Random cheesesteaks in Philly are far better than random cheesesteaks in any other city, but I would never recommend a tourist to go to a random spot over one of the highly rated places. You'll just feel it was good but over hyped. It's a waste of time for someone who is there temporarily and doesn't live in the city.
If you go to a place like Joe's you'll understand why the food became famous in the first place and how much better cheesesteaks are in Philly.
I was in Philly a few years ago for a day trip and tried two different cheesesteaks. Both were fine, but they're not places I would ever seek out again.
I've definitely had better delicious hot steak sandwiches with cheese and toppings in other places. Maybe I was expecting something different, or maybe you've got a point?
Guess I'll have to get to Joe's if I am in Philly again!
Honestly, Joe's is just a random place. If you're near there don't even bother with cheesesteaks. There's so many great places to eat along that corridor, whether you want a sandwich (like at Costinello's or Liberty Kitchen), Falafel at Goldie's, something fancier/more substantial at Elwood, Suraya, Middle Child, Cheu, etc. Or just want to eat at a bar, there's JB's, Kraftwerk and more, with great new places popping up all the time. This is true in most neighborhoods.
The steak shops on South Street (Jim's when it reopens and Ishkibibble's) are probably the best places to eat in a touristy area where there's nothing else better around. Campo's or Sonny's in Olde City are good too if you can't get a table at a real restaurant or just want something quick.
so many great places in this post. i'd also add angelo's. that's been my favorite steak since moving to the city (but also want to try d'alessandros, have heard good things)
To be honest I've never found cheesesteaks to be exceptional, the best of them are just pretty good, cheap, convenient and satisfying. I tell people that if they want a really good sandwich in Philly, they should go to DiNic's for one of his pulled or roast pork sandwiches. It's in Reading Terminal Market, which is a pretty nice place to take visitors anyway.
I guess we have opposite opinions, as I'm convinced the glowing recommendations for the pork rabe sandwiches are mostly manufactured by people with blogs, vlogs, and listicles to make who weren't getting any return writing yet another story about cheesesteaks. The good cheesesteak places don't really change much.
I went to college in Philly and not once did anybody ever suggest we go get one. When I was visiting a few years I was the one who told my friends about the sandwich. They'd grown up in Philly and never heard a mention of it. We made a whole trip of it.
It's a unique sandwich and not bad, but everyone felt we should have made a trip of going to get our favorite cheesesteak instead.
If you go to a place like Joe's you'll understand why the food became famous in the first place and how much better cheesesteaks are in Philly.