Ranking the Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches Available in the Pryz -

By Anthony Curioso

This is an independently submitted op-ed and does not reflect the views of The Tower.

I do not claim to be from Philadelphia or its surrounding areas, nor will I attempt to do so. In fact, I have only been to Philadelphia a few times, making brief stops at 30th Street Station while traveling on Amtrak (during which I didn’t even get off the trains). However, I cannot overstate my enjoyment of the various interpretations of the classic and humble “Philly Cheesesteak” sandwich offered by many quick-service restaurants and sandwich shops across the United States.

As of late October 2025, three out of the five retail dining locations in CUA’s Pryzbyla Center offer a “Philly Cheesesteak” on their menus, which can all be purchased using a meal swipe. Two of these locations are in the Food Court on the main floor of the Pryz: True Burger and Which Wich. The third location serving Philly Cheesesteaks is Murphy’s Grill, which added this menu item at the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester.

At Which Wich, the Philly Cheesesteak is offered as a limited-time item, and it is currently unclear when it will be discontinued. This sandwich features provolone cheese, caramelized onions, and bell peppers to complement the steak. Unfortunately, Which Wich does not allow substitutions on its Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches beyond a choice between white or wheat bread. If you’re not a fan of any of these toppings, you may want to consider ordering a different sandwich.

In my first experience with Which Wich’s Philly Cheesesteak sandwich, I found the flavor acceptable. However, the bread was quite soggy and would have benefited from a longer toasting time. Additionally, the onions and bell peppers were undercooked, which was unexpected and left me incredibly disappointed.

At True Burger, the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich is my favorite from the “meal deal” menu, and I prefer it by a significant margin over the other options. Aside from the first few weeks of the Fall 2025 semester, this sandwich has been a staple on the True Burger “meal deal” menu since at least my freshman year at CUA.

Customers craving a Philly cheesesteak from True Burger can customize their sandwich in various ways. They can choose from five types of cheese: American, provolone, Swiss, cheddar, and pepper jack. Additionally, patrons can add up to five of the six available toppings: lettuce, tomato, raw onions, caramelized onions, sautéed peppers, and avocado spread.

Whenever I order a Philly Cheesesteak from True Burger, I typically choose American cheese and caramelized onions, as they complement the flavor of the meat. However, the only downside I’ve noticed is that the sandwiches I receive rarely have enough cheese for my liking. Since the ordering kiosks do not provide a clear option to request extra cheese, I’m unsure how to address this issue.

I was thrilled to learn that Dining Services added a Philly cheesesteak sandwich to the Murphy’s Grill menu, and I was eagerly anticipating my first opportunity to taste it. As with Which Wich, the Philly cheesesteak sandwich at Murphy’s Grill comes with sauteed onions and bell peppers; however, the cheese on the Murphy’s Grill version is described as an “American cheese sauce,” in contrast with the provolone on the Philly cheesesteak at Which Wich. Another similarity between the offerings from Which Wich and Murphy’s Grill is that Murphy’s Grill also strongly discourages substitutions, almost to the point of forbidding them. The sandwich at Murphy’s Grill has an adequate amount of cheese, despite what some people who’ve ordered it may think, making it edge out True Burger’s rendition in that respect. However, as with Which Wich, the onions and peppers on the Murphy’s Grill Philly Cheesesteak sandwich are consistently severely undercooked compared to my expectations, even more so than at Which Wich.

My advice to fellow Philly Cheesesteak sandwich enjoyers at CUA is that your best bet to get one of these sandwiches and feel satisfied with your order is to get the version made at True Burger, and see if you can find a way to ask for additional cheese if you, like me, find yourself wanting a substantial amount of it.