It’s like a disco in your mouth, except there’s no pressure to dance.
That’s what it means to celebrate National Cheesesteak Day in Delaware on Thursday.
On that day you’re entitled to host a party for your taste buds where only good vibes are welcome.
Here are 12 places where you can celebrate National Cheesesteak Day in the Small Wonder, including options for vegan, pork and seafood lovers.
There are six locations across the state, but many people on the internet claim Elsmere has an extra special place in their hearts.
Regardless of which location is your favorite, Casapulla has been going strong for over 50 years and four generations. The long-time restaurant certainly has a knack for keeping customers coming back.
You can choose among an original ribeye steak, ribeye cheesesteak, pizza steak and more.
Not everyone can say President Joe Biden visited their restaurant. While they’re not the only restaurant in the state with those bragging rights, it does speaks volumes.
Philly-style steak sandwiches are offered with beef or chicken, prepared with onions and hot peppers.
This place opened its doors over 50 years ago when cousins Sam Demetratos and Bob Hionis founded their restaurant chain in Claymont, after moving there from Greece.
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The shop’s award-winning cheesesteaks are proudly made with fresh meat that’s sliced and diced on the spot.
Customers can choose their favorites. The classic Claymont is thinly sliced ribeye and American cheese, available large or small. But there is also a mushroom cheesesteak, chicken cheesesteak, pizza cheesesteak, Buffalo chicken cheesesteak, pepper steak and more.
Here you’ll find arguably the most whimsical cheesesteak in Delaware. The bad boy they offer is made with scrapple, the beloved loaf of pork scraps many Delawareans can’t get enough of.
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Since it’s a cheesesteak, it only makes sense that it’s doused in five-cheese fondue, onions and bell peppers.
Not a scrapple fan? You can also snag a Delaware Cheesesteak, with shaved ribeye, Cascading Reactions Witbier, braised onions, sautéed mushrooms and Provolone on a hoagie roll.
109 Patriot Drive, Middletown; visit firststatebrewing.com or (302) 285-9535
For nearly 20 years this restaurant has been satisfying cravings.
For almost half that time, Ioannoni’s has used fresh meat instead of frozen for its cheesesteaks, which punctuates their desire to provide customers with a memorable sandwich.
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Ioannoni’s largest cheesesteak is 21 inches, which is about as long as three 16.9-ounce water bottles stacked on top of each other.
624 E. Basin Road, New Castle; ioannonis.com; (302) 322-5000
This restaurant dishes up a sandwiches that gives you the best of both worlds: a sandwich that tastes just as good as a meaty cheesesteak, except it’s healthier and noticeably less greasy.
It’s March Madness and the owners of Go Vegan put their game-face on every time they serve up these vegan treats, which they affectionately named the Broad Street Bully.
The vegan cheesesteak is served with your choice of oyster mushrooms or ground Impossible meat, along with your favorite toppings of peppers, mayo, ketchup, onions on a long roll with fries.
607 N. Lincoln St., Wilmington; goveganphilly.org; (302) 543-4431
Despite its name, this shop offers more than just pizza pies. They can whip up a mean cheesesteak, too.
“The cheesesteak was very good,” one customer raved on their Facebook page. “They have great food and the people there are the best,” another patron said.
2392 Dupont Parkway, Middletown; Visit Little Italy Pizzeria on Facebook; (302) 378-7070
Little Italy 2 Townsend (325 Main St., Townsend); See above for FB page; (302) 378-9494
This mainstay has built a reputation from filling up bellies with its home-style cooking. The shop is also known for its deep roots, since the business has been around for more than four generations.
With gas prices out of control, Main Street has become even more convenient for foodies in Kent County who want a tasty cheesesteak, but want to stay close to home.
40 S. Main St., Smyrna; Visit Main Street Market on Facebook; (302) 653-8837
In SoDel, this business takes a lot of pride in using fresh bread from Liscio’s bakery. A meaty sammich is one thing, but it hits a little different when those rolls are extra zesty.
Additionally, Nothing Better owner Nick Bohenko said he suspects his shop might be a little more liberal with its use of cheese than most places.
14882 Hardscrabble Road, Seaford; nothingbetterllc.com; (302) 875-2400
This popular restaurant carries a lot of weight in the cheesesteak community. It’s not hard to understand why, because it sells a cheesesteak that weights over 2 pounds.
That sandwich isn’t on the menu and it’s by special request only.
Folks can’t get enough of TenderBones. On the restaurant’s Facebook page, one person said they traveled from D.C. to Bear “just to get a cheese steak,” but they were sold out.
“I need this in my life!!” a hungry TenderBones fan wrote on Facebook. “road trip!!!,” another hyped supporter wrote.
And, hey, if ever there was inspiration for a road trip, it was a hot and gooey, perfectly executed cheesesteak.
This hidden gem has been glistening in Sussex for years and their downstate sammies are topped off with Southern comfort.
“Best cheesesteak and subs around,” one person wrote on the shop’s Facebook page.
“The best,” a wordsmith patron echoed.
3544 Williamsville Road, House; Visit Williamsville Country Store on Facebook; (302) 422-4455
This food truck stands out like a unicorn among cute puppies.
It offers deep-fried seafood cheesesteaks and hoagies such as the Zochness Monster of the Zea, Zodzilla and Triple Zea Monster.
Chef Zoagie, the owner of Zoagies, started out from humble beginnings, cooking food in a deep-fryer from Walmart and delivering meals on a bicycle. Grinding his way up from the bottom has helped him go viral and serve oodles of people with his sizzling food.
1401 N. Dupont Highway, New Castle; zoagies.com
Andre Lamar is the features/lifestyle reporter. If you have an interesting story idea, email Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com.
