It's National Cheesesteak Day! Here are 15 places at the Shore to try one

Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
·4 min read

I never really ate cheesesteaks growing up.

Sad, I know. They just weren't on my radar..

Then I took a job as a waitress in a pizzeria and was introduced to the California cheesesteak. It was love at first meaty, cheesy bite. The California version has lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo, which add crunch and creaminess to such a heavy, savory sandwich.

In honor of National Cheesesteak Day today, here are some of my favorite cheesesteaks — and yours, too.

Cheesesteak Louie's, Seaside Heights

The Louie Chipotle at Cheesesteak Louie's in Seaside Heights is ribeye steak topped with sautéed onions, peppers and chipotle mayo.
The Louie Chipotle at Cheesesteak Louie's in Seaside Heights is ribeye steak topped with sautéed onions, peppers and chipotle mayo.

TJ Perl tucks 12 ounces of freshly shaved ribeye into each of his cheesesteaks, which come in versions like the Louie Chipotle with onions, peppers and chipotle mayo; the Big Dave with grilled pork roll, pepper jack cheese and waffle fries; the Louie Bacon Ranch, which is chicken, lettuce, tomato, bacon, American cheese and ranch dressing; or the Louie original, which has onions and peppers.

Go: 22 Boulevard, Seaside Heights; 732-250-2773, cheesesteaklouies.com.

Bruno's Pizza & Subs, Neptune City

A cheesesteak with onions from Bruno's Pizza & Subs in Neptune City.
A cheesesteak with onions from Bruno's Pizza & Subs in Neptune City.

Do you know that feeling when you take a bite of something and think, "I will never eat anything as delicious as this?"

That was me after my first bite of a Bruno's cheesesteak. The finely chopped meat and melted cheese are piled onto soft bread, and the heat almost steams the cheesesteak shut. This makes for a sandwich where nothing falls out — like a cheesesteak pocket — and you get a little bit of everything in each bite.

Go: 165 West Sylvania Ave., Neptune City; 732-988-3399, brunospizzasubsnj.com.

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Harry's Smokin' BBQ, South Toms River

A chopped cheese sandwich from Harry's Smokin' BBQ in South Toms River.
A chopped cheese sandwich from Harry's Smokin' BBQ in South Toms River.

My love of the California cheesesteak drew me to the chopped cheese at Harry's Smokin' BBQ, where the sandwich started as a special but proved popular enough to earn a spot on the menu.

It starts with freshly ground beef, then owner Harry Clayton adds onions that cook with the meat. "I let it fuse, then season, chop and flip," he said. He adds cheese then tucks it all into a soft roll with lettuce, tomato, ketchup and mayonnaise.

(If you prefer a traditional cheesesteak, Clayton is currently trying out a ribeye cheesesteak special.)

Go: 240 Dover Road, South Toms River; 848-223-9955, harryssmokinbbq.com.

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Donkey's Place Downtown, Mount Holly

A cheesesteak from Donkey's Place Downtown in Mount Holly.
A cheesesteak from Donkey's Place Downtown in Mount Holly.

This one's not at the Shore. But if cheesesteak fans are willing to trek to Philadelphia, Mount Holly isn't out of the question — especially for one loved by the late Anthony Bourdain.

Donkey's Place Downtown is a sister restaurant to Camden's famous Donkey's Place, which after visiting prompted Bourdain to proclaim "The best cheesesteaks in the area might well come from New Jersey.

"It's round. It's got steak, spices, browned onions, real American cheese (such as it is), and a poppy seed roll, and it is sublime," he said.

Don't forget a dollop of hot pepper relish — it's tradition.

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

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Other favorites for cheesesteak:

A cheesesteak with onions at The German Butcher in Lacey.
A cheesesteak with onions at The German Butcher in Lacey.

  • Big Bob's Original Philly Cheesesteaks, Englishtown: 14 Wilson Ave.; 732-851-4941, bigbobsphillycheesesteak.com

  • Big Mike's Little Red Store, Atlantic Highlands: 101 Navesink Ave.; 732-291-2750, bigmikeslittleredstore.com

  • Philly Philly Steaks, Toms River: 1611 Route 37 East; 732-997-3100, phillyphillysteaks.com

  • Speakeatery, Asbury Park: 705 Cookman Ave.; 732-898-9456, thespeakeatery.com

  • Tony Boloney's, Long Branch: 72 Ocean Ave. in Pier Village; 732-963-8629, tonyboloneys.com.

  • Steaks Unlimited, Seaside Heights: 14 Dupont Ave.; 732-830-8830, facebook.com/SteaksUnlimited

  • The Original Steaks, Seaside Heights: 21 Ocean Terrace; 843-206-0452

  • The German Butcher, Lacey: 109 Lacey Road in the Forked River section; 609-693-7100, germanbutcher.com

  • The Galley Pizza & Eatery, Asbury Park: 1313 Memorial Drive; 732-775-7711, thegalleyasbury.com

  • Pat's Pizza, Point Pleasant Borough: 3101 Route 88; 732-892-1018

  • Beef Boys Sandwich Co., Point Pleasant Borough: 3201 Bridge Ave.; 732-701-3900, beefboyssandwich.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: National Cheesesteak Day: 15 favorites to try at the Jersey Shore