Somehow you get the sense there must be a cheesesteak place in Philly's vast western suburbs that's on par with South Philly's finest steakeries. Right you are.

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Say hello to Pudge's Steaks & Hoagies, with a flagship location in Blue Bell and another in Pottstown (the westernmost outpost of Philadelphia civilization and gateway to the American frontier).

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Pudge's was founded in 1964 by Frank Carbone, who as a child supposedly bore a striking resemblance to Betty Boop's cartoon dog Pudgy. When Frank passed on 36 years later, his daughter Barb (who had worked in the store since age 11) took over the business along with her husband Mike Williams, a Gulf War veteran. Pudge's remains a family owned and operated business to this day.

 

Like some other places on Willie's Top 50 list (such as Leo's, Gooey Looie's, and White House), Pudge's subscribes to the "bigger is better" theory of cheesesteak making. 14 ounces of beef are packed into every Pudge's 12" cheesesteak. And that's just the regular size. If you want a large steak, you're looking at a 20" behemoth with 2 pounds of beef.

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But Pudge's is about more than just size. Any idiot can easily feed a cow into a woodchipper and throw a massive pile of beef onto a roll. The difference is that Pudge's steaks are also delicious, thanks to family pride and more than six decades of acquired culinary knowledge. Not surprisingly, Pudge's has been named Montgomery County's Best Cheesesteak. In 2022, Pudge's took on Philly's other top steakeries in the great Philadelphia Beautiful cheesesteak competition and finished #1.

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If you are ever in the Blue Bell / Plymouth Meeting vicinity, a visit to Pudge's is of course a must.

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For the more adventurous, Pudge's offers the Cheesesteak Challenge. If, in 30 minutes or less, you can consume a 20" cheesesteak, a tray of French fries (the equivalent of about 5 orders), and a large soft drink, then your meal is on the house, and you win a cash jackpot along with a free Pudge's T-shirt (presumably in size XXXXL). Apparently only about a third of those who take on the Challenge actually succeed. The rest are carted out unconscious on gurneys, no doubt with satisfied smiles on their faces.