REVIEW: McDonald’s Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich

McDonald's Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich

Okay that’s it.

I would like to dispel the following rumor: I do NOT weigh 300 pounds.

Just because I eat things like, the Burger King Angus Bacon & Cheese Steak Burger, McDonald’s Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich, Hot Fudge Sundae Pop-Tarts, McDonald’s Chicken Selects, and…

Holy crap. You know what, I’m amazed I don’t weigh 300 pounds.

Well at least I’ve consumed some healthy things, like POM Wonderful Mango Pomegranate. Then there was the Healthy Choice Beef Franks. Also…Um…Give me a minute…Lo-Carb Monster Energy Drink? It’s healthy right? After all it’s low carb.

Okay. Okay. I’ll admit it. There are no rumors about me weighing 300 pounds, but I have gained 10 pounds since Thanksgiving on my pale flabby body. (Wanna see pictures? Okay, maybe not.)

Well I may not weigh 300 pounds, but I’ll get a few ounces closer thanks to the McDonald’s Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich.

Being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it’s very rare that I get a chance to eat a Philly Cheese Steak. However, I did have the pleasure of eating a Cheese Steak from the famous Pat’s Steaks in Philadelphia during a trip there over a decade ago.

Now let me tell you, if you’ve tasted the goodness of an authentic Philly Cheese Steak, this poor attempt by a multibillion-dollar, worldwide fast food chain will make you wonder three things:

  1. Were people in Philadelphia offended by it?
  2. Why can’t a company with billions of dollars do a good job of copying a Philly Cheese Steak?
  3. What’s wrong with Grimace?

The McDonald’s Philly Cheese Steak was so bad that I decided to write a letter to it. (Yes, I wrote a letter to a sandwich.)

Dear McDonald’s Philly Cheese Steak,

You may look like a Philly Cheese Steak. You may be messy like a Philly Cheese Steak. But you sir are no Philly Cheese Steak.

Go back into the kitchen whence you came.

At least the McDonald’s French Fries are still good.

Item: McDonald’s Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich
Purchase Price: $5.79 (Value Meal)
Rating: 2 out of 10
Pros: McDonald’s French Fries with the Value Meal.
Cons: Overpriced. Messy. Not even close to a real Philly Cheese Steak.

32 thoughts to “REVIEW: McDonald’s Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich”

  1. I am a life-long resident of the City Of Brotherly Love. That’s Philly to all you out of towners. Anyone here will tell you. You CANNOT make a Philly cheesesteak anywhere but in Phila. Even if you are from Philly. A lot has to do with the rolls. You can’t make them anywhere else exactly the same. I once ordered a “Philly Cheesesteak” in Virginia and it was served on 2 pieces of toasted white bread!

  2. Philly guy here. Sarc makes a good point about the rolls. Must be Amoroso baked fresh.

    I had the McSteakSandwich and tasted like the Steak-Um you get from the freezer at the supermarket. OK after an eight hour bender not OK for dinner.

    I was also a little surprised to see McD’s trying to market that in Philly. Anyone who has a favorite steak place in Philly (Jim’s, Tony Luke’s etc…) has to be offended my McD’s attempt to cash in on Philly food.

  3. I’ve never had a real Philly cheese steak yet. Most of the ones I order around here look like them, but they taste pretty nasty. I’ll stick to Steak-Ums and cheese.

  4. While living in Pittsburgh, PA all of my life up until 2001, I’d have to say that I never had the pleasure of having an original Philly cheesesteak, so I never missed it….but we DID have Primanti’s Garbage Sandwiches…everything between the bread INCLUDING the fries. Oh, and Marvo…I would love you no matter how much you weigh 🙂

  5. McDonald’s>> These are the same bozos that came up with the McRib. Boneless ribs? And now a not-so-Philly cheese steak. It’s a good thing I still love their fries and McFlurries.

  6. I have a lot of thoughts on sandwhichs. Or rather I think alot about fried food between buns.

    Here are a few things that are relevant:

    A guy in New York was selling Gourmet Philly Cheese steaks. Philli Cheese Steaks are never gourmet.

    A good Philly cheese steak uses creamy cheeze whiz from a five gallon jar and greasy, greasy shards of beef sliced thin and thrown on a hot grill while the meat is still frozen.

    McDonalds tries really hard to make authentic local cuisine. Like the Lobster Roll in New England. I don’t think anyone goes to McDonald’s expecting to have a genuine local food experience.

  7. Antonio’s Pizzeria under the freeway across Kahala Mall is supposed to make pretty decent Philly Cheesesteaks. I wouldn’t know, but that’s what I’ve heard. And their pizza is pretty good too. I think some of their stuff is sent in from other places–that makes it specialer right?

  8. Aymies Mom – I love the Primanti sandwiches! Of course I don’t remember my visit after 8 hours on Carson St.

    I worked at the Penn State Sub Shop in college and we had a PB rip-off called the JoePa. When I go back for football games I tip the grill guy $10 to let me make it myself:

    Two thick slices of french bread
    Grilled (philly) steak meat w/ hot sauce
    Provolone Cheese (melted on steak)
    Fries on top with two big tomato slices.

    The key is the final prep. Must wrap tightly for a couple of minutes before serving.

    It doesn’t taste as good when it’s in your lap.

    Thanks for the memory jog!

    (BTW – The McDonalds lobster rolls in Maine aren’t bad.)

  9. Sarcasmom – Two pieces of toasted white bread? Blasphemy!!

    UncleHornHead – I also think it’s the fresh ingredients that make a difference.

    Bombadil – They say never judge a book by its cover, the McDonald’s Philly Cheese Steak is an exception.

    stank – Duh?

    Anne – Silly blogger, we are all friends here, who respect each other. If someone doesn’t respect someone, I’m going to beat them up to a bloody pulp.

    Aymie – Oh, but I bet they taste better than the McDonald’s one.

    Aymie’s Mom – That Garbage Sandwich sounds damn good. Oh yeah. Aaah, unconditional love.

    Mimi – Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me. I forgot about their $1 hot fudge sundaes. I like those.

    Ian – McDonald’s made a Lobster Roll? Ugh?

    lightpinksheep – I had a Cheese Steak from a place in Kailua, but I can’t remember the name. It was good.

    UncleHornHead – Dude, you’re making me jealous.

  10. It looks like roadkill on a bun…I don’t even want to know what the special sauce is in that little beauty…Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go bleach my brain of that food like dealie.

  11. Can you go to my website or lend me so…I mean let me have some money, don’t throw it away at these fast food joints….I’ll take better care of your dollars….that make sense, doesn’t…..if anything visit my blog and tell friends!!

  12. Ummm.. I dunno if I’d trust Mickey D’s to make a decent Philly Cheese Steak sandwich. The McRib.. yes. It’s good as hell, as well as most of their menu. Man, I remember when McDonald’s tried to make pizza! Oi Vey.. that was nasty. It was almost like eating spoiled edible underwear.. err.. not that’d I’d know what that tasted like.. *runs away from the comments section*

  13. Dawn – Maybe they should call it the Fake Cheese Steak. Yeah the name sucks. I only like it because it rhymes.

    girlfiend – Are you sure?

    taikog – Not as nasty as…(fill with your imagination).

    Mia – I think the special sauce was grease. Ugh!

    Worker – If I gave you some of my money, then I wouldn’t have money to review products, and if I don’t review products then I wouldn’t have a blog, and if I don’t have a blog, then I don’t have a life.

    ThaSickness – Spoiled edible underwear, eh? Was it the strawberry or orange flavor?

  14. I went and checked out the Grimace site. Did you see the little McNugget dancing around? Cute little guy! It reminded me of the McNugget toys from the McDonald’s happy meals when I was a weetle one! Omg, I loved those. They wore costumes! *squeeful reminiscence*

  15. For the record. I LOVE Chicken Selects. And I love the Crispy Chicken sandwich, and I really think I wanna try the Ranch Bacon. 😡 Also, the sweet and sour sauce is just the best, ever. Omg, no wonder I’m a tad-bit on the large side. Nah, I don’t eat there often. 😛

  16. I agree with UncleHornHead.

    A Philly cheesesteak requires an a fresh baked Amoroso roll.

    And are people in Philly offended? Yes, they don’t even sell them here, because no one would eat them.

    They are a disgrace.

  17. I’ve lived in Philly my entire life and I refuse to eat a cheesesteak anywhere else. They don’t look the same or smell the same so I’m pretty damn sure they don’t *taste* the same.

    And to answer you’re question, I’m not sure people in Philly are angry with McDonald’s about the mess they call a Philly Cheese Steak….I think it’s probably more like “WTF were they thinking bringing this to the Philadelphia market?” Especially since you pay in excess of $5.00 for that 6″ piece of crap when you can get a *real* cheese steak on a foot long Amoroso roll for $3.50 or a two-footer for $6.00.

  18. John Rogers – Amoroso, mmmm.

    T. Marie – You know, I’m really curious about this McD’s Lobster Roll. I WANT TO REVIEW IT!!!

    hmw – McDonald’s tries so many regional menu items, and it seems like they all fail.

  19. I don’t know any self-respecting resident of the Philadelphia five-county area who would admit to eating one of those. Nasty, yo.

    Almost as bad as the Arby’s Philly Steak and Swiss. As if we’d put swiss on a cheesesteak.!

  20. I’m from the Philly area too. Wouldnt touch a McD’s cheesesteak with a 10 foot pole. As has been said.. you can get them better and cheaper..elsewhere. What will they assault us with next? A McD’s wannabe tastykake?

  21. For a lot of years I lived down the street from Pat’s Steaks in South Philly. I can tell you with a large degree of certainty that it’s not just the roll [although a fresh made roll from Sarcone’s, well, that’s heaven] — it’s the grease. There is something about the grease that makes the steak. For all I know, Pat’s employees pee in the grease every morning…but whatever they do, it’s stellar. Stellar, I say!

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