Philadelphia International Airport and Marketplace PHL Set Guinness World Record for 'Longest Line of Cheesesteaks' on National Cheesesteak Day
PHILADELPHIA — March 24, 2026 — Passengers at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) today were thrilled to see culinary history being made right before their eyes: the “Longest Line of Cheesesteaks” … achieving a new Guinness World Record for National Cheesesteak Day, March 24.
The savory serpentine of sandwiches at PHL ultimately stretched to a record-setting 1,291 cheesesteaks — spanning the length of more than three football fields and occupying nearly the entire concourse between Terminals B and C. It was comprised of 225 pounds of cheese sauce, 990 pounds of shaved ribeye and over 1,200 foot-long rolls.
The Philadelphia Cheesesteak is among the city’s most celebrated icons, and PHL has more restaurants serving cheesesteaks under one roof than any other single location in Philly.
Multiple concessionaires from PHL Food & Shops, in partnership with the City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation, have been collaborating for months to deliver this culinary win for Philly.
Today’s champion cheesesteak is a first-time category creator, according to Guinness World Records.
Several local Philadelphia suppliers contributed ingredients and resources to assemble the history-making queue. Amoroso’s Baking Company provided the classic Philadelphia rolls; Cooper Sharp supplied the cheese sauce; and Philly’s Best Steak Company delivered the beef. Chickie’s & Pete’s supported the effort by supplying kitchen equipment and preparation space to assist with the large-scale production of sandwiches, and Pepsi is the official beverage partner of Cheesesteak Week at PHL.
The Guinness World Record for Longest Line of Cheesesteaks kicks off what’s also expected to be a record-setting year for passenger travel at PHL. Throughout 2026, Philadelphia will host the MLB All-Star Game, FIFA World Cup 26, NCAA Men’s March Madness and the PGA Championship — in addition to celebrating Philly’s unique role in American history as part of the U.S. Semiquincentennial.
Following the official measurement and confirmation by veteran Guinness World Records Adjudicator Michael Empric, cheesesteaks from the record attempt were served to passengers, participants and guests.
“In 2026, Philly is on a roll literally and figuratively,” said Kate Sullivan, Chief Commercial Officer for the Department of Aviation. “Cooking and assembling the longest line of cheesesteaks ever will be among many historic moments in Philadelphia this year. Congratulations and thanks to all the cheesesteak restaurants here at PHL that collaborated on this delicious, record-setting accomplishment. And thanks to Guinness World Records for acknowledging this achievement.”
Restaurants at PHL that serve cheesesteaks or cheesesteak-inspired menu items include:
- Bar Symon
- Bud & Marilyn’s
- Chickie’s & Pete’s
- Geno’s Steaks
- Good Luck Bar & Restaurant
- Independence Prime
- Jack Duggan’s Pub & Restaurant
- Jim’s South St. Famous Cheesesteaks
- Local Tavern
- LOVE Grille
- Mezzogiorno
- Oyster House
- Passyunk Steaks
- Philly Pretzel Factory
- Sabrina’s Cafe
- Subway
- Tony Luke’s
- WinKitchen
Mel Hannah, Vice President and General Manager of MarketPlace PHL, added: “More than 100 team members from more than a dozen different restaurant operators, with multiple food suppliers, along with staff from the Department of Aviation and MarketPlace PHL, all worked collectively to make culinary history today. That’s how Philadelphia gets it done … together.”
PHL Cheesesteak Week continues through Friday, March 27, with participating restaurants throughout the airport offering special cheesesteak-inspired dishes, exclusive meal deals and other activations celebrating the city’s signature sandwich.
For more information, please visit PHLfoodandshops.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Exclusive drone footage, high-resolution photographs and B-roll from the Guinness World Record “Longest Line of Cheesesteaks” event at Philadelphia International Airport can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/fwwdk6yfs2hfcal52ciud/AF61SRQ6CwS4GhA_cbhEd7Q?rlkey=k30x0czwqaekdhvlalbslmr2g&st=ox3l9e5f&dl=0.
ABOUT PEPSICO
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $94 billion in net revenue in 2025, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and drinks, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that places sustainability at the center of our business strategy, seeking to drive growth and build a stronger, more resilient future for PepsiCo and the communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
ABOUT MARKETPLACE PHL
MarketPlace PHL, LLC, is the private partner with the City of Philadelphia in the management of the food and retail programs throughout Philadelphia International Airport. The award-winning program offers more than 170 shops, restaurants and services. The MarketPlace PHL portfolio features local Philly favorites, as well as regional and national brands. MarketPlace PHL, LLC, is a partnership between MarketPlace Development, a Boston-based airport retail development firm, and LeJeune & Associates, a Philadelphia-based retail development, management and consulting firm. For more information, visit PHLfoodandshops.com.
