"Forget the Hot Dogs"... The Food That Made Two Poor Brothers Rich [Delicious Stories]

Philly Cheesesteak Developed by Brothers Who Sold Hot Dogs 100 Years Ago
Now a Cultural Icon of Philadelphia
Chefs Join In, Giving Rise to Experimental Versions

Editor's NoteThe first confections are said to have been discovered in ancient Mesopotamia. In a sense, sweets have accompanied humanity throughout every moment of its history. From biscuits and chocolate to ice cream, we bring you delicious stories about the treats we love.

Philly cheesesteak is short for "Philadelphia cheesesteak." Born in Philadelphia, a major city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, this sandwich is still considered a local specialty you can enjoy there today. It may look like an unremarkable beef sandwich, but the Philly cheesesteak carries the joys and sorrows of American immigrants over nearly a century.

A worker makes a Philly cheesesteak at Pat's King of Steaks, a famous sandwich shop in Philadelphia, U.S. Melted cheese is placed on a roll filled with thinly sliced beef. Video by Philadelphia Magazine.

A Beef Sandwich With a History Spanning Nearly a Century

A Philly cheesesteak is made by filling a long roll with beef, sauteed onions, and melted cheese. The meat is made by grilling an inexpensive cut of beef sliced thin and then chopping it into small pieces. The bread is a type of American sandwich roll known as a "hoagie roll." The melted cheese, which provides the sandwich's distinctive salty flavor, is usually processed cheese, such as cheddar or American cheese.

Though made with inexpensive ingredients, it makes an excellent street food. Above all, the Philly cheesesteak carries the joys and sorrows of Philadelphia's immigrant community over nearly a century.

A typical Philly cheesesteak. Pixabay

Italian American Brothers Who Sold Hot Dogs While Working as Carpenters Created It

The birthplace of the Philly cheesesteak is Pat's King of Steaks, which opened in Philadelphia in 1930 and is still in business today. It was founded by Italian American immigrant brothers Pat and Harry Olivieri. The Olivieri brothers originally started their business by selling hot dogs on the streets of Philadelphia. They reportedly worked tirelessly, day and night, even taking on carpentry jobs because they could not make enough money selling hot dogs alone.

Pat's King of Steaks, the restaurant known as the birthplace of the Philly cheesesteak. Pixabay.

One day, the brothers made a distinctive sandwich. They finely chopped inexpensive meat they had obtained from a nearby butcher, sauteed it with onions, and stuffed it into a roll. A taxi driver, drawn by the sandwich's aroma, tried it and advised them, "Forget the hot dogs and focus on sandwiches from now on." Encouraged by the taxi driver's words, the brothers pooled all the money they had carefully saved over 10 years, bought a small building, and opened a restaurant. That was the beginning of Pat's King of Steaks.

The Philly cheesesteak business began in the 1930s, when the United States was deeply involved in World War II. The younger brother, Harry, briefly put the sandwich business on hold and went to work building warships at a Philadelphia shipyard. Despite facing several crises, the Philly cheesesteak business prospered.

Now One of America's Cultural Icons

The Philly cheesesteak did not remain just one item on the menu at Pat's King of Steaks. As nearby Philadelphia merchants began making and selling similar sandwiches, it quickly became one of the city's signature specialties and a cultural icon. Pat also appeared as an extra in the Hollywood film Rocky (1976), about the life of a Philadelphia boxer.

Philly cheesesteak has now become a cultural icon of Philadelphia. Screenshot from the Pennsylvania Things Facebook page.

The Philly cheesesteak is distinctive as a "food that keeps evolving." Philadelphia merchants have gone beyond copying and selling the original, conducting their own experiments with new sauces and ingredients. As a result, today's Philly cheesesteak comes in dozens of variations. For example, the original Philly cheesesteak recipe sticks to seasoning the sandwich with only pepper, salt, and melted cheese. Recently, however, Philly cheesesteak restaurants have reportedly been adding sesame sauce for extra flavor. The variations also differ depending on whether tangy pickled vegetables, such as pickles or jalapenos, are included.

The Philly cheesesteak is also spreading to other parts of the United States. According to the Texas publication Texas Monthly in 2025, sandwiches filled with barbecue meat or brisket have been gaining popularity in Texas. The publication said, "A hundred years ago, the filling was just sliced beef, but now it is being reimagined with barbecue, turkey, coleslaw, and more," adding that "with professional chefs joining the competition, experimental versions have also been invented, featuring ingredients such as blue cheese and potato bread."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.