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Philly cheesesteak taste test: Do delivered sandwiches make the grade?

WASHINGTON — Is there any chance that an authentic cheesesteak sandwich made in Philadelphia and sent on a 140-mile journey to D.C. could taste as good as it does fresh off the grill in the City of Brotherly Love?

СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ wanted to find out when we heard that the Philly landmark Pat’s King of Steaks had started offering online delivery through .

So, for $99, we ordered a four-pack of cheesesteaks “wit” (with onions) with Cheez Whiz.

"The flavor of the steak is excellent, the bread is toasted ... you put your own Cheez Whiz on there, overall pretty good," Mike Jakaitis said. (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/Mike Jakaitis)
“The flavor of the steak is excellent, the bread is toasted … you put your own Cheez Whiz on there, overall pretty good,” editor Mike Jakaitis said. (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/Mike Jakaitis)
Philly landmark Pat's King of Steaks starts offering online delivery through Goldbely. (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/J. Brooks)
Philly landmark Pat’s King of Steaks starts offering online delivery through Goldbely. (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/J. Brooks)
I thought it would lose that made-in-the-place-taste, but if you're really craving a Philly cheesesteak from Pat's, it's worth sending for it," sports reporter J Brooks concluded. (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/J. Brooks)
“I thought it would lose that made-in-the-place taste, but if you’re really craving a Philly cheesesteak from Pat’s, it’s worth sending for it,” sports reporter J. Brooks said. (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/J. Brooks)
"The bread crease completely fell apart," she said, and there was a temperature issue. "The whole sandwich tended to lose heat more quickly than when it's fresh off the grill, so about halfway in, it was already cold." (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/Jamie Forzato)
“The bread crease completely fell apart,” Jamie Forzato said, and there was a temperature issue.  (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/Jamie Forzato)
"The bread crease completely fell apart," she said, and there was a temperature issue. "The whole sandwich tended to lose heat more quickly than when it's fresh off the grill, so about halfway in, it was already cold." (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/Jamie Forzato)
“The whole sandwich tended to lose heat more quickly than when it’s fresh off the grill, so about halfway in, it was already cold,” Forzato added. (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/Jamie Forzato)
"I have to be honest," said editor Mike Jakaitis after taking his first bite, "for a cheesesteak to come through the mail and you put it in the oven, it tastes pretty darn good!" (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/Mike Jakaitis)
“I have to be honest,” said editor Mike Jakaitis after taking his first bite, “for a cheesesteak to come through the mail and you put it in the oven, it tastes pretty darn good!” (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/Mike Jakaitis)
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"The flavor of the steak is excellent, the bread is toasted ... you put your own Cheez Whiz on there, overall pretty good," Mike Jakaitis said. (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/Mike Jakaitis)
Philly landmark Pat's King of Steaks starts offering online delivery through Goldbely. (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/J. Brooks)
I thought it would lose that made-in-the-place-taste, but if you're really craving a Philly cheesesteak from Pat's, it's worth sending for it," sports reporter J Brooks concluded. (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/J. Brooks)
"The bread crease completely fell apart," she said, and there was a temperature issue. "The whole sandwich tended to lose heat more quickly than when it's fresh off the grill, so about halfway in, it was already cold." (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/Jamie Forzato)
"The bread crease completely fell apart," she said, and there was a temperature issue. "The whole sandwich tended to lose heat more quickly than when it's fresh off the grill, so about halfway in, it was already cold." (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/Jamie Forzato)
"I have to be honest," said editor Mike Jakaitis after taking his first bite, "for a cheesesteak to come through the mail and you put it in the oven, it tastes pretty darn good!" (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ/Mike Jakaitis)

A box arrived filled with carefully wrapped sandwiches and ice packs, a single separate container of cheese, and instructions on how to reheat the sandwiches in a 300-degree oven.

СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ recruited Philly natives who work in the newsroom for the crucial taste-test, and asked for their reviews.

“I have to be honest,” said editor Mike Jakaitis after taking his first bite, “for a cheesesteak to come through the mail and you put it in the oven, it tastes pretty darn good!”

Jakaitis said he missed the “ambiance” of eating the sandwich while standing on a corner in South Philadelphia, but the ingredients held up well, in his opinion.

“The flavor of the steak is excellent, the bread is toasted … you put your own Cheez Whiz on there — overall pretty good,” he said. “Now, would I spend the money to have these delivered to me? Maybe — if I get a raise.”

СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ director Jamie Forzato admitted she didn’t have “high hopes” that the sandwich would be a winner, and she did run into some problems.

“The bread crease completely fell apart,” she said, and there was a temperature issue. “The whole sandwich tended to lose heat more quickly than when it’s fresh off the grill, so about halfway in, it was already cold.”

On the upside, Forzato said the sides of the sandwich got nicely crispy in the oven, and the steak inside was “pretty good.”

May 22, 2026 | СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ's Jamie Forzato reviews a cheeseteak delivered from Philly to DC (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ staff)

Upon taking his first taste, sports reporter J. Brooks said “Mmm” twice, adding, “It really is close to the real deal.”

“I thought it would lose that made-in-the-place taste,” Brooks continued, “but if you’re really craving a Philly cheesesteak from Pat’s, it’s worth sending for it,” he concluded.

May 22, 2026 | СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ's J. Brooks reviews a cheesesteak delivered from Philadelphia to DC (СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ staff)

Michelle Basch

Michelle Basch is a reporter turned morning anchor at СÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ Ð¡ÂÜÀòÓ°ÊÓ.

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