The story
In the early 1930s brothers Pat and Harry Olivieri ran a hot dog stand near the Italian Market in South Philadelphia. The story goes that one day they griddled chopped beef with onions for their own lunch, a passing cab driver asked for one, and he told them to drop the hot dogs and sell steak sandwiches instead. The stand grew into Pat's King of Steaks. The first version had no cheese; by the family's account, a manager named Joe Lorenza added it in 1951, though relatives argue over whether it was American or provolone. Rival shops and Cheez Whiz followed, and the Philly cheesesteak went national.
Rival claims
City undisputed. Who first added the cheese (and which cheese) is argued over within the Olivieri family.
Also known as Philly cheesesteak, Philadelphia cheesesteak, cheese steak, steak and cheese.
On the Meridish menu
Cheesesteak was the street food course on menu No. 31 on October 31, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
Thin-sliced beef griddled with onions and melted cheese on a long Italian roll. Two brothers running a hot dog stand here first served the steak sandwich in the early 1930s; the cheese came later.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
