The Search for the Great California Philly Cheesesteak

STEVEN'S PHILLY CHEESESTEAK, Sunnyvale, CA. Stopped by there on my way home and picked up 3 of them. A small line, but it only took about 3 minutes to place my order. I waited for them and then drove 40 minutes back home. They were only $6.75 and are a little small for a hungry appetite. Okay for the price, though.I love my cheesesteaks with the onions and peppers cooked separately and slopped on top. However, they mixed all the ingredients together...steak, cheese, onion, peppers, etc. and I will deduct 3 points right off the top for that.

I can get cheesesteaks like that at any festival. The rolls were somewhat okay and the meat definitely was not rib eye or round. The sandwich had it's own distinctive taste to it and I just thought it was okay. I am very fussy with my cheesesteak's and I take them seriously.If I rated my last one at Amato's as a 5.5, then I will give this one a 4.75, but let's give them another .5 because they are priced accordingly. Overall score: 5.25.

They had drinks available, but you had to purchase in the can from the fridge. Credit cards not accepted, but they have a separate ATM machine beside the counter. I have a couple more places in mind in the San Jose area and I will try another one in May sometime as I search for the Great California Philly Cheesesteak.

Let's hear your comments on Steven's and other Philly cheesesteak shops in California.

The Blogmaster Speaks

I remember the first Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches I ever had. I lived in Trenton, New Jersey and our neighborhood had picnics during the summer and they served up cheesesteaks there and they were pretty decent. But then again, I was only around 12-13 years old at the time and I probably hadn't tasted that one-great-Philly Cheesesteak yet and didn't know one from another. They were good and I recall that they had these large kegs of Birch Beer and I would drink that along with eating.

I've lived in California now for the past 35 years and take trips periodically back east. The best darndest Philly I ever had has to be from Pudge's in Blue Bell. Gigantic, delicious and overflowing with peppers and onions. A number of years ago, I found that there was a place (gone for quite a while now) at the Farmer's Market in L.A. that served up one almost as good as that. I live in the Bay Area near SF and great cheesesteaks are hard to find.