Map of Rick's Steaks

UPDATE: The Rick's location at Reading Terminal Market is now closed. **

Rick’s Steaks is what you might call cheesesteak royalty. It’s in his blood after all. Rick Olivieri runs Rick’s Steaks, located in the historic Reading Terminal Market, and Rick Olivieri is a third generation cheesesteak impresario. His grandfather is Pat Olivieri, none other than the Pat Olivieri who, in 1930, famously invented the cheesesteak sandwich and went on to open the eponymous Pat’s King of Steaks at 9th and Passyunk in South Philadelphia.

With a family lineage like that, you can expect that the steaks at Rick’s are tried and tested. And indeed they are.

Like all fine, authentic Philly Cheesesteak shops, Rick’s has a preferred methodology/recipe that it feels produces the best steak sandwiches. Rick’s cooks their steak in whole slices — rather than chopping it up while it’s on the grill — to preserve the maximum amount of flavor and texture in the meat. The steak is then piled on a soft Italian roll, to which fried onions and cheese whiz are traditionally added.

Other cheese options and toppings, including peppers and mushrooms, are available. Rick’s also produces a worthwhile chicken cheesesteak for those so inclined.

New in 2006:
Rick’s now has a location at the Phillies new ballpark, Citizens Bank Park. It’s located it Ashburn Alley, the great concourse behind Center Field. So the next time you head down to watch Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and the rest of the Fightin’ Phils, be sure to check out Rick’s for a taste of a great Philly cheesesteak.