Ask any group of Marylanders where to find the best cheesesteak and you will start a friendly debate that never really ends. Some swear by the ribeye and grilled onions, others want white American melted into a soft roll, and a few insist you have to cross into Philly to find the real deal.
But Maryland holds its own, from Baltimore counter spots to Ocean City boardwalk favorites. Here are eight sub shops across the state that locals will happily argue over, each with its own take on the classic grilled cheesesteak.
1. Cheesesteak & Co. – Elkridge, Elkridge, MD
Walk-in only and proud of it, this Elkridge spot at 6500 Washington Blvd has built a reputation on doing one thing extremely well. The subs come packed and loaded with seasoned meat, and the original cheesesteak leans on ribeye, grilled onions, and cooper sharp cheese.
Even folks who grew up in the Philadelphia area point to this place as proof Maryland can grill a serious cheesesteak. Fresh bread and quality ingredients get most of the credit.
The menu goes beyond the sandwich too, with cheesesteak fries, cheesesteak eggrolls, buffalo chicken eggrolls, and fried pickles rounding things out. There is even a full vegan menu with onion rings and mozzarella half moons.
Hours run Monday through Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM and Sunday until 8 PM. Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons get busy, and parking in the lot can fill up, so an early lunch is your friend.
2. Subplicity Federal Hill, Baltimore, MD
Federal Hill gets a home-style twist on the cheesesteak at this premium delicatessen on Light Street. Instead of a strict Philly template, the sub arrives on a soft, fresh white roll layered with thinly cooked onions, melted white American, and baby portobello mushrooms.
Regulars call it one of the best cheesesteak subs in Baltimore, and the hot Italian sub gets nearly as much love. Add the hots if you want a little kick cooked right into the sandwich.
The fries earn a shout-out on their own, rounding out a lunch that feels put together with care rather than rushed off a line.
One thing to plan around: the hours are unusual. It is open Monday 11 AM to 6 PM, closed Tuesday, Wednesday until 7 PM, Thursday only until 4 PM, and Friday through Sunday until 7 PM.
Free street parking is your best bet in the neighborhood.
3. Jeno’s Steaks, Severna Park, MD
Around since 1991, this Severna Park sandwich shop has made a name on customization. The build-your-own cheesesteak lets you stack toppings the way you want, and one popular combo layers steak with bacon, provolone, buffalo sauce, and blue cheese dressing.
Diners describe the subs as very hot and flavorful, with perfectly melted cheese and plenty of meat for the price. The soft rolls and Truck 23 Fries help make it a full meal.
Parking is easy here, with a free lot and street spots that rarely fill up, which is a nice change from the tighter city stops on this list. Just note there is no restroom, so it is really a grab-and-go operation.
Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 11 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday until 8:30, and Sunday until 7. The shop is closed Mondays, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating.
4. The Real Thing, Towson, MD
Late nights in Towson have an anchor here, where the kitchen stays open until 3 AM Thursday through Saturday. That alone makes it a go-to for college students and anyone hunting a real cheesesteak after hours.
The signature is the regular cheesesteak with everything, well seasoned and juicy, finished with a homemade hot sauce that fans specifically ask for. The chicken cheesesteak and pizza sub give you options if you want to change things up.
Loyal customers have leaned on this counter spot for a decade or more when they want a genuine, authentic Philly-style sub without leaving Baltimore County.
Located at 412 York Rd, it keeps a straightforward counter-serve setup with no table service. Hours run Tuesday and Wednesday 11 AM to 7 PM, Thursday through Saturday 11 AM to 3 AM, and Sunday 1 to 7 PM, with paid street parking nearby.
5. 5th & Steaks, Glen Burnie, MD
South Philadelphia roots run deep at this Glen Burnie shop on Ritchie Highway. The owners grew up around cheesesteaks, with family restaurants in the city near 5th and South, and they brought that experience to Maryland.
The famous steak sub delivers on the promise, with generous helpings of grilled meat and melted cheese piled onto good bread. For a lot of people, it is the closest thing to Philly they have found on this side of the state line.
Service gets consistent praise, and the setup is takeout-focused with curbside pickup and delivery available.
Here is the catch that trips people up: it is closed Monday and Tuesday. Plan your visit for Wednesday through Sunday, 11 AM to 8 PM.
There is no restroom, but parking is plentiful and free, and the spot is good for kids.
6. House of Cheesesteaks, Clinton, MD
Down in Clinton, this carryout has become a name people bring up when they argue about the best cheesesteak in the DMV. The North Side Cheesesteak leads the menu, packed with meat, well seasoned, and tucked into a super soft roll that holds up to the weight.
Beyond the subs, the kitchen also turns out pizza and hot wings, so it works when your group cannot agree on one thing. The seasoned fries and potato wedges are solid add-ons.
People have driven in from Baltimore for these sandwiches, drawn by the flavor and the fresh veggies loaded on top.
The hours are one of its biggest selling points: open every single day from 10:30 AM to 1 AM. There is even a drive-through, plus dine-in, plenty of free parking, and a friendly, low-key vibe.
7. Cheesesteak Mikes, Silver Spring, MD
Not many cheesesteak spots also serve Korean fried chicken, and that combination is exactly what sets this Silver Spring restaurant apart. Alongside the Famous Philly Cheesesteak, you will find dishes like Dakgangjeong and Boardwalk Fries.
The cheesesteak itself features moist, flavorful beef with toppings that do not overwhelm the sandwich, all on soft bread with a good chew. It is a sit-down option too, with actual seating and table service, which is rare among the grab-and-go crowd on this list.
The atmosphere leans cozy and family-friendly, and it is one of the few stops here that takes reservations and offers wi-fi.
Located at 10222 New Hampshire Ave, it is open Monday and Tuesday until 8 PM, Wednesday and Thursday until 9, Friday and Saturday until 10, and closed Sunday. Parking is easy with free and paid lots nearby.
8. Tommy’s Sub Shop, Ocean City, MD
A cheesesteak with a beach view rounds out the list at this Ocean City institution on Philadelphia Avenue, family-owned and serving the boardwalk crowd since 1978. That kind of longevity in a resort town says a lot.
The steak and cheese sub comes with well-seasoned beef, toasted bread, and a variety of toppings, and the cheeseburger sub gets nearly as much attention. Fresh ingredients and quality bread are a running theme here.
The menu stretches well past subs into pizza, seafood like the flounder sub, gyros, and even ice cream, which makes it a natural stop when the whole family wants different things after a day on the sand.
Open daily starting at 11 AM, with late hours until midnight on Friday and Saturday, it also has outdoor seating and a kids’ menu. Parking is free, and it is an easy vacation lunch during the summer season.
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