What Kind Of Beef Is In Jersey Mike's Cheesesteaks?

When we look at what really makes Jersey Mike's sandwiches so good, one reason is the quality of the ingredients. Meat is a big part of that, but there's a bit of a question mark as to what kind of beef is used in the cheesesteaks. It's hard to find a definitive answer.

None of the online menu descriptions for #17 Mike's Famous Philly, #43 Chipotle Cheese Steak, or #56 Big Kahuna Cheese Steak specify the steak cuts used or what USDA beef grades the meat has. A glimpse into the nutrition facts tells us that the "Philly beef" is "Beef containing solution of water, dextrose, salt, potassium lactate, sodium phosphate, natural flavors." Jersey Mike's also offers halal cheesesteaks at select locations. The nutrition facts for "halal Philly beef" are: "Marinated beef steak containing up to 25% of a solution of water, dextrose, salt, sodium phosphate, natural flavor." The only insight we get from this is that the beef is processed.

A few Reddit users on the employee-frequented Jersey Mike's subreddit said the beef comes from ribeye steaks. One r/jerseymikes commenter explained that it's USDA Choice ribeye, though some stores use sirloin when supply chain issues arise. This is difficult to verify. These comments were posted around 2022, and a lot can change in a few years. For instance, founder Peter Cancro sold the majority of the company's ownership to asset management firm Blackstone in 2024. The chain could have changed suppliers since then, and barring any documentation on the matter going public, the kind of beef in its cheesesteaks remains ambiguous.

A now-deleted Reddit user from a r/jerseymikes thread claimed that Jersey Mike's uses chunked and formed ribeye steak. One self-identified employee agreed, saying their location carried chunked and formed beef product for the cheesesteaks. If "chunked and formed beef product" doesn't sound too appetizing, don't worry — it just means the meat has been processed for more consistent texture and flavor between batches. This information also aligns with what we know about the beef from the nutrition facts Jersey Mike's provides, which list additives among the Philly beef's ingredients.

Generally, formed beef is made by machine-dicing or coarsely grinding the meat into chunks, then seasoning and reforming them into larger steaks. These larger pieces can be formed using the meat's own proteins or with the help of additional binders. While this process makes the beef's texture more uniform, whether or not these are positive changes is entirely subjective.

If Jersey Mike's is using this kind of beef in its cheesesteaks as opposed to thin-sliced ribeye as some Redditors have suggested, it could explain why some people feel the popular sandwich chain isn't hitting like it used to, especially if the beef quality isn't up to usual standards. Whether or not there has actually been a change, you might be happier making a copycat Jersey Mike's Famous Philly recipe instead.