Unraveling the Meat Mystery: Is Domino’s Philly Steak Beef or Pork?

Domino’s Oven Baked Philly Cheesesteak is a mouthwatering sandwich filled with sizzling steak, melty cheese, and fresh veggies. But with “Philly” in the name, it begs the question – is the meat beef or pork? Let’s examine this meaty sandwich to get to the bottom of it.

A Brief History of the Philly Cheesesteak

To understand Domino’s Philly Cheesesteak, we must first explore the origins of the classic Philly sandwich. The famous cheesesteak was invented in 1930 by Pat and Harry Olivieri in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The original consisted simply of thinly sliced ribeye beef and melted cheese on a hoagie roll

Over time, restaurants throughout Philadelphia put their unique spin on cheesesteaks, adding ingredients like fried onions, mushrooms, and peppers. The sandwich grew iconic to the city, with locals fiercely debating ingredients and preferred cheese choices.

So the term “Philly cheesesteak” denotes a sandwich made traditionally with thin slices of beef, not pork Keeping that context in mind, let’s inspect Domino’s take on this classic regional fare

Inside the Oven-Baked Philly Cheesesteak

Domino’s provides the following ingredients list for their Philly Cheesesteak pizza:

• Slices of steak
• Provolone and American cheeses
• Fresh onions
• Fresh green peppers
• Fresh mushrooms
• Ciabatta-style bread

The key item of interest here is the “slices of steak.” While Domino’s doesn’t specify the exact cut, beef is heavily implied by the name.

Pork is not an ingredient traditionally associated with Philly cheesesteaks. So while it’s possible pork could be used, it’s highly unlikely Domino’s would deviate from the expected beef.

Why Beef Reigns Supreme in Cheesesteaks

There are a few critical reasons why thinly sliced beef is preferred over pork in Philly cheesesteaks:

• Flavor – Beef provides a robust, savory flavor that stands up to melty cheese and fried onions. Pork tends to be milder tasting in comparison.

• Texture – Thin slices of beef provide a nice tender, but still substantial bite. Pork would likely become overly soft during cooking.

• Tradition – As mentioned earlier, the original 1930 cheesesteak was made with sliced ribeye beef. Pork breaks with this established custom.

So not only does beef align better with the flavors and textures of a cheesesteak, but tradition dictates beef as the definitive meat choice.

Other Telltale Signs of Beef

Beyond the ingredient list, there are other subtle clues that point to beef as the steak source in Domino’s Philly Cheesesteak:

• The sandwich is described as “hearty” – a characteristic more associated with beef than pork.

• The ciabatta-style bread and abundance of toppings imply a robust sandwich that would be overpowered by mild pork.

• Online customer reviews describe the steak as having a “beefy taste” and “hearty steak flavor”.

So the seasoning, portion sizes, and customer testimonies all suggest Domino’s uses real slices of beef steak in their special sandwich.

The Verdict: It’s Beef in Domino’s Philly Cheesesteak

Based on tradition, ingredients, and contextual clues, it’s highly likely that Domino’s Oven Baked Philly Cheesesteak contains sliced beef steak, not pork.

While an official confirmation would be ideal, the sandwich’s name and composition strongly point to savory slices of beef. Using pork instead would deviate boldly from the expected norm.

Of course, some local variations on the classic Philly cheesesteak do incorporate pork. However, for a major national chain like Domino’s, beef remains the safe, traditional choice for honoring this iconic regional specialty.

So hungry cheesesteak fans can bite in confidently knowing Domino’s Philly version celebrates the classic sandwich’s meaty legacy of thinly sliced beef. It may not be a perfect authentic cheesesteak, but the Oven Baked Philly Cheesesteak still promises all the indulgent flavor you crave.

The Bottom Line

Based on naming conventions and traditional ingredients, Domino’s Philly Cheesesteak almost certainly contains tender slices of beef rather than pork. While not a true original, Domino’s delivers the classic cheesesteak flavors fans love using the expected beef steak recipe.