Taking the first bite into an Angelo's cheesesteak feels like stepping off the plane at the beginning of a vacation. All the problems of daily life fade away. What matters now is shredded steak and melted cooper sharp that’s layered into warm, toasty, and crackly seeded rolls. The Bella Vista cash-only spot can get more packed than Walmart on Black Friday, but since they serve the best cheesesteak (and some of the best pizza) in town, it’s always worth the wait.

The pig. The myth. The legend: John’s Roast Pork. At this South Philly spot by the depressing Chuck E. Cheese on Snyder, they make the titular roast pork sandwiches just as well as they make cheesesteaks. Sesame seeds on the crackly roll add to the mound of provolone and expertly diced steak. There's only a handful of seating in John's Roast Pork, but there are more picnic tables outside. Or you can pick up a steak at the window like you’re at a drive-thru. Just bring cash.

When people think of cheesesteaks, they don’t always think of the Northeast. But if you stop by this casual Italian restaurant in a shopping center on Holme Ave., you’ll see a line of people waiting for one like it’s the hottest club in town. The signature here is the Don Cheech’s Steak, an ideal combination of thick-sliced ribeye, melty cooper sharp, and fried onions on a seeded roll.

Before the Pizza Jawn team opened Bar Jawn, we had to light a prayer candle and hope the busy Manayunk pizza place didn’t sell out of cheesesteaks. Now, you can head to their rowdy corner Manayunk bar and order one while watching the Flyers let you down. Thankfully this sandwich—with hunks of ribeye hanging out with melted cooper sharp on a long, crackly seeded roll—won't ever do that.

Jaxx Steaks in Dickinson Narrows offers something most spots on this list don't: a place where you can sit back with a few beers, eat a cheesesteak, and stare at some Philly-themed chalk art. While they do have a few steak options here, including one that’s topped with broccoli rabe like a roast pork hybrid, the regular steak is the best. That’s because of how toasty the bread gets, and the way the blend of onions and super thinly sliced beef complements gooey provolone or American.

In the faint glow of the Hustler Hollywood store on Spring Garden Street sits Northern Liberties long-running pizza shop, Del Rossi’s. In addition to great grandma-style pies, Del Rossi’s churns out some of the city’s best cheesesteaks. The recently reinvented housemade rolls are a game changer–they’re thick and crisp on the outside, airy on the inside, and speckled generously with sesame seeds. Inside holds gooey chopped meat and cooper sharp, along with their standard silky fried onions.

South Philly's Nipotina makes a lot of great sandwiches, but it's The Eye that we just can't quit. It’s juicy with ribeye, but the toasted roll never gets soggy. The chopped onions have bite, and work nicely with the rich, melted cooper sharp. You can customize it with about 100 different toppings, and we plan to try them all.

Known for its pizza (get it? Circles and squares?), this Olde Richmond shop also makes cheesesteaks so good we think it should be renamed Circles, Squares, and Soft-Cornered Rectangles. The $13 meaty creation layers thick, house-shaved ribeye and gooey cooper sharp on a soft 10-inch seeded Liscio's roll. It’s one of those rich and creamy cheesesteaks that’s almost too good—it’s as if A.I. has been tracking your cheesesteak intake for years and crafted this one just for you.

There are just cheesesteaks—and then there’s the one from Gionnones in the Northeast. It combines nicely sliced ribeye on a seeded, buttery roll with your choice of cheese and toppings (we suggest cooper sharp and fried onions). The caliber of meat is the great separator here—the quality is excellent, and it’s never a mushy mess. There are a couple of other options, but you need to get your hands on the classic before you head back down the Boulevard.

Max’s is easy to spot. They have a massive bold neon sign out front and the scent of sizzling beef luring you inside. But it's the foot-long sandwiches with gooey provolone that will keep you coming back. A cheesesteak at the North Philly spot only costs $11, and while they have a few options like pepper steaks, chicken, and mushroom, there’s nothing better than the version loaded with onions and tangy pickles. They're also open until 1am on weekdays and 2am on the weekends.