San Diego’s Best Cheesesteaks: Giorgino’s
Fun Diego Family is on a search for the best Philadelphia Cheesesteak in the San Diego area. We have been coming to Giorgino’s in Golden Hill since it opened in 2007. Giorgino’s stands out not just for its cheesesteak but its extensive menu of East Coast specialties.
WEBSITE: https://www.giorginos.com/
Giorgino’s is in a quiet neighborhood on 28th St in Golden Hills right by the southern border of Balboa Park. Even though it has doubled in size since opening, it is a small neighborhood place. It reminds me of many classic Philly joints.
The menu is extensive, but cheesesteaks are the headliner. There are many sandwiches made with Dietz & Watson meat. Dietz & Watson is a Philadelphia based supplier of deli meat similar to Southern California Boar’s Head. My San Diego raised wife has always claimed Dietz & Watson has the superior product.
Giorgino’s also is one of the only places where you can get a pork roll aka Taylor Ham. A pork roll is a southern New Jersey specialty (southern Jersey is basically a suburb of Philadelphia). It is ra packaged pork product, olled up like bologna, sliced and is generally grilled. The rock band Ween made this delicacy famous with the song Pork Roll Egg and Cheese. Giorgino’s version is grilled pork roll slices, a fried egg and white American cheese on a Kaiser roll.
The go-to cheese at Giorgino’s is white American. While I prefer provolone, white American was a standard on cheesesteaks growing up in Philadelphia in the 1970s and 1980s. It was not until my teenage years that I learned about the provolone option.
If you want Cheez Whiz at Giorgino’s you have to pay extra. This gives the place more Philly credence. I never saw Cheez Whiz growing up in Philly and I think its importance/necessity has been overrated.
Giorgino’s is across the street from the Sepulveda Meats butcher. They offer sausages and other sandwiches that use Sepulveda meat.
Of course, it is mainly about the cheesesteak. In this area Giorgino’s does not disappoint. They have both beef cheesesteaks and chicken cheesesteaks in a wide variety of options (I have never had a chicken cheesesteak). This includes more exotic options like pesto and chimichurri sauce. Cheesesteaks are 10 inches and run about $11 to $12. They offer regular specials and a 5% discount if paying in cash.
The rolls are the standard Amoroso’s rolls from Philadelphia. Unlike Philadelphia, San Diego does not have the great local bakeries that supply sandwich shops. Most Philly cheesesteak places get rolls from these small bakeries. Amoroso’s has made a name by supplying frozen rolls to places around the country.
Among the many sides on the menu, the french fries are a star. Giorgino’s also has Philly specialties including Wise potato chips, soft pretzels, birch beer, Day’s soda, Tastykake and more. There is a small beer bar with several beers on tap.
More than probably any other place in San Diego, Giorgino’s remains me of what I used to find growing up in Philadelphia. Tourist places like Pat’s and Geno’s were unknown to me at the time. The cheesesteaks I grew up on were from the local sandwich shop. My favorite place was a deli store a block from my high school (sadly now a strip mall).
For more information on our search for the top cheesesteaks in San Diego go here.
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