease (not so good), the onions were flavorful (good). The service was a bit brusque. Just a tip: the outside is decorated with pictures of the original owner posing with Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, signs that instruct people to order in English, and proclaiming that their fries are "freedom fries." Also a sign that lamented the amount of immigrants in America. I looked over that because I'm here for the food, not the politics. But just a comment, so no one is caught off guard for any odd reason.
(3)
Janice L.

Dont know why the overall rating is so low, but I love this place. The cheese steak is really great, only bad side is it's kinda dry. But it's better than my expectations and I would definitely recommend people to come here for Philly cheese steak!
(4)
Lin Z.

Meh. I don't get the hype of this place or the other one across the street. I took my teenager and her friend (visiting from Italy) here and regretted it. Very much a tourist trap with cheesesteaks that taste like the assembly line that they came off of. If you want a real taste of Philly go to the reading terminal and get a roast pork sandwich with broccoli rabe and provolone from DeNic's. YUM. Or go to any truck and order a cheesesteak. It will be fresher tasting than this place.
(1)
Erick D.

Great steaks. Good atmosphere. Always go here when I'm in town especially for a sports game before or after the game. Customer service is friendly. Thank you geno's for a great steak "whiz w/"
(5)
Kitty L.

Ordered the sandwich with cheese wiz and onion for $9.50 Compared to pat's, geno's definitely takes the win. Meat - was cut thinner and was not as chewy as pat's Cheese wiz - definitely adds creaminess to the sandwich Onion - regular chopped onions, what can i say. Line was long but there was a DJ across the street pumping music and giving out free t-shirts to people who were dancing to the music which is cool. I can't give geno's a higher review because it didn't really leave a lasting impression on me but definitely better than pat's
(3)
Michael P.

I am not a Philadelphian.... ...but wanted to try an 'authentic' Philly cheesesteak. I went to Genos, and I will say that your cheesesteak came out very quickly - but I am not sure that is a good thing - the meat was already cooked, and I am not sure how long it was sitting out there. I got mine with cheese wiz, and my friend got hers with provolone. Neither one of us was impressed with what we got - on the small side (for $9), meat was not too tasty, and the bread had a rubbery crust. I felt like I could have easily made a better cheesesteak with little effort. I did not try Pat's.
(2)
Jewel Y.

It was ok. I was expecting more I guess from all of the hype. After I had already eaten, I read about the "this is America, speak English" thing. If I would have known that ahead of time, I would have went across the street. I expect that kind of stuff in Alabama, not in a place as diverse as Philly
(3)
Ali C.

Took a spontaneous trip to Philly to do the authentic taste test. I fell into the tourist trap. Dammit. Being from New York, you go to time square you admire it, that's it. Same thing should be done to geno's ... stare at it. Got a provolone wit and felt pretty blah. Not an oz of love was put into it. Food needs love! The fries were a weird texture but ketchup fixes everything so it's okay. Don't fall into the tourist trap like I did, listen to the locals.
(3)
Sean M.

Came here for the first time today, have not tried Pat's yet so I can't compare which is better or worse. I don't really know anything about either place other than my one visit today. The cheesesteak is great. Thin, full slices of steak cooked well. Soft yet chewy rolls with a bit of an Italian bread taste. The meat is fatty and flavorful, but not greasy. The American cheese doesn't add much, it is a single slice only. I'll try with the cheese wiz next time, if I come back. However, the staff are extremely rude and unpleasant. You wait in line, then feel rushed and unwanted at the counter. Don't be surprised to receive some dirty looks if they feel you are slowing them down. Overall, a worthwhile visit if you're in the area, but be prepared for the rude, abrupt staff. Here's the ordering protocol that they fail to put anywhere, but expect you to know: Have money ready. They don't like giving change or waiting for you to get your wallet out. Order only cheesesteak at first window, order in one sentence with all detail. You'll get your cheesesteak after a short wait. Move to the next window where you order and pay for drinks. Again, exact change is expected and they do not want to wait. Quick tip: If it's your first time here, I recommend looking at the menu before waiting in line, and deciding what you want. The line wraps around the building and you will have only one person in front of you when you first see the menu. For me, the rudeness of the staff ruined an otherwise very good cheesesteak. Some of the rudest staff I've ever met. Therefore, I feel it deserves one star overall. Food is 4/5
(1)
Sal D.

Oh Geno's I really liked how fast I got my food, but I have to say where's the beef? I came here with our of town guest we shared a Geno's and a Pats cheese steak.... and the winner was Pats. While I have to say the glimmering light of Geno's is tempting I would most definitely go to Pat's. Not to say they don't make a tasty Cheese Steak, I will definitely give it another try.
(3)
Adrienne C.

I was so excited to try an authentic Philly cheesesteak and spent the entire ride from the airport thinking about a sandwich overflowing with meat, peppers, onions and cheese "wiz," but I was disappointed when it turned out to be more roll than anything else. Very skimpy on the filling, I barely needed a napkin. I was also put off by the "this is America, please order in English" sign in their window. I only speak English, but would expect more hospitality and less blatant hostility from a place so dependent on visits from tourists from all over. If I had noticed the sign before I ordered, I would've taken my business across the street to Pat's.
(1)
Ro K.

The only reason Pats or Geno's has publicity is because they are old and "rivals" Neither are that good. I went to both on the same day and order the same sub from both sides. Genius has "sheets" of steak , and Ptas chops theirs up. I went with a group of 6 and we all agreed that Geno's had slightly better steak , but Pats fries were MUCH better. Geno's fries were equivalent to the great value brand (which they probably were). Really no one should eat here, there are much better places in Philly to eat.
(2)
Jason W.

I ordered from both Pat's and Geno's steak shops for dinner. Both the food and experience was good at both shops, but I liked Pat's better. Before ordering, it is a good idea to look over the menus for options, and remember to say yes to onions!
(4)
Wade L.

Disgusting artery clogging cheese whiz covered steak with perhaps the rudest staff I have ever encountered. I want to go again! Yes please!
(4)
Chris E.

Having been here once in my life, right after I tried Pat's, it was an absolute disappointment. I live in NY, but everytime I pass by Philly I HAVE to get a cheesesteak. After trying both Pat's and Geno's it was obvious to me there was a clear cut winner AND it wasn't Geno's. Despite all the hype and fanfare, including the number of celebrities who have eaten here and the all-out bright decor, it came down to the cheesesteak. I ordered the "Cheesesteak Wit" and there were a number of reasons why it wasn't what I expected. First, the bread is not toasted well enough and a bit hard. It's pretty bland and none of the steak, cheese or juices really soak into it. This leads me to my 2nd criticism and that is the steak and cheese. There was a major lack of steak in my cheesesteak, c'mon! I felt I was ripped off a bit after spending $9.75 on one of these bad boys. How can they not at least fill up the bread with some meat, if they claim to be the best? You can't cheapen the experience for your customers when your competitor is right across the street. Third, besides a lack of steak, the steak was also bland and there just wasn't enough cheese on it. It was just a "steak" sandwich. As I said, I was really disappointed and if this is the way they have been operating for decades I really don't know how people think they have the "best" cheesesteak.
(2)
Ginger S.

Geno's gets a 1 star for two reasons. 1. Their cheesesteaks are not that good. 2. They are proud to be bigots. They have signs that say "This is America, when ordering speak English!" and another one that says "I'm mad as hell, I want my country back"... Who do they want it back from? Geno is Italian name, are none of their ancestors immigrants? It must be too difficult for this bigot establishment to learn 239 years of American history. Pretty bad business ethics and people should think twice before giving them money.
(1)
Sally G.

If you prefer a real cheesesteak go to to Tony Luke's. Cheese fries were worthy of a star.
(1)
Charlie C.

Went to Geno's for the first time last night. Cheese steak with American cheese and onions, plus fries. Great sandwich, loved the roll it's on. Not sure what the big deal is about the fries. Fine, even good, but not remarkable. The service was fast. I saw some negative comments regarding "service". Really? This is a busy, cash only, walk-up sandwich shop. Don't take yourself too seriously.
(4)
Erika W.

I have lived on Philly for 29 years and I never tasted a horrible cheese steak, until I came here. I was even drunk and it tasted like cardboard. Gross!! I'm so angry that this place is popular. Actually, I'm angry this place exists. Never come here. Get this garbage out of my city.
(1)
Sharna B.

After seeing Genos on T.V. and how the locals raved about how delicious the steak sandwiches were I decided to take a red eye to genos. I arrived there on a weekday in the evening and there were no customers in line. Ordered my sandwich expecting flavorful, juicy, delicious steak. And to my disappointment it was just average. No juices flowing down my arms, no jump out of my seat reaction, no "GOD DAMN THIS SH.. IS GOOD". Just an average dry steak sandwich. Next time in Philly I will be trying Tony Lukes.
(3)
Marissa B.

This may seem crazy that I'm giving them a fiver, but, they have something I've never tasted anywhere else: their hot sauce. I only just tried it recently (used leftover container for small portion of food) and am blown away. Not sure if they make it or if it's from a company, but, it is just highly-noxious, tasty, red goodness. If a jalapeno is too hot from you and a long hot would kill ya...stay away. That aside...enjoy. :] End note: I also commend Joey Vento and what he stood for; especially as a South Philadelphian like myself. I'm not an inbred or an old-timer either. In my early 20's and college-educated.
(5)
Kiki L.

Geno's, you a trap, you should start a DJ gig. Soggy roll, dry steak, no flavors. The whiz had a funny, moldy flavor. The entire cheesecake tasted weeks old. My friend from Germany was visiting Philadelphia for the 1st time, the fame of Geno's (locally notorious) raised her expectations but we were both disappointed after our visit. Not only the cashier chick made fun of her accent as "sounding Eastern European" (Ya know what she's implying) and asked me twice to order in English before I even opened my precious mouth. NAH GIRL NAH. Just because I don't look american it doesn't mean I don't speak English. Have you heard of Multilingualism??? Oh course not because you are ignorant. DONT GO THERE.
(1)
Jackie D.

Don't waste your time. Go to Pat's instead. Also, what's with the racism guys? "This is America, order in English"??? Not ideal marketing for a tourist trap.
(1)
L Q.

This place is an over-hyped tourist trap! And I fell for it. What a let down. I've had a better cheesesteak before coming to Philly. Is this all you have to offer? I blame the FoodNetwork! But if you want a greasy cardboard sandwich served with attitude....this is your kind of place. Otherwise, RUN far away.
(1)
May M.

It was a long wait just to get a philly cheesesteak so maybe that's why I had such a high expectation, but to be honest it was not worth the wait or the hype. The only thing that got me excited to be here was the hype, took some pictures after eating my food. Unfortunately I hve to say that I had way better somewhere else, even the fries was just extremely salty and nothing more. I feel bad talking about it like this, but I really don't get it. Hey if you do like it and enjoy their philly cheesesteak good, but for some reason it just didn't do it for me.
(2)
Ryan R.

I went to Geno's in an attempt to see which classic restaurant does the cheesesteak better. For me, the winner was definitely Geno's. This place has their service down to a science as the line is usually long, but the wait times to get your food are lightning quick. The meat at Geno's really puts this sandwich over the top. It is very tender and flavorful and goes well with all the toppings. One complaint I have is that I wish they put more of the cheese sauce and toppings on the sandwich because that really makes the sandwich. Otherwise, it was a delicious sandwich and worth checking out if you visit that famous intersection.
(4)
Kevin R.

Thought this place was better than Pat's. Bread was fantastic, had more texture and flavor. Steak WAS NOT as grubbie and chewie as Pats. The cheese was more flavorful. We did cheese fries too... Soo good. They only accept cash!!! Be aware! I was pleased and will be back! The steak was so tender wet and savory. Perfectly spiced and nice and salty!
(4)
Nina L.

Great service. Very organized. But wasn't the taste I expected from a classic joint for Philadelphia cheesesteaks. Nonetheless wasn't too bad.
(2)
Mike D.

Yikes. I only recently returned to Geno's after a LONG time just to give it one more go before getting the junk out of my diet (yeah right). I was disappointed to say the least. What I remember as a kid was replaced with a luke warm, chewy roll with hardly any meat. The fries were kind of in the same boat. The cheese was also semi-warm and you could tell the fries were sitting out for some time. I guess I should know better but I was still willing to give it a go. The crazy part was that it wan't crowded nor too late in the night. I guess I'll have to go elsewhere should the steak craving return because both corners have been a disappointment.
(2)
Alexander K.

Honestly, I liked Geno's Steaks out of the "Big 3" (Geno's, Pat's, and Tony Luke's) the most. I ordered the cheesesteak with the american cheese and onions. The bread was crisp on the outside while chewy on the inside and the cheese complimented the steak really well. Also keep in mind I also went across the street and had a cheesesteak from Pat's, which was very similar.
(4)
Ravi B.

Lived in Philly 3 months. My ratings go 1. Steve's / Tony Luke's Need to try both side by side now 2. Jim's 3. Pat's haven't tried dalessandro's yet. hear there's some spot in west philly that's supposedly good too. This place is the worst of the landmark cheesesteak spots. Worst in taste but def cleaner than pats. Geno's is also on that whole 'i go overboard my american pride' thing and seem a bit racist
(1)
Artis S.

Tried Geno's because it was recommended by an acquaintance. Wasn't impressed. Bland flavor and sandwich wasn't great-cold and was sloppy . Try Dalessandro's. You won't be disappointed. Don't visit this place. Overrated and don't understand why it's so popular. Will never come back.
(1)
Gary L.

Ordered 1 wiz wid, and 1 wiz widout. The guy at the counter gave me an attitude throughout this whole process. I got my money ready, I placed my order, basically one with wiz and onions and one without the onions for my pal who can't have onions at this time due to recent abdominal surgery. I don't know the details of his operation but doctors told him to stay away from onions and other foods. I think it's because of the acidity or something. I don't know, don't care and I'm not a doctor. With that said, the guy at the counter from Geno's kept busting our chops and mocking us about how you can't have a philly cheesesteak without the onions. He kept going on and on, his mouth didn't stop just like the owner Joey Vento. So I let this jerk finish up our sandwiches, I paid for it and handed him back the cheesesteaks he made and walked away from the window. Verdict - Fuggedaboutit! Where I come from, we don't take shit from nobody! We're American born too but these guys at Geno's tend to discriminate against foreigners and people who they think are foreigners but are not. We're the ones traveling the distance and paying for their product. Show your customers some respect if you want our cold hard cash! Without us, you wouldn't have any dough to pay for your tacky light displays.
(1)
Ed B.

I reviewed Pat's before Geno's for only one reason: Pat's is better. Not that Geno's is bad but it tasted like the cheesesteak was average. The only part that I like is Geno's onions. It had more flavor than Pat's. The "speak english" sign was pretty funny though.
(3)
Chrystlle Anne B.

there cheesesteak is pretty impresive. It is really simple but it is really tasty. Also, there area is really clean in and out. Cash only and it is a smart idea because it helps the store to flaw smoothly
(4)
Angeline C.

I don't get why there are so many negative reviews for Genos. I loved Genos! I was in town and on the hunt to find the best cheesesteaks and out of the 4 I tried, Genos was my favorite! And I even ate my Genos after it was sitting around in my fridge for a few hours so it wasn't even fresh! Genos - so juicy, tasty and oozing with cheese. All of the flavors were there and it was so so so so so good. When I reheated it, I was expecting it to be bad, but the flavors were all there. I could just imagine how good it would have been if I ate it fresh. The sandwich was also a perfect size! I tried Pats, Ishkabibble's and Jim's the same weekend and my leftover/sitting in the fridge for a few hours Geno's sandwich was actually the best out of the 4 believe it or not. Pats was my second favorite since it was also very juicy and tasty. I ate that fresh and made the choice to save Geno's for later. Jim's was good, but it was tiny in size compared to the 4. Jim's was also lacking the flavor Genos and Pats had. Ishkabibble was the worst of the 4 since it lacked flavor =( I will definitely be back to try Genos fresh and we'll see if my mind changes!
(5)
Jane P.

I would give this place zero stars if I could. I was so excited to try Genos and Pats when I went to philly. I decided to go to Geno's first because it was closer to me than Pat's. I was sooo disappointed when I tried the first bite. The meat was super dry and the bread was cold and chewy. The whole sandwich was cold and was a waste of my money. I couldn't even take a decent picture to put up with my yelp review. It looked horrible too. There was grease dripping at the end of my sandwich and the grease was getting hard and becoming a clear white substance as it got colder and colder. Therefore, I didn't even want to go over to Pat's to try another disgusting cheese steak, but I'm glad that last minute I went over to Pat's to give them a try! Definitely worth the walk over the street. Not only was the food horrible, the service was even worst. There was a very rude girl in the front. Never going here to waste my money again.
(1)
Kaycie S.

Like everyone says...I have had better cheesesteaks but that not what going here is all about ..is it? I ate at Genos prob about 20 years ago and talked it up big to my family. Have to say, it wasn't near as good as I remembered...lol! BUT when in Philly... My husband got Pats across the street so we could do the comparison and both were equally as "good". I think we may have preferred the fries at Pats over Genos. It's an American Icon tho..so you have to give it a try. Before you go make sure of a few things: Bring cash ( they only take cash) Know what you want by the time you get through the line or get the heck outta there...ha. The line in the street moves fast because of the first two points.
(4)
Damon D.

The steak was ok, but the slightly cooked, under-seasoned onions really kill the joy. I've had vastly better cheesesteaks in South Jersey, but I'm sure Philly has lots of good ones, too. Also, I find the "speak English" bigotry at the window to be pretty annoying. It's just not friendly and is pretty offensive to the masses of non-English-speaking tourists who come here.
(2)
Lisa N.

Food - I honestly liked Geno's Steaks over Pat's because it wasn't as dry and the bread was somewhat crispy. However, I can still see some same problems I had with Pat's at Geno's. The meat was somewhat dry, like it has been sitting on the grill for too long and they had to sell it, unfortunately. They definitely had the better fries compared to Pat's but it was honestly like choosing the better between 2 poisons. Price - A little less expensive than Pat's but I would not come back and pay for that. Service - Slightly better than Pat's but it was definitely not superb. I would not return. So overrated. I was upset at the end.
(2)
Hakuna M.

Great cheesesteak, superfreindy and helpful staff. Wish I had bought two!
(5)
Antonio G.

Go to Pat's. Geno's cheese stake stinks of pork, the bun is soggy, the cheese is really, really heavy on your stomach. The fries make you wonder if they are actually made of potatoes. Honestly, a major rethinking of the entire food quality is needed. Do yourself a favor: cross the street and go to Pat's. By the way, I am from out of town and have had Pat's and Genos back to back on consecutive days: this is a completely objective review.
(1)
Nikki L.

Though Geno's has far more autographed celebrity pictures on it's neon lighted walls, it does not make a good Philly cheesesteak. The meat comes in rather thick slices, is far drier...and overall, it's just not that tasty. They don't offer many cheesesteak options on their menu either - no mushrooms, no pepper. Thumbs down.
(2)
Jannalee C.

I wish I could put 0 stars but unfortunately it's impossible. This was my first time coming to Philly and I was beyond excited to try their overrated "Geno's Steaks" well let me tell you I was starving and I was utterly disappointed. They prepare it so fast that they don't even focus on the quality of the sandwich. It was dry and overpriced. Not to mention they have two separate windows to order food and we were greeted with a horrible attitude. I would have rather had a Philly cheese steak from Jersey than an overhyped, dry, too much onions sandwich from Geno's Steak. I was beyond disappointed.
(1)
Jess D.

I came here with my dad on Monday night and our cheesesteaks were not that great. The meat was dry and they didn't cook their onions long enough. They also skimped on the cheese whiz. The roll was phenomenal though. The people that work here are just odd and unfriendly. They are cash only so go prepared with some bills. I still like Jim's on South better!
(2)
Jose C.

Bought one of each, geno and pats. For me pats was better. However the fries at genos were better. Not much of a difference.
(3)
Diane B.

Son just flew in from MI went straight from airport to Genos for steak sandwiches and fries fun spot in the city parking can be an issue but we were able to park the truck ---sandwiches like much better then pats steaks can't eat this too often but a fun treat
(4)
Tadric R.

Idk why this is listed as a famous place to stop in Philly, but Sonny's is way better. Geno's steak was dry, workers were kinda rude, cheese wasn't cooked right with the meat. This was below average steak sandwich taste. Don't come.
(2)
Anna S.

Detroit native here - husband and I did the challenge between Geno's and Pats and, in my opinion, I liked the flavor better at Geno's. I thought the cheese was tastier and the onions sweeter. Overall it's a good sandwich. HOWEVER - the "this is America, speak English" propaganda EVERYWHERE is a huge turn-off for me. I don't live in Philly but I know it to be a melting pot, and it's pretty clear that with a name like GENO, you're probably from an immigrant family. It's clear that there are plenty of other places I should've tried instead.
(2)
mengzi w.

The taste test of the cheesesteaks goes to Ginos. Though both places are touristy and not really worth their claim to fame, Geno's is at least pretty decent. A lot of steaks, I am not a big fan of cheese wiz but it was still pretty good.
(3)
Royal V.

So as mentioned in my Pats post we got a sandwich here to bring back to nyc after our trip to the aquarium. I gotta say the bread was off the hook, but even though our sandwich had onions i thought it was a bit on the dry side. We got this one with reg american chz not chz whiz like at pats. Next time we will try something different.
(4)
Diana G.

I visited Philadelphia and really wanted to have a Cheesesteak so I went to Genos. Yes it was good but in my opinion it could've been better!
(4)
Kelly K.

This place is clearly OVERRATED. First of all parking is HORRIBLE, and they only take CASH!! They made me feel as if they were doing me a favor. The lady at the window was very rude and was in a rush for some reason (if you're a FIRST TIME CUSTOMER you better watch out because you need to know how to order, RIDICULOUS!). And all this for a poorly made sandwich that cost me $10 bucks. I think they need to "pull their heads our of their a#%". It was not worth my time in traffic, the gas it cost me to drive there, and the crappy experience. I want my money back!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)
Emil C.

Food: I ordered an ever so popular cheesesteak with onions and cheese whiz. The beef here was leaner and tougher than the ones from their cross street rival. The bread was also very tough. Taste was ok. I mean it's just beef, onion, and cheese. Service: It's the usual... order your cheesesteak at the first window and your drinks at the second one. If you know the process, everything is fine. You get your food in no time and then go find a place to sit. Location: Out of the two places at this street corner, Pat's is better... but not by much. You come to this place just to get it over with and to be able to tell your friends that you've been there. Definitely a tourist trap.
(2)
Purpose T.

One word - YUCK!! This place must make their money strictly based on being a tourist trap. And I do mean trap! Because unfortunately the hearsay will cause you to believe you must try a philly cheese steak from here. Well, I'm writing to tell you, DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!! Nope! I tasted my sandwich and looked around thinking, is this a joke?!! It was just that bad. Cheese whiz though? Really? Smh I struggled through the majority of it because I did not want to waste my money. That really sucks! Never again though. Only takes one time for me to learn a lesson in nasty food!
(1)
Damaris M.

So according to a lot of reviews here they say that Geno's is a rude and can be a racist establishment. I didn't experience that . I went at about 9pm with my Indian pal and there was zero rudeness or racism toward my friends accent. So very pleasant experience. Keep in mind that it was late and nearly empty so the level of stress wasn't displayed amongst the employees which can happen in fast paced hours. Anyhow, the Steak Sandwiches were OK. Not out of this world. Average. But I suppose my curiosity got the best of me. So if your in tourist mode and you just need to go. Fine. But it's not the best. Sorry to disappoint. And neither is Pat's right across the street. Just helping you not waste time.
(3)
Samantha M.

The huge line stretching around the block looked promising when we arrived at Geno's. We had been told to know exactly what we wanted when we got to the window or they'd 'NEXT' us. After 20 minutes we arrived at the window and were actually a little shocked at the incredibly racist stickers stuck on the window. Getting past that we ordered our steaks, then at the next window ordered some fries. The fries were greasy and flavourless. The steak was on the dry side and it was all pretty bland. We couldn't understand what the big deal was. I think if you're in Philly and want to try a cheesesteak, give it a go but don't expect anything amazing.
(1)
Jennifer L.

Fatty tough meat. Not a fan.
(1)
Heather B.

3rd stop on our top 10 cheesesteaks of philly mission. Ive been here many times. This was my 1st ever cheesesteak experience along with pat's. I tend to usually pick genos so I already knew what to expect here. As with all cheesesteak places expect a line. They are also cash only. I still like this place a lot. They make a good cheesesteak but at least now I know I have other options. If you've never had obe I would say give this ace a try. They are ontbe top 5.
(3)
Profession P.

After a year of living in Philly I promised to break my Vegetarian fast only to eat at Genos Steaks because of the fame, and notoriety from the Boyz II Men MowtownPhilly video in the 1990's. The service was kind, and the steak sandwich tasted like a steak sandwich. It had Cheese, Steak, Beef and bread the end. I felt good having gone to 9th street and Passyunk on a nice day. The worker even let me take a photo of him after I asked.
(4)
Venus J.

Awful!!! No flavor, canned & stale old peppers and onions..awful bread. Spent too much money for trash. I need to find somewhere else to eat. This place doesn't deserve one star! Service was horrible
(1)
Brian R.

Decent at best. Really cheap cut of meat and kinda void of flavor. The staff is very unfriendly and cares nothing for guest service. They only want your cash
(2)
Gary W.

So decided to stop in and try a cheese steak at ginos steaks, what a disappointment figured coming from NYC it would be better than anything I could find back home. NOT!! First off the meat is sliced not chopped, had no flavor, the bread was weak and really didn't stand up to the steak, not even toasted, the onions , tasted like they came outa a can , the cheese ( got provolone ) again no flavor and not even melted, Oh and where are the peppers man, cant have a cheese steak without peppers! All in all very poor , I can get a better tasting cheese steak from papaya king on the corner of 42nd and 9th for $7.50 with fries and a drink. And to be fair I went across the street to try Pats king of steaks same crap! Final word can get a better cheese stake for half the price in NYC
(2)
Selena J.

Fast & furious ! "What cheese do you want and onion?" Are the only questions that will be asked , afterwards ... Keep it moving... P.S go to Pat's . Better food & better service .
(2)
Regis W.

Nope. Geno's just doesn't hold a candle to Pat's. Maybe it's the bread (it tastes really chewy) or the sign that says "This is America, please speak English" and "I want my country back," but it just doesn't do it for me like Pat's does. Who would have thought a grandchild of Italian immigrants would be so intolerant? Just head across the street to Pat's for a really good Philly cheesesteak experience, minus the hypocrisy.
(2)
John Z.

I tried Genos, Jim's, and Pats side by side since there was no line for either. Vs Pats : Genos cost 50c less coming in at $9.50 Genos gave a larger roll and had toasted bread which was better than Pats. However there was much less meat and cheese on Genos, and the meat was not as flavorful. Vs Jims: Better bread but similar taste in meat and cheese. Costs about $1 more than Jims Genos does have the better bread out of all the places but not enough to make up for taste. Rankings #1 Pats #2 Geno's #3 Jim's
(3)
Amanda Y.

Wish I would of went to Pat's instead. The cheesesteak was very bland. It could use more salt and pepper. Definitely not worth the money or wait in the long line.
(1)
Melisa V.

I really don't understand how anyone can like their Philly Cheesesteak. I guess I will avoid all food recommendation from those reviewers . Now seriosly, this was the worst cheesesteak I ever tried. No flavor whatsoever. Even the fries were bad. Not to mention they charge way to much. And what's up with the system of ordering steak on one window and fries and soda on another. Doesn't make much sense. This is my first one star review... And the reward goes to... Geno's steaks! Congrats!
(1)
Yvonne L.

Cheesesteak was pretty good, albeit this is quite a touristy place and I'm sure there are plenty of better places in town, maybe without the hype but good or even better. Went for one here followed by another at Pat's. I preferred Geno's bread, but was more a fan of Pat's steak which was filleted and just less dry, with more onions. And the dried red pepper gave it that oomph!!
(4)
Isaac K.

So neither Pat's or Geno's are really all that good. There are like 20 places within spitting distance that are better. They are simply famous. That being said they are "stops on the tour" so if you're visiting - get a steak at both and decide for yourself. I would say that the actual quality at Geno's is generally less than stellar although the line is generally shorter and they have better seating. Also while you almost want to like the big, neon gaudiness of Geno's to give it an edge over Pat's - it's more than a little goofy... especially when you get to weird almost religious posters and such. And if you look around for a minute odds are you're going to see something slightly racist (be it an offensive sign or confederate flag). All for free speech, but like most folks in the NE metro area...I am probably going to exercise my own rights and take my business to a place that is either less outwardly racist - or at least has the common business sense to keep it to themselves.
(1)
Jessica L.

This place was not what i expected. Beginning with the rudest service from a woman with blonde hair saying nasty comments. This was our first time there and will be our last. Food was OK but should have went to Pats. Two of the servers did not seem like they wanted to be there with the rude stares and comments. I drove over an hour to try this place and i am VERY disappointed. Also it is over rated and in a bad area. Maybe they should live up to There expectation!
(2)
Jennifer K.

My review of Geno's versus Pat's cheese steaks. I have to say, I wasn't overly impressed with either. I'll say it; we can get a much better cheesesteak from any pizza place/sub shop back home in Buffalo. That being said, here's what I thought: Geno's: Delicious roll. Nice and dense and chewy, I preferred it much more than Pat's. The steak is served whole, in slices, but there is not a lot of meat at ALL to fill up that dense, chewy roll. I got mine "wit" onions, but they weren't cooked down enough and weren't overly soft. Also, they were piled right in the middle of the roll, so the proportions were off until I opened it up and used my finger to redistribute it along the whole roll. The cheez wiz on Geno's meat liquefied and melted off, dripping off onto the paper. The seating and atmosphere at Geno's is much nicer, it's very well lit, cleaner, and more tourist-friendly. I have to say, though, it was awkward standing behind some foreign customers (speaking to each other in a different language) and watching as they saw the article taped to the window and the sign stating to "Speak English". They took some pictures of the signs and laughed, but still... awk-ward. We went in January and there was basically no one waiting in line outside. The only place to eat is outside, too, so prepare to freeze your hands off as you devour your food! Also: separate ordering windows for steaks vs fries, but I didn't notice a SIGN saying such, just the irritated girl at the window telling people to go down to the next window to order fries. Seemed weird, especially since there was no one waiting. Pat's: Less inviting location, not all lit up as well as Geno's. Signage seemed older and more beat up. The roll was good, perfectly acceptable but not as amazing as Geno's. There was LOTS more meat than Geno's , which is definitely more my style. Pat's chops their steak up, which, I discovered, might be an easy way to disguise that their meat isn't as high quality as Geno's since there was LOTS of gristle in my sandwich and none on Geno's. The cheese wiz didn't melt away into oblivion on the Pat's sandwich, which was nice. The onions were OVERdone, however, with a burnt taste to some of them. The onions were nicely disbursed through the chopped up meat, but that only meant I got the burnt taste through my whole cheesesteak since I couldn't scrape them off. So in Summary: - Pros and cons to each which made it impossible to choose which was better. Wish I could make a combo of the two to make one perfect sandwich! Geno's= Much less steak but nicer quality steak in solid slices. Better roll. Cheez wiz melts away and drips off the roll. More dense/less cooked onions piled right in the middle. Pat's: Much more steak, cut up/diced up and very full of gristle/fat. Onions mixed in well throughout but overdone and some were burnt. Cheez wiz stayed intact and blended well with the beef in each slice.
(3)
Ann L.

Tried out Geno's Steaks on Wed 3/5/14 and nobody was there in the Winter so that's the only good thing. We took the bus, I guess the tourist walk a ways or take a cab? It's in a neighborhood far from the Historical District. We got a cheesesteak w/ Whiz & Peppers - B. paid an extra $1 for peppers, onions we got too. To me it was just ok, lots of meat chunky style, bread was ok, not enough Whiz for me. Which they had more stuff in it like mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickle, more, more more. No public bathrooms that I could see.
(2)
Patty A.

I am being generous with two stars. So disappointed to have finally got to Philly and get over to Geno's or Pat's...try it and be utterly underwhelmed. Should have asked locals where to go rather than be drawn in to the "famous" places. I grew up in Venice, CA and we have a little hoagie shop there that claims to be just like Philly's..now I can compare and say I will stick with Venice's version. Geno's obviously has high turnover and they care very little about quality versus rushing a sandwich out the window. I ordered a steak sandwich with provolone, onions, mushrooms and peppers. In under 2 minutes our sandwich was handed to us. In Venice, you have a good 10 minute wait as it is made fresh FOR YOU! The steak is cooked as you order with the cheese melted on top. The onions and peppers and mushrooms freshly grilled to order. This means the meat is not rubbery and dry because it was cooked long ago. The cheese is actually melted into the meat and nice and hot because it was JUST cooked. This provolone was barely noticable and partially melted because it had warm already cooked meat thrown on top of that. No flavor to the onions, peppers and mushrooms that were a bit undercooked probably in large quantities and set aside for hours. The bread was too much..a chewy sourdough like roll rather than a french style which yes would get soggy but you eat it fast enough when it is fresh and hot. Also, like other patrons..turned off by the "It's America, order in english". Whoever owns (ed) Geno's surely had relatives who came from another country speaking another language. This is a melting pot..why such hate? Just such a negative thing to post up...racist attitude prevails in neighborhood or just a racist owner?? The whole experience....MEH!!!! Keep your cheesesteaks..I will just enjoy them in Venice when I go there. Even the chain here in my area called Philly Cheesesteak Co. is better and fresher than what I tasted here.
(2)
Jimmy S.

I don't know why would people eat here. There's nothing like Maryland cheese steaks. I am so pissed I have no words to write this review.
(1)
Tommy L.

I came with my friends on 1/11/15 and I do agree with everyone that Geno's may be just a tourist trap. The cheese steak with Whiz and onions is what I got for $9.50 which is pricey. There was luckily a short line when me and my friends got there but then, it was long. They really get those cheese steaks out like fast food. I was pretty hyped up after getting my cheese steak but I ended up pretty disappointed. It wasn't the best cheese steak I ever had. My friends thought it was decent but again not the best cheese steak ever. Not worth the hype and $9.50. Travel Channel totally baited me with expectations and how it made the "Travel Channel's 101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown" at number 6 is beyond me... I should of tried Jim's Steaks instead.
(3)
Steve T.

I live 4 blocks from here and wouldn't go unless every friend of mine who visited asked to. If you google things to do in philly these cheesesteak places pop up before the liberty bell. I think there cheesesteaks suck and you can get a better one at an airport. If I go get American wit out. The onions aren't always cooked well.
(1)
Anna J.

The worst Philly experience ever! After the lacrosse game we were craving for a real Philly cheesesteak. We decided to go to Geno's Steaks after reading the reviews online. Waited in the line for at least 45 min. Beware and order your hoagie at the first window because if not you will leave that place without a cheesesteak. In the second window you only can order some fries and drinks!!! What a waste of time... Not mentioning the rudeness of the guy, when we ask him politely if he can sell us hoagies at the second window, he told us to go to the end of the line (another 45 minutes, or even longer). I know you have a lot of regular clients Geno's but you should be nicer to your new ones. Bad experience overall.
(1)
Megan K.

I'm doing a similar review for these two rivals - I loved Geno's and Pat's. They were both amazing!! Four of us went to try both of these amazing cheesesteaks, two of us got Geno's and two of us got Pat's then we just split them. We all went back and fourth on which one we liked better but both were great. Geno's bread was so fresh and had a pretzel like texture to the outside. They put the cheese on first and then the meat with onions. The meat was so juicy and I loved how the cheese sunk right into that delicious bread. You have to try these two if you are in Philly!
(5)
Jesse F.

Nope. Go to Pat's across the street for better quality meat, more cheesesteak options on the menu, and way better fries.
(2)
Lynda Z.

Genos or Pats? I like Genos better personally. Pats used to be great but if you read my review of them, they cheaped out on us and the usual poor customer service has surprisingly gotten worse (as if that were possible). Genos is a HUGE tourist stop along the Philly sightseeing tours. But, if you're Philly home grown, you know when to go and when to stay away. They have great steaks, even if you do have to seek a second mortgage in order to cover the cost. Yes, it's creepin up to nearly $10 for a cheesesteak. Bottom line, it's a treat, not something you allow yourself to eat everyday, so go get one and enjoy.
(4)
I I.

Was in Philly and wanted to check out all the cheesesteak places. With so many to choose, I went with the top 3 in this order: Pat's, Geno's, and Tony Luke's. Luckily went when there were no lines in either and got to taste all of them quickly! To make this test fair we ordered all of them with Cheez Whiz and onions and took a few bites. For Geno's, right away I saw the roll was different than the others and look more premium. I think I got a hot sandwich because the meat was hot and juicy. Picking up the sandwich the Cheez Whiz and juices were dripping like crazy. The onions provided good flavor. Of the 3, this was my favorite.
(3)
Tess W.

The best cheesesteak I've ever had. Fast friendly service. I'd come here everyday if I lived nearby. Place is very clean but I gave them 1 less star for using ammonia glass cleaner, smells horrible while eating and enjoying my cheesesteak.
(4)
Elsa S.

A co-worker and I did the side by side challenge with Geno's and another well known Cheese Steak Place and we both agreed that Geno's was a better sandwich. Cost wasn't too rough and no wait at all.
(4)
Biru S.

I traveled to Philly on the way back home from a weekend getaway in the poconos. I figured what better opportunity that this to try the two rival cheesesteak spots?! I went here after being thoroughly dissapointed with the place across the street in hopes to be able to go back to NYC and not have to tell my friends that nyc makes phillies better.... they came through. Exactly what I was looking for. Good bread, the right amount of grease, cheese wiz, peppers and onions... Yum.
(5)
Elizabeth G.

Ugh... I'm so turned off by this place. I recently took my out of town family here to try a cheese steak for the first time. We wanted to try both Pat's and Geno's so we ordered one cheese steak that we all could share. I asked if they had any plastic knives that we could use to cut the sub up, they said that I had to bring the sub back up here and they would cut it for me. I asked if she could cut it in four pieces, she scoffed and said absolutely not and that she shouldn't be cutting it at all for me... wtf? I'm not sure what the hell that means. They weren't busy, so it's not like I was in their way. They also have all of this shitty propaganda up that says, "we live in America, order in English" and they call their fries, "freedom fries". Uhhh... it's been ten years since that cute little joke came on the scene... we're friends with the French again. I think they're rude and the cheese steak was just okay. Go to PAT'S!!
(1)
Emily G.

First of all this place definitely has the rudest staff I have ever had to deal with anywhere. I guess that is supposed to be some of their Philly appeal? Anyway the cheesesteaks are decent...great rolls, perfectly sautÃ©ed onions, a lot of cheese whiz. I love the hot pepper bar. The meat? Tastes like steak-ums to me but all together the cheesesteak is decent. Like it way better than Pat's anyway which is pretty much right next door. Had better cheesesteaks up here in Allentown though.
(3)
A A.

Despite the racist sign at the window, i ordered my food in ENGLISH (since thats "what you do when in America"), but they got my order wrong: a phillysteak wiz and "with" (a cheesesteak with onions and cheese whiz). The meat was tough, gristle-y (AND grizzly) and tasted like rubber. The bread was dry and tough as well. On top of all that: i received my sandwich WITHOUT onions and NO WHIZ!!!! I guess i should order in Spanish next time. Oh, wait...we don't do that in America do we?? Nah, just go to Pat's across the street.
(1)
D M.

We had our own Philly cheesesteak showdown between Geno's and Pat's..... Both were very good but Geno's won out. Pat's meat was a bit more chewy and dried out than Geno's. Both are great places and would recommend that everyone try out both places.
(5)
Cathy C.

I liked the cheesesteak and service here better than the place across the street. The people here are NOT annoyingly rude. The place is cleaner and overall, I had a better experience here. Their cheesesteak has juicy beef SLICES, whiz on the bottom of the beef and their cheesesteak is bigger than the one from Pat's across the street. They have cherry soda and freedom fries. Open 24/7. I guess the original owner, Vento was a DB but I would be too if I had a view of the DB's at Pat's everyday I come to work. If you really want good Philly cheesesteaks, stay away from this street and go somewhere else. If you want history but not good food, then by all means come here and Pat's.
(3)
Yountae A.

Food was just alright. It's definitely overrated. I was really offended by the "speak English only" and "I want my country back" signs. Had I seen those racist signs earlier, I would have never ordered my food from these disgusting racists. Would never ever come back again. DISGUSTING!
(1)
Anthony G.

Geno's. Cheesesteak Vegas. If you're from out of town, you must go. Especially at night!
(5)
Nicole P.

So i got dragged along on a road trip and was told this was one of the better cheesesteak spots in Philly. Not gonna lie I am not a huge fan of teh "chease steaK' but I figured why not try it... So we get there and tehres a huge line, mind you this was on July 4th, of all days, but the line went pretty quick, It's definetly a assembly line prep of the classic cheese steak sandwich. I love that I can see the kitchen prepare my food right before my eyes. The sandwiches were flying like hot cakes and everyone was raving about them. While on the line a patron of the competetion, "pat's steaks" decided that he was going to buy a steak from geno's and Pat's, (comparison?) and sit at the tables meant for geno's... A big guy, Presummembly Geno? Started screaming at the guy to "get lost with that Crap sandwich!" and told him he didn't care if he bought one from him as well... He kept screaming till the guy and his family left. So taht was enetertaining, as I waited on the long line, while drooling ancd starving... So finally I get ready to order and get the classic cheesesteak with provolone and onions. My bf got one with cheese wiz ( yes ugh, cheese wiz). and we both got fries and a drink. The steaks were MASSIVE and worth the $9 they cost. I tried my bf's first and teh meat was good, and suprisingly so was the cheese wiz.. But I felt it was missing something. Peppers and onions perhaps? Eh.. So i took a bite of mine and boy what a difference provolne and onions make. It was heavenly... I ate the whole thing in a few bites and was literally tempted to buy another (didn't)... This was my first time eating a philly cheese steak in Philly, and I hear that there's A LOT of competetion, but I think Geno has got something right here. If I am ever back in Philly I will def. stop to grab one of these much sought after sub's.... One complaint: offer peppers on the menu, Thanks!
(4)
Joey M.

My friend's from NY wanted to go to Pat's and Gino's to check out their fare. Ordered a cheesesteak from each. Turns out the bread from Pat's is better but the cheesesteak from Gino's is better.. Maybe they shold combine efforts! Both places are reminiscent of a hot dog truck! There is only limited outdoor seating! Cash only and they tell you to be ready to order when it's your turn at the window with cash ready!
(3)
Leonard A.

I went to both Pat and Gino's and hands-down pats is the winner. I wouldn't even say Ginos was close. Sorry guys: (
(1)
Peter L.

Haven't been to this establishment since a year. I only order the cheese fries because they are really good usually. Just had the cheese fries today and it was disgusting. I ended up throwing half way. Fries were not even crispy and they were soggy. Girlfriend said it has a powdery taste to it. Last time I'm coming here for anything. So sad, I used to be a big fan of their cheese fries.
(1)
Alex C.

Good. Just not as good as Pat's.
(3)
Alexandra E.

Way better than their competition across the street! Make sure to get the whiz! We tried both sandwiches and thought the bread was way better at Geno's. It was great!
(4)
Alfred G.

The Philly cheesesteak showdown went down! Genos versus Pats. This is one area that you need to pass by if you're visiting Philly. It's located in a typical Philly neighborhood with surrounding brick houses, plenty of people, and a lot of activity at the playground. Back to the steak off. Their sandwiches are similar sizes and the meat portions seem to be about the same. Pats bread is a little tougher than Genos. But with Genos bread, you can actually taste the richness of the bread. Genos onions and the cheese is hands down the winner. Overall unanimous decision goes to Genos.
(4)
Chris R.

Geno's is definitely a Philadelphia icon but the steaks really are just average. They seem to be giving less steak in their sandwiches over the years as well but maybe its just in my head :P If you have a friend visiting from out of town take them there! But as your everyday cheese steak I'd visit your local pizza shop
(3)
Jon L.

This place is OK. If you're not from Philly and you've never orderd a steak be prepared to be scrutinized. Wit means you want cheese wiz. American means you want American cheese. The lady who works there will give you the eye and make you feel like your'e from another planet if you don't do it correctly. I wonder if she stops to think that without tourist and out of towers, this place wouldn't be open. Even with all that, I've had much better cheesesteaks....outside of Philly. This place looks like it should be in Vegas it's lit up like a christmas tree. If you go in the winter, be prepated to freeze your buns off; it's outside seating only. Go next door to the Yogurt shop and get a coffee and eat your steak in warmth,
(3)
Dino D.

We stopped in Philly on the way to DC last may. We only came there for steaks, the lights, pictures and police patches tipped the scales in the favor of Geno's over Pat's. I got "1 wit" that comes smothered in cheese whiz, then I had grilled onions and no mushrooms. Fries and a drink. One of the tastiest sandwiches I've ever tasted. A couple guys went over to Pat's but I couldn't make the trip after the sandwich and fries. I'd go again but I wouldn't go out of my way to get there from Chicago.
(4)
Hoang T.

I don't consider myself a true philadelphian...i live in nj but work/play in Philadelphia all the time. I've had my fair share of cheesesteaks over the decades!! This place is just not good. Come to Genos for the experience not the food. In fact, buy one for two people... then go to another place to compare (across the street). But then again, they both taste the same anyway... The experience of Geno's is standing in line, talking to other people in line, wonder wit or witout!??! and then ordering. Then eating the sandwich outside while people watching people. depending on what time you go, night being probably more entertaining (or dangerous). Oh i forgot, can't forget about that "selfie" picture or picture of the food itself. Gotta let people know you hit up a philly hot spot. I will say, Geno's is a landmark for philadelphia. what that place has done to, oddly enough, "enhance" that part of south philadelphia is remarkable. Its brighter at night and draws crowds and helps develop the economy....but i digress...
(2)
Zain K.

I'd been told to come here by so people that I made the cardinal sin of not checking Yelp first. My bad. My sandwich was awful. In fact, I'd had a tastier, cheaper, and healthier Philly cheesesteak at Charlie's in the Columbus airport before coming here. Z.
(1)
Suzie L.

The battle of who has the best cheese steak question... I have to say it all depends on how you like your meat! Geno's has great quality steaks and never chopped up but sliced whole and laid onto the roll. If you don't like big slices of meat, Geno's isn't the place for you. My tried and true is the American whit.
(4)
Jon C.

screw you Geno- steaks are crud- local vendors awesome-how's your escalade- thank for calling me back- fuck you- and garbage- "Freedom Fries" equals not eating yours- Jon call me again butthead!!!!!
(2)
Ben S.

Ha. Two offensive things from my ordering process to my digestive process. 1. "Speak English" sign is plastered right in the front of their window. Standing near his sign lies a man who looks almost like an Italian Immigrant sticking up for a country that taxes the living crap out of him. And sir, if you are serving "good" food, you need to understand that real Good Food does NOT discriminate. 2. I don't know if it was just my batch, but the steak was dry and incredibly chewy. Other than that, the cheesesteak was not bad! I wish they had the option of mushrooms, or had more onions on the thing; but these are just personal preferences. Despite a long (but quick) moving line, I gave Geno's a chance. Disappointed with a distaste for the racial mentality and steak, I give my crown to Philly's Cheesesteak Wit Wiz to the boys across the way.
(2)
Jason G.

Seriously, how does this place have only 2.5 stars? They must have been trying to pay with a credit card, or got offended with the English only sign. This place and Pats are institutions. The attitude and neighborhood is part of the full package. You have to come here and Pats. Buy one in both places, they are slightly different but both awesome
(5)
Elia H.

Best steak sandwich I've had! The bread was really good and fresh-tasting. The steak was cooked well, not too soft or tough. The grilled onions added a great taste and texture to the sandwich. The location was very nice and clean. The staff were very friendly and polite. Had a great experience, would highly recommend to friends and family.
(5)
Carlos V.

Finally made the trip down here after living in Philly for a year and I have to say that while the sandwich was good, it was certainly not up to the hype that I'd heard about it. For starters, the meat was soggy which made the bread mushy and there wasn't enough cheese. Yet despite these short comings, the steak tasted okay. I would say that the restaurant is a bit tacky looking, but I guess to each their own. After having it tried once all I can say is "it's crossed off the list."
(2)
Ira S.

I finally made the trip to Philly to try a "real" cheesesteak at both Pat's and Gino's. I'm sorry to say but I was humbly underwhelmed. While it was better than most cheesesteaks I have had outside Philly, it was not worth the 2-hour ride from NYC. The legend was better than the real thing. I did however prefer Geno's steaks over PAt's
(2)
Alyse W.

Why is this place famous? I don't understand. You wait in line forever and then you get a loaf of bread with a few low quality pieces of steak (they are strips, not chopped finer, which doesn't really matter to me.) But there's so much fat on the meat, it's like youre chewing forever. Listen, I'm a grease girl but I couldn't even finish it. I live in philly, didnt really wanna go in the first place, but now we did it and we can return to local places with much better steaks.
(1)
Fred L.

Sorry, had to post this. It's like Glenn posting 'don't go to Terminus' in The Walking Dead. Yeah, bad analogy but here's why. Geno's was rated highly regarding their cheesesteaks but it was really a disappointment. I don't want other tourists to be disappointed as well. Their steaks are basically slabs of dry meat. Nothing tasty. Also, it included chunks of undercooked onions- yuck! And there were no seating- WTF?! So fellow peeps, Yelpsters - when you want some cheesesteaks, don't just walk to Jim's Steaks (South Street) you run there! Trust me, you'll love their cheesesteaks.
(2)
Daebin Y.

Recently visited Philly and wanted to try Geno's. It was disappointing. Not worth the price they were charging. The sandwich was dry and bland both bread and meat. The meat was not seasoned and seemed a little tough. Ordered with onions and provolone cheese. The only good thing about this place is the bright setting was lights and orange color and the free peppers you can get on the side table. I wouldn't order again if I was back in Philly. I'd prefer Pat's over Geno's but not by much.
(2)
Peter M.

It's not often you can copy and paste a review verbatim from a different restaurant but what is said about Pat's also goes fro Geno's It's really hard to fuck up a cheesesteak since it's just chip steak with cheese on a bun. That's why it's a such a great food and a staple in Philly because it's easy to make and it tastes good. You don't need to be Jose Garces to pull it off. And everything tastes good at 3am. Now Pat's doesn't fuck up their cheesesteask but they are completely mediocre and if you like you're cheese melted it's not happening here. I'd say they are the McDonald's of cheesesteaks but McDonal's is fast and cheap with the dollar menu. So if you want a medicore cheesesteak from some dude who yells at you this is your spot. But I'd suggest getting your picture taken here and then heading to John's Roast Pork or Tony Luke's.
(2)
Meggie C.

Ehhhh nothing compared to Pats. When you look at theirs next to pats, it's got wayyyy less meat and their wiz is more liquidy. I wouldn't come back to this one when I'm in Philly and craving a cheesesteak since Pats just right across the street lol
(2)
Sara V.

This was our first authentic Philly cheesesteak experience. We figured when in Philly, you can't pass up the opportunity to try a with whiz Philly. Geno's certainly captures your attention with it's flashy signs and boisterous lighting. The woman that took the order was unfriendly. Food was quick, which made sense because it was also sloppy and cold. I tried it without any additions. It was okay. I decided to add hot sauce, relish, ketchup and some hot cherry peppers. Much better with condiments to mask the lackluster taste of the cold meat and cheese sandwich. I give it two stars because it tasted better than Pat's, but the service was rude and I wouldn't return. Cash only and way overpriced for the quality. See my review on Pat's for a comparison.
(2)
Scott R.

Forgettable to say the least. Start with the staff. I don't find it cute or amusing that they are so damn rude and wear it like a badge of honor. Customers pay the bills at this joint last time I checked, quit treating them like 2nd class citizens. Next, cash only. It's 2014 and cash is dying off a little more every day, so it seems weird not to take cards at all. Next, value. Generally when a place doesn't take cards, it's because they are making an effort to keep prices down by not having to pay merchant fees on credit cards and machines. But this place charges 9.50 for a sandwich, 2.00 for a tiny soda and 4.00 for fries, not exactly a value. Lastly, the food. Simply bland. The meat is scarce and lacks seasoning. The cheese is scarce and not enough to moisten the meat. The onions are bulky and not easy to eat. Overall, I have to say that all the hype surrounding this place is just that, hype. It's not justified in the least and it's not worth your time. Try elsewhere.
(2)
Sheila F.

OK, So I'm a born & raised Philly girl. I bleed green just like any other die hard Philadelphian. I have heard the ole "What's the best cheesesteak in Philly" debate many a time. I have been called every name in the book when I throw my opinion in the ring. To your average Philadelphia, I am a blasphemer, but as a true Philly girl, I gotsta keep it real. I'm just not into the famed Geno's. There are plenty of other authentic establishments that will hook you up with a much better sandwich.
(1)
Laksen R.

I actually preferred Geno's over Pat's and this is after I had eaten two sandwiches from Pat's within the last hour. I found the quality of the bread better when we ordered and that's the only thing that made me want to get another. If you're visiting and you are debating on which to try I say split a sandwich with a friend and try both.
(3)
Kristen D.

My first authentic Philly Cheesesteak experience was SO GOOD. We were freezing but so hungry, and we were a little shocked at first to find that the only seating that there was was the benches outside. Mind you, it was like 20 degrees and there were 2 women sitting on the bench eating like it was no big deal - I thought that was awesome. The guy at the second (fry) window was so helpful. I asked what we were supposed to do and he told me just how to order what I wanted so I didn't look like an idiot. He also directed us over to the bar across the street (The Garage) so that we could sit inside and eat our food. Each of our sandwiches were amazing. Perfect little strips of steak, cheese wiz (which I thought I was going to hate, but there's seriously no other way that you should order this sandwich), and onions. Bread was perfectly toasted and didn't get soggy right away - gotta eat it fast! I will likely try the rival place across the street (Pat's?) before I return, just for good measure. But as far as I know, if Geno's was the only PCS place to exist, I'd be in trouble if I lived in South Philly.
(4)
Corinna W.

It's been a long time since I've been to Philly or had a cheesesteak so we did the challenge - Geno's vs Pat's, and we threw in Tony Luke's. There was a line but we got through it in under 10 minutes. Geno's was the loser by far. Not even a contest. The meat was tough and there was barely any wiz. Not a lot of flavor either compared to the Pat's and Tony's. The sign near the order window that says "this is America, speak English" really turned off my friend. It's 2014, please get with the times. Cash only. And if you want to order something other than cheesesteaks, there's another window, which is odd, but whatever. The people in front of me were taking a while to order instead of snap, snap, snap, but the guys in the window were ok and didn't get all crazy annoyed so that's a plus.
(2)
Jim B.

Pats or Ginos'? The great cheesesteak debate over which one is better, Gino's or Pats in South Philly has been raging for years. Ever since I first saw these two places featured, well, on just about every travel and food network I can think of, I always wanted to visit south Philadelphia to find out for myself. These places seemed to have so much character, and the cheesesteaks did look awesome. We were on the eve, literally, of opening up Jim's Bar and BBQ the following week when Ruthie said to me, "Jim, if people find out about your BBQ, you are not going to have a weekend off for a very long time. Between editing Jim Baugh Outdoors, writing the second book "COOKED" and running a Bar and BBQ six days a week, this might be a good time to get out of town for the weekend. Could be our last chance for a very long time." We arrived at Pats at around five o clock. I was at first surprised to see how close Pats and Gino's was. They almost mirror each other, each one just across the street from each other. We stood where Sylvester Stallone stood in the movie Rocky and began to figure out how to order our first cheese steak. We had been warned.... that you better have you order ready when you get to the window, or it could be trouble. Ruthie and I had a plan, we would order the same basic sandwich from each place, and spit each one and decided for ourselves which was better. As we found out, there is no looser here. Both where fantastic, however there was some clear differences, that may just end up being up to personal preference. In other words, do you like your onions seen??? Or so small they blend into the sandwich and not even notice they are there. That sort of thing, both are good, just which one would someone prefer. We ordered Pats first and Ruth almost bit my hand off, she was downing that thing fast, I could not get near it. It did look and taste fantastic. We ordered the standard, wiz, wit. Meaning Cheese With and onions. This Cheesesteak was really good. The meat seemed to be both chopped and also sliced. We gave it a 10, thought it was great, and also loved the way Pats had a bin of all fresh peppers. You could really make one awesome sandwich here, however we wanted to keep it simple for comparison, just the basics. Next, we happily walk across the street to Gino's. All the celeb pictures pasted all over the place was really fun. Once again we ordered without any problems, found a seat, and dug in. We both thought right from the start at Gino's, there was a marked difference between the two cheese steaks. Gino's sub roll was better. It was softer, hotter, and had more flavor. I do know a little something about bread baking, and even have two sourdough starters in my fridge. Gino's sub roll was better for sure. Next, the meat. Gino's was better, seemed to have more flavor. It was all sliced cuts of meat, and this may have been the difference. Next, the onions, WAY better at Gino's. They were cooked perfect, tender, and you could actually bite into one. VERY good. As far as the cheese wiz, no secret there, both Pats and Gino's offer the "Wiz" and for this sandwich I highly recommend doing the wiz. So, for Ruthie and I, we voted hands down Gino's for the best Philly cheese steak. No doubt both are fantastic. If you go, do what we did. Go to one, and then the other, everybody join in and decide for yourself which one you like best. If you ever go near Philadelphia, don't miss going to Pats and Gino's. These places are legendary and it is quite a treat to go there and experience there ambiance, and of course, world class Philly cheesesteaks. While we were happy to give Gino's our number one spot in our little taste tester, we of course were sad and of course disappointed to hear that Joey Vento passed away only two weeks prior to our trip. We had really looked forward to meeting him and am sure he will be truly missed by his legions of fans worldwide. RIP Joey Vento.
(4)
Ryan S.

I lived in Philadelphia for about 7 years, and only came here a handful of times. However, I returned this year, after moving to the West Coast and decided to partake in a head to head competition of Pat's versus Geno's. We ordered a steak sandwich from each, identical wit Wiz and Onions, and then split each one in half and shared. We agreed that we enjoyed Pat's just a bit better. Both had redeeming qualities; however, we thought that Pat's flavor profile was just a bit better than Geno's. Our opinion; however, both produced a quality steak. I must say that Geno's gets one less star, despite both being pretty good. We ordered a soda and a steak from Geno's; however, they refused to give us a cup of water, despite purchasing a steak and soda from them. The service on this issue was not really satisfactory.
(3)
Bruce K.

Nothing to add that hasn't already been said before. I tried the taste test of both Geno's and Pat's with a "wit with whiz", aka with onions and cheese whiz. I preferred Pat's. Geno's roll was a bit spongy rather than toasted. The meat was whole slices rather than shredded. Plenty of Whiz. Onions were nicely done. Seating was a challenge but that's the same at both places. It was A-OK. I'll take Pat's.
(3)
Nicole G.

Growing up in NJ, I've been hearing about Geno's steaks for years! I finally had one yesterday and I have to say I was underwhelmed. The meat has ZERO flavor, they were skimpy on the cheese, their ketchup container was empty. For $9.50 I would expect a much better sandwich. I also didn't like how you had to go down to a different window to order & pay for your drinks and fries. Also very inconvenient that they only accept cash. I had to pay an almost $3 fee at the ATM. Glad I finally got to experience Geno's, but wouldn't recommend it and won't be a retraining customer.
(2)
Kelvin C.

What is the damn hype about?!? There are much better places in Philly! I was extremely disappointed. $10 for steak-um in a cardboard bun. Food Network should be ashamed on themselves!!!
(2)
JessKikz B.

Stopped in here during our recent trip to Philly, we had the cheesteak w/ American cheese & onions. It was okay, nothing to really brag about but everyone stops here when their in Philly so why not?? On a night of drinking I'm sure we'll be back otherwise, probably not.
(3)
Mojdeh S.

How I heard of this place: We were up in West Chester, PA, briefly, and decided we had to visit with our good friend Samyar before the long traffic-entrentched road trip back to Arlington. Wanting to sample some good ol' Philly Cheesesteak, Samyar recommended one of the two best in Philly: Geno's. So, we made our way to the bright orange, neon signs that made Geno's easily seen from any direction. Type of cuisine: "Geno's Steaks was started by Joe Vento back in 1966. He figured that if he was going to sell a steak, he had to be where they were already eating them...at the "X" shaped intersection of 9th & Passyunk in South Philadelphia. Joe learned the cheese steak business from his father who in the early 1940's opened "Jim's Steaks". In 1966, Joe started "Geno's" with $6.00 in his pocket, 2 boxes of steaks and some hot dogs." According to their website, "The ingredients are simple, exacting and never greasy thinly sliced rib-eye steak, melted cheese, oven-fresh baked bread and delicately grilled onions. Awaiting your piping hot sandwich on the counter outside are ketchup, mustard, relish and Joe's choice hot sauce." Ambiance: Good thing we were warned while standing in the street, in line for our orders. Samyar let us know that we say, "One with...(fill in the blank with type of cheese between Provolone, American or Cheese Whiz) and with onions (or without)." Writing this, now, I also see that Geno's has also enlighted it's website readers, "Be prepared and know how to order, because the service is fast and the line keeps moving. For example, on a cheese steak with onions, specifiy which kind of cheese you'd like. By the time you have given your order, your money will be taken and your sandwich will e out the window nice and hot! At the next window you can pick up your soda, fries and coffee." This is no joke! Walking up to the eccentric, slightly overboard signage denoting Geno's from blocks away, over the fenced field housing a community garden, one is immediately inundated with orange. The chest-height, glossy, orange-tiled walls with a blue-tiled stripe, the awning overhead noting: "Geno's Welcomes You!" and the orange, plastic picnic tables attached to metallic pillars with an orange cover cannot go unnoticed. While there is no indoor dining, these casual tables find themselves under a canopy on the sidewalk "for those who wish to enjoy sandwiches on the premises rather than drive off with them". The condiment bar, a large, chest-height, metal box with an opening on the side facing the order windows, offers Cherry Peppers, Ketchup, Mustard and Relish. Large, locked, glass display cases include badges which ornamented civil service members throughout the years. Everywhere from the walls above the orange tiles to the ceiling can be seen such memorabilia, including plaques in memory and honor of. A Path of Honor lays the foundation in the brick tile-work that leads to the ordering windows from the street corner, in between orange horse-heads set atop metal pillars chained to one another. As we watch, hawk-eyed for a spot at the orange tables, we find one at the far end, closest to the ordering line, and snag it while no one else is paying attention. At the table, on the table, we see numerous photographs, set like a collage, underneath a thick, plexi-glass table surface. Our sandwiches, wrapped in wax paper with the Geno's logo, immediately in front of us, awaiting the first bite. What I ordered: I ordered "One with Provolone and onions." Chris seconded. Samyar selected "One with American and onions." (Each sandwich: Price $8.33, Tax $0.67, Total: $9.) At the next window, we also placed two orders for Cheese Fries ($4.60 plus $0.40 tax, for a total of $5), a rounded container of thin-cut fries drenched in Cheese Whiz. What I loved: I loved the cherry peppers at the condiment bar, fluffy, juicy and just spicy enough to give a kick, without numbing your taste buds. I also loved the relish, surprisingly. I have never been a fan of relish, especially store-bought, pre-packaged. This relish had larger cut pickles and less of a sweet flavor. I enjoyed the salty, tangy taste of the pickles with the otherwise, slightly dry sandwich. Why I loved it: The bright orange, the casual atmosphere, the large bikers with tattoos the size of my head on each arm working the kitchen line and the scruff woman at the register snapping our orders across the room behind the plexiglass separating us from them, inside. Cost: High ($9 per sandwich, sides extra)
(3)
Josh N.

It's my first trip back to Philly in over 40 years. The line moved swiftly and you have to be ready to order once you arrive at the window. It can be intimidating at first. I ordered "wit" onions & provolone. I found the bread to be a bit dry and chewy. Onions could of been sautÃ©ed a little longer. Out of my 3 steak stops, I am sad to report this stop ranks last.
(3)
Peter C. C.

Where to start....first waited 45minutes and then we ordered 2 cheesesteak one with provolone 2nd with chedder What we got was 2 cheesesteak with no cheese on both....the steak on it was so thin that we barely even tasted the steak, all it tasted like was a sandwich with lots of onions! From all the stories that i heard about geno's..this was a big disappointment If your looking for a good cheesesteak in philly, dont come here
(1)
Greg B.

In my mind, Geno's wit wiz and wit onions is better. My thinking is that if I'm going to eat unhealthy and I'm going to eat a cheesesteak, it should drip with cheese whiz and broth. Go all the way, I say. Geno's was terrific, based on this criteria. Looking forward to returning.
(4)
Masuma S.

I'm from NJ. I ventured out to Philly on a Thursday night to experience the nightlife -- I realized that there is none, but thats besides the point... We heard from two locals that Geno's is better than Pat's. I tried it. It sucked! I've had way better cheese steaks at local delis here at home. The staff wasn't friendly, the cash-only concept was a pain, and the steak was bland and greasy. The meat didn't taste quality, more bread than meat... old fried onions. Dry, really only enjoyable cause we were starving at 2 AM. Don't waste your money on this overrated tourist attraction...and for me to give food a crappy review is huge. I'll eat anything!!
(2)
Raymond A.

Can't visit Philadelphia without having a Philly cheesesteak right? Might as well try the most popular one. I came here on a Saturday afternoon during the summer. As expected, the line was fairly long. We waited about 20 minutes to place our order. A cheesesteak was $10. It was cash only and you had to order fries and drinks separately. As much as I didn't like their set up for placing an order, the seating and condiments were much worse. It was so uncomfortable sitting outside on their tables, especially under the hot sun, the wind blowing away your napkins, and numerous flies hovering over your food. Despite these conditions, the main concern is the taste of the cheesesteak. It was as tasty and as messy as I imagined. The portions were fine. It was a solid proportion of meat, bread, and cheese. Overall, it was an okay experience and I still suggest you should give it a shot if you're in Philadelphia and want to cross it off your bucket list. However, the one time experience was enough for me and probably wouldn't return here and instead try the other popular cheesesteak establishments.
(3)
Anna R.

Ok so we're from California but we do have local friends. Every single friend told us you must go to Genos for the Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches. Ok first, I'm a veg so I only went with my carnivore family so they could go to the best place in town. First of all, this place is in a residential area and parking is tricky. You may have to park and walk a few blocks. Second, it's a cash only establishment. There is an atm across the street. Outdoor seating only. We were there on a rainy day and there was still a line wrapped around the building. I sat down at a table while my hubby waited in the long line to be sure we had a place to eat. I ordered a non meat sandwich and fries. The rest of my crew ordered the traditional cheese steaks with whiz. They also ordered fries and a fountain drink. Prices are reasonable. My sandwich was good. The fries were bomb. My whole family of 4 who ate the cheese steaks said it was the best darn cheese steak they'd ever had! All of them were delighted to be sitting in a rainy outdoor setting with minimal coverage grubbing down on their sandwiches. They unanimously agreed the cheese whiz was by far the tastiest option. The fries were a big hit too! Next time we're in Philly, we'll be hitting up Genos. If you're a traveler like us, put this place on your list. It's worth the wait and sitting outside in any weather. Bon appetite!
(5)
Eddie A.

I Felt Kinda Offended Because Of A Sign They had that said "This is America When Ordering Speak English" and I have a few friends who can't speak English but enjoy going to try new foods and I'll make sure they never go here. I Thought It Was VERY Raciest and Disrespectful and the people who work there were very disrespectful they were making fun of the homeless people who looking through trash to find something to eat other then that the food was good but I RATHER GO TO PATS NEXT TIME!!
(2)
Jese S.

CASH ONLY!!!!! This is something to remember before ordering. I found myself sort of stranded in Philly at 3 am. I was fortunate enough to have a friend willing to drive the 5 hours round trip from Scranton to Philly to pick me up when I was routed to Philly due to screwed up flights. It's been 30 years since I have been in Philly and in any position to go into Philly for a sandwich. When life diverts you to another airport and gives you lemons, Go get a Cheesesteak! It was 3 am, the local PD was in full force on lunch break outside and we were able to find a space to get our grab on. My driver preferred Geno's so I thought I would give it a shot. Ordered and with in moments it was served up fresh and hot. It was good, but not the "GOOD" I had been craving since I set foot on Philly soil. I had missed the taste of true Wiz so that was comforting and the real meat was god, but it seemed to be a bit more on the steamed side then the taste I was used too. I will say it was enormous and a full size sandwich, It took me the late night eats, breakfast a few hours later and a mid morning before I went to sleep after being up for 30 hours quick snack to finish the entire thing. It really is all about the meat and the bread when it comes to a Cheesesteak. They had the bread, but something just left me wanting. Was great to be back in a familiar neighborhood and get to soak in a little ambiance and humidity to reacclimate to the east coast. Loud, a bit on the straight forward/rude side and a whole lot of love and ball busting! I was home and what a great way to start the week!
(3)
Vincent S.

I traveled to Philly for two things: American history and Philly CheeseSteaks. I wanted to check out Geno's because the name was mentioned on an episode of Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Also, articles that I've read always mention Geno's and Pats. Since they were nearby each other, I decided to check out both places in one night to compare which was better. Went to Geno's first. We got to Geno's at around 8pm and noticed that it isn't located in the best part of town in Philly. After some research, I found that cheesesteak with wiz was the popular way to go. I went ahead and placed my order with wiz and mushrooms. My cheesesteak was $11. The lady at the cashier wasn't too friendly. I don't want to imply that she was rude, she was just very blah. It looked like she hated her job. I finally got an authentic cheesesteak! I took a big bite and found myself very disappointed. The cheesesteak wasn't bad, it was just OK! It was nothing special. The steak was bland and tough! I can finally say that I experienced Geno's, but I don't think I'll be coming back when I'm in Philly again.
(2)
Laurie W.

if i had to choose between Genos VS Pats..i would pick pats Genos wasnt bad but it was missing that hot, fatty beefy flavor that Pats has...Genos looked like a sad day old sandwich.
(3)
Suzanne W.

I get the hype and what not but I regret wasting my last meal on Genos. Aside from the staff being way beyond rude, their cheesesteak is not even that good! Seriously I've had way better. The line is definitely not worth it. You have to put your own mayo on the cheesesteak and there is zero flavor. By the time I got my cheesesteak it was cold. Wouldn't go back nor would I recommend it.
(1)
Jordan B.

Geno's is another famous cheesesteak place in Philly and as you may already know it sits right across the street from Pat's. The difference in this place is that it has underlying tones of racism. The previous owner was known for retaining an "American's Only Speak English" mentality and he made it known with various signs around the restaurant. He's since passed, and I won't speak ill of the dead, but they've gotten new management, and they've said that the new owner, who happens to be the previous owner's openly gay son, does not share any of the controversial views of his father and that they were working to remove the racist undertone from the establishment; however, I have two questions. Question #1: Why was my Muslim friend, who has a full grown beard, completely ignored when he was trying to order his food? Not a "he's not speaking loud enough" kind of ignore either, they just blatantly acted like he wasn't there. Question #2: Is it really possible to remove a racist undertone from an establishment that has been in place for so long? Because from recent experience it still seems to linger. One could also ask does the apple fall far from the tree with regards to the undertone, but I don't know the guy personally so I can't really speak on that. All in all, I would really want to like and enjoy this place as it seems to be a Philadelphia staple; however, it's left a bad taste in my mouth (without having even trying any of their food.) But I'll end this review with a lighthearted quote in the words of Rupaul's Drag Race season 7 contestant Kennedy Davenport "Girl Please! No! Sorry! NEXT!"
(1)
Jae L.

First ever philly cheesesteak actually in philly. Wasn't the best, but definitely better than the ones i've had outside of philly. Long line, waited about 20-30 min to get to the ordering window. There's a sign that says "This is America, speak english when ordering". I don't see a need for this sign.. Why do they have this sign? Why would someone come up to the window and start ordering in French? Does that make sense? Altho, it's not like settlers came here and tried to learn native americans' language... anyway, that's beside the point. Wasn't blown away by the food. At 10-12 dollars a pop, it's a decent sandwich, not the best. Sides and a drink for about an additional 6 dollars, making it a 16-18 dollar meal, which to me needs to be better for the price. They have limited seating, but unlimited hot cherry peppers at the condiments stand. That was a small plus, but overall, the sandwich was mediocre and probably only needs to be tried once.
(3)
Biana J.

I'm only going to give them two stars cause the customer service was so good. The long line went fast, food came out right away. Now the quality of the food, THEEE WORST! There was no flavor, way to much cheese wiz, and I had more onions than I had meat. For this place to be such a huge tourist attraction they should really want to take more pride in the food they cook. stay away!!! But don't walk to the place across the street either.
(2)
Zane H.

Mediocre quality food-- too much cheese whiz and overpriced for what you get. The wait times are way too long and there's no way the long lines are worth it. You do get a free helping of xenophobia on the side so there's that! Seriously, I consider returning to this place to be simply unethical, especially when there are better and more progressive options just across the street! If you do come here, consider yourself complicit with their hateful attitudes!
(1)
Ashley S.

--- Short Synopsis --- Pats and Geno's are a must stop (tourist) destination for any Philly visitor! Geno's is across the street from the Pats and Pats has the better cheesesteak in my opinion. Geno's cheesesteaks seem to have more emphasis on the (firmer
(3)
Mercy L.

I did the tourist thing and tried Pat's and Geno's and compared. Sadly, Geno's came in second place. If I could, I would have put them at the very bottom of every list. The staff members were rude, the food was not up to par, and the decor/branding was a little over the top. The cheese-steak was sub-par. The meat was not seasoned and was really oily. The oil caused the whiz to be thin and runny. No one likes runny cheese! Honestly, my fiance and I were more obsessed with their onions than anything else. Aside from that, there is a sign on the door that reads "This is America, when ordering please speak English". Not cool.
(1)
Amy Z.

Im from New York and so I've always wanted to try a Philly Cheesesteak but in the end, im upset this was my first Philly cheesesteak experience because it was TERRIBLEEEE. I wish I had looked this place up before I got it cause it was so bad. The cheese wasnt even melted and it literally tasted like nothing. I dont get why people even buy this. IT LITERALLY WAS SOOOO BLANDDDD. I wish i had keptchup or ANYTHING to give this sandwich some flavor. I literally took one bite and stopped eating it. Complete waste of $10. Only pro of this place is that it is open late but NEVER AGAIN. My brother wanted me to bring him back a philly cheesesteak so I ended up going across the street to Pats and the cheesesteak looked SOOO much better and my brother said it was delicious. DONT GO HERE. Cross the street and go to petes and save yourself some money
(1)
Jeff C.

I've waited so long to try Geno's! I've seen it on tv and hears so many people rave about how awesome it is. Nothing could've been further from the truth. 1. The service is strange, the girl who was running the register was dirty. The lady at the drink ordering station was rude. 2. The food...was....bland! I was so surprised at how "tasteless" the food was. The meat wasn't even hot enough to melt the provolone cheese. FYI, I got wiz and provolone. Lastly, next time I'm in Philly I will steer clear!
(1)
Dwayne O.

Had the Philly Cheesesteak - One Wit Whiz and one with Provelone. The one Wot Whiz is the one to go for, little more taste and the more onions the better. Had to go to another window to order the fries and cheese fries which was okay. We asked to have our sandwiches cut or a knife and was told we needed to go to the first window. We found a seat for four along the street. The parking is like you are in a bumper car ride trying to jockey for a space but for us we were fortunate to find one. They were not that busy and that kind of struck me wrong. The people were nice and probably were consistent so I decided to just eat and share. We thought that they were pretty good, but not great. The bread was very tasty . Heard many nasty things about the workers being rude, but we never experienced that. I liked their cheesesteak sandwich better that Pat's.
(4)
Michael R.

Stop 1 on a recent visit to town was here, and we were open to either here or Pat's, and parking and traffic steered us here. First time for my son's to have Philly Cheese Steaks in Philly and they enjoyed them. It's part of the experience to order correctly and promptly. Finding a table right next to the ordering window enhances that when you see other's try their hand. Good bread, decent meat, and overall a good lunch stop and part of the city experience. I had the cheesesteak hoagie, for some reason I felt the need to have lettuce and tomato on mine.
(3)
Patrick B.

It was my first time in town and I wanted to try a real cheese steak. So we came here since friends and family have eaten here before. It was after lunch hour so there was no line and the tables were mostly free. I wasn't too sure what to order so we got the plain with whiz and one with Swiss and mushrooms. I didn't think I was that hungry after my flight but I ate the plain whiz pretty quick. The bread was soft and the whole thing was pretty greasy, but what else would you expect? I should have added some hot peppers or sauce to spice it up but just wanted to try the original style. The fries were pretty good too we got an order with cheese and an order of plain fries. Overall it was nice to not wait in line or try and find a seat. I liked the sandwich but maybe the experience is just cool too since I'm not from around here.
(4)
Pawl E.

This place is just like Pat's but worse, so I'm going to copy and paste my Pat's review with an amendment toward the end: Though the cheese whiz is tasty, it leaves a gross after taste in your mouth. The food here is very low quality, but pumped full of things just bad enough to be tasty. The service was extremely poor. There is no public restroom and you can't get a cup of water. ---It gets one star less than Pat's because they blatantly display their racism in their window. Will not be back.
(1)
Alex B.

Place is terrible. Me and my girl decided to try cheesesteaks from here and Pats as we usually get our cheesesteaks from another place, but we wanted to try something new. Went at around 1130pm. My girl found 2 hairs in her cheesesteak and couldn't even eat anymore of it because of that and not only the 2 hairs it also didn't taste good or anything like a cheesesteak. The girl at the register was probably all methed out and was touching her nose and face, pretty gross too. Very disappointed, NEVER again. Waste of money.
(1)
Edjanine S.

We were just here this afternoon my husband and i. it was rainy, mind you... The line was very long when we saw genos thats why we came here first. Anyway... the sadwich was blant..and you can barely taste the wiz.. i give it 2 stars because the meat was tender... but thats it... we prefer pat's
(2)
Pat J.

I've lived in the Philadelphia area my whole life, so I've had my fair share of cheesesteaks. This place is by far the worst of the worst. Nothing but a tourist trap and same goes for the crap served across the street. $9.50 for a lousy excuse for a cheesesteak? Get outta here. Nothing but tough meat and massive balls of pure fat all throughout the sandwich. Why do out of towners eat this garbage when there's so many other great steak joints like Phil's and John's just blocks away with friendly employees and good prices? Also, to everybody complaining about the "racist" signs here, they're a private business and can refuse service to anyone they want, so get over it. Regardless, this place sucks.
(1)
Zach T.

I did a comparison review for this place vs. Pat's. I ordered a mushroom steak with wiz from both places and put them head to head, and sadly Geno's came out the loser. I found the bread here was not as good or as substantial as Pat's, and the meat really lacked a lot of flavor. I will say that they put a lot more cheese here than at Pat's, and they definitely scored a point for that. Overall tho, I'd rather go back to Pat's because their meat and bread seemed to be of higher quality. Definitely a matter of personal preference tho! So try both if you can haha, your stomach will thank you!
(3)
Josie C.

I'm not from Philly. I'm from LA. It just tasted like any other Philly cheese steak. I actually bought a Philly cheese steak from their competitor to compare and took a bite from each. Geno's was mehhh if i HAD to choose but honestly nothing special. I actually prefer Pat's over Geno's. But I did like their bread. You can see the two side by side in my picture : )
(2)
Lanha T.

Quick service. In comparison to Pat's, meat here is more sliced than chopped. $9.50 for a cheesesteak with onions and cheese whiz. $10 for one across at Pat's.
(3)
Sylvia K.

WIZ WIT!!! I had to try a cheesesteak or two on my first visit to Philadelphia. My friend told me about the Pat's vs. Geno's thing and that the two were literally right across the street from each other, so off I went. Geno's was first. There was no line at Geno's, so maybe my lucky day. At the window I ordered a cheesesteak with onions and cheese wiz. Or WIZ WIT!!! The girl who took my order was pretty nice - she relayed my order to the cook next to her and in less than three minutes, I got my cheesesteak. I thought the sandwich was good. But having had both Pat's and Geno's now, Geno's cheesesteak had way less meat. The meat was also in bigger and longer pieces. The wiz was tasty, but it was a little runnier. I thought the meats tasted similar. There are a bunch of outdoor tables and the building is decorated with tons of photos of people eating here. I didn't get a good look, but they were probably famous people. And they also had patches from public safety agencies from all over the country, which was really great to see. I found the one from the police department of my hometown! Overall, Geno's cheesesteak was good, but I think I prefer Pat's over Geno's!
(3)
Kelly S.

Had to try a cheese steak here and see how good they really are..... Meat was tender, cheese wiz and onions were perfect together. Line was long, better know how to order.... Step 1 Specify if you want your steak with (wit) or without (wit-out) onions 2 Specify Plain, Cheez Whiz, Provolone, American or Pizza Steak 3 Have your money ready. cash only. 4 Order just your steak at the first window. The second window is for fries and drinks.
(4)
Casey R.

Ugh the steaks I do enjoy from here, even when bringing them back to Brooklyn there still tasty, but what aggravates me is the racist signs.... Aren't you Italian owned? Wasn't your parents or grandparents immigrant at one point? Did they come off the boat speaking English? Did they come off the boat owning a business? Maybe you should do some research on your own past before speaking of others. When Italians came here most of them migrated to the slums of the lower east side, along with the Irish and Jews, they worked mediocre low paying construction jobs to support their families, sounds familiar??? At one time the Irish looked at you as being the low class! Everyone was a immigrant at one time! Everyone had to start from somewhere! And not everyone coming here speaks English....but why should they? Because if you used your brain you would know that America doesn't have an official language!!!!
(1)
Jennifer V.

I prefer their cheese steak with whiz. I tried the provolone and it wasn't cutting for me at all. The whiz adds creaminess and taste to the bland taste of steak. The price of the steaks is ridiculous but I guess it is what it is. Because it's such a big tourist place , I must be paying for the name as well. 3 stars it is.
(3)
James B.

Was in town for he weekend of he 4th and at a tip from Roadside America I hit up Geno's and Pat's. We decided to get a sandwich from each place and eat half of each. Geno's was pretty good, but Pat's won by a slim margin. Mostly the roll for the chew steak at Geno's was the issue, it was chewy and tough to buy into which really detracted from the texture consistency. The meat from Geno's was also a little less flavorful. To it's credit, Geno's has the far more interesting decor.
(3)
Ninoska L.

Do not waste your money!!!!!!! The cheese steaks suck!!!!!!! I traveled all the way from NY to try them and I was super disappointed! And on top of shitty sandwiches they are RACIST. They have a sign That says "This is America, when ordering please speak English" the most ignorant thing I saw in Philly! Most of the people who go to Geno's are tourist from all over the world. Why would they even put that sign up? Joey Vento wasn't even american! He was born from Italian immigrants. I'm sure his parents didn't know any English when they moved to America.
(1)
Shawn J.

Very tasty but like Pat's, not worth the price. We all had Whiz Wit to compare to Pat's across the way. My oldest son preferred Pat's, but we liked the taste of Geno's better.
(4)
Tommy U.

Got a cheeses steak with onions. It was good. I don't eat cheese steak very often so I don't know very much different types, it's all the same to me. Don't think I'll ever go back to Philly but if I do I'll try more spots. The wait was fast but maybe because I got there at 12pm on on a friday.
(3)
Bryan B.

Disappointing to say the least. Confused on how this place is so popular when the cheese steak is so average... Also had the cheese fries which were nothing to write home about. At the end of the day I've found much better cheesesteaks in my last two cities, Tampa and Seattle. Get it together Philly.
(3)
Frank B.

Geno's ranks #2 in the cheesesteak wars of Philly! But damn that's almost as good as #1. That coveted 5 star goes to Pat's across the street ( sorry it's my review) Let's face it anytime you have steak, cheese and bun, how does this culinary delight go wrong? Now I like my sandwich with provolone melting on mine while others want that pump shit called WIZ. In the end buy it with anything you want on it cause it's all good. My suggestions is know what you want prior to ordering or face the wrath. Geno himself laid the verbal wrath of God at my friend Ross for asking a dumb ass question. *Ross - Excuse me sir where do I get fries? * Geno - ITSSSS OVER THERE!!!!!!!! ( pointing finger in Ross's face while veins bulging out of his neck) I never laughed so hard as my friend trembled more than the cowardly lion as he left Geno's presence. Thanks for the memory's and RIP. Ok now back to review. Order some fries , coke and steaming hot cheesesteak. It's so damn good!
(4)
Mike P.

This is part of the Crusade for Greatest Cheesesteak in Philadelphia trip I did. Geno's Steaks was the 6th stop on our list. The rivalry between Pat's and Geno's is well known. They have loyal fans of each who just believe one is better than the other. When we got there the line at Geno's was long and slow moving. People complain about the political things on the establishment and what I would say to them is don't go there. There is the sign that says this is America order in English, yes it can be offensive but again don't go there. I think any establishment knows if they outwardly support or make claims about certain political and racial things some people wont and some will support them. But this review is about cheese steaks not dÃ©cor, go read a glamour magazine if you want to take about their averse wallpapering. Geno's cheese steaks have never been a favorite of mine. I think there meat is ok and there cheese is lacking. The people behind the counter can be edgy maybe it's from the long lines and customers, but still I'm patronizing your business.
(2)
Brandon S.

Order a steak "wit" or "wit out" and wiz, American or provolone. Have your money ready, your sub comes in seconds. Cash only. Move to next window for fries and drink. Sit in a bench and enjoy heaven. Arrive far from friendly. Respect typical philly attitude (city of brotherly love my ass). Steak isn't a sub shop garbage that's doused in salt and pepper to hide its crappynes. Meat is mildly seasoned to taste the meat. If you don't get whiz, don't complain of a dry sub... A authentic philly sub has whiz. No mayo here.. Just ketchup, mustard and peppers. It's the way they have been doing it for decades! Deduct a star for the crappy "I'm miserable" attitudes. Can one Philly steak shop be nice??!!! Probably not.
(4)
Jody G.

Part of our South Philly cheesesteak crawl. According to my 17 year old son who watches lots of "Food Network" TV, you've gotta try this place when visiting the city of brotherly love.... this and the place across the street. The line is kinda long, but it moves quickly and there's only outdoor seating. The guy behind the counter made eye contact and (almost) smiled. The cheesesteak.... sadly.... not good. The meat was kind of tough. There was barely any cheese. And, why didn't they cook the onions? Nice experience, bad sandwich.
(1)
Lesly S.

Waited in line... Finally got to the front only to see a sign that said something along the lines of "this is America when ordering speak English" As someone else said before in another review.. English is the most common language in the U.S. But it is not the official language. And how about tourists? Mmm.. Not everyone that visits the country knows English. That was enough to make me walk out of the line and go across the street to Pars. After reading these reviews I'm glad I didn't try my first philly cheese steak from Geno's.
(1)
Joe C.

No meat 3rd review is Geno's. The highlight here is that I met Joey Vento before he passed away. Just for that I gave this grease dump an extra star. I found Geno's less greasy then the previous 2 that I busted but the biggest issue is that there's virtually no meat on the sandwich. My sandwich was not wet and infested with canned cheese wiz so this was a plus. I wouldn't really recommend Geno's either but if your looking for a sandwich that won't give you as bad a bout of heartburn as the others try Geno's Thanks, RIP Joey Vento
(3)
Sophack S.

The first stop right after landing in Philadelphia. Hungry and needing that sustenance. When we arrived, the first thing we noticed was that the longer line was at Geno's and so we took that as the cue to hit up Geno's. Since it was a first Sunday of the month, they had a DJ with mostly top 40 hip hop and EDM mashups playing. Very interesting environment with the music playing and the long wait line for the cheesesteak. Obviously got the cheesesteak with cheese wiz. Very filling type of sandwich with all the bread and cheese slathered on. I would say by itself it's okay. Once you add the hot peppers that you get on the side... makes it so much better. Order a side of fries at the other window and grabbed some of the few seats available. I liked the area as well since you can get a view of the local hoops there.
(3)
Dan R.

While visiting Philadelphia we decided to try out both Geno's Steaks as well as Pat's. We stood in the line for this steak shop to be dissapointed when we finally got our sandwiches. The first issue we had here was that the staff was rude and short. I get it that you want to get the line moving quickly, but how about a "hello" or something more than "ya". The steak was greasy, the bread was hard, and the price was ridiculous for the finished product. Pat's was superior to this shop. In the end the only redeeming factor about this restaurant is that it served it's purpose in filling our tummies with average steak and cheese. The next time we visit Philly we may try this spot again, but we will have to see how disappointed we are preparedto be. Last note, your right, this is America but don't forget that this is a country of immigrants so how about you show some respect and remove those ridiculous signs from your storefront.
(1)
Fred A.

This is the spot to get cheesesteaks. I go provolone....always, no wiz. If you have some guts, add some cherry peppers on top. Much better than Pat's!!!!
(4)
Jessie S.

I honestly can't speak for the food because after walking to the window to order, the racist sign in the window was enough to make us go across the street to Pat's and not look back. I recognize everyday that I vote with my dollars, and this place was not about to get my vote. That being said, the outdoor space was pretty big, and there was plenty of (empty) seating. They had a display with patches from police departments from all over the country that was pretty impressive.
(1)
Robin L.

A must do experience while in Philly. We did our own food challenge with Pat's and Geno's. We ordered 1/2 of cheese steak at each place. Here at Geno's, meat was great and "cheese whiz" type cheese was our family favorite. Some of our party thought there was too much cheese - so ask for light cheese. Cheesy fries are a must as well while indulging. So fun and great photo op.
(4)
Rachael O.

This place is extremely overrated. as a tourist visiting for the weekend, i just hadddd to get a real cheese steak. There was nothing special about it, other than the fact that the business next door has frozen hot chocolate. I got there around midnight after a music festival, so everyone else had the same idea. The line was long but it does go by pretty quick. The girl who took my order definitely hates her job. Parking was an absolute nightmare and the neighborhood is pretty sketchy & slummy. Overall, it was an okay sandwich, but nothing i would go out of my way for.
(3)
Biruk B.

I resided in Philly for four years and Geno's remains one of my favorite cheesesteaks. The first thing I hear from friends who don't like this place is the fact that it's a tourist attraction. It seems like a lot of people give it a bad rap because they're tired of hearing about Pat's and Geno's. Hipsters aside, the steak is actually good! I always go for the whiz wit' (Philly slang for cheese whiz and onions). Unlike many cheesesteak places, Geno's cuts their meat nice and thick. The bread is fresh and the proportion of bread to meat to cheese is satisfying. Other than that, the fries leave a lot to be desired and the staff could be more friendly. Bring CASH!
(4)

Q & A for Yogen Fruz

Is Yogen Fruz vegan?

Not all Yogen Fruz items are vegan. But you will find a variety of vegan options on the Yogen Fruz menu.

Where is the nearest Yogen Fruz?

Yogen Fruz is operating in over 1400 locations spread across 46 countries. Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find the nearest Yogen Fruz from your location.

Is Yogen Fruz healthy?

The primary mission of Yogen Fruz is to develop the brand as a healthy-choice lifestyle product. Hence, the restaurant serves sugarless, non-fat, probiotic frozen yogurt, smoothies, fruit cups, and yogurt available with vegan and non-vegan options.

Who owns Yogen Fruz?

Yogen Fruz is currently owned by International Franchise Corp.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Yogen Fruz

Yogen Fruz is a renowned brand in the frozen yogurt industry serving healthy food choices to the people across the United States. The frozen yogurt franchise was launched by two young brothers in Canada during 80s. The idea behind introducing Yogen Fruz was to offer a great health experience and influence people to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle. Initially, the store offered made-to-order frozen yogurt cups and shakes. Today, you can order probiotic frozen yogurt as per your preferences. You can either opt for soft serve or get a mix of frozen yogurt with fruits. You can also try the vegan options available at Yogen Fruz.

Healthy Food Options at Yogen Fruz

Yogen Fruz came into existence with a mission to serve healthy alternative food products. The fundamental aim of this highly popular restaurant chain is to promote a healthy lifestyle. Yogen Fruz offers all varieties of frozen yogurt to serve people with different food preferences.

Address : 1219 S 9th St
Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Phone (215) 389-0659
Website https://www.genosteaks.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :Open 24 hours

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Touristy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No

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Geno’s Steaks

1219 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19147

Geno’s Steaks Menu

Cheesesteak

Steak Hoagie

Cheesesteak Hoagie

Steak Milano

Diabetics at Yogen Fruz:

Foods to Avoid at Yogen Fruz for Diabetes:

Foods Suggestions for Diabetics at Yogen Fruz:

Healthy Meal suggestions for Geno’s Steaks

Cheesesteak

Steak Hoagie

Cheesesteak Hoagie

Steak Milano

High Blood Pressure at Yogen Fruz

Foods to Avoid at Yogen Fruz for High Blood Pressure:

Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Yogen Fruz:

High Cholesterol at Yogen Fruz

Foods to Avoid at Yogen Fruz for High Cholesterol:

Food Suggestions for High Cholesterol at Yogen Fruz:

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