The city that claims to have invented the cheesesteak has some serious competition waiting in Louisiana. None of the versions I have eaten across the country prepared me for what this shop does to the format.
The owner clearly looked at a classic cheesesteak and decided it needed a Louisiana upgrade of epic proportions. I ordered the house specialty and watched them load the griddle with thin-sliced steak, then grilled chicken, then shrimp.
Yes, all three on the same sandwich. The bread was soft and sturdy enough to hold the entire thing together.
Cheese melted over everything in a way that felt intentional rather than accidental. The first bite was chaos in the best possible sense.
The flavors competed for attention and somehow all won. This is not a traditional cheesesteak, and that is exactly what makes it worth the drive to this Louisiana shop.
Try The Classic First
Not every visit needs fireworks. The Classic keeps things simple with grilled steak, grilled onions, and white American cheese, and that simplicity makes it a smart order when you want to judge a cheesesteak shop on its fundamentals.
Here, the basics work in its favor. The steak is tender, the onions soften without disappearing, and the cheese melts into the meat instead of sitting on top like an afterthought.
A soft roll holds everything together without turning the sandwich into a mess too early.
Order this if you like your lunch straightforward and satisfying. It is also a good choice for first visits, especially if the bigger specialty sandwiches seem overwhelming.
Once you know the baseline, the wilder combinations on the menu make even more sense next time you come back.
Meet The Voodoo
Philly Me Up is located at 8775 Jefferson Highway, Suite F, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, along the busy Jefferson Highway corridor southeast of downtown. Jefferson Highway provides the direct approach, with the restaurant tucked into a commercial strip along the road.
Stay on Jefferson Highway through the surrounding shopping and restaurant district until you reach the 8700 block. The restaurant is marked as Suite F, so the final turn takes you directly from the main road into the shopping center rather than onto a side street.
Pull into the shopping center parking area and continue on foot toward Suite F. The storefront faces the shared commercial lot, keeping the final walk short once you are parked.
Notice The Amoroso’s Roll
Bread can make a sandwich ordinary or memorable, and Philly Me Up does not treat it like a minor detail. Many sandwiches come on an Amoroso’s roll, a hearth-baked bread imported from Philadelphia, which gives the shop one of its clearest links to cheesesteak tradition.
The texture matters more than people think. The outside has enough structure to hold juicy fillings, while the inside stays soft and warm, almost cloudlike when it hits the griddle heat.
That balance keeps the sandwich from falling apart halfway through lunch.
Pay attention to the roll on your first bite. It does quiet work, but it shapes the whole experience.
In a menu full of louder ingredients, the bread is the steady part that lets steak, cheese, peppers, and sauces come together without getting lost.
Lean Into Da Gumbo
Some sandwiches whisper; Da Gumbo absolutely does not. This one folds grilled chicken, shrimp, and sausage into the holy trinity of onions, bell peppers, and celery, then adds homemade gumbo gravy and pepper jack cheese for a true Louisiana turn.
It sounds like a lot because it is a lot, but the idea feels grounded in local taste rather than novelty. The gravy gives the filling a richer, almost spooned-from-the-pot character, while the pepper jack keeps the whole thing pointed and lively.
Choose this when you want a cheesesteak that clearly belongs in Baton Rouge and not just anywhere. It is heartier than the standard options, so bring your appetite and maybe skip extra sides.
A sandwich like this already arrives acting like the main event and the side dish together.
Pick Your Cheese Wisely
Cheese choices can quietly change the whole mood of your order. Philly Me Up offers white American, provolone, mozzarella, pepper jack, and Cheese Whiz, so the sandwich you build can lean creamy, sharp, stretchy, or just a little rowdy.
White American works well if you want that classic melt that blends straight into the steak. Provolone feels slightly firmer and more savory, while pepper jack brings a mild kick that matches chicken, shrimp, or Southern-style toppings nicely.
Cheese Whiz is there for anyone chasing a more old-school cheesesteak spirit.
Think about the rest of your sandwich before choosing. Strong peppers or sauce can overpower a gentle cheese, while a simple steak order benefits from a cheese that takes up more space in the flavor.
It is a small decision, but it changes the landing of every bite.
Give The Lagniappe A Chance
The Lagniappe has a name that already promises a little extra, and the sandwich follows through. Grilled chicken and shrimp meet grilled onions, hot cherry peppers, white American cheese, and chipotle mayo, creating a cheesesteak that feels bright, smoky, and sharper than heavier menu options.
What makes it stand out is the push and pull between richness and heat. The mayo smooths things out, then the hot cherry peppers snap back with a pleasant sting that keeps the sandwich from feeling sleepy.
White American cheese melts everything together without stealing attention.
Order The Lagniappe if you like flavor that moves around a bit. It is different from The Voodoo, less saucy and more pointed.
For anyone who wants seafood in the mix but does not need three proteins at once, this is a smart middle path with personality.
Remember The Turkey Club
A cheesesteak shop that can make a strong turkey sandwich earns extra trust from me. The Chipotle Turkey Club brings smoked turkey breast, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, purple onion, olive oil, oregano, chipotle mayo, and provolone together on a toasted Amoroso’s roll.
Because the menu leans heavily toward hot, cheesy creations, this sandwich feels like a useful reset button. The vegetables add crunch, the oregano and olive oil give it a deli-style edge, and the chipotle mayo keeps it from tasting plain or overly polite.
It still eats like a real lunch, not a compromise.
Keep this one in mind if your group wants variety or if you visit often enough to branch out. Philly Me Up is clearly proud of its cheesesteaks, but a hearty turkey club shows the kitchen understands balance, texture, and fullness beyond the griddle.
Use The Pepper Options
Peppers are where a good sandwich becomes your sandwich. Philly Me Up offers banana peppers, jalapenos, hot cherry peppers, bell peppers, and sweet peppers, which means you can nudge an order toward bright, sharp, smoky, or seriously spicy without changing the whole structure.
Sweet peppers are easy for almost anyone and pair especially well with steak or barbecue sauce. Banana peppers bring tang and a quick little pop, while jalapenos push the heat higher.
Hot cherry peppers feel bolder and deeper, and bell peppers add more vegetable body than burn.
My best advice is to think in layers, not chaos. One pepper can frame the sandwich, while two can create contrast if you choose carefully.
Start modestly on a first visit, especially with specialty sandwiches, because some of the house combinations already have enough going on without extra fire.
Expect Fresh Off The Grill
One of the nicest things about eating here is that the food tastes like it was meant to reach you fast. Philly Me Up is known for made-to-order sandwiches, and that fresh-off-the-grill quality shows up in the heat, smell, and texture right away.
The steak stays tender instead of tired, vegetables keep their flavor, and the cheese arrives properly melted instead of stiffening up during a long wait. Even when the menu gets playful, the kitchen does not seem to lose sight of the basics.
Hot food simply tastes more alive, especially with sandwiches built around sizzling meat and toasted bread.
Plan to eat promptly once your order lands. Cheesesteaks are not shy foods, and they are usually best in that first window when the roll is warm and the fillings still feel freshly assembled.
That immediacy is part of what makes the place memorable.
Do Not Skip The Sides
Sides at Philly Me Up are not just filler while you wait for the sandwich spotlight. Crispy fries and battered onion rings bring crunch to a meal full of soft bread, melted cheese, and juicy fillings, which is exactly the kind of contrast a heavy lunch needs.
If you want to get a little reckless, the cheese fries are the move. They come topped with grilled steak, grilled onions, cheese sauce, and hot cherry peppers, turning a side into something very close to a second entree.
The texture shifts from crisp edges to gooey center in a way that feels unapologetically satisfying.
For first visits, regular fries are the safe partner to a specialty sandwich. Save the loaded version for a shared order or a very hungry afternoon.
Either way, the sides here actually belong in the conversation and not just at the edge of the tray.
Plan Around The Hours
A great lunch plan can fall apart on timing alone, so know the schedule before you go. Philly Me Up is open Monday through Wednesday from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Thursday and Friday from 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM, and Saturday from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
It is closed on Sunday.
The shorter early-week hours make this feel especially lunch-centered, while Thursday and Friday give you more breathing room for a later meal. Another practical detail matters: the shop stops taking phone orders 15 minutes before closing.
That small cutoff can save you an unnecessary trip or a disappointed call.
Aim for a little cushion, especially if you are ordering for more than one person. Places known for made-to-order food reward people who plan ahead.
Nothing about Philly Me Up feels fussy, but arriving with the hours in mind makes the whole visit smoother.