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Shermann

(9,001 posts)
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 05:31 PM Oct 14

Penn Station Ghost Pepper Cheesesteak review

It's ghoul-sploitation season!

Penn Station East Coast Subs is new to me. They've been running ads for this sandwich relentlessly, so I thought I'd try it out. I'm a bonafide chilihead so I'm a sucker for this sort of thing. I got a regular and it was 10 bucks and change with no chips or drink.

Penn Station is a bit misleading as the chain was founded in Cincinnati. I'd place them squarely between Subway and Jersey Mike's in terms of the overall experience and value. This is not a very creative Halloween offering, it's basically their standard cheesesteak but with seasonal ghost pepper cheese. There are no black buns or spooky orange sauce here. You can get that cheese on other sandwiches if desired.

I stuck with the basic components of bread, meat, cheese, and grilled onions. No mushrooms or mayo for me, nor mustard. These aren't the Philly way. I was also asked if I wanted pizza sauce on it (!)

All in all, it was decent. The heat is a 4 out of 10, a nice burn that builds but isn't going to wear most people out. The bread is good, and the meat is good. The regular is a nice size that was just right.

I wasn't blown away but if you have the itch for some heat and are near one it might be worth a stop.

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LoisB

(12,189 posts)
1. THANK YOU! I agree that the only way to eat a cheese steak is bread, meat, cheese, grilled
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:08 PM
Oct 14

onions. Pizza sauce!?! OMG!

Shermann

(9,001 posts)
2. Those basic ingredients have to be really good though because they can't hide behind anything!
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:19 PM
Oct 14

I don't think I've had Mike's Famous Philly. That's probably about as close as I can get to the real thing here. Although I haven't actually had the real thing so who am I to say?? I just prefer basic versions of most everything. I guess I'm "basic".

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