MAX'S
GERMANTOWN STANDOUT
The center of Germantown can be a rough area, but Max's has managed to hang in there for more than 30 years.
Their cheesesteaks are huge - a 12-inch half steak at Max's is about the same size as a full steak at most other places - and they are delicious. While ribeye is the cut of choice at most top steakeries, Max's goes with sirloin (from Esposito in South Philly), resulting in a rich, slightly different flavor. The rolls are from Amoroso's.
Like many cheesesteak landmarks, Max's has had its share of celebrity customers - including, most notably, Philadelphia native Kevin Hart (whose portrait appears in a mural on the side of Max's building) and the Wu-Tang Clan. Max's also made a cameo in the 2015 movie Creed.
Max's is cash-only, but the service is friendly, the portions are generous, and once you have your steak in hand you can walk it into the adjacent bar, grab a seat in a booth, and enjoy your meal while watching Philly sports on the giant screen.
The Infatuation included Max's in its 2025 list of Top 10 Philly Cheesesteaks. Max's made The Eater Top 10 as well.
MAX'S STEAKS
3653 Germantown Avenue
(215) 229-9048
