Gooey Looie’s

Everything I have gotten anything from here I have always been pleased by their customer service and their food. Very good

Its a bit out of the way, but well worth the journey. Nice little shop with the best cheese steaks in Philly, and super friendly staff.

Please only do it. It is the epitome of Philadelphia. The cast of regular characters, who work the register and the day-​to-​day= greatest kindness, but no bullshit. Their food will surprise even the most jaded of characters, despite state, and they’re constantly finally courteous and kind while supplying food that surpasses every expectation. I hate to blow up my place, but please, certainly, though they do not want the help, support Gooey Louie’s. The food is unbelievable and it is an excellent place with parking. Their cheeseburgers with provolone and hot sausage sandwich competition their ten pounds of meat ’ o’ hoagies.

I love this place! My man put me on to this spot and I haven’t liked a cheesesteak from any other place but here. We live about 25 minutes away from here and we travel just to get a cheesesteak from Gooey’s! If you are visiting Philly please check this place out… I promise you will NOT be disappointed!!!

Thank you for the best corned beef specials. Also great service! You two kick ass in a small space, and the lady at the register is on top of her game.

Gooey Looie’s are in a league of their own. When I say that, I mean Sonny’s was a great steak, but this place off the beaten path of McClellan and 2^nd are doing something to Cheesesteaks that no other place does. That’s their secret, they know how to cook a steak to perfection without drying it out one bit but in fact it’s done so amazingly, it retains all that gooeyness that’s makes it so flavorful and juicy and they do it with an amazing white cooper sharp cheese that blows the doors off of American, provolone or whiz!
I had the privilege of getting the opportunity to share my story with the owner and talk shop and more importantly talk steak! I shared with him my mission and that it had officially been fulfilled once I ate at his grocery/​sandwich shop. I told him that I was getting them plain, without peppers, onions or anything exotic that would skew my ability to judge the meal for what it is, «cheese» + «steak». I asked him if the original ingredients that go into one. The original cheese and what was with the whiz. It started with American and somewhere along the line whiz made it in there and here we are. He didn’t recommend the whiz, which to me ruins it. It is alright but too much cheese whiz is just way too much to deal with. I can’t even finish a steak that’s topped with whiz. He did recommend the cooper sharp cheese and on my second visit, I indulged! He was right! That is the way a steak should be, so if your ever in area… STOP!!! GPS this place and go! They are the friendliest bunch of Philadephians I encountered in my time there and they also have this amazing local dessert called water ice that’s a really tasty, post cheesesteak treat. It quenches without being too sweet. The prices are the fairest of them all and the staff are the best. Hands down, without a doubt, thee BEST Philly Cheesesteak out there. You guys are amazing, keep doing what you’re doing, see you soon!
Thanks!
There you have it. My review. The best cheesesteak! I hope you enjoyed the read and get an opportunity to taste the steak for yourself. Cheers!

I think this was my first cheesesteak in Philadelphia. I have tended towards sandwiches almost exclusively, but thought this would be the moment where I went full Phil.
If you’re looking for local, this hits the bulls-​eye. The little shop has a couple of guys in the back, taking orders by en masse then cooking them all up at once. A small sandwich is pretty much a perfect amount — which is to say huge. I would even prefer splitting a small, that’s how big they are. The hoagies are ridiculous sized; If I were going to a party, it would make perfect sense to bring one of these and ask them to cut it in quarters or eights.
I would definitely come back for an Italian or a Jewish sandwich. Yep, the sandwich is called Jewish. Never seen that before. But I guess it’s just another ethnicity, so why can’t a sandwich be a Jew?
To note: You can get on the highway pretty easily from here, so it’s a good souvenir for a car ride back to NYC. I will do this at least 2 more times before I feel comfortable truly understanding Gooey Louie’s.

Listen, this review is like months late. However I CAN STILL TASTE THE BUFFALO CHICKEN HOAGIE IN MY MOUTH!!! For everyone around this area probably goes on a regular so it’s not a new phenomenon for them. For an out-​of-​towner like me, I was so pleased. The service was good. The guys in there are nice. I’ll go back again and again and again. AND AGAIN. AND AGAIN… and again.

That steak sammich was gooood!!!
This is a hidden gem. It’s literally tucked away in a little community business park. It’s in the back of a convenient store, mom and pop where they offer anything from food, oil, and your daily knick knacks.
But back to that sandwich… Ooey gooey goodness! It literally melted in my mouth and it made it all the way to Baltimore and was still warm and ready for devouring. It has to be one of the best subs I’ve every had. We will be going back on our next trip north.
Hubs got the Italian cold cut and was in love.
Go try it out. You honestly cannot go wrong.

Huge delicious cheese steak, very recommended. Must try. Cannot go wrong with this place. Place is small but it is a gem in philadelphia

Best & biggest in town! Once hooked you cannot resist coming back again & again! Pure & simple, steak, great rolls, cheese of you choice. My fav is provolone wit sauce!

This has got to be one of the best hoagies I’ve had in Philadelphia! I had the Jewish Special and the meat was stacked through the whole hoagie! It was huge! My fiancé had the roast beef and it was packed with the freshest roast beef! These hoagies were the best!
P. S. I guess I’m off my diet! ;)

What… In THEE HeLL… Did I… Just Eat???
1 of the best Italian Hoagies ever.
My goodness, From the soft Italian bread to the sweet thinly sliced meats And the magic behind a thick hoagie is how you pack it. AND THEY PACK IT IN TIGHT like a Samsonite.
I’m from Baltimore born and raised and been going back and forth to Philly like it’s an aunts house around the corner from me where I know I can get good food whenever she’s cooking. At first sight, I was a little intimidated by the Italian hoagie because that sucker looked and weighed a ton when I held it. And for those that think the places to go for good subs and hoagies in Philly are the places that been on Anthony Bourdain or Man vs Food… You’re SOOOOO Off.
If the place doesn’t have any imperfections then your not getting your moneys worth. The place surprised me but then it didn’t because the best food to get is from the most unlikeliest places. And you can tell from their years of operating that there is a pride and love in the food that is prepared to be served to the people. And this is why I love Philly the way that I love my own city, once you get to the core of the root you get a sense of the pride in the city despite the blemishes that are known. There is a love that is undeniable and my theory is you can tell in the food.
Gooey Looie’s is definitely that place to go to, to get your appetite nourished. LoL

Born and raised in Philly and I’ve had a lot of cheesesteaks in my day. I had Gooey Louie’s for the first time yesterday and it was absolutely amazing. Best cheesesteak I’ve ever had so far to date! Can’t wait to try their Italian hoagie next!

As a transport to Pennsport I sought a legitimate «spot» for sandwiches. This place is the best ! The cheesesteaks, hoagies, Everything is Great.
A quick recommendation that most people miss is that they offer sandwiches in 3 different sizes !!! The smallest is $ 3.95 and is ALMOST the size of a wawa classic! I tend to go small and buy a few!

Flat out the best hoagies in the city, unless proven to me otherwise. Fresh, great ingredients, and seasoned to perfection. Anyone can pile lunchmeat on a roll (which GL does) but is the hoagie tasty? That to me is the difference. My only complaint is that they don’t have long fried hots, but that can be remedied by swinging by a good italian deli. Other than that, it gets no better. I’ve heard the cheesesteaks are the bizness too. Have to give that a try. Nice people there too btw.

I’m from California so I didn’t know what to expect. To be honest wasn’t quite sure how to order either. But they were so kind and friendly they really dumbed it down for us! And as soon as we took one bite something magical happened. And we knew life in the sandwich lane would never be the same! By far the best cheesesteak ever!

Wow! Certainly was not disappointed for this off the beaten path deli. This little mom and pop shop helped me have the best philly Cheesesteak experience. Cooked to order, meat super chopped and delicious with the perfect roll and fixins. Dine in for hilarious local entertainment. Super friendly!

Most amazing hoagie EVAH! Fresh sandwich, friendly service and amazing value! Will definitely return! Thanks for a delightful meal!

Excellent!!! Hoagies and cheese steaks full of meat and flavor.
My husband and I will definitely come back!

Gooey Looies makes a unique and delicious sub. The bread has a perfect chewey exterior, soft interior. Will never get this bread in a chain, ever! Turkey and lettuce on top, rich salami, provolone, and mayo on the bottom against the bread. Yummy!
Ate at Whitehouse subs in AC, similar configuration but am amazed at how much better this hoagie is.
Cheesesteak was also very good. Am partial to Max’s though.

Best cheestake in Philly. Skip the tourist shops and come here. Great staff and great stakes.

I’ve lived in Pennsport for over a year now and I can’t believe I just discovered Gooey Looie’s (probably because it’s located in the unassuming Pennsport Mall, which houses a bank and maybe a dentist’s office and some other stuff). Who knew it was hiding such a gem?
Overall, it’s super friendly and got that neighborhood «everybody knows everybody» vibe. Very tiny– kinda reminds me of the corner bodegas in North Philly we used to get Dutches and Arizona Iced Teas from. Love the vibe.
They have every emergency go-​to you might need: canned foods, toiletries, etc., but I made a beeline right for the deli in the back. Most corner stores have typical Boars Head or Old Nelson delis but none serve up cheesesteaks, too. When you’re not in the mood for just plain cold lunchmeat (though based on the reviews, it seems their Italian sub might be the way to go), definitely try the cheesesteak; if anything, for its sheer enormity. It was close to $ 9 or $ 10, but SO worth it (not like the underwhelming Pat’s or Geno’s).
I opted for a cheesesteak with provolone and fried onions, though I neglected to request salt, pepper, ketchup which I think would have made a big difference. The cheesesteak was GIGANTIC (we saved half for lunch the next day), the roll was fresh and held up pretty nicely to the weight, and the meat was tender and juicy. But it was just lacking in flavor and there weren’t enough onions on it to boost it up a notch. I would definitely modify it next time to up the ante on the flavor: whiz, salt, pepper, ketchup, EXTRA fried onions, etc. Then you’d have a delicious, monster cheesesteak. It’s really about how you customize it, ya know?
It only took about ten minutes after ordering in, but I’d suggest calling ahead and picking it up. Also, there’s a freakin’ ice cream/​sundae section in front which is great to know and they carry all those great pure sugar cane Mountain Dews and Pepsis. The girl at the cashier counter was super nice and definitely made me feel like I was a regular. I will absolutely be back here considering it’s within walking distance (though it does have a parking lot, which is nice).
FYI, cash only.

Uuugghhh where do I start!!! I couldn’t wait to get here to try this place… And it was everything I thought it would be I took my 2yr old with me and they just treated him like family (me too) they were soooo nice! What I ordered: a large cheese steak with mayo, provolone, ex ex onions, and ketchup and a large hoagie, turkey mixed with buffalo chicken, mayo, lettuce n tomato, onions, no cheese (for later) I ate the steak there and I was so heavy I couldn’t move!!! It was an awesome steak! I ate the hoagie this morning and amaze balls as well! I have to travel back to Philly today (from DE), I’m gonna have to use heavy self control in order to not go back!

It’s remarkable that the guy making these sandwiches resembles the very product he’s producing. Seriously, buy any sandwich on a roll and compare. It’ll be like you’re seeing doubles.
Oh and good luck fitting that hoagie or cheesesteak in your mouth without spilling the entire contents out. Yeah, it’s just a cheesesteak, but it gets five stars because it’s ri-​goddamn-​diculous.

Real friendly staff it what seems to be a family owned convenience store and sandwich shop.
I went with the large cheesesteak and it was very good and overstuffed which sets it apart from other ones I have had. I will say that the large is monstrous and you really should consider sharing it with someone else.
Steak was well seasoned and it would definitely hit up this spot which as an added bonus has a parking lot which is out of the ordinary for a neighborhood shop.

Gooey Looies…
I stepped in and felt like I was in a small town somewhere. It has a very old school feel to it. I was there to see what the steaks are about and while many places in Philly are easily forgettable, I’m always going to remember Looie’s as the messiest steak I’ve ever had and that’s a bit of a feat.
That joint was packed with meat… sure. But it was like diffusing a bomb. It was a challenge just finding a good spot to grab because it seemed like either all the meat was gonna fall out or that it would slip from my hand because it was greasy/​etc.
It really depends on who you ask. Some people dig that. I could only feel comfortable eating a steak this messy at home and I’m not messy eater. I should’ve known something was up when the girl at the counter asked me if I wanted forks and napkins… I said «no» and she made a crazy face like «Wow, he’s about to get it in!.»
Looie’s steak does remind me of an old nuisance deli’s steak in West Philly, but without all the negative fanfare. I may end up here again sometime.

Great friendly service, awesome experiences, and humongous sandwiches. These guys will fill you up with half a sandwich alone.
The food is very inexpensive and they pack the sandwiches with meat. Pretty awesome.
Only problem I have would be the bread becoming soggy very quickly. This is really due to the fact that the meat is overstuffing the bread (which the bread is thin and stretches out).
However, that is really the only issue I’ve had. These guys take care of their patrons and it is why they get mad respect and love. It’s what makes this spot special. Nowadays, it is getting rare to have awesome customer service but it is what makes the place what it is besides their huge and heavy sandwiches.

Absolutely amazing! We drove 3 hours straight to Gooey Looie’s! So worth it! We were originally thinking about going to Pat’s or Ginos but after reading their reviews I started doing some research! So glad I did!
I got a small cheese steak with provolone, fried onions, ketchup and sweet peppers! It was huge! The steak was seasoned perfectly! The cheese stayed melted to the last bite! At first the ketchup seemed like a bit much but it was just the right amount!
It’s a small space! They have 3 really tiny tables so we ate in the car! Make sure you bring cash!

Overall this is a ³⁄₅ for cheesesteaks but ⁴⁄₅ for the class of cheesesteaks here. It’s complicated so let me explain…
Not every steak is alike. Gooie Louie’s is the sloppy joe of steaks. It’s the triple decker bacon burger with extra onions and mayo of steaks. Of it’s «super sloppy» cheesesteak class it’s pretty solid and deserving of ⁴⁄₅ stars.
I called ahead to order here and the phone order taker (which ended up being ½ cooks) wasn’t very pleasant but not rude. More like Philly rude (abrupt, not overly friendly, slightly rushed). My mom as the southern belle she is wanted salad. No salad, no wings, etc. it’s not a pizza shop selling steaks… just sandwiches like steaks, hoagies, burgers.
When I finally got here after using the Unilocal address which is technically wrong (enter on moyamensing or else you’ll think the store is in someone’s house) they were very friendly. Small, unassuming location with little dine in room and 2 counters. One for food pick up and ordering, the other for check out.
The food was good. Huge sandwich, LOTS of finely chopped meat, grilled onions, provolone and a murder scene of ketchup.
I’m not a fan of finely chopped meat since it mushes up the texture for me especially with so much ketchup. Could have used more cheese so definitely will request extra next time but that’s all steaks IMO. Hearty bread, nice light flavor so you can taste the meat vs just seasoning. This is when you want a lot of food, a bit of sloppy indulgence and just a regular steak.

I have had better cheesesteaks from a lunch cart. The hoagies are good. The place is small and only accepts cash or food stamps. It seemed most of the people in there were using food stamps to buy cheesesteaks. The staff was rude and seemed to be talking about my girlfriend and I behind our backs.

I am really not sure how the cheesesteaks from here have had such rave reviews. I was craving a cheesesteak badly and wanted one that was not only good, but BIG! Personally, my favorite cheesesteaks are those from Jim’s (esp the West Philly location). But growing up, I’d always heard folks speak about how huge the portions were here, and after checking out the Unilocal reviews, I decided to make the drive to South Philly to try it out. Welp, this steak just went to show how more is not always better. The steak was huge no doubt, but the flavor was terrible. The meat was super moist-​not greasy as it should be– but moist, like «minute steak», or an otherwise inferior type of beef. The flavor/​quality of the meat makes the cheesesteak in my opinion, so using a cheaper type of meat cramps the sandwich’s «style» so to speak. I ate the entire sandwich b/​c I refused to waste that $ 9, but I was pissed the entire time that I chewed it. If you’ve ever had a cheesesteak from the corner «bodegas» (corner stores) in the city, then you will know what I mean when I say that that is how this steak tasted… and at the «bodegas», the steak is only $ 4! Smh.
I suppose the hoagies here may be better, but I doubt that I’ll ever return to see. End result? Not impressed… at all.

Drove a long way to get here on a recommendation. Its a dive looking deli in a small gated plaza, the deli was packed with people and they were working on a large order for delivery/​pick up. As soon as the owner saw that I was still waiting after 10−15min he asked what my order was and got it to me quickly in between pre-​orders.
I ordered a few different sandwiches and they were great! Hoagies and Cheesesteaks were both huge! And tasted great also!
Now would I drive 30−40min again to get? I would if I was in the area.
Great neighborhood business!

I eat meat occasionally, but I have always wanted to try a cheesesteak and Hoagie in Philadelphia. This place was recommended by Phili residents and I wanted an authentic food experience. The cheesesteak was prepared with chopped meat, melted provolone cheese, grilled onions and mushrooms. I also tried the Italian Hoagie and added turkey meat. The meat, lettuce and tomatoes were very fresh and perfectly chilled. I added peppers. So delicious. The bread was fresh and did not overwhelm the sandwiches. Everything is prepared large and with american cheese unless otherwise specified. So make that clear when ordering because no one will ask what size or what type of cheese.
You won’t find this place by driving through the neighborhood. It’s is a word of mouth and cash only establishment. The location is not visible from the street or even the parking lot. The price was reasonable. There is one table outside the deli. The place is very small inside, but there are 3 or 4 very small tables and chairs. Other patrons may be standing close by as they order or wait on their food. The people working there are friendly.