It's National Cheesesteak Day. Here are 10 places to find your cheesesteaks in South Jersey

Ready to get your cheesesteak on?

March 24 is National Cheesesteak Day. Debates will rage on regarding which city or state has the best cheesesteaks. Some will forever say it’s Philly, but those of us on the other side of the bridge might have a little something to say about that.

There are dozens of places in South Jersey that make some downright, good-to-the-last bite cheesesteaks, without the bridge toll or parking fee.

Some are institutions, especially Donkey’s Place in Camden where celebrities have dined for decades and even network TV taken paid notice.

There are Donkey’s locations in Medford and Mount Holly, too, where customers can get those famous sandwiches on poppy seed Kaiser rolls.

And there are many other eateries where cheesesteaks are the name of their game. Chick’s Deli in Cherry Hill, Gaetano’s of Willingboro, Yellow Submarine in Maple Shade, as well as newcomers with new types of cheesesteaks to try.

Be daring this National Cheesesteak Day. Try a restaurant you've never been to or a cheesesteak you’ve never had. You just might love it.

Here’s an idea: A Batman & Robin at Cockadoodle Dan’s in Palmyra. Read about it below.

Or how about a pretzel cheesesteak from Peter & Sons Sandwiches in Glassboro?

Check out these 10 places to get your cheesesteaks, South Jersey friends:

Chick’s Deli, Cherry Hill

A fixture in town since 1957, this no-frills deli is known for its Buffalo chicken cheesesteaks.

Chick’s has award-winning cheesesteaks, chicken cheesesteaks and hoagies.

More than 4,300 people follow Chick’s on its Facebook page.

Known for its fresh rolls and its sandwiches are stacked up with plenty of meat.

There also are soups, salads, club sandwiches and a variety of other hot and cold deli sandwiches.

How about a pork roll egg and cheese on a Kaiser roll?

Some refer to it as a hidden gem because it’s tiny and is tucked away in an alley-like setting on Township Lane. It has a handful of tables inside but the sandwich counter is normally bustling.

Go: 906 Township Lane, 856-429-2022; facebook.com/theofficialchicksdeli/

City Steaks, Burlington City

Variety is the name of the game at City Steaks.

There are buffalo cheesesteaks, cheesesteak hoagies, BBQ bacon and steak, pizza cheesesteaks, hoagies, burgers, wings and more.

The location is a few blocks from Burlington City High School and has proximity to Route 130, Route 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike. High Street turns into Route 541 a few miles down.

“Word of mouth is the best advertisement out there,” said City Steaks owner Ken Rosenblatt. “You can’t put a price tag on it ... Someone enjoys something and they tell somebody about it and that person comes in and then it’s like a trickle-down effect. It’s been my success, actually, and just the fact that I’m a family-owned.”

The sandwiches come as meaty, generous portions and are affordable. A mini-cheesesteak is $4.49 and a whole (12 inches) is $8.25.

Then there are the City special steaks, including the Exit 5 steak, which comes with sweet peppers, fried onions, honey mustard and American cheese. The Wood Street steak has fresh garlic, mushrooms, onions and American cheese. There also are City hot subs, including chicken Parm and more.

If you’re looking to quench your thirst, there is a refrigerator filled with an assortment of sodas.

Go: 818 High St., 609-386-3600; citysteaksofburlington.com

Cockadoodle Dan’s, Palmyra

You must be doing something right when you only opened a few years ago and you’re already known for cheesesteaks and wings.

Established in 2020, Cockadoodle Dan’s Wings and Deli is a family-owned and operated store.

The Batman & Robin cheesesteak and it has quickly become a favorite: sirloin steak, shredded chicken, Cooper sharp cheese and a special “Batman & Robin” sauce

Cockadoodle Dan’s also offers fried chicken sandwiches, vegetarian options, a plethora of hoagies, cutlets, salads, cheese fries, onion rings, French fries and more.

The breakfast menu features French toast, omelets, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches and other offerings.

Cockadoodle Dan’s, which also offers catering.

The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.

Go: 9 East Broad St., 856-389-5703; cockadoodledans.com/#/

Dar's Steaks and Que Ricas, Westmont

Do you take your Whiz seriously? Look no further than Dar’s Steaks, where owner Sahar Soleymani makes her own at this takeout-only spot.

Soleymani also owns Que Ricas, which specializes in arepas and empanadas (including cheesesteak empanadas), just up Haddon Avenue.

Growing up in a Mount Laurel restaurant family, she learned to make steaks from her father, for whom she named her business. He came out of retirement to help her launch Que Ricas, and now her parents are scouting locations to open a second Dar’s, perhaps in Burlington County. The restaurateur also envisions opening another location with her husband.

Cheesesteaks at Dar’s Steaks are made with rib eye and built on Del Buono’s seeded rolls. Gluten-free baguettes also are available, as are chicken or seiten cheesesteak alternatives.

Among the offerings at Dar’s are the Hot Chester ($11.75), which includes Hot Cheetos, banana peppers and whiz, and Philly Dilly ($11.50), which is loaded with pickles and whiz. You’ll also find buffalo, pizza, steak and egg or hoagie versions of cheesesteaks.

Feeling decadent? Don't leave without whiz fries and housemade zeppole.

Go: Dar’s Steaks, 142 Haddon Ave., Westmont, 856-885-2460, darssteaks.com

Go: Que Ricas, 46 A., Haddon Ave., Westmont, (856)-858-8500, que-ricas.com

Donkey’s Place, Camden, Medford and Mt. Holly

Of course, you can always head over to the Camden restaurant the late Anthony Bourdain deemed “a national landmark” – or its sister locations in Medford and Mount Holly.

The beloved Donkey's Place opened its doors more than 75 years ago on Haddon Avenue. It expanded with Donkey's Too in Medford in 2001. A third location in downtown Mount Holly called Donkey’s Place Downtown opened in October 2021.

Order the iconic poppy seed roll filled with steak, browned onions, American cheese and hot pepper relish with a side of fries for the national holiday.

Whether you stay to eat in Camden or grab a sandwich to go at the Mount Holly location, you might catch owners/brothers Rob and Joe Lucas at the helm of a restaurant chatting with guests.

Go: 1223 Haddon Ave., Camden, 856-966-2616; 11 Tomlinson Mill Road, Medford, 856-810-0445; 37 Washington St., Mount Holly, 609-689-5015; donkeysplace.com

Gaetano’s of Willingboro, Willingboro

If you grew up in Willingboro and never had a Gaetano’s cheesesteak, then something is wrong.

Gaetano’s of Willingboro calls itself “The Original”. There is another Gaetano’s in Willingboro and there are others throughout South Jersey.

The Gaetano’s on Pennypacker Drive in the township has been around since 1983, but “The Original” Gaetano’s has been around since 1971.

The locals feel these are truly the best cheesesteaks, even better than Philly cheesesteaks.

Gaetano’s of Willingboro has more than 94,000 followers on its Facebook page. People come from all over to taste the regular or chicken cheesesteaks.

Generous portions are one of the things Gaetano’s of Willingboro is known for. A mini is more than enough for one person, while the small can be comfortably shared by two people and the large will feed you for days. And you must get the fried onions on top.

You also can enjoy specials such as The Baconator, a pizza cheesesteak, Texas Hold’em, Jake “The Sicilian Steak”.

The cheese fries, salads, wings, pastas and wraps also are popular. And then there are cheesesteak egg rolls, pizza, burgers and more.

Go: 498 Beverly Rancocas Road, 609-871-5588; theoriginalgaetanos.com/

Jersey Jerry’s, Vineland

Jersey Jerry’s has six sandwiches served on eight- or 12-inch rolls.

There’s steak, cheesesteak, chicken steak, chicken cheesesteak, buffalo chicken cheesesteak with blue cheese and pizza steak.

Order a side of jalapeño poppers, curly fries, onion rings or fried pickle chips with ranch dressing to accompany your cheesesteak.

If you’re looking for something a bit more healthy to go along with your sandwich, the restaurant has plenty of salads to order as well.

Go: 1362 S Delsea Dr., 856-362-5978; jerseyjerrys.net

Peter & Sons Sandwiches, Glassboro

When you dine at Peter & Sons Sandwiches, you become family.

The family-owned and operated restaurant in Glassboro offers a variety of cheesesteaks for the national holiday.

Order a cheesesteak with your choice of cheese and a fried egg or get the bacon barbecue cheesesteak. There’s also the mac and cheesesteak, the cheese fries chicken cheesesteak and buffalo chicken cheese fry cheesesteak. How about one of their famous pretzel cheesesteaks?

You also can forget the bread and order cheesesteak fries — sliced ribeye steak with Cheez Whiz and onions.

Other fry options include cheese fries, garlic parm fries, vodka sauce cheese fries and more.

Wash all that down with a fresh brewed peach sweet tea or lemonade.

Go: 20 Delsea Dr., 856-226-3017; peterandsonssandwiches.com

Steak Out, Sewell

Looking for half-pound cheesesteaks? Well, Steak Out’s got you covered.

The Sewell BYOB offers more than 20 cheesesteaks.

There’s the Big Mike (steak, provolone cheese and Chipotle sauce), cheesesteak with spinach, mushroom cheesesteak, pepperoni pizza steak, the Philly cheesesteak with mushrooms, fried onions and green peppers and more.

If you’re not a red meat eater, chicken cheesesteaks are available.

There’s chicken Milano (mild and sharp provolone cheese, fried tomato, garlic and oregano), chicken pizza steak, grilled chicken hoagie, Philly chicken cheesesteak (mushrooms. fried onions and green peppers) and more.

Pair your sandwich with starters including breaded zucchini and pickles, buffalo chicken egg rolls, cheese fries, garlic bread or mozzarella fries.

Go: 641 Woodbury Glassboro Road, 856-464-8000; mysteakout.com

Yellow Submarine, Maple Shade

The old Beatles song Yellow Submarine was released in 1966. That’s what comes to mind each time we see this Maple Shade classic.

Yellow Submarine, the restaurant, serves award-winning, nationally recognized food, including its cheesesteaks, hoagies, pizza and more.

The eatery offer pizza steaks, steak hoagies, chicken cheesesteak, barbecue chicken cheesesteak, chipotle chicken cheesesteak, buffalo chicken cheesesteak and more.

Hoagies and hot sandwiches, such as sausage, peppers and onions, pork roll or baked ham and cheese, as well as chicken wings also are available.

Broccoli bites, onion rings, Buffalo tenders, chicken tenders, poppers, breaded mushrooms, mozzarella sticks, regular fries and curly fries will leave no one going home hungry.

OK, if you’re not in the mood for a cheesesteak or a sub (but, why?), there are spaghetti and meatballs, meatball parm, sausage parm and chicken parm dinners.

Last but not least for you goody two-shoes, there are also salads.

Go: 710 North Forklanding Road, 856-667-2110; yellowsubmarine.net/

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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Celebrate National Cheesesteak Day at these 10 restaurants