Shank's Original

I finally got to try Shank’s Original, and I must say what an incredible experience. I ordered “The Philly Special” and man was this sandwich amazing, literally one of the most underrated cheesesteak I had in Philly hands down. If you a true Philadelphian this is the sandwich to order, highly recommend taking the time out to check this establishment you will not be disappointed. I will definitely be returning.🤤😋

Don't be fooled by those tourist trap cheesesteak places (they know who they are). This is a great cheesesteak. Definitely top ten in philly. Rolls are fresh and don't fall apart with the meat. Meat is flavorful and fresh tasting. Sandwiches are full of meat.
There's outdoor seating available. Located right on the river, next to the coastguard station.
Update, chicken parm sandwich, and hoagie were also delicious. Hoagie was jammed packed with meats and deliciousness.

Both the roast pork and cheesesteak are great. I think Shank’s is pretty underrated, and needs to be recognized along with the “big name” cheesesteak and roast pork shops nearby. Pork is tender, flavorful and moist. The cheesesteak was seasoned well, lots of pepper on mine which I’m into. Good bread, and it’s affordable; both sandwiches and a drink for just under $30. Easy to park also.

I missed it, almost didn’t turn back around, then almost left bc their bread hadn’t been delivered yet. Thank God I didn’t. I’m on another cheesesteak tour of Philly & this place was pretty low on my list, but as it was the only one open early I went.
The bread was super fresh, as u can imagine, & the steak! The steak! Tons of copper sharp, I hate having to order extra cheese, mixed in perfectly with tender perfectly cooked & perfectly seasoned steak. The bacon I added was crisp & tasty & the pepperoni popped with flavor.
I’ve had around 30 cheesesteaks in the area & im definetely going back. If I had to rank it off one visit I’d say top 5, maybe top 3,& I could see anyone arguing that it’s the best. Great job guys from a fellow restauranteur! I look forward to coming back!

My top 3 cheesesteak spot Shank’s Original. I visited Shank’s on a Tuesday afternoon for lunch. There was a couple people there which was great because they were able to turn around our food quickly. I got a steak with extra American. They slipped up and gave me onions on it even though I asked for no onions (it happens, no big deal). Overall a top tier roll for the steak which is a great combination with the Cooper Sharp American cheese. Very creamy cheese just the way I like it. The cheese fries are delicious as well. You can’t go wrong at Shank’s in Philadelphia. It’s a great place to enjoy lunch on the water and relax.

My husband and I went here and he’s a Philly native. We’ve been touring different cheesesteak spots to see who’s the best and he said it was the best cheesesteak he’s had in a long time. The bread was nice and soft you can tell it was fresh. The meat was seasoned well and you can tell the cheese they use is quality. We got extra cheese on our cheesesteak and we would definitely go again. It’s a little pricey but worth it

Being from Chicago, I know good food. I've always heard of "Philly cheesesteaks". I had totally no interest. I was on vacation and driving through Pennsylvania and decided to try one. I make the most AWESOME decisions. I stopped at Shank's Original. Why? I did it because it didn't appear touristy and to be a chain. Simple is always better. The damned sandwich was delicious! I have no other way to say it. The employees were also very friendly. The bread was soft and warm. The Steak was great quality. PLUS, I got to feed some birds and sit by some sort of river. I recommend everyone try this place. If I ever return to Philadelphia I will visit Shank's Original again.

Been coming here for years on and off when I’m able too ..but just came here today with my wife and son got a cheesesteak with fried onions and peppers. Got a chicken Italiano, and an order of mozzarella sticks. Everything was really good. This place is great. Just off Delaware Avenue on the water just all around good place to get something to eat and just hang out.ill always be here unless it changes but until then im here !

Despite its unassuming location off Columbus Blvd, Shank’s is a great find for a cheesesteak. I ordered mine with American cheese and with (wit) fried onions. Also ordered a side of fries. The meat was kept moist with the right amount of cheese and the bread did a good job of providing texture. The fries were seasoned well without being too salty. Shank’s is definitely amongst the best I’ve had in the city.

There are a few tables to eat outside but this is mostly a grab-and-go or eat-in-your-car location. Unfortunately, they were out of the chicken cutlets, we’ll be back to try that.

Stopped by Shanks for my third time and they are constantly good. The steaks was chopped just right, had plenty of flavor and no gristle. It was juicy, their onions were cooked just right and the steak was evenly spread end to end on a fresh delicious roll. I don’t like a steak that is not well proportioned and has all the ingredients in the middle and just roll at the end. I got the cheesesteak with fried onions, long hots and cooper sharp. Not only are the steaks good but they have a nice view of the river and you can see ducks and boats go by. The staff was pleasant and prompt and the price was just right.

Got a cheesesteak w/ cooper sharp on a seeded roll with a side of scrapple fries. So good. Nice little spot right on the water.

Absolutely unbelievable cheesesteak definitely top three in Philly. The staff there is extremely nice. You have the waterfront right behind you as a fisherman myself people were fishing there. I would love to have a cheesesteak and fish. You simply can’t beat it. Keep doing your thing. It’s phenomenal.

TLDR: Super convenient location for your on-the-go cheesesteak fix. Try the "Philly Special", which is a cheesesteak with scrapple fries mixed in!

Vibe: 5/5. Located literally right off I-95 near South Philly on the Delaware River, Shanks is an excellent choice for those passing through Philly in need of a quick cheesesteak. The restaurant itself is a stand, with a few outside bar tables and a counter to dine at. Parking is free and ample, with plenty of room on the side of the street near the stand. The stand butts up directly to the Delaware River, so you can sit and enjoy your food on the water.

Service: 5/5. The staff and overall operation at Shanks is great! On the Sunday I visited, I placed my order on my phone via their website and it was ready in about 15 minutes after confirmation. When I got to Shanks, the order was hot, ready and bagged up waiting for me. The staff was very friendly and punctual in getting me my order and making sure I had everything I needed to enjoy my lunch. No complaints here!

Food: 5/5. SOLID example of a cheesesteak in a town littered with them. Pricing is also very reasonable, with a foot long sub coming in around $12. For our Sunday lunch, we ordered a regular cheesesteak wiz wit, a side of fries and onion rings, and their "Philly Special" sub which consists of their regular wiz wit cheesesteak but topped with scrapple fries. Let it be known, the "Philly Special" at Shanks is the way to go. This is the first time I have had scrapple mixed in with a cheesesteak, but it certainly won't be the last. The spiced, unique flavor of the pork scrapple adds a little more umami to the ribeye. Paired with the wiz and fried onions, this is just a heavenly combination. Shanks also uses seeded hard buns, which was the perfect vessel for the heavy handedness of the meat. The original cheesesteak was also tasty in it's own rite and can stand toe to toe with any of the top contenders in the Philly cheesesteak scene. Fries and rings were also tasty, though need to be enjoyed immediately to avoid sogginess. Overall, if you are looking for a unique take on the Philly steak, definitely give the "Philly Special" at Shanks a try!

Philly Native!! Moved to DC, so everytime I visit home, I try to hit a new cheesesteak spot. Decided to try this spot out because of my last name - Shanklin. The servers here were super nice!! Cheesesteak was perfect! Seasoning on point! Perfect meat-cheese ratio! Onions PERFECTLY caramelized! One of my top 5 choices to get a steak in the city now!

I lived in the city for 15 years n always wanted to stop here but never did. Want shame I missed out on all those years of eating here. We have the pork sandwich now it's all I crave!! Fast service. Good prices! Eat outside n parking!!

Best cheesesteak ever. Come from Boston 1-2x a year and me and my team always visit this place. Superb from the meat to the bun and cheese. Fries are good too. I can’t eat any other cheesesteak anywhere.

Bonus outdoor seating on a nice day - clean too.

Wow what a great steak. The seeded hoagie roll was just wonderful. The filling so flavorful. Great ingredients and it shows.

The Place doesn't look much from outside but the quality of steaks is so good. Bread was fresh, meat was juicy, we even treat ourselves to milkshakes. They have tables so it's nice to have true Philly lunch looking at the river when the weather is nice. We will be definitely come again.

Love shanks. Open early, easy parking, killer cheesesteaks. Scrapple fries 🔥

This is juicy, yummy, must try!