About East Coast Eddie's
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Our Story
Originally from South Philly, Eddie has had the opportunity to experience all the famous Cheesesteak houses throughout Philly, such as Geno's, Pat's, Jim’s on South St., Dalessandro's, and Tony Luke's to name a few, and found… As the saying goes… “There’s more than one way to skin a cat!”
Although the flavors and the processes are sometimes different, each person has their own favorite local that they will call the best. In the end, the concept remains the same… A Philly!
We are committed to using the right ingredients and putting it all together in such a way that provides the perfect texture, taste, and uniformity throughout, from the first to the last bite!
Please enjoy our steaks and take a look at the history of how the “Philly” was born.
- Eddie
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Our Mission
The mission of EAST COAST EDDIE’S is to provide top-notch Philly Cheese Steaks, creating a welcoming community and delectable food experience for our customers.
Location
503-512-9677
233 E Main St., Hillsboro, OR 97124
Please Click Map for Details
History of the Cheesesteak
There are few sandwiches as beloved as the cheesesteak.
Of course, the cheesesteak was created and perfected in Philadelphia, PA as a regional food favorite. But the cheesesteak has a nearly century-long history and has seen lots of changes as its popularity expanded across the United States and around the world.
The original cheesesteak was credited to Pat and Harry Olivieri, two brothers who ran a hot dog stand near South Philadelphia’s Italian Market. Legend has it that in the 1930s, the brothers wanted to offer new sandwiches. Their new item was grilled beef and onions in a toasted roll. The OG sandwich didn’t actually have cheese! Once the sandwich gained popularity, a manager at the Olivieri’s Ridge Ave. location added provolone to the sandwich in the 1940s. And thus, the cheesesteak was born.
Cheesesteaks caught on like wildfire, and in the 1960s Geno’s opened directly across the street from Pat’s. The two businesses have been in friendly competition ever since! In the decades that have followed, Philadelphia has seen new restaurants offer unique twists on the cheesesteak. From John’s Roast Pork, - which features cheesesteaks, roast pork sandwiches, chicken cutlets, and more - to Max’s Steaks in North Philadelphia where you can get a cheesesteak as long as your arm. These restaurants, and plenty others, have developed their own twists on the original formula and have produced generations of die-hard fans.
The roll holds it all together.
Meat, cheese, and toppings are important parts of a cheesesteak, but we can’t forget what holds it all together…the roll. Many Philly restaurants swear by Amoroso’s hearth-baked rolls for their cheesesteaks. This Philly-based bakery has been operating in Philadelphia since 1915 and has sold their rolls across the United States. Amoroso’s rolls are famous for their crunchy, firm exterior with soft bread inside – perfect for keeping the cheesesteak intact and absorbing flavor when you take your first bite. Other bakeries, like Merzbacher’s and Cacia’s Bakery, also supply rolls for restaurants and home chefs.
How have cheesesteaks changed over time?
As the cheesesteak has evolved, new ingredients have been added. The original cheesesteak featured grilled onions, which add zingy sweetness to the grilled steak. Now, lots of cheesesteaks come with grilled bell peppers and mushrooms to round out the flavor (although… peppers and mushrooms weren’t part of Pat’s original recipe). Lots of restaurants offer pickled cherry peppers on the side, or hot peppers cooked into the steak for spice lovers.
"Wit wiz"
Although Pat’s original recipe used provolone cheese, the classic cheesesteak cheese has evolved over time. Many locations, including Geno’s, use Cheez Whiz to make their cheesesteaks, while other use melted American cheese. Pat’s transitioned to Cheez Whiz in the 1950s. In a 1985 interview, Frank Olivieri (nephew of Pat Olivieri) claimed that he used Cheez Whiz for the same reason that millions of parents used it for their kids’ lunches – it was fast. Although provolone helps keep the meat together, Cheez Whiz saturates the roll to give you a super satisfying, drippy-messy-delicious experience. If you’re visiting Philadelphia, the classic cheesesteak is best ordered “wiz wit”, for a cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz and grilled onions. Now, Cheez Whiz is the overwhelming favorite at Pat’s and Geno’s!
