Donkey’s Place Downtown
If you’re from the tri-state area, you’ve likely heard of the local hot spot Donkey’s Place in Camden, NJ. They’ve been giving Philly cheesesteaks a run for their money since 1943.
This October they opened their newest location in Mount Holly, and we were the first in line.
WHO? Joe Lucas and Jared Berkey partnered up to bring this popular joint to downtown Mt. Holly. Joe is a third-generation owner along with his brother, Rob Jr., who runs the Camden location.
The name Donkey’s Place came from the founder, Leon “Donkey” Lucas, an Olympic heavyweight boxer who was said to have a punch like the kick of a mule!
WHY? Since I might be one of the only people who had never tried Donkey’s Place until NOW, it’s obvious that I’ve been missing out. I’ve tried a lot of Philly cheesesteaks in my day but this one made me forget about the others. There’s a reason they’re selling up to 500 cheesesteaks on a busy day!
The late, great Anthony Bourdain visited the Camden location during an episode of CNN’s Parts Unknown and declared that “The best cheesesteak in the area might well come from New Jersey.”
WHAT? The menu isn’t extensive, and no one cares! The famous cheesesteak comes on a round Kaiser poppy seed roll, defying the stereotype of a cheesesteak in every good way. Savory meat topped with melted American cheese and caramelized onions that melt in your mouth. Add their sriracha ketchup for a kick.
WHERE? The Mount Holly location is the third location joining Camden & Medford (opened in 2001). It’s a small building with a takeout window, no indoor seating and plenty of picnic tables for their guests to dine.
