Guidebooks will point you to Pat's or Geno's for the best cheesesteak sandwich, but many locals tell you to go to John's Roast Pork. In South Philly near the Delaware River, city views are offered with your food. With breakfast all day and many sandwiches on the menu, if it's your first time, get the standard cheesesteak sandwich with American cheese. It comes out hot with melted cheese perfectly even through the meat. It's very tasty! So much that the James Beard Foundation gave it a nod years back. Being a Philly institution since 1930, they sell Pepsi products. If you go for lunch, expect to wait 20 minutes or so for your food, but it's worth the wait. Outdoor seating is in the back.

A local friend recommended that we stop here for an authentic cheesesteak. We went early to beat the crowds. There is a small area of covered seating and an additional outdoor picnic tables. For the cheesesteak, I liked that they cook and mix the cheese in the meat so it doesn't just sit on the top. I like that you can get the steak and cheese with sharp provolone. I was surprised how much I loved the roasted pork sandwich with spinach and sharp provolone. I think I liked that sandwich more. Makes sense... roast pork is in the name of the place!

Best pork sandwich in the city. Hands down. Get the works with garlicy spinach and sharp provolone. Get here early for lunch like 11:45 or earlier to avoid the lunch rush even on weekdays. People will treck it here because it's that good. You don't want to get stuck behind a long office lunch order. Pork sandwiches are served very quickly and cheese steaks take a bit longer. I also got onion rings and they are crisp and flavorful.

Oooooweeeee! That was some good cheesesteak! Did a ikea run and when always in Philly I like to try out a cheesesteak spot. Google maps never disappoints! Saw in the comments that the lines were a bit much but thank the rain gods it was a gloomy day and lime was like 10min wait. So that being said I heard these guys have been around since 1930! 3rd gen congrats guys keep up that good work! So since it was my first time here and was a quick pick I decided to go with a regular cheesesteak a large please 😉 with a soda on the side and yes onions 😀. Bread was toasted to perfection and cheesesteak was great every bite! I made my own sauce mixing mustard Mayo and ketchup for the second half of the sandwich to dip ++++ sauce hack try it if your a sauce person. Staff were polite and welcoming I was not intimidated and gave me a couple recommendations but I went regular. I will definitely be coming back for that roast pork sandwich best believe that! Till then John’s roast pork thanks for the good cheesesteak

Let me tell you how I've been to John's Roast Pork in the past but I only ordered the Roast Pork sandwich (which was awesome). This time I ordered the cheese steak which I have to say moved this place to the top of my list! Packed to the max, with thin cut rib steak! The line may be long but it is worth the wait! Enjoy!

Traveling through Philly from Texas and I had to try a local spot. If you poke around the internet you will find plenty of reviews and comparisons, particularly two mainstream names, but I took the referral from a reviewer that tried 20 different places. John's didn't disappoint! Bread was crispy, meat was packed with flavor. I ordered a cheesesteak with grilled onions and American cheese. Add banana peppers on the side for a little kick. Nice folks, didn't wait long, under 10 minutes, around 10:30am. Park on the street or there is a lot across from restaurant. Two patios if you want to sit and enjoy your meal.

We had to try the famous roast pork and a cheese steak too since there offering is also rising in popularity. The roast pork was really good, but doesn't come with the spinach or dipped , so remember to ask and be prepared to pay extra for that. The cheese steak was delicious, plenty of wiz and chopped but not minced so the texture was really good. Sesame seed rolls were Perfect!

Finally had my first Philly cheesesteak here after my third time being in Philly. it was amazing. One cheesesteak was enough for me and and my friend to share. There was a line but it moved very fast. highly recommended!

This spot was amazing. I travel to Philly once every year and one number item on my list is to try a known or new cheesesteak restaurant. I am definitely coming back to this location especially with their pork sandwich. I would highly recommend this spot. MUST TRY.

I feel obligated to post because it comes down to quality control. I really wanted to like this place; especially after dropping in from out of town and seeing the great reviews. Unfortunately, I prefer my steak sandwiches without long, brown, coarse hair. The "S" shape you see on the picnic table is the hair I pulled from under the second part of my sandwich. Absolutely gross. No thanks.

Absolutely fantastic sandwiches there. The roast pork is delicious and well seasoned. The cheesesteak was phenomenal as well. The bread is absolutely fantastic and we saw a fresh delivery of it being made. Every time I've gone there's been a line, but it moves reasonably quickly considering. Absolutely one of the best cheesesteaks I've ever had and the roast pork is one of the best sandwiches period.

Philly cheesesteak has never really been my go to. After a couple bites, it becomes too much for me - too much meat, too much cheese. Anyway, this place serves one of the best cheesesteak in Philly (although the name suggests they specialize in roast pork - I didn't really like the roast pork), so if you ever want to try, you should definitely come here.

This was the best thing we ate in Philly. The bread was so soft and everything just went together so well! It was the best Philly cheesesteak I’ve had! A definite must in Philadelphia.

Had an amazing roast pork sandwich day 1. It’s hard to nest the roast pork but the cheesesteak on day 2 almost equally as good. Fresh, delicious seeded rolls.

Wow, spot on cheesestake and roast pork sandwiches! The size of the sandwich is great for two meals or one really big one, the food is great and it truly lives up to it's Philly legendary status. The line is long I showed some of those pictures to let you know what you are getting into, is about one hour wait time at most points of the day but the people are usually cool and I think it is worth the wait. What it does mean though is that you should get both of those sandwiches because going back is not easy.

Finally got the chance to try this place after seeing it recommended everywhere. The cheesesteak here is top 5 in Philadelphia. I need to go back and try a few other types of cheese before it goes to 5 stars but it one of the best I’ve had. I liked the fries too.

We got the Italiano pork sandwich and the American cheesesteak with long peppers. Both were very good. I liked the cheesesteak better because it was less dry because the cheese is mixed in. My boyfriend liked the pork sandwich better. But that’s just our preference. Both sandwiches were great. The pork chips they sell were good. I was really surprised that they had an actual roasted pork flavor!

This is one of those hole in the wall where you see people lining up outside, and you have to know what's so special about the place...... it has limited seating, cash only, wait in line outside the ordering window, I met a local and another traveller in line, the local lives 15 minutes away and the traveller is catching a plane back home, the traveller was told by his friend to try this place and the local said that this is the real thing, and he has been coming here for a very long time. Ordered the cheese steak with grilled onions, it came out fast enough considering the amount of people waiting before me. The cheesesteak is about a foot long filled with steak cheese and grilled onions. I've bit into the cheesesteak and it was actually very good I can understand why a lot of people are waiting in line for this, it is meaty, cheesy, grilled onions and not too salty but just right. If you are a Philly cheesesteak kind of person this is the place you want to come to and try it out.

The place is very small but the food is very delicious. We ordered the pork and the cheesesteak sandwiches large size but the cheesesteak wins 1 million times The cheesesteak is the signature dish The onion rings were very oily I do not recommend unless you want a stomachache. But so worth to eat here. The wait it’s not long.

I'm from Philly. I moved away 20 years ago. If you are ever in Philly YOU must STOP in and get a great Roast Pork w extra sharp provolone cheese and spinach. Still number #1.

Philly is known for their cheesesteak. People always say go to Geno or Pat cheesesteak but if you want a good cheesesteak go John’s Roast Pork instead. They’re known for their roast pork sandwiches here as well as the cheesesteak. The bread is seeded which makes the cheesesteak taste even more yummy. They are very generous with the meat portion as you can see in the picture. I highly recommend this place. The only con about this place is that there’s always a line so be prepare to wait like 30 min if you go during their prime time. It’s still worth the wait though. If you’re visiting Philly you definitely have to come here to try the cheesesteak. You will not be disappointed.

Johns is one of the Best Philly places for Roast pork. They remolded since ive last been here, so now you stay outside, better for the employees since covid hit. If you Love Roast pork, you have to try this place. You won't be disappointed.

I felt as if it were my duty to consume as many cheese steak sandwiches as I could while visiting Philly. So, agreeably I believe John's was my only choice for first stop. I ordered the roast pork sandwich w/provolone despite my journey for cheese steak. Oof. The pork is so flavorful. The bread had a nice give, great flavor, and the absorbability was complimentary to the amount of juice this thing released. The provolone was sharp and a good ratio to the pork. More would have worked too. My only regret is not returning to try the cheese steak but the roast pork sandwich was PHENOMENAL.

Not going to lie, but I'm disappointed. I've been reading the hype for years and while the food was good, it lacked something compared to other joints I've tried. We sampled the pork and beef cheesesteaks and both were probably teetering on lukewarm despite being consumed immediately, which is a bit concerning. Sharp provolone was great, and the peppers were rad, but ultimately by the end it had lost all warmth and all I was left with was disappointment.

Best cheesesteak I've ever had. I ordered the mushroom cheesesteak. It was amazing. There’s indoor and outdoor picnic-style seating. Parking can be challenging, and you anticipate standing in line, but it moves relatively fast to place your order.

John’s really does have the best sandwiches in Philadelphia. Great place to go before a game as there is parking across the street. The line moves pretty quick, sandwiches are made to order. The Roast Pork Italiano with sharp provolone and spinach (not pictured) is top notch as is their cheesesteak. Perfectly fresh roll, steak chopped just right, plenty of cheese, add the fried onions and you have an amazing cheesesteak.

Honestly it was mid. Idk why people go crazy over this spot. The roast pork was perfectly good and fresh and moist, but it certainly wasn’t life changing. There is some outdoor seating. I ordered my sandwich and received it very quickly but I was just one person and I ordered the simplest sandwich. Most people that were waiting for their orders when I arrived were still waiting after I finished eating. Idk what they ordered but I’m guessing the sides were holding up orders.

Iconic and epic 😎 ✨️ This is probably one of the best 👌 pork Sandwiches 🥪 I have ever had . It also helps that they were a James Beard award winning restaurant.

Cheesy, meaty goodness - well worth the stop & the wait. I had a large cheesesteak - the sesame seed roll was stuffed with plenty of meat & cheese so a half was able to fill me up (with the other half to enjoy later!). Cash only & no indoor seating, though the outside seating (only a few tables) were in the shade.

Philly simply has the sandwich game figured out, you just don’t need condiments to make anything better the flavor and taste in the end product is all you need. The savory, juicy pork piled high, topped with the garlicky seasoned brocolli rabe is just given a big hug by the bread and the flavors soak into one another. I ate half and saved the other half for later and it somehow developed in flavor again, out of this world.

The absolute best cheesesteak in all of Philly! Being in the area and trying many of the cheese steak places, I can say this is my favorite for a number of reasons! Steaks are made to order and made from high quality cut. They don't destroy the steak like some other places do and leave nice slices so you know it's steak. The seeded rolls are crisp on the outside and doughy on the inside enough to hold the generous amount of meat they put in the sandwich. I'm not a purest and don't think that a cheesesteak must have cheese whiz - and I'm glad Johns doesn't serve it! They offer mild or sharp provolone and American. These guys also serve up one Phillys best roast pork sandwich! The pork is nice and tasty but the key thing is that they serve it with spinach and not traditional broccoli rabe (which I also favor). The spinach doesn't take away from the flavors of the pork. Been coming here for more than a decade and will continue to come back! Always a recommendation for anyone visiting Philly, truly a must stop for foodies.

Decent food, but wasn’t what it was hyped up to be. Still worth a try. A decent wait time too, about 20 minutes which is understandable considering the line. Would recommend parking across the street as parking is limited.

Great roast pork but does sell out. Cheesesteak is definitely one of the top 10 in the Philadelphia area.

I have had Cheesesteaks plenty of times but never in the City of Brotherly Love. Although there are many places to get them in Philly, I heard nothing but good news about John's. So, I made a day trip there just recently for the actual Cheesesteak and boy did it not disappoint! Everything about it was what I expected and more. Plenty of meat and they mix in the cheese with the steak so it's not just laying on top. Plus what really made it better was the seeded roll. That's a great combo! I also tried what their actually named for, the Roast Pork. It was succulent and amazing. It has a slight kick with the Black pepper which is what sets them apart from other Roast Pork sandwiches. I also added the Italian Long Hot Pepper for added Zing. I was thinking that they added the spinach to it which I saw on the food episode of it but it is something you have to ask them to do. It's too bad I do not live closer but definitely worth the trip! I will be back again. My pictures are not the best below. Bad lighting.

This cheese steak is HEAVY. I went on a Saturday afternoon in the freezing cold. Luckily they have a semi closed off table area. It took roughly 20 min to get my order since they cook it to order which makes each sandwich supperrr hot once you get them. This cheese steak uses American cheese instead of cheese whizz so depending on which one you like more could make this place hit or miss. Beef was nice and juicy but I think the bread was a tad bit too thick for my preference but hey a cheese steak is a cheese steak. This one was a pretty darn good one too. Overall worth a stop if you're near by.

Average cheesesteak. It was my first time going, so maybe I ordered the wrong thing? Fairly dry sandwich that seemed to lack flavor. After hearing all the great reviews about this place, I was pretty disappointed.