Pat's King of Steaks - South Philadelphia cheesesteak origin claim

Pat's King of Steaks, at this South Philadelphia corner, was founded by Pat Olivieri in 1930 and is a longstanding neighborhood institution. Pat's claims to have invented the Philadelphia cheesesteak when Olivieri grilled beef and placed it on an Italian roll, later adding cheese; that origin story is part of a famous rivalry with Geno's Steaks across the street. The shop remains a family-operated landmark frequently cited in local food guides and neighborhood culture.