Cheesesteak shops are in every corner of Philadelphia - storefronts that glow late into the night, menus dispayed, phone numbers listed, websites polished.

 

And then there is Backyard Cravings, which has none of the above. No address. No store. No phone number. No website. Just an Instagram account and the name of the city's man of mystery - a Willie Wonka-like figure by the name of Sal Burgese.

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Sal is not running a restaurant - he is running a legend. From the backyard of his South Philly rowhome, armed with nothing more than a Blackstone grill, he turns out pizzas, burgers, and, most famously, cheesesteaks that have now become the stuff of whispers and cravings across the city.

 

His seeded rolls? Homemade. His beef? Hand-cut and slathered in sizzling onions. And his cheese? Cooper Sharp, melted into a gooey dream. Judging from the photos alone, it is clear these are not just sandwiches - they are edible works of art.

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And yet scoring one of these magnificent steaks feels like trying to win Wonka's golden ticket. Out of nowhere, Sal posts on Instagram: “Cheesesteaks today. Sign up.” Within minutes, they are gone. If you are fast enough, you are assigned a drop-off spot. You show up, cash in hand, and a bag is passed to you like contraband. A cheesesteak drug deal, Philly-style.

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Those lucky enough to have tasted one insist it is the best cheesesteak in all of Philly, hands down. Which makes sense - Sal is part culinary craftsman and part urban folk hero, the Willy Wonka of South Philly. His creations do not just satisfy - they mesmerize.

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The chase is on. Despite failed attempts to land a Backyard Cravings steak thus far, Willie remains persistent and in the meantime is awarding Sal a placeholder spot on the coveted Top 50 Cheesesteaks list - because sometimes the myth is as delicious as the meal itself.

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Sal, are you there? Old Willie and Young Willie await your call. When that day comes, we will be ready, cash in hand, at a street corner of your choosing - like kids outside the factory gates, craving a taste of magic.

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BACKYARD CRAVINGS

Somewhere in South Philly

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www.instagram.com/backyard_cravings