The Original Thunderbird Steakhouse and Catering — Restaurant in Marple Township

Update: As you can see by the response from the owner, there is zero accountability at this place. It’s clear that they have no regard for health or quality. You don’t need to be an expert to understand that handling uncooked meat with your bare hands isn’t safe. Worst case scenario, Thunderbird is going to make someone seriously ill. Best to save yourself the heart (or stomach) ache and go to one of the many better cheesesteak joints that Delco has to offer.

I’ve been hesitant to post this, but after reading the defensive and condescending responses to reviews from ownership over the past year, figured I’d share my experience.

We ordered pick up on Thursday, August 1st. I arrived a few minutes and hung out at the counter. Everyone in the kitchen was wearing gloves, except the older gentleman who was cooking the cheesesteaks. I watched this dude move uncooked meat around the griddle with his bare fingers, then go right to assembling a sandwich. At one point, he asked another employee for chicken. The employee grabbed an unrefrigerated tub of cooked chicken. The older gentleman then proceeded to scoop out a portion with HIS BARE HANDS THAT HAD JUST HANDLED UNCOOKED MEAT and threw it on the griddle. So much for “meticulously weighed portions.”

Mind you, this was all in plain sight. God knows what’s going on in the cooler and the rest of the building.

I grew up right down the road from Thunderbird. My uncles worked there in high school. The place used to be a staple. Heartbroken...

Very disappointing. Just ate here with my wife (4:30p 6/11/17). We've had cheesesteaks here before when we were in the area and were impressed with the quality and service. Today was vastly different, maybe a different crew? And it's not like they didn't have enough staff... I counted 8 employees and we were the only customers. We ordered a chicken cheesesteak and small fries to split between us... always enough in the past for my wife and me, and we would even need to take some home. To start off, the waitress brought the fries out first. News flash to kitchen and wait staff... fries and sandwich are supposed to come out together. Then the sandwich... it looked like a sliced roll with some melted cheese in between. I kid you not, there was a smattering of meat but when you held the sandwich in your hands it just looked (and tasted) like you were eating a seasoned roll. And the fries barely covered the bottom of the basket. Waitress never checked back to see if everything was ok (it wasn't). We finally got her attention to get the check. Then when we paid at the register my wife told the guy, "This cheesesteak was a shadow of the meals we've had here before....it was all bread. If it had been our first visit, we wouldn't be back." Right then and there the guy should have refused to take our money. Instead he apologized and said he "would tell him." ...

The Original Thunderbird Steakhouse has been running family owned and operated since 1956 and is known as the “go-to” for cheese steaks in Philadelphia.

I’ve been waiting years to come here and wasn’t disappointed.

Our waitress Gail was delightful. She was quick to serve our iced tea drinks (this is also a must) and then the cheese steaks arrived. A squeeze of mustard and ketchup in the middle and then BOOM! Tastebuds are alive. The texture of the sirloin meat with the cheese and soft bun takes what could be seen as just a steak roll to a culinary treat beyond belief.

And to back this up, they were the 2022 winners of the best Cheese Streak by Main Line Today Magazine. Says it all.

But what else can you have? Plenty. Pizza. Hoagies. Burgers. Calzone and more. Lots of choices and if you’d like to have that event of yours catered for - check them out.

The staff are fabulous, friendly and keep those cheese steaks pumping out to diners. Well done team. Love to know how many you make in a day.

You can dine in or take away. If you have dietary requirements please check with the staff. Seating is in booths, so plenty of room for a family. Toilets available.

Prices are very reasonable and one cheese steak will keep you going all day.

Gotta get back here before we leave...