Where is the best place in Philly to grab a cheesesteak? According to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, the answer is simple: FoodChasers.
Like many Philadelphia residents, Hurts went on the hunt to find the perfect cheesesteak but nothing seemed to satisfy his taste buds. Instead, he went to one of his favorite local restaurants, FoodChasers, and made his own.
Three days before the Super Bowl, Jalen Hurts was asked where to get the best cheesesteak in Philly. His response would go on to change the lives of two twin sisters forever.
“So I have a cheesesteak that I made at FoodChasers,” Hurts said. “It’s in Philly. And it’s called ‘The Jalen Special.’ I put my little ingredients on it. I made it just right. So if you ever want to go try one, go to FoodChasers.”
Jalen Hurts Helps Cheesesteak Sales Rise By 300% At FoodChasers
Kala and Maya Johnstone opened FoodChasers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A humble restaurant in Elkins Park, FoodChasers Kitchen was not actually known as a cheesesteak destination before Hurts dubbed it his favorite spot in the city.
Before his comments during Super Bowl week, Kala and Maya would go through about 10 pounds of meat per week for cheesesteaks. Soon, that number was about to jump by over 10 times.
Once Hurts’ comments went viral, the restaurant served over 100 pounds of beef over the next three days and were forced to call their supplier for more.
The Jalen Hurts cheesesteak was born in June 2022 when he first visited the restaurant. Despite being on the menu for six months, sales never managed to go through the roof. Five months later, sales for the sandwich have risen 300 percent, per The Athletic.
Hurts’ Public Endorsement Changed The Lives of Two Twin Sisters
As great as the sandwich is, Hurts’ gesture to put the twin sisters on the map is something that they will remember forever.
“When Jalen comes into your life and says: ‘You’re valuable, you’re good enough to be on the stage with the big boys in Philly to sell cheesesteaks, and you girls’ voices should be heard … so come with me, get in my articles, get on TV,’ we just cry about it, because we grew up not seeing ourselves like this,” Kala said. “He changed our lives. You couldn’t put money on it. You can’t put it into words. He literally changed our lives and he added value to us. And not just Maya and I. He added value to Black women. Because so many women come in and say, ‘You guys’ story inspire us.’”
