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Years ago, my lil nephew challenged me with, “I bet you don't know where the best cheesesteak is made, and it’s not in Philly”. He was proud that he thought he stumped me. But I was all like shiiiit. I probably said shoot, he was like nine but for the sake of this story and for sounding super cool, let's go with it. Without hesitation I followed, Donkey’s Place in Camden, duh. I relished in his wide-eyed amazement of his all-knowing uncle. Little did he know that I just watched the same episode of The Goldbergs as he did. I also remember Bourdain giving it a “shout out” on an episode of Parts Unknown a few years prior to that. Despite living in Camden County until I was 7 and going to college about 20 minutes away, I never ventured into Camden "to try it". All I knew was that Donkey’s was known for making a delicious tasting cheesesteak on a round roll, with lots of caramelized onion and it was in Jersey, NOT Philly. I gotta admit though, after watching The Goldberg's episode dedicated to it, I was absolutely influenced to go. #imasuckerformarketing
Why Donkey's Place?
Leon Lucas was a former boxer who earned the nickname "donkey', because he punched as hard as donkey kicked. Lucas, a Camden native, qualified for the 1928 Olympics and had a short-lived professional career retiring with 10 wins and 2 losses. Like other pugilists of the day, Leon retired from fighting and opened up his own neighborhood tavern in 1943 with live music & dancing which he aptly named Donkey's Place. Over 80 years later you can walk still walk into that same bar on 1223 Haddon Avenue and catch a glimpse of the past. Rob jr, Leon's grandson still carries on the tradition of using his grandpop's recipes while keeping the authenticity and almost kitschy character on the inside.
Sometime after brothers Pat & Harry Olivieri started slinging steak sandwiches on the other side of the Delaware River, Leon introduced Camden to his own version with some noticeable differences. Like the majority of the omnipresent cheesesteak spots in Philly, Donkey's uses fresh sliced rib-eye and onion, but that's really where the similarity ends.
The most immediate, dare I say shocking, difference is that instead of the typical long hoagie roll, the Donkey's Place cheesesteak is served on freshly baked, round poppy seed kaiser roll from OG South Jersey bread bakery Del Buono's. Rob was recently heard saying that they were the bakery's oldest customer. Also, unlike others that chop their onions, these bad boys are sliced and slow cooked in a proprietary seasoning which blends the right amount of salt with the natural sweetness of the caramelized onion in every bite. And while this sandwich would likely go incredibly well with the in-vogue Cooper Sharp Cheese or a smothering of Whiz, 2 slices of traditional American Cheese is used, one on the steak and one on the bottom bun.
The menu is simple, juicy cheesesteaks, seasoned fries, onion rings and dry rubbed chicken wings. You can add more meat, cheese or onion for an upcharge. And there are house stuffed cherry peppers, pickled tomatoes and spicy pickled cukes as well. I suggest you get them all then wash it all down with frosted mug draft beer or cocktail. Donkey's is a still a down and dirty shot and beer tavern after all.
Does Donkey's Place make the best Philly cheesesteak? No, and they are not trying to. But do they make the best Camden Style cheesesteak and one of the tastiest sandwiches in the country? Hell Yea!
In addition to the Haddon Ave location, Donkey's has expanded with Donkey's Place Too in Medford NJ and Donkey's Place Downtown in Mount Holly.
If you can't make it to South Jersey and are jonesing for the experience, Christos Wake & Steak in Bloomfield, a champion of promoting other hard to get sandwich foodigenous, makes their own, cheesier tribute to Donkey's style.
Hours vary by location, but the original is open M, F 7am - 6pm and T-Th 10am - 6pm
And they open the first Saturday of every month 7am - 6pm
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