Fort Lauderdale isn’t Philadelphia, and nobody’s pretending otherwise. But the best cheesesteak Fort Lauderdale has to offer isn’t defined by geography — that satisfying combination of thinly sliced meat, melted cheese, and bread that can barely contain everything — doesn’t belong exclusively to one city. It belongs to anyone doing it right.
Beach Cafe does it right. The Classic Chicken Cheesesteak and the Supreme Beef Cheesesteak have both built their own followings among the A1A crowd, and the difference between them tells you something useful about how to approach the menu.
The Classic Chicken Cheesesteak: When Poultry Gets the Cheesesteak Treatment
Chicken cheesesteaks have a reputation problem they don’t fully deserve. In the hands of kitchens that are clearly just trying to give vegetarians something close to the real thing, they can feel like an afterthought. But a properly executed chicken cheesesteak is its own animal — lighter than beef, with a different flavor dynamic and a texture that works particularly well with melted cheese.
The Classic Chicken Cheesesteak at Beach Cafe is the real version. The chicken is cooked and handled in a way that keeps it moist rather than turning it into rubber — a failure mode that plagues the category. The cheese melts into the meat rather than sitting on top of it like a separate ingredient. The bread holds up.
If you’ve been dismissing chicken cheesesteaks because of past disappointments, this is worth a test run.
The Supreme Beef Cheesesteak: The Full Experience
The Supreme Beef Cheesesteak is the menu item that the term “cheesesteak” most directly calls to mind. Thinly sliced beef, melted cheese, bread that somehow keeps everything together despite the weight of what’s inside it.
“Supreme” in menu language can mean anything. Here, it means a cheesesteak that’s been put together with enough components to feel complete and substantial without turning into something unmanageable. This is the version you order when you’ve been in the water for a while and you need something with genuine staying power.
The beef is the story here. Properly cooked, sliced thin enough to get the right texture, handled with the care that distinguishes a great cheesesteak from a passable one. The cheese does what good cheese in a cheesesteak is supposed to do: it binds, it adds richness, and it becomes inseparable from the meat in the best possible way.
Chicken vs. Beef: How to Choose
Both are worth trying. But if you need help narrowing it down for a first visit:
Choose the Classic Chicken Cheesesteak if: you want something on the lighter side, you prefer poultry, or you’re curious what this category can do when it’s done well.
Choose the Supreme Beef Cheesesteak if: you want the full, traditional cheesesteak experience, you’re very hungry, or you simply believe that beef cheesesteaks are among the great sandwiches of the world and you want to test whether this one belongs in that conversation.
Spoiler: it does.
Why a Beachfront Location Makes the Cheesesteak Hit Differently
There’s context to food that changes how it tastes. A good cheesesteak in a basement sub shop is a good cheesesteak. A good cheesesteak after a morning at Fort Lauderdale Beach, with the sun on your back and the ocean a short walk behind you, is an experience.
Beach Cafe benefits from this context without relying on it. The food is good enough to stand on its own, but the setting amplifies it in the way that only beachside eating can.
A Word About the Bread
Cheesesteak arguments often focus on meat and cheese, but bread is the unsung variable that makes or breaks the sandwich. Too soft and it becomes a soggy mess before you’re halfway through. Too hard and every bite risks the structural integrity of the whole thing.
The bread at Beach Cafe has the right balance — enough softness to be easy to eat, enough structure to hold up against the filling. That detail alone separates a great cheesesteak from a frustrating one.
Visit Beach Cafe at Lauderdale Beach Blvd R112, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, or explore the full menu at mybeachcafe.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the Classic Chicken Cheesesteak and Supreme Beef Cheesesteak at Beach Cafe?
The Classic Chicken Cheesesteak features seasoned chicken with melted cheese on a hoagie-style roll. The Supreme Beef Cheesesteak uses thinly sliced beef and typically includes additional toppings for a more complete flavor profile.
Is the chicken cheesesteak at Beach Cafe worth trying if I usually order beef?
Absolutely. The chicken version at Beach Cafe is a well-executed option that converts plenty of beef-first diners. It’s worth at least one order to see which side you land on.
Can I get a cheesesteak as a lunch or dinner option at Beach Cafe?
Yes — the cheesesteaks are appropriate any time of day. They’re particularly popular for lunch given their satisfying, substantial nature.
Does Beach Cafe use fresh bread for the cheesesteaks?
For details on bread sourcing and preparation, visit mybeachcafe.com or ask directly at the cafe.
Craving a Real Cheesesteak in Fort Lauderdale?
Whether you go for the Classic Chicken Cheesesteak or the Supreme Beef Cheesesteak, Beach Cafe serves it fresh, hot, and packed with flavor just steps from A1A.
Explore our full menu and find your perfect cheesesteak today.