Texadelphia - Plano (new), Plano

When Texadelphia's founder moved to Austin from Philadelphia, his homesickness manifested as hunger. He craved cheesesteaks—not just for their gooey, meaty fixings, but for the laid-back atmosphere that seemed to spring up wherever you served them. He dug the Mexican-inspired cuisine and the friendliness of the Lone Star State, enough so that he combined these qualities with the taste of his former home. The result was Texadelphia, founded in Austin in 1981.

There are now Texadelphias spread throughout Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. They all follow the founder's original formula: inventive cheesesteaks on artisanal bread, served with chips and housemade salsa. The signature sandwiches range from the Founder's Favorite—100% Black Angus beef, onions, mushrooms, jalapeños, and melty mozzarella—to reimaginings of the East Coast meal, such as The Hickory, which piles cherry peppers, aged cheddar, and hickory barbecue sauce in with the meat. Customers can also choose to build their own sandwich with freshly prepared extras and signature sauce.

All signature sauces are housemade, ranging from mustard blend, spicy ranch, hickory, and red Italian. Visitors can drizzle their sandwich with any of these sauces, as well as with queso, a cheese sauce made from secret ingredients and melted by a CIA-issued flamethrower. Customers can browse the rest of the menu for its burgers, salads, deli sandwiches, and kid-friendly options.