Philly’s Best

Philly cheese steak used to have THEE BEST cheeses teak sandwhiches. The meat used to be tender and moist with. Lots of grilled onions and cheese. Fresh buns. The good kind. My sister and I left the hospital the other nite. It was too late to cook so we decided a philly cheese steak sounded delicious. We went there. The first thing we noticed was a price hike of nearly 2.50 a sandwhich. We got home and started eating. My sister kept complaining about the lack of cheese. I agreed. The steak was tough and dry. A huge lack of cheese and I always have grilled onions. I don’t know where they get their onions now, but they were tasteless. My sister choked down half of hers as did I. We ended up trashing the rest. They also changed buns and now serve buns with some sort of seeds or something on the bottom. It made the sandwhich bun taste «grainy «. Also the buns were quite «chewy». Will no longer eat there. Sister and I were much disappointed and will no longer eat there or recommend it.

Pretty authentic Philly cheesesteaks. Could have more cheese to the sandwich. Better hygiene from staff on handling food would be nice.

I just rediscovered this place and it solidified my memory of an excellent cheesesteak. I’m no expert on these but they make a damn good one. Maybe due for another visit?

Living in London I miss a big sloppy hoagie/​sub/​grinder whatever your birthplace calls a decent sandwich. On a recent trip back to Orange County I made sure to go to Philly’s Best, not for any of their cheese steaks which I am sure are great (not a big fan myself) but for a Hoagie that is always sensational. Simple food prepared well. What else can you ask for?

Cheese steaks taste very good. I’ve been to philly many times and this is close to authentic philly steak.

Super nice chef!

Though the cheese steak sandwiches cost 7.49 it was quite big and filling. I had it with grilled onion and was good. The fries was tender and not crispy.

Always delicious, and always hits the spot! I’m on a diet and this place is my weakness. Writing this review is making me crave a sandwich. #dietfail

Food is ok, people are ok, depending on who you meet. I normally come here for cheesesteaks, but today just threw me off. Came in at 9:02 — 9:03ish (they close at 9) hoping that they would let me order a cheesesteak. Nope. «We close at 9» is what I got as a response. Really? You wouldn’t want to help one more customer? I’m giving them the business, the opportunity– in which they’re not willing to take. This obviously shows they have no motivation, don’t like their job and probably dread being there and just want to go home. I get it, but would making a few (I planned on ordering 3 sandwiches) more sandwiches hurt? Conclusion being that I’ve definitely changed my perspective regarding this place.

I ordered the chicken finger kids meal during lunch that costs $ 4.60 but I paid with $ 5 and the cashier didn’t give me change. Also, the meal was supposed to come with a drink but i was never given a cup. It was difficult to ask for the change back since they were a million high school boys buying food, and when I asked for a cup they told me I had to be under 9 years old to get the drinkm the menu never specified an age limit for the kids meal. The cashier was rude and had the worst attitude. I understand that lunch hour is the worst, but employees should treat their customers with courtesy and not look like they do not care at all about their job. I couldn’t get change back and I didn’t get a drink even though I paid the price for it. The same thing happened to my friend who ordered before me. NEVER GO HERE.

Haven’t been to the Irvine location in over a year and they did not disappoint! Terrific Cheese Steak sandwich with great fries. Staff is always great, another great sandwich at an old standard for the Cheese Steak in Southern California.

Solid cheesesteak. I live in Las Vegas and whenever I visit California I make sure to get my cheesesteak fix! For whatever reason I haven’t been able find a cheesesteak like it in the vegas area.

My fiancé grew up close to Philly so we’ve had authentic Philly cheesesteaks from an assortment of places (e.g. Pat’s, Geno’s, John’s Roast Pork, Jim’s, etc.). On this side of the country, Philly’s Best offers solid cheesesteaks. From the hoagies to the Eagles/​Phillies décor, Philly’s Best makes you feel like you’re right back in the City of Brotherly Love.
We don’t come here very often, but when we crave a cheesesteak, this is our go-​to restaurant. We usually get some variation of the cheesesteak with a side of Wise chips (way better than Lay’s). Aside from Capriotti’s, this is one of the few establishments that has Wise chips available for purchase. The rolls are shipped directly from Philadelphia and are served soft and warm. The meat is sliced thin and pairs well with the spicy peppers or pickles from the bar. Of course, you are able to select the type of cheese you want, but always choose the whiz. After all, what could be better than cheese from an aerosol can?
This may not be the best cheesesteak you’ve ever had, but Philly’s Best serves a decent cheesesteak or hoagie, satisfying the cravings of a transplant from Philly or California native alike.

If I could give it no stars I would. But I’ll give it one to acknowledge that my food was in fact good. However, that’s where it ends.
I visited the Irvine location on 7÷23÷15 around 1:45pm. I was on my lunch break and didn’t think that calling my order in would be necessary because really, how long does it take to make a cheesesteak? Apparently a lot longer when you are ignored by the people behind the counter. I was not greeted by the woman at the register and she didn’t make one move to help me when I up to the counter. So I stood there to see just how long she was going to ignore me. She never helped me. She instead gave all of her time to a man who was making a request to slightly change his order. This would have been fine if the cook was not already speaking to him. While he was speaking to the cook she could have taken my order, but she didn’t.
I continued to stand there for another five minutes, because I shouldn’t have to tell you how to do your job. Not to mention I was pissed and if I had spoken to her I would have embarrassed her, so I kept quiet while contemplating whether I should leave or not. Finally, a man with a bucket of ice comes out and she runs to the ringing phone while asking him to help me.
So, I order my food and I wait while still keeping a smile on my face. In walks a white woman with her son and she is greeted by the quiet woman with a chipper, «WELCOME!» At this point I’m pissed, still smiling, while also being a little confused. SHE SPEAKS!
The female customer that walked in smiles in my direction and I return her smile. The woman who didn’t help me tells the woman to let her know when she is ready and that she will help her. While the woman is looking at the menu, I notice that the woman who didn’t help me is staring at me. I give her a pleasant smile because at this point I just want to get the hell out of there. She affords me a fake smile that looked painful and then turns away. Not a minute goes by before I noticed her staring at me again. I find this quite amazing seeing as how she didn’t even look my way when I walked in. The customer pulls her attention away when she begins to order.
Now my food is ready. The man who rang me up smiled and told me to have a nice day, and I did the same to him because he was really the only person in there that I genuinely liked. By the time I left my lunch hour was over. This could have been avoided if she had just acknowledged me and taken my order when I walked in while she had absolutely NOTHING to do! But she didn’t. She instead ignored me and helped three other people (the man who was changing his order, the person on the phone, and the lady who walked in with her son).
I’ve been in customer service for over ten years and what I know for sure is how to handle I crowd of people. I for damn sure know how to handle a ringing phone while a customer stands in front of me and this wasn’t it. I’d hate to believe that the reason I wasn’t helped by this woman is because I am in fact a Black woman, but there is no other reasonable explanation behind the way that I was treated. This is definitely a restaurant that I will never frequent again.

A nice hidden gem here in Irvine. You can tell a lot of locals come here. My friend that grew up in Irvine told me about this place.
I can’t talk about the sandwiches but I had their chicken salad and it was pretty tasty. They do use the cheap lettuce at the bottom for the greens though. Don’t expect any fancy greens. I liked how the chicken was sliced thinly and seasoned well. But my favorite were the crunchy onions on top. It was a great touch. I can eat those onions all day…

Came here for lunch with my boss and have to say i really loved the atmosphere in here. All they need is a pool table :)
I had the mushroom philly steak and it was really really good!
I saved half of it because i wanted to take it home and put it in the toaster oven to get a nice crispiness to it… oh-​em-​gee! The toaster oven took this sandwich to another level of yummyness!
Would I come back here: ooooh yes! after hours because i want to have a beer with my next philly steak sandwich!

Freaking Philly’s Best locations are now a plenty. While I still love the one in Fountain Valley (review here
) this one is by my work and does a great job.
Check the link for a bigger review. I have reviewed the food and this place is just as good. I have not really found a «bad» Philly’s Best yet. This place can get crowded during lunch time as a lot of the kids from the near by school will come over here. But as fast as it fills up it clears out just as fast so they can get back to class.
Place is no longer cash only and the place is always kept clean. They got a group of friendly laid back workers that are churning out that delicious cheese steak smothered in cheese whiz. Pair that up with a ICE cold Rolling Rock and you got a match made in heaven. Oh and if you like the pizza steak, ask them to add pepperoni to it. You can thank me later. CHEERS!!!

It’s not Genos… it’s not Pat’s…but its pretty decent. Considering i’ve only had Genos and Pat’s cold, and brought by plane from a friend who visited Phildelphia… but even then it was pretty damn good.
Philly’s best is not bad at all. It is CASH ONLY, so that kinda hurts that you have to stop by an ATM before coming in here…
But a «steak, whiz, with onions,» (i’ve heard thats how you’re supposed to order…) they do a decent job. Their Cheese whiz is delightfully processed cheeze, muy bueno. The Provolone is also good…
Whiz over fries too, heart attack in a basket… bring your defibulators.
Overall, this place is great, if i’m craving a good Philly Cheesesteak, this is probably the best available in Irvine.

I have never liked a cheesesteak until I tried the one here. The cheesesteak is made to order and the steak is cooked on the flat top just before it is sandwiched between a bun imported from the east coast. I like mine with grilled peppers and grilled onions. The amount of cheese is just right and doesn’t smother the whole thing where it masks the steak.
The other sandwich I really like here is the Italian sub. It is packed with Boar’s Head cold cuts, and drizzled with vinegar and oil — no mayo in sight! Add some of the pepper relish to it and it is one of the best cold sandwiches I’ve ever eaten.
I have to come back for something different next time. I love their use of really fresh products and it really makes a difference! You can totally taste it.

Philly’s Best, huh?
It turns out I have this really nasty character defect where I will be hungry and turn to Unilocal’s mobile app for guidance in meal selections and then I actually heed the collective community consensus. About then something really bad will happen to me.
Enter: Philly’s Best. 200+ reviews. 4 Stars. Infinite «what the hell».
I walk in and it looks like a sleazy dump with surly looking slobs manning the grill while SportCenter plays on a 90’s era big screen in the background. The combined smell of Sysco disinfectant and charred beef permeates the air. The menu font looks like a bottle of New York Seltzer. Some guy on a bike rides up and is apparently 86’ed from a Cheesesteak joint in Irvine (how does that even happen anywhere!!!). I order a Philly Cheesesteak with whiz and within five minutes my order is up and I dig in.
I will concede this much, the bread is spot on. Crusty outside, chewy inside and the perfect mouthfeel. It is about as authentic as it gets. But things go sideways quickly. The minimal amount of beef was grossly overcooked, almost hardened on the edges and the Whiz was applied with the care of a smack addicts used syringe. I get that these things are supposed to be messy, but this was obscene.
A meager serving of overcooked beef blasted with Whiz on a perfect bread roll. Craptacular.
I really hope I went on an off day, because Unilocal really ought to give me my $ 10.00 back. Get it together people.