Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop

Best cheese steaks in Philly… I still call it chinks though! there milkshakes are great also…

Cool spot on the corner of Frankford Avenue if you want a good cheesesteak fix. I went there with two other people snd were greeted with a nice welcome. It wss also awesome wr can sit down with iur beers from the Fishtown Fest outside. Our waitress was nice and willing to answer any questions we had about the menu.
The steaks are a bit pricey, and can reach close to double digits. I got a chicken cheesesteak and split buffalo chicken fries with my girlfriend. The sandwich was great since it was actual chicken breasts snd not that thin slab of chicken. Also I loved the buffalo chicken fries! You can also get some fixins at the pickle/​pepper bar. I enjoyed my experience and hope to return.

I second Fox’s opinion on the ratings here. I’m not sure if the hipsters that live around here don’t think it’s «meta» enough for them or something but they are way off.
This is without a doubt one of the top three cheesesteak places in the city. The one on Torresdale probably is slightly better, but this is hands down the best place to get a cheesesteak around this part of town.

I’d probably give 3.5 just for the sandwich. But I didn’t have fries or a shake, so that could improve it too. Overall though, pretty solid sandwich.

Had a large Cheesesteak with Whiz, American, and over easy egg and it was phenomenal.

I can only review the vegan options, so here goes…
Vegan cheesesteak is on point! It tastes like a chicken cheesesteak but the «cheese» is perfect. I usually have these with the old bay fries and I’m more than satisfied. They also give you the option to get the steak on a small roll so you don’t eat yourself into a food coma. That’s pretty considerate and makes me want to come back here more often without worrying about the after effects.
Vegan black bean is also consistently good.
Service would be my only gripe about this place. Sometimes we go in and no one acknowledges us for a solid 10 minutes. Perhaps the staff is overwhelmed with other orders, but there are too many of them for that to happen all the time.

I prefer the location at Benner & Torresdale. But the Fishtown location is decent. I love their specialty milkshakes. I always get a cheese steak with American cheese & fried onions. So delicious. It’s all about the roll so if you find yourself in Fishtown DO NOT GET THE GLUTEN FREE ROLL! So gross. Stupid hipsters. They ruin everything. My daughter gets a cheese steak with wiz. Hers is always good too. The fries are good too. We usually just do cheese wiz on them or on the side. About the same price as Steve’s Prince of Steaks but completely different. Both in my top 3. If you were interested my other favorite cheese steak it’s John’s Roast Pork.

Great, friendly service. As tourists we stuck out like a sore thumb. But the server was very patient and answered all my moms questions and requests. A local actually recommended this specific location to us and it was perfect! Bathrooms are clean. Accessible parking. And I recommend adding mushrooms to the cheesesteak! We added lettuce and tomatoes as well.

The ratings for this place are an absolute Joe-​k. It’s a five-​star spot if ever there were one. Along with John’s Roast Pork, Nick’s Old Roast Beef, and Miller’s Twist/​Smuckers inside Reading Terminal Market, it should be at the very top of your Philly must-​try list. I’m glad I Joes to eat here because after Joes one bite, I was feeling Joesvial and with as much manergy (my word) as Indiana Joes or Keanu as Joes Wick.
What to get: Cheesesteak, Banana Shake (w Vanilla), Chocolate Shake. Use the pickle/​pepper bar at the back.
Pat’s or Geno’s claim to be the King of steaks, but the only thing they are the King of is overpriced bland crap with neon signs that are far more enjoyable to look at than their products are to eat. Gooey Louie’s, Jim’s, Cosmo’s, a little better. D’Alessandro’s, John’s Roast Pork, significantly better. But none of them come anywhere remotely near Joe’s… Joe’s should be the «King» of Cheesesteaks. And I’m not Joe King. At all.
Joe’s is simply the best cheesesteak in the country. There may be delicious variations of it, here and there, but when it comes to the traditional Philly Cheesesteak, these guys have it down to perfection. Better even that John’s Roast Pork’s version… and regardless, John’s is better for Roast Pork anyway — you’d never have guessed by the name, right?
So why is it the best? Well the meat tastes good, and not so processed. It’s nice and steak-​y. The bread is excellent. Cheese goes well. Onions. Add all the pickles and peppers that you want, to jazz it up. It just all comes together and works better than other local cheesesteaks do.
But there’s another reason why you should come here. An even better reason. The décor is adorable and brightly-​colored. Okay no, that’s not it either. But seriously… One of the servers is like, a Victoria’s Secret Angel who forgot to go to the photoshoot and came here to take sandwich orders instead. (Swoon).
Okay, no, that’s not the better reason, although everything I just said is true, and she is totally amazing.
The better reason is the milkshakes! Omgz! I’m really picky when it comes to milkshakes, and I have to say, these pricy but enormous shakes are some of the best I’ve had anywhere! I had both the chocolate and the banana (made with vanilla), and each shake was absolute, thick, delicious heaven. The Chocolate was dreamy and creamy and luscious, while the banana had thick chunks of fresh banana mixed in with delicious vanilla goodness. I couldn’t choose between them, because they were both so good (kind of like my two most recent girlfriends).
So get down here as quick as you can. They’re far from just your average Joe’s. It’s important that you make the right decision when there’s so much at Steaks.

Arrived here late last night at 2:20am.
The place was rammed with about 25 people in line waiting to order. However this posed no issue as our crew snagged a table almost straight away. Put down our stuff then lined up to order. Obviously the line was big and there is only 1 cash register so we expected it would take the 5 – 10 min to get to the front. Also, as the joint was busy, we expected a fair wait for our food. No awesome surprises on time, which was absolutely fine. This review is about the food itself.
I ordered the cheesesteak (whiz + buffalo sauce) and when it arrived I added jalapeños, chili flakes, and a little Mayo throughout. Also ordered the buffalo chicken fries for the table (a must!).
But let’s talk about the cheesesteak.
The beef stayed moist and hot from start to finish.
The bread stayed hot and crisp, and never even remotely got soggy.
The whiz tasted amazing.
There was no absurd sauce pool made from a dripping fountain of juices creeping out the bottom of my sandwich.
The buffalo sauce addition went an absolute treat.
Having the option to add jalapeños and chili flakes (or pickles or whatever you desire) makes this experience personal and tailored to your liking…
It is fair to say Joes is on the money and I can not wait to head back.
One of the best sandwiches I’ve had.

Okay, I am guilty of not going out of my way to try authentic philly cheesteaks. Usually, when I have a craving I’ll just stop at a pizzeria and take their version of it. This has got to stop!
I was in the area and needed a quick meal before heading over to a nearby bar. We split a large cheesesteak, they are not lying when they say large! The bread was fresh and soft yet able to hold all of that cheesey meat without falling apart. An added bonus was the selection of flavored cokes. It took me back to my younger days when my favorite after school meal was a cheesesteak and Vanilla Coke. Another added bonus was the condiment bar. I loved pickles and these were beyond amazing. Somehow, I had never added them to my cheesesteak. It was a match made in Joe heaven!
The restaurant is on the small side but I loved the retro feel. We were seated right away and our food brought out quickly. The service was overall friendly. I am dying to comeback and have my cheesesteak and Coke combo or maybe shaking it up a little with a milkshake.

Solid. I can’t speak for the cheesesteaks since I no longer eat beef, but my friend seemed to love his — he enjoyed it more than other cheesesteaks he’s had in Philly (I can’t remember if I took him to Steve’s or what last time, possibly ishkabibbles)
My chicken cheesesteak was so good — fresh cut pieces of chicken, fresh bread roll, good old cheese whiz, no complaints. I’d definitely get another here.
I also got a root beer float which was delicious. Overall, a solid lunch

Great meal. Server was super friendly and attentive … and she was working the thankless New Year’s Eve shift. Had the cheesesteak with fries. Wanted to order the Christmas Cookie shake but would probably have had a heart attack on the spot. The next table over had one and were raving about it.

Cheesesteak with provolone, onions, and a ton of toppings from the pickle bar was fantastic. Milkshake was great and thick, and the service was friendly and fast. For me, the bread is the key to a great steak, and this bread is perfect. It’s chewy, buttery and there’s no soggy bread with this steak… critical. Instead of trying to order a bunch of add-​ons, they let you pile it on a la carte at the pickle bar, which scores extra points with me. I’m not a philly native, and I like to bastardize my steak with pickles peppers and all sorts of other garbage… not ashamed.
With the Fillmore nearby and all the great stops on Frankford Ave, this place is the perfect late-​night stop when you need a cheesesteak and a milkshake to compete the night!

Why anyone would decide to order cheesesteaks from the tourist traps around the Liberty Center (minus Sonny’s), or on 9^th Street is beyond me where there are places like Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop.
I am not the biggest fan of the cheesesteak but, when I get the hankering for one I want it done right. My first cheesesteak from Joe’s told my stomach and taste-​buds that they had a home here. Beware! My friend and I are two individuals that have no trouble putting away food, but we were hitting the wall near the end. The meat is chopped right, the bread soft and fresh, and just plain olé goodness at every bite.
My friends and I decided to order pumpkin-​pie milkshakes. They choose to enjoy them with their cheesesteaks, I requested to have mine made at the end of our service to go. If you think you don’t have the room for a milkshake… order one anyway! When the waitress came back to the table she had four glasses of BAM! That’s 4 glass of Big A$$ Milkshakes. These were no runny liquid milkshakes. The milkshakes were blended to a thick consistency where a spoon was almost required. In regards to flavor, the milkshakes were good.
I will be back to check out the other items on the menu and if I have the time to make the trek to Fishtown when my cheesesteak hankering comes calling.

When you’re tasked with taking someone to try their first cheesesteak you have to factor in avoiding the tourists traps, go with one of the names that carry a storied reputation, and close enough other places and activities that you may enjoy throughout the day.
For all of the above the Fishtown branch of Joe’s is the perfect destination, and it lives up to the legacy that the Torresdale one has held onto for the past six decades (despite its unfortunate original name). The steaks are all huge, reasonably priced, and feature plenty of topping options (don’t go for too many though since there’s also the pepper & pickle bar for unlimited customization. So much so that if service didn’t have its spotty moments it would have been a perfect five.
Another winning advantage to Joe’s is the variation of the menu, as it has options that go well over the typical cheesesteak places. You can still get the incredible fries, chicken cheesesteaks (and veggie and vegan). But here you can also grab burgers, hot sausage, buffalo chicken fries, and some incredible milkshakes.

Was not very impressed with the quality of Joe’s steak. I had high expectations, and they pretty much failed. There was absolutely no flavor to the steak itself. It was very disappointing as I had heard such good things. However, there was a good steak to bread ratio, with some wiz and onions.
The service was quick and pleasant (I took it to go). But for $ 10, a better cheese steak has to happen.

The one on Torresdale is our staple for cheesesteaks. The new one is just as good has amazing food and staff. The same custom milkshakes that change every month (see my pic of the candy corn one) the best part is this one is open late night so I can stop in anytime. They com on the window and hand make the shakes. Try the buffalo chicken French fries. Hot and crispy with huge chunks of chicken on them..

The cheesesteak is Philadelphia’s breadwinner for cuisine and Joe’s Steaks & Soda Shop does it best. Not only is the staff very friendly, the food is magnificent! Right in the heart of Fishtown, Joe’s has established itself as THE cheesesteak shop for Northern Liberties, Fishtown, Port Richmond, and Kensington alike. The cheesesteak itself is the perfect of amount savory and salty. Let’s not forget the milkshakes! I normally go with the Philly favorite of «Whiz wit» which means cheese whiz and fried onions and it never fails. The milkshake standout is the chocolate shake with real bananas in it!
Another great stand out attribute for this place is the fact they’re open past bar closing time on weekends! So, when closing out your check at Johnny Brenda’s or The El Bar, head on over for some delicious late night food!
The manager, Pat, has taken great care of me and all friends that I’ve brought in! I can’t speak highly enough about this place and will constantly make return visits! Forget Jim’s, Pat’s or Geno’s, Joe’s ALL THE WAY!

Joe’s Steaks is a great addition to the NoLibs/​Fishtown dining scene. It is right in the heart of all the action at Frankford & Girard. The owners have done a great job in retroing it to a Malt Shop look (indeed they offer up Malts). The host greeting you when you entered was really friendly and helpful.
The cheesesteaks are of excellent quality and they have the best hot sauce, pepper and pickle bar to add to your sandwich in the city. This is also one of the few famous cheesesteak places in Philly with indoor seating — think rainy days and wintertime. And they are also open late on the weekends so a pit stop on the way home from the nearby pubs may be just what the potential hangover ordered!