Those cheese-steak places are over-hyped tourist traps and the "wiz" thing is ridiculous. The best cheese steaks I ever had growing up in the Philly burbs were from a small neighborhood joint that also sold kerosene heaters. It closed long ago (RIP C&T).
But, all due respect to Mr. Karmel (who I have seen twice in person and he absolutely killed with two wildly different audiences - Notaro and Saget), a good greasy (so much so that you can see through the paper wrap after you've eaten it) cheesesteak with actual American cheese, onions and pizza sauce from anyone of a number of local pizza joints / dinners, drive in, etc. in the Philly area blows away anything I've had locally (including the over-fatty pastrami at Kenny & Zukes).
geno's/pat's are tourist traps in philly. cheesesteaks aren't even where it's at -- go to reading terminal and eat a roast pork sandwich from dinic's. then tell the world that no sandwich in portland compares. (take solace, portland: your beer is infinitely better than philly's beer.)
But, all due respect to Mr. Karmel (who I have seen twice in person and he absolutely killed with two wildly different audiences - Notaro and Saget), a good greasy (so much so that you can see through the paper wrap after you've eaten it) cheesesteak with actual American cheese, onions and pizza sauce from anyone of a number of local pizza joints / dinners, drive in, etc. in the Philly area blows away anything I've had locally (including the over-fatty pastrami at Kenny & Zukes).