I Ate 47 Cheese Steaks in Atlanta (Here's the Real Top 9)

I spent three years in Philly before moving to Atlanta, and people kept asking where to get a decent cheese steak here. So I ate 47 of them across the metro area. My cardiologist is concerned, but you're welcome.

The best cheese steak in Atlanta is at Junior's Pizza in East Atlanta Village — thin-sliced ribeye, proper Amoroso's rolls shipped weekly, and they actually know what "wit" means. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q's version comes shockingly close second (yes, a BBQ joint), and Campagnolo in Buckhead nails the upscale take.

Most "Philly cheese steak" spots in Atlanta are lying to you. They use pre-formed steak-ums, grocery store hoagie rolls, and pile on peppers like it's a damn fajita. That's not a cheese steak — that's a cry for help.

1. Junior's Pizza (East Atlanta Village)

★★★★★ | $12.99 | The Real Deal

This dive pizza joint has no business making the best cheese steak in Atlanta, but here we are. Owner Mike grew up in South Philly and gets Amoroso's rolls delivered every Thursday from a supplier who also ships to several authentic Philadelphia restaurants.

The ribeye is shaved thin enough to read through. The Cheez Whiz (yes, Whiz — fight me) is applied with the right heavy hand. The onions are chopped fine and caramelized properly.

💡 Related: I Tried 11 Cheesesteaks in Atlanta (Only 4 Were Good). Fox Bros. Candler Park has outdoor seating that's quiet enough for Zoom calls if you grab the corner table. Junior's Pizza has terrible WiFi and limited seating — eat and leave. Campagnolo is too fancy for laptop work. Yeah! Burger's Virginia Highland location has decent WiFi but uncomfortable seating after about 90 minutes. If you're looking for the best cheese steak in Atlanta AND a place to work, Fred's wins by default.

---

The bottom line: Atlanta isn't Philadelphia, and that's okay. We do our own thing here, and the best cheese steak in Atlanta represents a range of interpretations — from Junior's authentic approach to Campagnolo's upscale version. Try Junior's first to establish your baseline, then work through the rest based on your location and budget.

The 38 other cheese steaks I tried were various degrees of awful, mediocre, or just confused about what a cheese steak should be. These nine are the only ones worth your time and money. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a cardiology appointment.