Horsing Around in Downtown Fullerton

 High Horse Saloon

102 North Harbor Blvd. 

Fullerton, CA 92832

No one would ever consider me a country boy. I've never been a fan of country music. In my early twenties, I took a country line dancing class, but that was to impress a girl who ultimately started dating the class instructor. If I were a songwriter, that story would make for a great country song, but that experience might have altered my view of the country music scene. My scars have healed from that event thirty years ago, enough that I had no problem entering High Horse Saloon in Downton Fullerton. 

I needed a place to have an early dinner with my parents, and as they have gotten older, I find myself picking spots closer to their home so they don't have to drive so much. High Horse gets excellent reviews on Yelp (4.3 stars with over 400 reviews), frequently helps out at community events, and was mentioned by OC Register Restaurant Columnist Brock Keeling as having one of the best patty melts in OC. I was sold. 

We met my parents at 5 pm on a Saturday, a couple of hours before Fullerton gets slightly rambunctious. We have been to this location before when it was Florentine's Grill, and even farther back, when my sister used to work here when it was Pete and Tony's. Due to the early hour, we had no problem finding parking behind the restaurant. I'm sure that's not always the case, but Fullerton has done a great job adding parking structures, which helps alleviate parking struggles. 

High Horse Saloon comes to us from Mario Marovic and Andrew Gabriel, who know a little about bars and restaurants. Their roster of spots includes Muldoon's, Malarkys, Madero 1899, Playa Mesa, Wild Goose Tavern, Country Club, and Mickey's Irish Pub, which is located right next door. Predictably, they did a great job transforming this place into a country bar/restaurant. Plenty of exposed wood, hanging wagon wheel lighting fixtures, saddle seat bar stools at the bar, and a stage that features live music most nights and a DJ later in the evening. 

We were, of course, more interested in the food scene at High Horse Saloon. The lunch and dinner menu includes starters, soups and salads, burgers, sandwiches, entrees, sides, and desserts. Items are modestly priced, all under $20, except four entrees that will set you back a bit more. Their happy hour menu is offered from 3 to 7 pm and includes many of the same food items as their regular menu but at three to four dollars less per item. I don't know if happy hour is limited to the bar area or the whole restaurant, but it's something to be made aware of. Let's check out what we had on this visit. 

I'm not the world's biggest cornbread fan, but everyone else wanted to try this Corn Bread Skillet ($9). This came to the table scalding hot in the cast iron skillet and was brushed with honey butter. I liked the contrast between the sweet honey and the cornbread itself, but the menu mentioned some jalapeno, which I did not detect. It would have been better if it had some heat to accompany the sweetness. Not a bad cornbread, though. 

Katie was not content with just the cornbread, so she ordered the Ranch House Salad ($10). For ten dollars, this was a good-sized salad. It came with a base of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, avocado, cheddar jack cheese, cornbread croutons, and a choice of dressing. She went with the blue cheese dressing, which she enjoyed, and found it was distributed evenly throughout the salad. The cornbread croutons were also a treat, but the avocado was turning brown, as seen in the photo above. However, it was not a deal breaker as Katie would get this salad again. 

These Pa's Pulled Chicken Potato Skins ($14) were listed under the starters section of the menu, but my mom had them as her entree. The potatoes were fried nicely, filled with jack and cheddar cheese, pulled chicken, green onion, and drizzled with a ranch crema. My mom generously offered me one, and I rather enjoyed it. The chicken-to-cheese ratio was on point, and the potato was nice and crunchy. I would have liked the ranch crema to be served in a ramekin instead of drizzled over the top, as it was unevenly applied. This would have allowed the guest to control how much went on each potato skin. 

I've said it before, but my dad is always a wild card when eating in a restaurant. When I look at a menu ahead of time, I'm never quite sure what he will get. This time, it was the Tri-Tip French Dip ($19). The tri-tip was piled high between ciabatta with Swiss cheese and fried scallions.  It came with a side of horseradish sauce and an au jus. The tri-tip was average by itself but made better with the cheese and sauces. I really enjoyed their bread, which held up to the contents of the sandwich, au jus, and the creamy horseradish sauce. With the sandwich, you can pick between fries and onion rings. I did not try their fries, but the onion rings are the way to go here at High Horse Saloon. They had a nice breading, seasoned well, and the onion stayed encased inside the outer shell of the breading. The provided ranch crema was an excellent dipping sauce for these rings. 

Katie also chose the sandwich route when she picked this Nashville Chicken Sandwich ($16). This large piece of chicken was joined on the brioche bun with slaw, pickles, chipotle aioli, and Nashville oil, which I just learned is a concoction of cayenne and other spices mixed with oil from the fryer and then brushed over the chicken. Katie liked that this sandwich had a muted heat, which allowed the tender chicken to be highlighted. I found this to be a very mellow spiced chicken sandwich, so if you are expecting more heat, you might be able to ask for that. The coleslaw added a good texture, and the pickles added some tanginess. Next time, a little more of the aioli could be added to the sandwich. 

Since I had just had a burger the night before, I decided to try one of their entrees. I settled on the Saloon Steak ($25). This was good for a mid- to lower-priced steak. The flat iron steak is grilled or blackened and served with chimichurri, pickled red onions, seasonal veggies, and garlic mashed potatoes. The steak was cooked nicely to my desired temperature of medium rare and was reasonably tender. The chimichurri was not as pronounced as others I have had, but still added a nice flavor boost. The veggies were seasoned well, and the mashed potatoes had a good texture but could have used more garlic. 

After reflecting on our meal at High Horse Saloon, I was delighted with everything we tried on this early evening. Food at bars is usually pushed to the background, as the primary focus is to sell cocktails and other libations. This was not the case here or at any other bars/restaurants these guys operate. The food was well thought out and surprisingly affordable. Nothing here will blow you away and demand that you return immediately, but if you are here for some country music or to soak up the pleasing atmosphere, you will not have to eat before or after you leave High Horse Saloon. We also experienced outstanding service, but I did not catch our server's name. I'm not going to be running out to buy cowboy boots anytime soon, but this visit helped me put my sorted past with country music to rest a little more. 

Out of five suits of armor (because the term "high horse" originated in medieval times when soldiers wearing suits of armor rode on high horses to show their superiority over everyday people), five being best to zero being worst, High Horse Saloon gets 3 suits of armor.  

For more information about High Horse Saloon, click here to visit their website: https://www.highhorseoc.com/

Want a Great Sandwich? Grab a Seat at Jeff’s Table

 Jeff's Table

5900 North Figueroa Street

Los Angeles, CA 90042

Predictably, it was a late night/very early morning for us up in Burbank at a family party. We scrambled to make ourselves somewhat presentable before our checkout time of 11 a.m. We gathered our things hastily, Katie scrambled to place her Starbucks order, and I quickly searched for somewhere to eat on the way home. 

I was in the mood for sandwiches, and LA is a great sandwich town. I checked out Eater LA's Best Sandwich list and looked for something close to the freeway that would not be too out of the way. A half dozen filled the bill, but some were eliminated because they were vegan or closed on Sundays. When I saw the picture of the Pastrami Reuben at Jeff's Table, I knew we'd be making a beeline to Highland Park. 

The Jeff behind Jeff's Table is Jeff Strauss. He grew up in the delis of New York and moved to LA for a career writing and producing hit TV shows. Tired of the showbiz scene, he opened this place in the back of Flask Fine Wine and Whiskey in late 2019. His love of smoked meats and the cuisine of Los Angeles is apparent when you glance at the menu here. A potato salad that features Wasabi, a ham sandwich paired with kimchi, and a gruyere crisp inserted into the Reuben show that these are not just your run-of-the-mill sandwiches. This uniqueness has made Jeff's Table one of the most talked about sandwiches in all of LA. 

We were ready to get home after the rowdy weekend in Burbank, so we ordered our sandwiches to go. The Jeff's Table website was easy to navigate, and ordering was a snap. Our food was ready and waiting near the front door at the promised time. For those ordering here, step inside Flask Fine Wine and walk to the back of the store, where you'll find Jeff's behind the beer cooler. There's no seating inside, but I spied a couple of two-seat tables out front. We picked up our bag and returned to OC to prepare for the upcoming workweek and enjoy our sandwiches. 

Katie and I got two sandwiches each since we did not know when the next time we'd be up this way would be. The first of Katie's sandwiches was the Dirty Baby on Rye ($17.45 with avocado added). This one starts with a chicken salad that is equal parts smoky and spicy and is not like your mom's ho-hum chicken salad you grew up with. This is a flavor bomb that also includes both fontal and gouda cheeses, crispy shallots, a chili crisp, and pickled red onion on a very sturdy rye. The textures and flavors that are included here are amazing. I loved the crispy shallots and chili crisp as they added texture that contrasted with the creamy avocado and the cheeses. The chicken salad added a punch of spice, but not in an uncomfortable way. Even those sensitive to heat could eat this with no problem. The rye did not fall apart as expected; it held its integrity. A really excellent sandwich. 

Katie's second sandwich was the Big Brekkie ($15.95 with avocado added). We had skipped breakfast because we were scrambling to exit our hotel room before checkout, so Katie got this to remedy that. The sesame-studded roll included a folded chive egg, crispy ham, manchego cheese, a little bit of aioli, and arugula. This was the most straightforward of our sandwiches, but it hit the spot for breakfast-loving Katie. She liked the egg's creaminess and the sandwich's lightness, but she mostly appreciated that this was a unique breakfast sandwich.  

I'm enticed by Cuban sandwiches, and I almost always order one when I spy it on a menu. I definitely had to try the version at Jeff's Table, which is called the Jubano ($14.95). No surprise, but this version is not your traditional Cuban. Sliced pork is joined by not ham but pastrami, while the Swiss cheese is swapped out in favor of comte cheese, which is very melty. Pickle slices, mustard, and aioli round out this sandwich. I really enjoyed this sandwich. It had the balanced feel of a Cuban, but the pastrami provided a big flavor boost. Maybe too much mustard and not enough of the aioli for my taste, but it's an excellent version of one of my favorite sandwiches. 

I really enjoyed my Jubano sandwich above, but the must-get one visiting Jeff's Table is The "Jeff's Special"  Reuben ($14.95). Again, this is not a traditional Reuben, but this could be my sandwich of the year. Hand-sliced pastrami on griddled rye bread with Comte cheese, sauerkraut, a slightly spicy Russian dressing, and, just for good measure, a piece of crispy Gruyere cheese placed in the middle of it. Wow, this thing was good. A great crunch to the bread, the savoriness of the pastrami, and the melty, creamy cheese was a winning combination.  I had planned on eating only half, but I could not stop and ended up eating the whole thing in one sitting. 

The sides, like the sandwiches, are not your standard deli sides. We tried two of the three available. The JT Slaw ($5.95) and the Wasabi Tobiko Potato Salad ($6.95). I was not excited about the slaw, a combo of cabbage, fennel, and red onion mixed with a black pepper/bread and butter dressing. The fennel threw me off, and the dressing was used too sparingly, so all I tasted was cabbage and fennel. I was much happier with the potato salad. The wasabi flavor was present but not as intense as in sushi restaurants. I was hesitant about the tobiko, which is flying fish roe, but they were so small that I did not even notice them. The creamy potato texture and the dill made this side a pleasant surprise.  

It was an absolute pleasure having the sandwiches from Jeff's Table. Their uniqueness, fantastic textural elements, and flavor profiles make these some of the best sandwiches we've encountered in LA. There was not a dud in the four that we tried. Even though it's not a convenient location for us, the ease of ordering online and the promptness of the order being ready, when promised, helped ease the burden of getting to Highland Park, an area we want to explore even further in the future. A great last-second choice by me, but next time, we won't be able to dig into these sandwiches before heading back to OC.  

Out of five puppets (because Highland Park is not only home to this deli but also to the world-famous Bob Baker Marionette Theater, where puppets have entertained over a million people in the last sixty-one years), five being best to zero being worst, Jeff's Table gets 4 puppets.   

For more information about Jeff's Table, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.jeffstablela.com/

Blow the Whistle, We’re at Penalties Sports Bar and Grill

 Penalties Sports Bar and Grill

469 Magnolia Avenue, Suite #101 

Corona, CA 92879

There are many things I love about Katie. Everything about her is lovely, but when we first started dating, one of the things I liked the most about her was that she had a big family. She is one of four kids in her immediate family, but what struck me was how close all her cousins, uncles, and aunts were.  Coming from a family of four with only one uncle and a couple of cousins, it was a little overwhelming initially, but I loved every minute of it. 

I met Katie's cousin Alyson at one of my first big family parties. She was awesome, and we have seen each other a few times through the years. As people usually do, we follow each other on social media, which helps us stay in touch and keep up to date with what's happening in our lives. As luck would have it, I was on vacation for the week and planned on meeting my good friend Ozker for lunch in his hometown of Corona. Alyson works at a sports bar nearby, so meeting at Penalties Sports Bar and Grill was natural. 

Penalties opened in April 2023 and has quickly become one of Corona's favorite places to watch sports. As we walked in the door, it was easy to see why. Wherever you sit, lift your head, and you'll have access to at least four TVs within your eyeline. Whether you choose to post up at the bar, a high-top table, or a booth, you won't miss any of the action on the field. When we visited at noon, many people were watching soccer and Dodger baseball. After an introduction between Alyson and Ozker and ordering drinks, it was time to get down to business and eat. 

The Penalties menu will not surprise anyone who has eaten in a sports bar before. Wings, nachos, and mozzarella sticks are prominent on their appetizer menu, while the compact entree portion features a burger, a couple of sandwiches, tacos, and two salad options. No entree is more than $20, and starters are modestly priced at $15 or less. Let's see if the food would be a touchdown or a fumble out of bounds. 

Ozker is a big fan of chicken wings and considers himself a connoisseur of all things chicken. Naturally, we started out with the Penalties Kickin Wings ($18). A boneless version is available, but bone-in is the way to go, according to Ozker. These came ten to an order, and we chose the traditional buffalo sauce to coat these rather large drums and flats. They also offer BBQ or a mango habanero, which I will try next time. These wings were fried well, had a perfect crunch, and the meat inside was tender and juicy. It's one of the better wings I have had in some time. The buffalo sauce could have had more heat, but it was worth getting these. Solid ranch, too. 

After the wings, our entrees were out next. First up was Ozker's choice, the Philly Fans Cheesesteak ($16). He eats like a three-year-old sometimes, as he ordered this without onions and peppers, and it came out by mistake with them. I quickly snapped a picture before Alyson took it away to remake him another one. This cheesesteak is made with grilled ribeye, provolone cheese, onions, and peppers on a hoagie roll. Ozker liked this once it returned to the table sans onions and peppers. From across the table, it looked like it had a good amount of beef, and the bun was soft, holding the sandwich's contents well. 

I asked Alyson what her favorite item on the menu was, and she claimed the Penalties Burger ($18) was the way to go, but with her favorite modifications. She always adds avocado and grilled onions, a $3 upcharge for the avocado. They use a short rib/ brisket mix for their patties, then pile on the sharp cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and burger sauce. A delicious, straightforward burger. The beef was juicy, and the avocado and cheese added a nice creaminess to each bite. Unfortunately, they don't offer bacon, which would have made this an even better burger.  

This was a great meetup with Alyson and, of course, Ozker. We stayed for two drinks each, and then it was back home for me. Penalties is the kind of sports bar most people wish would be in their neighborhood. I wish it was closer to where I lived. It is a chill spot to catch a game and have some excellent bar food. I would like them to expand their menu, add a hot dog, patty melt, or more sandwiches. Even though Alyson was the only one working when we were here, she handled things like a pro and seemed to have a good relationship with many of her customers, many of whom I imagine to be regulars. I'm thrilled that Katie and her big family brought us to Penalties Sports Bar and Grill.  

Out of five whistles (because the sure sign that a penalty is being called is to listen for a referee's whistle), five being best to zero being worst, Penalties Sports Bar and Grill gets 3 whistles. 

Penalties Sports Bar and Grill does not have a website, but you can find out information about them on their Yelp page by clicking here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/penalties-sports-bar-and-grill-corona

Flying into Another Hockey Season at Green Cheek Beer Co.

 Green Cheek Beer Co.

2957 Randolph Ave. Unit B

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

It's that time again, the time of year when we pick our Ducks tickets. We split the 41 home games with my parents and our good friend Steve. Usually, the upcoming hockey season is a time for optimism, but our beloved Ducks have been in rebuilding mode for the last five years and have failed to make the playoffs all of those years. They have good young players, but it's still anyone's guess whether they will meld well together and transform into a Stanley Cup-caliber team. Time will tell, but I was less hopeful than I have been. 

When we pick our tickets, I like to choose a place in the middle of where we all live. That puts us in the Huntington Beach or Costa Mesa area. I also want to pick a place where I have never been, and they must serve beer because Steve and I like to imbibe with a few drinks as we choose the games we want to see and catch up with each other's lives over the preceding year. This year, I picked Green Cheek Beer Co. as the meeting place for our ticket swap. 

I had not heard of Green Cheek until my Yelp search led me to its existence. My craft beer game is less strong than my restaurant game, as I usually like to eat my calories rather than drink them. Green Cheek must be doing something right, as they now have four locations (Orange, Sunset Beach, Oceanside, and this one in Costa Mesa) in just seven years of existence. They produce beers, lagers, stouts, and seltzers and have won numerous awards here and abroad. All of their locations have a rating of four stars and above on Yelp, so I was excited to experience what they were all about. 

We arrived at Green Cheek on a Sunday just before 3pm. The place was packed, but there was ample seating in the room adjacent to where you order both food and drinks from the people behind the bar. The weather was perfect for outside dining, so we grabbed a picnic table on their partially covered patio in the back of their space. The crowd was friendly and relaxed, enjoying the last few minutes of their Sunday Funday activities before the realities of the looming workweek invaded their minds. 

The menu at Green Cheek is small, but the staple items are here; a trio of starters, burgers, and chicken sandwiches. They also have about a third of their menu dedicated to plant-based items. Nothing on their food menu is priced above $18, which is a nice change of pace when considering that a typical combo meal at your favorite fast food spot is going for just a dollar or two less. Before picking the Ducks games we would suffer through this year, we ordered food and waited for our buzzer to spring to life. Here's how it all came out for us. 

I've been on a real tater-tot kick lately. Wherever I've eaten lately, I've ordered these tiny little barrels of fried potato. At Green Cheek, we started with their Cheeky Style Tots ($10). This is also available with fries, but I like the crunch of the tot a lot better. Tots are also a lot easier to eat with a group of people. This is their version of animal-style fries, but it's way better than what you can get at In-N-Out. For one thing, bacon is added here, and the grilled onions are in bigger chunks, so they are more pronounced. I'm not usually a fan of cheese sauces, but this one was unobtrusive and went well with the other items on the tray. The tater tots held their crunch way longer than any french fry would have. 

Katie is usually a casual bystander while picking our hockey tickets, only occasionally reminding me that I shouldn't choose a particular game because we have a previous commitment that would conflict with going to a hockey game. My little social coordinator selected the Grilled Chicken Club ($16) for her meal. From where I was sitting, this was a good-looking chicken sandwich. It came with herby lemon mayo, thick-cut bacon, lettuce, tomato, and Swiss cheese on a brioche bun. She also added avocado for an additional charge, but I did not note how much extra it was. Katie liked the freshness of everything involved here but thought the sandwich was missing something. The chicken itself was moist and seasoned well. The avocado and bacon were on point, but the lemon mayo did not shine here. It was too mellow and did not stand out. The fries were nicely done, with a light and crunchy breading. They went well with the provided ranch dressing. 

Smash burgers are all the rage right now, even appearing at fast food joints, but Green Cheek was doing them when they opened 7 years ago. Trendsetters apparently. I've mentioned many times on this blog how my parents are not big eaters, and that was evident again at Green Cheek when they split the Burger For the Kiddos ($9). This single three-ounce beef patty came with just American cheese on a potato bun and a small serving of fries. My parents were quiet this early evening, so I only really got their reaction to this burger and fries when I asked them a week later. My dad claimed he liked the burger but had to get some ketchup packets at the condiment stand set up outside to put on the burger. I bit my tongue so I wouldn't say that's probably why you shouldn't order a kid's burger, but I held it in. 

I, of course, went for an adult burger. The Classic Double Smash Burger ($14) comes with six ounces of beef, sliced American cheese, grilled onions, and burger sauce. I liked this burger, but it did have a few flaws. The bun was squished and did not hold its form very well while I ate my burger. The inside of the bigger was enjoyable but would have been better with more of their burger sauce, which they applied sparingly. The beef, cheese, and bacon ratio were excellent. Asking for an extra side of the burger sauce will be my priority the next time I'm here. 

Ultimately, Green Cheek Beer Co. was a great place for us to meet. The atmosphere was nice and relaxed, the food was good, and getting together with my parents and Steve was also excellent. They were very affordable, which you can only say about a few spots these days. On my next visit, I'd like to return and try their wings or the buffalo chicken sandwich. I hope the Duck's season goes better than I imagined, but since I'm writing this well into hockey season, I know it will be challenging for our local hockey team. 

Out of five soccer balls (because green cheek parakeets are found in the wild in Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil, all of these countries are rabid about soccer), five being best to zero being worst, Green Cheek Beer Co. gets 3 soccer balls. 

For more information about Green Cheek Beer Co., head to their website by clicking here: https://greencheekbeer.com/#home

This Little Piggy Went to John’s Roast Pork

 John's Roast Pork

14 East Snyder Ave. 

Philadelphia, PA 19148

I know it seems that my trip to Philadelphia was all about sandwiches. Before I left on this trip, I thought people were overexaggerating when they told me that the cheesesteaks we had in California were nothing compared to what we'd find in Philly. How different could they be?  As I learned from my first cheesesteak experience at the Phillies game, these people were not just blowing smoke. They were telling the truth, and I expected our visit to John's Roast Pork to be the pinnacle of my cheesesteak journey. 

John's has been in business at this spot in South Philadelphia since 1930. At first, they served mainly the neighborhood's local dock and warehouse workers. Cheesesteaks were not even on their menu for the first 30 or so years; instead, they focused on roast pork brought here by Italian immigrants at the turn of the century. The cheesesteaks were elevated when the current owner, John Bucci Jr., took over the business from his dad in the 70s. He decided to make these sandwiches to order and upped the quality of the ingredients to make the most fantastic cheesesteak in a city full of great cheesesteaks.   

Far from the tourist-infested area of downtown, it took a little time for people to notice the sandwiches at John's, but once the accolades came pouring in, so did the crowds. John's has been featured on many TV shows that declare their cheesesteaks and roast pork sandwiches are the best Philadelphia offers. Celebrity chefs and food personalities sing their praises. They may need to create a new part of the internet just to list all of the "best of" lists they have been mentioned. As if all that was not enough, they also have won a James Beard Award for Excellence. 

We were heading to a soccer match later in the evening, so we were hanging out at our hotel all day, a bit lazy. My good friend Erven and I decided to pick up an early lunch from John's for the gang. We left our place at half past 10 and drove bout fifteen minutes to John's. We hit it at a good time, as we could walk right up to the order window. I had known what I would be having, so it took me no time to get my order in. We waited ten minutes for our sandwiches to be made and were back in the car with what we hoped would be a memorable lunch. 

It's in their name, so I had to start with John's Roast Pork Sandwich ($11.25). Up until that point, I had only had one roast pork sandwich in my life, and that was at Phillie's game a few days earlier. This one was a whole other level than the one at the ballpark. The seeded bun held plenty of roasted pork, spinach, and sharp provolone tightly layered inside. The pork was moist and tender and went perfectly with the spinach and the sharpness of the cheese. I would have liked more au jus added to the sandwich, but I'm very partial to wetter sandwiches. I'm not a roast pork sandwich expert, but I can see why this one is considered the benchmark that others are held up to. It was really that good. 

Even though roast pork was first on their menu, John's is most known these days for their cheesesteaks. I selected their Sweet Pepper Steak ($16.75) to try. The first thing I noticed when I unwrapped this sandwich was its beauty. The seeded roll is from Carangi Bakery and was stuffed masterfully with steak, peppers, and cheese. The sandwich was so well made that there was no spillage of its contents while I ate it. Out of the handful of cheesesteaks I had on this trip, this one from John's had the most cheese. The provolone did not overshadow the meat, which was less chopped than others I have had. It's more in ribbons, which allowed the cheese to cling to the beef better. One heck of a sandwich. 

This would be my last cheesesteak during our short four-day trip to Philadelphia. I'd put this one up with my cheesesteak at Leo's Steaks. Both cheesesteaks are tremendous but different. If you are a big cheese person and like a well-crafted sandwich, John's is the place for you. If you enjoy a massive cheesesteak and where the meat is front and center, then Leo's should be your pick. I really could not pick which one I liked better. They are both incredible, and you'd be lucky to have either of these fine cheesesteaks. The roast pork at John's is fantastic as well and worth trying. Now, if we could just get one of these legends of cheesesteaks to open an outpost in California. 

Out of five tongue depressors (because the first hospital in the US was, of course, situated in Philadelphia in 1751, and I'm sure they used plenty of tongue depressors in all that time), five being best to zero being worst, John's Roast Pork gets 4.5 tongue depressors. 

For more information about John's Roast Pork, head to their website by clicking here: https://johnsroastpork.com/

Cheesesteak Paradise at Leo’s Steak Shop

 Leo's Steak Shop

1403 Chester Pike

Folcroft, PA 19032

We decided that we were going to lounge around our hotel for the night. After two busy days of sightseeing, going to a Phillies game, and enduring a red-eye flight to get to Philadelphia, we felt we owed ourselves a quiet night to relax before our last full day in Philly. We still needed to eat dinner, so I scoured Yelp for a nearby restaurant to grab some takeout. Little did I know that we were about to hit the cheesesteak lottery. 

Less than fifteen minutes away from our airport area hotel was Leo's Steak Shop. Leo's has been open for business since 1974 and is run by the Mullan brothers. Originally opened less than a block away, they moved to their present location in 1986 because they needed a bigger space due to their popularity. One of the reasons for their acclaim was that they have won numerous awards for their cheesesteaks, appearing on plenty of best-of lists, multiple mentions in print media, and a healthy four-and-a-half-star rating on Yelp. 

With all these accolades, I felt ashamed that I had not had Leo's on the original restaurant list I had crafted before leaving California. I was too focused on Philadelphia instead of thinking we might have wanted to find a spot closer to our hotel in Delaware County. Since we were a group of eight, we called in our order to give them time to put it together. We arrived at their storefront just after half past eight, and they were just finishing our rather large order. 

Leo's serves burgers, but the cheesesteaks and hoagies are the main draw. They offer nine different versions of cheesesteaks and 13 varieties of hoagies. The small sandwiches cost $12 or less, while the giant 18-inch sandwiches hover around the $22 price point. There's seating outside at a few picnic benches, but we opted to take our food and eat in our hotel lobby. Let's see what Leo's had in store for us. 

I promised cheesesteaks but wanted to start with the Corned Beef Special ($11.45). This sandwich came on Jewish rye, piled with more corned beef than you could get your mouth around, thickly sliced Swiss, coleslaw, and plenty of Russian dressing. This sandwich was good, but it would have been better if the rye bread had been toasted and the coleslaw had been slightly more pronounced. I enjoyed that they used a lot of Russian dressing on this, and the corned beef was sliced thin, and there was more than plenty of it included here. A delightful surprise in a steak shop. 

Now, what you come to Philadelphia for, or in this case, what you come to Folcroft for, cheesesteaks. Special thanks to Erven for doing the obligatory forearm picture showing how big his Large 18-inch Mushroom Cheesesteak ($22.65) was. He finally finished it for breakfast the next day. I did not finish mine either, as I got two sandwiches and some cheesesteak fries, but I added the inside meat of my cheesesteak to my omelet at the hotel buffet the following day. A genius move, if I do say so myself. 

What we have featured in these pictures is the following: a Regular Cheesesteak ($11.45) and a Pepper Cheesesteak ($11.85) that I got. These sandwiches were heavenly to eat. The chopped meat had just the right amount of American cheese mixed in, which was noticeable but did not overwhelm the beef. A perfect balance. The semi-soft roll held the massive amount of beef and cheese admirably, with little to no spillage. The meat was incredibly tender and seasoned well, and the peppers added a touch of sweetness that went well with the savory sandwich. Easily the best cheesesteak I've experienced up until now in my over 50-plus years of life. I was not alone in this sentiment. 

Katie had a cheesesteak at the Phillies game we were at earlier in the day, so she wanted something different, opting for the Turkey and Cheese Hoagie ($11,85) instead of Philadelphia's most famous sandwich. This hoagie featured as much shaved turkey shoved into the roll as possible, plenty of provolone cheese, a touch of mayo, and some lettuce. Katie called this a simple yet classic turkey hoagie that was a real treat to eat. 

The Ham and Cheese Hoagie ($11.85) was Addison's pick. Her family says she's an aficionado of ham sandwiches, as she has one almost every chance she gets. Like the turkey hoagie, this one had meat spilling out of it. This hoagie came like the turkey one, with some lettuce, provolone cheese, and a little lettuce. I am still waiting to get a review of how Addison liked this sandwich. She's quiet unless it's about some of her passions, like soccer, pop music, or her love of license plates.  

Not that we needed them, but we finished things off with these Cheesesteak Fries ($11.95). This was straightforward: fries with cheesesteak placed on top of them. Even though the fries were frozen and not fresh, they were fried well and held their crunchiness even after our ride back to our hotel and under the weight of the meat and cheese on top of them. The beef was seasoned, and the cheese bound well to it. I ignored this a bit because I got a cheesesteak already, probably due to cheesesteak overload. This would have been better if they added extra cheese on top. 

Leo's Steak Shop was more than a pleasant surprise. This was the best cheesesteak I have had, and it made me realize that the cheesesteaks we have back home in California do not even come close to what we experienced this evening. The meat was way better, the cheese-to-beef ratio was on point, and the amount of meat they used on each sandwich was awe-inspiring. Their prices were incredible, and if I lived here, Leo's would definitely be in my restaurant rotation at least every two weeks. The lady taking our order over the phone was a little overwhelmed with our large order, but she got everything squared away, and it was just about ready at our quoted time. If you find yourself near the Philadelphia Airport, do yourself a favor and go to Leo's for one of the best cheesesteaks you will ever have. 

Out of five buckets of popcorn (because the first 3D movie premiered in 1922, the same year Folcroft was incorporated into a borough), five being best to zero being worst, Leo's Steak Shop gets 4.5 buckets of popcorn. 

For more information about Leo's Steak Shop, head to their website by clicking here: https://leossteakshop.com/