Shanks Original

TLDR: Super convenient location for your on-the-go cheesesteak fix. Try the "Philly Special", which is a cheesesteak with scrapple fries mixed in!Vibe: 5/5. Located literally right off I-95 near South Philly on the Delaware River, Shanks is an excellent choice for those passing through Philly in need of a quick cheesesteak. The restaurant itself is a stand, with a few outside bar tables and a counter to dine at. Parking is free and ample, with plenty of room on the side of the street near the stand. The stand butts up directly to the Delaware River, so you can sit and enjoy your food on the water. Service: 5/5. The staff and overall operation at Shanks is great! On the Sunday I visited, I placed my order on my phone via their website and it was ready in about 15 minutes after confirmation. When I got to Shanks, the order was hot, ready and bagged up waiting for me. The staff was very friendly and punctual in getting me my order and making sure I had everything I needed to enjoy my lunch. No complaints here!Food: 5/5. SOLID example of a cheesesteak in a town littered with them. Pricing is also very reasonable, with a foot long sub coming in around $12. For our Sunday lunch, we ordered a regular cheesesteak wiz wit, a side of fries and onion rings, and their "Philly Special" sub which consists of their regular wiz wit cheesesteak but topped with scrapple fries. Let it be known, the "Philly Special" at Shanks is the way to go. This is the first time I have had scrapple mixed in with a cheesesteak, but it certainly won't be the last. The spiced, unique flavor of the pork scrapple adds a little more umami to the ribeye. Paired with the wiz and fried onions, this is just a heavenly combination. Shanks also uses seeded hard buns, which was the perfect vessel for the heavy handedness of the meat. The original cheesesteak was also tasty in it's own rite and can stand toe to toe with any of the top contenders in the Philly cheesesteak scene. Fries and rings were also tasty, though need to be enjoyed immediately to avoid sogginess. Overall, if you are looking for a unique take on the Philly steak, definitely give the "Philly Special" at Shanks a try!

So for me the cheesesteak is a pass but the chicken cheesesteak was very good. I thought the cheesesteak was a lower quality meat and pretty bland. Plenty of cheese and not dry. I liked the seeded roll. The chicken cheesesteak was pretty good. Flavorful and moist. Good cheese ratio and again the roll was good. I would go back and try the cutlet and some other things.

Solid! Lots of meat, soft bread, good onions, hearty portion, relatively decent price. Hot too. I got the Philly cheesesteak with American cheese. Loads of soft chewy meat and it was generous. Enjoyed every bite. Also got these spring roll/cheesesteak kinda things which were surprisingly good. Had a cookie too that was very tasty. Basic, but extra good if it cooks in the sun a bit and melts. Nice service at the window. Cole beverages.

Awesome cheese steak ( I got the Philly Special)really enjoyed the lunch. The people were very nice and I can't wait to try all the sandwiches. Thanks for the Philadelphia experience.

Tried them on my last jaunt to the city. Did it make my top 10 cheesesteaks in the city? Not quite. But it might be #11 and a strong honorable mention. It's a very good sandwich. Excellent with the Cooper Sharp cheese. Maybe a little too much pepper on what I ate. But my son and I devoured ours happily. I'm told I have to come back for the chicken cutlet. I have a reason to return now.

I had never heard of Shanks, despite growing up in the region and living in the city for some of it. When heading up and down Columbus Blvd on trips to IKEA, AAA, and U-Haul after my moved back to the city, we noticed it and gave it a try.If this is a visitor's only experience with cheesesteaks or roast pork, they might not get the hype. There's nothing wrong with these sandwiches, but they weren't as good as others I've had. I even thought, "Huh, I've been away for a few years, and maybe I don't like cheesesteaks anymore." I don't eat cheesesteaks or roast pork often since that is not a good idea. So when I eat one, I want it to be worth the extra calories and fat.I am, however, very interested in going back to try "scrapple fries" when I want a heart-stopping indulgence.

Our second Cheesesteak stop in Philly landed us at Shanks. This one came recommended by someone that comes into my job. Right out of the gate..... Plenty of parking!! Right on the water. This is a little hole in the "pier" joint that can not be overlooked!!They take both cash and cards here too!!! A rare thing. My wife and I shared a chicken Cheesesteak wiz wit and the boys shared a Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak. The chicken Cheesesteak was OUT OF THIS WORLD. It was flavorful. Right amount of cheese, onions done right. Just amazing. We also got fries with old bay seasoning. You can't miss!If you're in the Philly area..... Yeah... stop here before hitting the sights.

Great food, quick service and a cool place to sit outside on a nice day made this a great part of the trip down to the area. Parking is easy, which isn't something easy to find in the area. Very much recommended.

Solid steaks. Great bread that's pretty thin and hallowed out so you can taste the meat. Steak has smaller ribbons and has a good juicy bite when you go in. Overall, would come back. They also take credit card.

We ordered a chicken cutlet sandwich with sharp provolone and spinach, a chicken cutlet hoagie and a cheesesteak with copper sharp and fried onions. All of our sandwiches were delicious, everything was fresh and perfectly put together. Do yourself a favor and stop by Shanks for a sandwich, you will not be disappointed.