Sonny’s Famous Steaks

Oh man. I love everything about this place.
This was my first trip to Philly and I read about all the big hitters when it came to cheesesteaks. I’m glad I went to Sonny’s because they exceeded my expectations.
Not only was the food amazing, but so was the service. I wish I would have gotten the name of the gentleman who took my order tonight because he is an amazing employee. So courteous and pleasant. So whoever was working the counter around 9:45p on Friday 6/​17, you were awesome!

Every time we’ve been to Phila, we’ve always tried a new cheesesteak spot. Sonny’s takes the cake. It’s busy, but the line moves quickly. The wiz is mixed nicely with the steak, the meat was not too thick (looking at you, Prince’s), and the roll was just right. The fries were also a 10! Next time I’m in town, I won’t settle for anywhere else!

My first true Philly cheesesteak! I got the normal one, the steak with wiz, grilled onions, and jalapenos. It was really good! The steak was really flavorful, and the cheese was good. The onions added a nice flavor, and the overall meal was delicious and filling. The bread could have been softer and chewier, but I guess I’ll excuse that. The sandwich was about $ 9, which is a bit high for a sandwich but it’s worth it once in a while (if I were to live around here, of course). Would recommend, delicious!

READ BELOW! DO NOT EAT AT SONNY’S! NO CLASS! NO INTEGRITY! First time ever going to Philly and first time having a Philly. In the line of work I’m in I don’t get many days off but when I do I try to do things that are relaxing, fun and not job related. I was in Philly for a WizardCon and heard about Sonny’s so I thought to myself, lets make the day great by enjoying a Con and a Philly from a place near by. The customer service was horrible no smile, no hey how are you? No common courtesy at this place. More like «WHAT DO YOU WANT!!? GIVE ME YOUR MONEY AND GO!!» type of feel. The woman Rose who attended to me (and I know is the owner b/​c of how she talks to the employees and customers) has an attitude like your bother her because you came to spend money at her place! They make my Philly don’t even give it to me on a plate or tray. Just handed me my Philly wrapped up in a overly greasy sheet of paper. Literally my Philly went thru the paper as I ate at the table and was falling apart all over the place. The tables by the way are set up to make you feel like your in a high school cafeteria in 1985. Its 2016 rearrange the place and be nicer to people! Being nice is FREE!
I was in a rush to take my train back to NYC and had several bags with me that day which was a Saturday. In my urgency to leave this place I left one of my bags which contained two worn out VHS tapes of the Green Ranger which I had signed by the actor to my NAME. I’ve had these tapes with me since I was a kid (25 yrs+) they aren’t worth more than $ 2 if you try to sell them, but the sentimental value they have to me are what make them special and why I had them signed to my NAME.
I call back and Rose (the owner) picks up and I asked her if she seen the bag. She said yes and I told her my dilemma and that I was on the train back to NYC. I told her that I’d be willing to pay her to ship it to me and give her a little more because of the inconvenience of shipping me my bag (Mind you the FedEx is 10 blocks away from her business). She gladly agreed and told me that she would hold my bag and take care of my things and call me on Monday to ship my bag to me and even gave me her cell phone number. What do you think happened on Monday?
She never called me, the cell number is a fake, and every time I call the business to speak to her she lets it ring several times, tells employees to pick up and say she isn’t in, or the best one she picks up herself and I know her voice and she says that Rose isn’t in and puts me on hold to go get Rose and then hangs up after a few minutes of me having to hear her treat people rudely while taking orders. Rose has no integrity and its sad that in the world there still exist people like this who only think about themselves and are running a business. All they see people for are $$ instead of making the world a better place and doing a little bit to help others out, they only think of themselves. Shame on her and on this business.
There are better Philly Cheese Steak spots in Philly to eat that will treat you better than the way Rose (The Owner) does and you’ll be putting your hard earn money in a place that actually cares about other people and makes good food. If this is how the owner will act over a VHS there is no telling what kind of food they’ll serve you just to make a buck. DON’T GO TO SONNY’S THEY WILL MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR JUST ANOTHER NUMBER TO THEM!

Not too bad, but definitely not good. It’s a very small place with minimal seating, no A/​C so everyone is sweating profusely, the floors and tables are not clean, etc.
I didn’t order anything, but I had a bite of my wife’s sandwich, their ‘signature’ Philly Cheesesteak, which had CheezWhiz on it… nasty. Tasted the sandwich my son got which had American cheese and it was a bit better. The bread on both was not very good. We will never return.

Philly Cheese Steak with Cheez Whiz was delicious here. The sandwich was super tasty & juicy! When you order you get an entire roll so it can definitely be shared, but I didn’t share it: P

Sonny’s transformed my understanding of why the Philly Cheese Steak is an iconic regional specialty. I was predisposed to enjoy Sonny’s because my friend who is a chef told me it is the place serving up his favorite Cheese Steak. He advised me to order it as a Beef Whiz Wid to get the most traditional style, though he prefers American cheese for melt and flavor. The Wid means «with onions» which you either already know or learn through any Google search for a list of best places in town.
The first bite was the bliss that I experience whenever I encounter a truly outstanding dish. It was heavenly. The second and third bites held the quality and flavor. I’m leaving Philadelphia the same day I found this glorious sandwich and I’ll be taking my craving with me!

As a new implant to the philly area I decided to treat my mom to a classic Philadelphia experience. We got the cheesesteak with cheese whiz and fried onions and a cheese burger with American cheese. The burger was mediocre although their cheese was yummy. The cheesesteak was pretty good! We enjoyed that. The fried were hot and crispy. The service was poor, the cashier was talking to the cooks for a full 2 minutes before acknowledging the customer but he was friendly.

Coming to Philly for the first time, I knew I had to get a famous Philly cheesesteak in my belly. Of course I Unilocaled and researched a few places in the downtown area because that was where we were going to be for the afternoon. If I/​we had the space in the tummy, it really would have been awesome to try a third place too. Unfortunately there was only room for two places, so of course it came down to the two famous «dueling» tourist spots. Here is the first verdict.
I arrived in good timing as it was right before the lunch rush. I was able to walk right up and place my order at the counter. I was debating about the cheesesteak with the cheese or «wit cheese» but instead opted for the regular rib-​eye beef on a roll with onions and cheese. I wanted to try it real or regular.
I ripped into the freshly black and white newsprint wrapped roll, taste buds salivating. The first bite was… good. The meat was thinly chopped, not super flavorful, yet not super juicy either surrounded by grilled onions and (white) cheese. So I sat and chomped away on my sandwich but wishing I was more wowed than I was.
The place was of simple décor. The menu was straight forward, simple and hanging above the grill/​prep area. Service was quick, efficient and friendly. Overall, it was fun to try this «famous» place but I don’t think I’ll add it to my favorites.

So why has it taken me so long to learn about Sonny’s? This is a great cheesesteak. Not greasy, fresh bread. Forget all the other cheesesteak places. It’s clean, there’s seating, and they employees are kind and patient. My mouth is watering as I’m writing this because I remember how good it was. This is my new recommendation for anyone visiting from out of town. Easily accessible via bus, subway, or foot.

My sandwich was amazing — got the classic they recommend for out of towners, beef with onions and whiz. It was amazing, I wish I had one in my hands right now. The lady between the counter was soo friendly and patience with everyone. I’ll be back.

Giving 1 generous star for their cheesesteaks. It was decently good. What was disappointing is the lack of care for customers because we had ordered cheese fries with the works. They were out of utensils and had asked them 3 times for it and all they told us was it’ll be right out.
We had already finished the cheesesteaks but the cheese fries left untouched. Decided to go up to the counter with the plate of cold cheese fries and ask for a refund. As soon as we said that the utensils were brought out immediately!
Took a bite. It was cold and not enjoyable… it went in the dumpster.

We stopped in Friday night and were met with not quite friendly service. The young man kind of rude when he yelled at the line to «stand against the counter» if we were in line. Then the computer register went down so there was a little bit of a wait.
The hamburger with grilled cheese, the ratio of meat to cheese was off. Maybe a bigger burger would make it better. There was not enough cheese whiz on our cheesesteaks and we had to pay $ 1 more for extra cheese. The meat and bread tasted great though. It was our first visit and it’s good to know these things prior to ordering, especially if you like a cheesy cheesesteak.

Tried my first cheesesteak ever here. Got the regular cheesesteak on a hoagie with onions and cheese whiz (recommendes). I wouldn’t call it the best thing I’ve ever had but I also think I realized that I might just not be a cheesesteak fan but I had to try one since I am in Philadelphia. But I think it was good for what its supposed to be.

Was in old city and I was looking for a cheesesteak place nearby. Checked Unilocal and saw Sonny’s. Went on a weekday night around 6pm, it was pretty dead inside.
I ordered the cheesesteak meal with wiz, onions and peppers. It came with a drink and fries for additional $ 4. It was pretty pricey. I think the total came out to a little over $ 15.
The food was decent. Chopped steak, good flavor, but a bit fatty. It didn’t taste as fresh as I would have liked either. The fries weren’t bad, but it also didn’t taste as fresh as I would have liked. The drinks are fountain style.
There’s plenty of seating and it’s a pretty good sized restaurant. Service was fast and somewhat friendly. I just wasn’t that impressed with the quality and the taste of the cheesesteak.

I came to Philly from New York for a day trip. The main goal was to eat a Philly cheesesteak in Philly, but, unfortunately, I was disappointed with the one from Sonny’s. The other highly-​rated places were out of the way, and Sonny’s is pretty close to all the touristy places so I came here.
I ordered one with American cheese and without onions. I always thought American cheese was yellow, but this kind was white. It wasn’t all the way melted. The meat was too chewy and just very mediocre. The bread was also chewy. Overall, not what I expected. The fries were good, though.

Thoughts:
–They make your order quick
–Don’t forget to pick up some pickled peppers at the condiment area.
–Napkins on-​demand near the soda machine (no need to ask for more at the cashier)
–The sandwich itself was tasty. Got the Classic. Beef and onions. Plus self-​added peppers

3.5 stars
Walked into Sonny’s around 5:30pm on a Monday evening. No line and hardly any customers inside. The cashier on shift was friendly and helpful! There are a few small tables along the wall and three picnic style tables towards the back. Condiment station and fountain drinks also located to the right of the cashier.
Cheesesteak with choice of cheese ($ 9): Five different types of cheese for your delicious stacked steak! I was recommended the cheez whiz to try my first time in Philly. The cheez whiz is similar to a nacho cheese. Additional toppings range from free to $ 2.
Bacon Cheese Fries ($ 6): Thin cut fries with cheez whiz and bacon bits. Very simple — comes in a small container. Definitely not worth the price.
Street parking only. Short walk from the Liberty Bell.

I’m kinda sad… :(while in philadelphia i only ate at one cheesesteak place, and it was sonny’s. don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the food. it was pretty good, but i wanted to check out more places that specialize in the infamous cheesesteaks.
i think we got the classic. which is a cheesesteak with cheese whiz. it took about 5 – 7 mins for it to cook, and when we got it, it was smaller than i imagined. which is ok for me, cuz that allows me to try more items on my trip. however, i wished they used more cheese. i guess i should’ve asked them for extra cheesewhiz. i for one like fake cheese, (think nacho cheese) and for my first real cheesesteak, sonny’s was good enough for me!

Tourist Alert: If you are staying nearby don’t miss this authentic treasure!
The feminine offspring who is now working nearby was in the mood for a decent cheesesteak so she chose Sonny’s and I am glad she did. It’s located right on Market Street and has outdoor seating so on this warm October day we chose to seat outside. When we chose one of the aluminum tables we were rewarded with all the sounds of the city and some great people watching. I’ll be honest, I have passed Sonny’s hundreds of times never giving it a thought. Shame on me because the proprietors serve great steaks with smiles. Peruse their website and see they value their commitment to the city in which they were born and they take pride in having been awarded GQ’s best Philly cheesesteak.
We both ordered cheesesteaks with a shared order of fries. My palate was happy with the nicely chopped ribeye and perfect amount of cheese. What impressed me was how good it was minus the grease of other cheesesteaks I’ve had elsewhere. My daughter said it was the best meal she had all week.
When my expat Philly friends are in town, I will now be taking them only to Sonny’s to satisfy their cheesesteak fix.

Establecimiento pequeño pero excelente servicio el mejor philly cheeseteak que he probado tristemente en nuestra visita se acabaron los aros de cebolla altamente recomendado para presupuestos ajustados