National Cheesesteak Day Date in the current year: March 24, 2024

A cheesesteak (also known as a Philly cheesesteak, Philadelphia cheesesteak, cheese steak, cheesesteak sandwich, or steak and cheese) is a sandwich whose main ingredients are – you guessed it – steak and cheese. It consists of very thin slices of beefsteak served in a long hoagie roll with melted cheese. The cheesesteak is a type of the submarine sandwich that originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the 1930s.

The most popular origin story of the cheesesteak credits Philly restaurateurs Pat and Harry Olivieri with its invention. The brothers Olivieri opened a hot dog stall in 1930 and created the cheesesteak three years later. As the Olivieri family relates the story, one day the brothers decided to make something unusual for lunch. They bought some inexpensive steak at the local market, sliced it very thinly, and grilled the meat with some diced onions.

While Pat was eating the sandwich, a regular customer came by and asked to try the dish. Pat made another steak sandwich and sold it to the customer for ten cents. Soon afterwards, Pat and Harry quit making hot dogs and started selling steak sandwiches, which would eventually evolve into modern cheesesteaks. The sandwiches were so popular that the brothers managed to save enough money to open a restaurant. Pat’s King of Steaks opened in 1940 on the same spot where the hot dog stand used to be.

Over the past decades, the cheesesteak has become a popular fast food in Philadelphia and outside it. Outside of its home city, the cheesesteak is often referred to as the Philadelphia cheesesteak or the Philly cheesesteak.

The cheesesteak is traditionally made with thinly sliced rib eye or top round steak and provolone or processed cheese. Common additions and condiments include sauteed onions, grilled mushrooms and/or peppers, ketchup or hot sauce, tomatoes, and lettuce. In Philadelphia, the cheesesteak is always served on hoagie rolls. A variation of the cheesesteak made with chicken instead of beefsteak is called a chicken Philly or a chicken cheesesteak.

The origins of National Cheesesteak Day are unclear, but there is no denying the fact that this iconic sandwich deserves to be celebrated. Of course, the best way to observe the holiday would be to take a trip to Philadelphia and have an authentic cheesesteak there, but we realize that this option isn’t for everyone. Luckily, there are many other ways to pay tribute to the cheesesteak.

You can celebrate National Cheesesteak Day by going out to a place that serves cheesesteaks and ordering a delicious sandwich, making cheesesteaks at home, inviting your friends and family over for a cheesesteak party, or even hosting a friendly cheesesteak cook-off to see whose cheesesteaks are the most delicious. And don’t forget to snap a photo of your cheesesteak before diving in and post in social media with the hashtags #NationalCheesesteakDay and #CheesesteakDay to spread the word about the holiday.