The rib-eye here is sliced fresh and never chopped. In a city that loves to argue about chopped versus sliced, that’s a bold choice. I like a place that picks a side and sticks with it.
The name is bold too. The founder called his shop the Prince, a cheeky nod to the long-reigning King of Philly cheesesteaks. Confidence like that usually means somebody can back it up.
The shop started with just twelve stools back in 1980. Today it draws hungry fans from across Pennsylvania and beyond. The grill still does the talking, and the order still comes with a little local lingo.
I can’t imagine a better excuse for a road trip than a sandwich with a royal title. And at this little shop, the cheesesteak has had decades to prove it’s worthy of the crown.
1. A Marine, Twelve Stools, And A Very Cheeky Name
Back in 1980, a former U.S. Marine named Steven Iliescu decided Northeast Philadelphia needed another cheesesteak shop.
He opened a tiny spot with just twelve stools in the Oxford Circle neighborhood.
He called it Steve’s Prince of Steaks, and that name was no accident.
Philly already had a famous King of Steaks, so Steve claimed the next title down the royal line.
I love that kind of humble swagger.
It says, “I respect the crown, but I’m coming for it anyway.”
That first little shop never went away.
It still serves as the flagship of the business today, which feels fitting for a place built on tradition.
Plenty of food spots open with big plans and fade within a few years.
This one has been flipping rib-eye for more than four decades in the same corner of the city.
That kind of staying power doesn’t happen by luck.
It comes from doing one thing well and refusing to cut corners along the way.
So when you place your order, you’re tasting a recipe that a determined Marine set in motion long ago.
Not a bad bit of history for a sandwich.
2. Sliced, Never Chopped, And Proud Of It
Rib-eye is the star at this shop, and nobody gets to mess with its shape.
The beef is sliced thin and fresh, and it stays in slices instead of getting hacked into tiny bits.
That matters more than you’d think.
Plenty of Philly shops chop their steak on the grill, so a sliced sandwich stands out from the crowd.
Each bite gives you real strips of beef rather than a loose pile of crumbles.
It’s an old-school style, and the Prince sticks with it on purpose.
The cooking happens right in front of you too.
Your steak hits the grill after you order, so there’s no mystery tray of meat sitting around waiting.
I believe watching your food get made is half the fun.
It’s like dinner and a short cooking show rolled into one, minus the commercials.
If you’ve only had chopped cheesesteaks, this is a great way to test your loyalty.
You might discover you’ve been on the wrong team all along.
Or you might just enjoy the debate.
In Philadelphia, arguing about cheesesteaks is practically a hobby, and now you’ll have firsthand evidence for your side.
3. Your Order Needs Exactly Two Decisions
Ordering here comes with a tiny bit of local language.
Learn two choices, and you’ll sound like you grew up down the block.
First comes the cheese.
Steve’s Prince of Steaks is known for melted American and classic Cheez Whiz, the two big favorites behind the counter.
Provolone and mozzarella are on the menu too.
They may cost a little extra, so keep that in mind if you’re a provolone loyalist.
The second choice is all about onions.
Say “wit” if you want fried onions, or “widout” if you’d rather skip them.
Put those together and you get the famous “Whiz wit.” That’s Cheez Whiz plus fried onions, and it’s about as Philly as an order gets.
Don’t overthink it or freeze at the window.
Nobody expects a speech, just a quick answer and a hungry smile.
Fans of melted American have plenty to celebrate here as well.
The creamy cheese wraps around those rib-eye slices in a way that feels like it was meant to be.
Either way, you’ll walk away with a sandwich and a new bit of Pennsylvania slang.
4. Not In A Steak Mood? The Menu Has Backup
Chicken cheesesteaks get plenty of love here.
They swap the beef for chicken but keep the same grill-to-roll spirit.
Then there’s the cheesesteak hoagie, a clever mash-up of hot and cold.
It takes a cheesesteak and adds lettuce, tomato, and mayo for a little crunch.
Pizza steaks bring sauce and cheese into the mix.
They’re a fun pick for anyone who can’t decide between pizza and a sandwich.
The menu keeps going from there.
You’ll find hamburgers, hot dogs, and a range of other hoagies for the friend who always orders something different.
Sides cover the snack-loving crowd too.
French fries, cheese fries, mozzarella sticks, and chicken tenders are all ready to share, or not share.
Keep an eye out for Steve’s own cherry soda as well.
It’s a sweet sidekick for a salty, cheesy meal.
Self-serve pickles and peppers can add a little extra zip.
Grab as many or as few as you like.
Basically, nobody leaves this Philadelphia shop hungry.
Even the pickiest eater in your car should find something worth the trip.
5. Fries Got Special Treatment From Day One
Steve made a very specific call about his fries.
He chose not to use peanut oil, believing it would cover up the natural flavor of the potatoes.
That’s the kind of tiny decision most diners never notice.
Yet it shows how much thought went into even the side dishes.
The same mindset runs through the whole business.
From the rib-eye to the daily-baked rolls, the focus has always been on fresh ingredients and no shortcuts.
Cheese fries are a natural partner for any steak here.
Pile on the melted cheese, and you’ve got a side that easily competes for attention.
Plain fries work too if you like keeping things simple.
Sometimes a good potato just needs salt and a little room to shine.
The shop also runs with a family-style approach.
Staff are meant to be treated with respect, and customers are meant to feel valued.
I believe that culture shows up in the food.
When people care about the small stuff, the big stuff usually takes care of itself.
So go ahead and order the fries.
Steve clearly thought about them long and hard for you.
6. Plan Your Pilgrimage To The Original Counter
The flagship sits at 7200 Bustleton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19149.
It’s in Northeast Philly, a good distance from the tourist bustle of South Philadelphia.
That’s part of the charm.
You’re heading to a neighborhood favorite instead of a spot built around tour buses.
Service is simple and quick.
You order at the counter, and there’s no table service to wait on.
Eating there means grabbing a spot at the indoor counter.
A few tables outside give you a breath of fresh air with your sandwich.
Plenty of people take their food to go.
That works nicely if you’re on a road trip across Pennsylvania and need to keep moving.
Hours are generous too.
The shop opens at 9:30 in the morning daily and stays open until 1 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Late-night cheesesteak cravings, meet your answer.
Hours can change, so it’s smart to double-check before you make the drive.
The location also sits across from a large car dealership.
If you’ve ever needed a reward after car shopping, the timing could not be better.
7. Trophies, TV Time, And A 480-Foot Sandwich
Philadelphia Magazine named this spot the Best Cheesesteak twice.
The first win came in 1992, and the second arrived in 2007.
Winning once is nice.
Winning again fifteen years later says the Prince didn’t get lazy after the first crown.
National viewers got a look in 2006.
The Food Network show Hungry Detective featured Steve’s Prince of Steaks as a well-kept secret of the Philly food scene.
Then came the big one, and I mean truly big.
In 2015, the shop teamed up with Amoroso’s Bakery to create a 480-foot cheesesteak, which was billed as the world’s largest.
That sandwich measured about 480 feet.
That’s longer than one and a half football fields of steak, cheese, and bread.
I can’t imagine the napkin budget for that day.
Somebody definitely needed a nap afterward.
Still, the record says a lot about the shop’s spirit.
It takes pride in the cheesesteak and enjoys showing off a little.
Fair enough.
When you’ve got a royal name to live up to, a world record makes a pretty good crown jewel.
8. The Kingdom Keeps Growing Beyond Bustleton
One tiny shop now has four siblings.
The brand operates five locations, with four in Pennsylvania and one at the Jersey Shore.
Another Philadelphia outpost, Steve’s Comly, sits on Comly Road in the Northeast.
It’s handy if the flagship is a bit out of your way.
Bucks County fans have options too.
There’s a Langhorne shop on East Lincoln Highway, plus a Warrington spot on Easton Road.
The Warrington location is the newest of the group.
It opened its doors on October 18, 2025.
Summer travelers got good news in April 2024.
That’s when the Prince crossed the bridge and opened in Wildwood, New Jersey.
Still, many fans see the original as the must-visit stop.
There’s something fun about eating where the whole royal story began.
Think of the other shops as convenient castles around the realm.
They make it easier for folks across eastern Pennsylvania to get their fix.
But the Bustleton Avenue flagship is the throne room.
If you’re making a true cheesesteak pilgrimage, that’s the address worth putting in your map app first.
9. Bring The Prince To Your Party Instead
Some fans can’t make the drive, so the Prince makes it for them.
The shop runs a custom food truck nicknamed the PrinceMobile.
Yes, a cheesesteak truck with a royal title.
I believe every party could use that kind of energy.
The truck serves fresh, cooked-to-order cheesesteaks.
It’s the same idea as the shops, just on wheels and parked right at your event.
It works for all kinds of gatherings.
Corporate events, private parties, and festivals are all fair game.
Birthdays, graduations, and even weddings can get the cheesesteak treatment.
Picture guests skipping the fancy appetizers for a proper Philly sandwich.
Menu options are flexible too.
Customizable selections are available by request, so you can match the food to your crowd.
Need something beyond a truck?
The restaurant also offers full-service catering at your location.
That’s a smart move for anyone hosting a crowd in Pennsylvania.
Nobody forgets the party that served real cheesesteaks.
So whether you drive to Bustleton Avenue or the PrinceMobile rolls up to you, the royal sandwich is within reach.
Long live the Prince.
Share this story
