A cheesesteak so authentic, you’ll feel ‘transported to Philadelphia’

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Nickel City

1a Bell Street

Preston

There’s something very Melbourne about chasing a very specific food experience down an industrial strip in Preston. You’re standing there in a hoodie, there’s a Bunnings across the road, Northland two minutes away, probably a brewery lurking nearby, and in your hands is a sandwich that’s trying, very earnestly and very successfully, to transport you to Philadelphia.

Nickel City is exactly that kind of place. A Philly cheesesteak food truck that feels both hyper-authentic and deeply local at the same time. It’s only been open about five months, but already has that quiet confidence of somewhere that knows what it’s doing. The name itself is a bit of a nod. “Nickel City” is actually a nickname for Buffalo, New York, which starts to make sense once you clock parts of the menu leaning into that wider Northeast American influence.

And look, Philly cheesesteaks are one of those dishes people get weirdly protective about. Bread, meat, cheese, onions. Simple, but also sacred. So when you see a menu that plays with jalapeños, mushrooms, and even a veggie version, there’s a tiny voice going, “Alright… let’s see if you can pull this off.” We got pretty much everything on the menu, which is either journalistic integrity or just poor self-control.

Let’s start where you should start. The Philly Cheesesteak. Angus MB4 beef, griddled onions, green peppers, mushroom, jalapeño, American cheese, all loaded into a 10-inch baguette. Now yes, it’s not the classic Philly roll, but this is where Melbourne sensibility kicks in. The bread has a slight crust but gives way nicely, so you’re not fighting it.

The beef is properly juicy, chopped and folded through the cheese so every bite is cohesive. No fallout, no sandwich collapse halfway through. Just a solid, well-built cheesesteak. The American cheese melts into everything, becoming more of a texture than a flavour, doing exactly what it’s meant to do.

Then there’s the Veggie Cheesesteak, which I got on gluten-free bread. Now, this is where things shift slightly. It comes as more of a burger bun situation, which is actually delicious, but structurally, it’s a bit of a challenge. This is a saucy, bitsy filling. Onions, peppers, mushrooms, jalapeños. The bun does its best, but you’re committing to a slightly messy experience. That said, flavour-wise, it absolutely holds up. It’s not trying to pretend to be meat. It just leans into those savoury, umami flavours and delivers something genuinely satisfying. And having a thoughtful gluten-free option that still feels indulgent is a big win.

I also had the Po’ Boy, which takes things in a slightly different direction. Buttermilk fried prawns, Creole seasoning, baja sauce, lettuce, tomato, pickles, all packed into a roll. This one is all about texture. The prawns are properly crisp, the coating light but still full of flavour, and the baja sauce brings everything together with a creamy, slightly tangy finish.

It’s a little less heavy than the cheesesteaks but still indulgent. If you want something that feels big and satisfying without leaning fully into beef and cheese, this is the move.

Now, I didn’t try the Buffalo chicken cheesesteak, but honestly, watching them go out and hearing other people order it, it’s clearly a favourite. It’s one of those menu items that feels like it already has a bit of a following.

On the sides front, the shoestring fries are exactly what you want. Thin, crispy, aggressively seasoned. Cajun salt, mayo on the side, no notes. They’re the kind of fries you keep eating long after you’re full.

A quick side note, and a very Melbourne one. Right next door there’s a waffle stand doing a genuinely excellent San Sebastián cheesecake. Which means you can accidentally turn this into a full progressive meal without moving more than five metres. Ideal.

What I really loved, though, was the energy. At one point, one of the staff came over to check if we were enjoying the food. We said yes, obviously. And he goes, “Do you know why?” We said no. “Because I made it.” And that’s kind of the whole vibe. It’s proud without being wanky, confident without being over the top. Nickel City understands its brief, but it’s not boxed in by it. It respects the origin of these dishes without becoming overly reverent. 

Price-wise, you’re sitting around the $20 mark for sandwiches, which feels fair for what you’re getting. These are not small meals. These are lean-forward, two-hands, accept-your-fate kind of situations.

Images: Supplied