Want a Cheesesteak That’s Worth the Wait? You’ll Find It at This Philly Restaurant

Angelo's Pizzeria at 736 S. Ninth St. in Philadelphia offers epic pizzas, a claim to fame after Barstool's Dave Portnoy gave it a rave review upon its opening in 2019. But what gets locals and visitors in line and motivated to wait for what seems like an eternity are the cheesesteaks. They're piled high with meat and overflowing with Cooper Sharp cheddar and fried onions.

Philadelphia magazine noted that the line is an ever-present reality for Angelo's every day it's open, Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

During a recent visit to Angelo's Pizzeria, Philadelphia magazine's food writer Emily Goulet caught up with several people in line hailing from various U.S. cities and overseas. 

Lena, a Canadian based in Amsterdam who was in Philadelphia for work, reported she didn't understand why she was in line, but she felt compelled to wait anyway. “I've never heard of this place before in my life. I saw a line and figured that if there's a line before something's opening, it must be good, right? So I hopped in,” she said.  

Another individual, Logan from Delaware, reported waiting in his car for more than 90 minutes for a text message that would tell him his cheesesteak was up. These wait times aren't a reflection of Angelo's production, which runs like clockwork inside the shop. It's a product of high demand.

When Lena finally wraps her fingers around her foot-long cheesesteak, she admitted, “This is way too much food for one person.” But the taste and the experience of eating an Angelo's cheesesteak in Philly makes up for the anticipation and the wait.