I had the pleasure of eating my first and only roast pork sandwich from John's earlier this year while visiting my brother in Philly. I can say, with ZERO hesitation, that it was the best sandwich I've ever had. As Lucas points out, there is a lot going on - the degree and complexity of flavor is unexpected and explosive. If you're a first timer, as I was, I recommend the following configuration: roast pork, spinach, SHARP provolone, and long hots. Also, be aware when you arrive that there are two separate lines, depending on what you're ordering.
Honestly the fact this place got made from some high-schoolers writing a paper was really touching to me, and the owners keeping their roots is awesome. Great episode.
Carlton Reese true... and on a cheesesteak you add ketchup - these visitors don’t know that and they always frown upon the suggestion until they try it.
1. I’m so happy that you didn’t get Cheez Whiz on that steak. Thank you !!!!!!! 2. Interviewing a guy in a Patriots shirt at John’s Roast Pork. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 At least he seemed honest and complimentary! 😄😄😄
"Let's put this aside" my ass. I'll film these for free if I can just get the halfs you don't eat. Hell, even if you take a few bites out of it I'll still take it
Eater, please please please put a link to the business for Google maps in the description boxes, so we can add them to lists and visit the real deal. 🖖
It’s funny how these reviewers never seem to know that most if not all locals always add ketchup to a cheese steak. Imagine if that roast pork didn’t have that au jus... To a local, roast pork without au jus in essence would be like a cheesesteak without ketchup. Next cheesesteak add some f’n ketchup !!!
As someone who lived in Philly and then the suburbs of Philly for over 10 years, I can say that this attitude embodies why it's universally agreed that Philly fans are the biggest assholes in the sports world. It's funny how quickly it became unacceptable to wear anything but a Phillies Jersey only after they were good for a year but afterwards, we had bandwagon Mets/Yankees/Dodgers/etc fans on every street corner.
Club Soda no offense but I’m pretty sure that’s not true...any chance a Dallas fan gets to bring up how many rings they have they do...even though the last ring was over 20 years ago. And tribalism is what makes sports fun...Philly has the best fans in the world. They’re die hard, honest, tough SOBs who tell it how it is. If the team sucks they’ll say so, but they’ll always be there to support them.
Can confirm, best roast pork sandwich EVER! on a side note, what long time South Philly resident wears a patriots jersey? Get outta town you bum! Fly Eagles Fly
The best roast pork is at Dinic's at Reading Terminal Market, served with broccoli rabe, not spinach. The rabe adds a lot to the sandwich and I think spinach is just too muted a flavor for such a sandwich. Tourists, please try it with the rabe.
Galactic123 gosh yes! Dinic's roast pork is the best. I love it with extra sharp provolone and broccoli rabe. I worked around 13th st and Chestnut st and i would come to work a couple hours earlier so I could run and get some roast pork sandwich.
I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews about Dinics if I’m being honest some people say it’s great and others say it’s all hype. Personally I absolutely adore broccoli rabe but I’d try Johns first any day off the week
Dunno if it was just the day I went or my own personal taste, but Dinics was very average. Pork had no flavour, and the broccoli rabe was overpowering. Wasn't a fan....
You absolutely picked the best place in the city for a cheesesteak and a roast pork. Let me start width John's cheesesteak it is the best anywhere around and he does not use that stupid cheese whiz crap. In fact he doesn't even have it on the menu. This is the number one Cheesesteak for me in Philadelphia. Now his roast pork is also one of the best. I like it better then Tony Luke's but only by a slight very slight margin. Tony Luke's has a fabulous roast pork Italian but I don't care that much for his cheesesteaks. I cannot wait to get home and stop in Philadelphia and grab a roast pork Italian from John's Roast Pork. The one thing I should mention is both of these sandwiches need to be unwrapped as quickly as possible so the roll does not Steam and get soft and then eat them as soon as you can. I'm salivating right now.
wow. we went from this type of food establishment to the most current 10min hot stuff! what a bizzare direction we are going in the culinary world. We are all just getting chopped.
Johns doesn't use broccoli rabe which I love on my roast pork....other than that they're awesome. I like DiNics roast pork better but its only my opinion can't go wrong with either. And Johns cheese steak is amazing.
John’s has amazing sandwiches, but my only gripe is the anti-broccoli rabe stance. Sorry, spinach doesn’t cut it. The rabe is the true balance. Sure, the pork is great at John’s, but nothing beats the bitter element of the rabe and no seasoned spinach will ever do it justice. They have a good pork and cheese sandwich, but the rabe is necessary to make it true Philly-style Italian roast pork. Either way, give them a shot, they got great food no matter what. (don’t forget the long hots either or were fighting)
I live in kentucky, wife went here on a business trip, i hear its the best of both worlds, and she tried several, dinics, cosmis, pats,genos, tony lukes, although she did like tony lukes cheesesteak with the whiz, but she prefers the spinach over the broccoli rabe on the pork roast
I always laughed at the philly cheese steak with cheese wiz being renowned the best. This is place i would go if i ever traveled to that shit hole town.
Spot on. Live in Philly and the progression for a lot of residents is cheesesteaks to Denics roast pork and then you ultimately realize John's is far and a way the best.
Actually you are kind of getting prime rib in a cheesesteak. That's because any self-respecting Cheesesteak place will use ribeye steak which is the same cut of meat from where you get your prime rib. Please learn something
Lucas please let me know. Which sandwich is better. The pork sandwich or the Chicago Italian beef? They’re very similar in preparation and presentation so which is better?
