A little reason to celebrate
National Cheesesteak Day
Food ยท March 24
A food day for the cheesesteak: thin-sliced beef cooked on a griddle, topped with melted cheese and tucked into a long roll.
National Cheesesteak Day falls on Wednesday, March 24, 2027. That is 148 days away.
A cheesesteak is a long roll filled with thinly sliced beef that has been cooked fast on a hot griddle, then covered in melted cheese. It comes from Philadelphia, and the city still treats it as something close to a civic possession.
The beef is usually ribeye or another tender cut, shaved so thin it cooks in moments. Cooks often chop it on the griddle with a pair of spatulas, which is why the meat ends up in loose, tangled pieces rather than neat slices. Onions are a common addition, fried alongside the steak until soft. Peppers and mushrooms show up too, depending on the shop.
Cheese is where opinions get firm. Provolone and American cheese are both common, and so is a runny processed cheese sauce that some people consider the only honest choice. Ordering in Philadelphia can involve a kind of shorthand, naming the cheese and saying "with" or "without" for onions, and regulars say it quickly.
The roll matters more than it seems. It needs to be soft enough to bite through but sturdy enough to hold grease and cheese without falling apart, and a good one soaks up some of the juice by the last few bites.
Marking the day is mostly a matter of eating one, from a local sandwich shop or a home griddle. A cast iron pan and a partly frozen steak, which slices thinner, get surprisingly close at home.
Ways to celebrate
- Try a cheesesteak from a local sandwich shop you have never visited.
- Make one at home with thinly sliced steak and a cast iron pan.
- Taste test provolone against American cheese on the same sandwich.
- Share your preferred toppings and argue gently with a friend about them.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, March 24 |
| 2027 | Wednesday, March 24 |
| 2028 | Friday, March 24 |
| 2029 | Saturday, March 24 |
| 2030 | Sunday, March 24 |
Also on March 24
Categories: Food days