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Bow down to Al's! This hole in the wall serves what is arguably the area's best cheese steak, and if you didn't know where it was parked in Del Ray, North Alexandria, you'd pass right on by. Delicious and soul-comforting greasy, large (when a construction worker says the 'large' is big enough for two meals, believe it), and inexpensive. Al and staff are there, friendly, and willing to arrange things to taste. The decore is minimal, with a couple tables by the windows, so carryout is the way to go. It's recommended that you call your order in if the time is anywhere within two hours either side of noon it's that busy. And that good. Then there's that big jar of hot peppers on the counter all you care to tackle, and for free. They've also got other selections, so when you tire of the cheese steak yeah, right you can work your way down the menu.

Very good hole in the wall, not much for looks but a good sandwich. Lots of meat, cheese is good on the Roman. Roll is a bit bland but the fillings make up for it.

Great food, but few tables. Great cheesesteak, probably the best one I've ever had. Very clean and nice employees. A little un-inving on the exterior.

I just moved to Alexandria from PA and was directed to Al's. This is definitely a cut above your run-of-the-mill steak & hoagie place in Philly. The steak is tender and the bread isn't soggy, which are big positives. Ideally, the bread would be a little firmer on the outside and the cheese would be better distributed, and I usually prefer that the steak not be chopped up into lots of tiny pieces during cooking (usually -- but not always -- a sign that the meat is straight out of the freezer). But this is a solid cheesesteak.

Who cares about atmosphere though. In the little dingy building the best Cheesesteak in NOVA there is. I used to patronize this joint for years, but alas I no longer allow myself to indulge and the prices are really getting expensive. I do go there about once a month. It is indeed the best your money can buy outside Philly at least for the DC metro area. Those other "chains" aren't worth your time or money

If only they had cheese wiz like in Philadelphia! Al makes a kick *ss cheesesteak.