With what American city is the cheesesteak sandwich commonly associated?

The cheesesteak sandwich is commonly associated with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The sandwich emerged in South Philadelphia in the early 1930s. Pat Olivieri, a hot-dog vendor, is widely credited with creating an early steak sandwich by grilling chopped beef, placing it on an Italian roll, and serving it with onions. Cheese was added soon afterward, helping create the sandwich now known as the Philly cheesesteak.

A traditional cheesesteak uses thinly sliced beef, usually rib eye, cooked on a griddle and served in a long roll. Common cheese choices include provolone, American cheese, and Cheez Whiz. Fried onions are popular, but ordering customs vary among shops and customers.

The sandwich is sometimes confused with other regional steak-and-cheese sandwiches, including those from nearby parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Those versions may use different bread, meat cuts, toppings, or naming traditions, but Philadelphia remains the canonical city association in American food culture. Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks, located across from each other in South Philadelphia, are among the city’s best-known cheesesteak landmarks.