Pat's King of Steaks, Fast food restaurant in South Philadelphia, United States.
Pat's King of Steaks is a fast food restaurant in South Philadelphia that serves thinly sliced sautéed beef and melted cheese in long hoagie rolls. The place sits at a street corner and operates around the clock, drawing people at any hour of the day or night.
The restaurant opened in 1930 and introduced Cheez Whiz as a topping for Philadelphia's signature sandwich. This choice shaped how the sandwich became known across the city and beyond.
The ordering system uses local slang where customers say "wit" for onions or "wit-out" for none, a language that regulars and first-timers alike have learned to speak. This way of ordering has become woven into the neighborhood's identity and how people experience the place.
The restaurant sits at a street corner and is always open, whether early morning or late night. Visitors should expect to order at a window and eat while standing or outside, as this is a casual walk-up spot.
The place is known for its rivalry with another famous sandwich stand in the same neighborhood, with the two establishments sitting just blocks apart. Many people visit both to compare and decide which one they prefer.
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