GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — This week in 13 Eats, we're heading to Big Shawn's Cheesesteaks to see if the little restaurant lives up to the big namesake.
Big Shawn's is snuggled in a strip mall discreetly right off Kalamazoo Avenue in Grand Rapids, sharing walls with a Boost Mobile and a tattoo shop. Its bright red-lettered sign beckons you to walk through its front door and hear those bells chiming overhead.
Breathe in that thick fried air, those plastic letters say to cars whizzing by on Kalamazoo. We promise it tastes as good as it smells.
Almost as good as those smells is the story behind the storefront. And it all starts with the namesake herself.
Big Shawn isn't so big herself. She's a 5'3 lifelong Grand Rapids resident who's a fixture behind their grill, her clothes forever perfumed with the smell of seasoned beef and charred-to-perfection onions.
The permanently billowing grill and the floor tiles in front of it were practically stamped with her footprints — that's what Shawn Whiting's always dreamed of.
“I started out of my garage and I didn’t realize the momentum that we would get. I had to open up a location because of the traffic that was coming to my house," said Shawn.
That traffic followed her to Kalamazoo Avenue, where since 2020, you can find Shawn. Seven days a week, 12 hours a day, to see that dream wrapped in wax paper, served in greasy to-go bags to happy customers.
“I have a twin brother. He passed away. It’s coming up on two years this month. I told him I would pay him 100 bucks if he took the Blackstone from Walmart and bring it home, and I would also cook him dinner," she said. "So, that’s how this started, me making cheesesteaks on my patio in the fall."
Even if cheesesteaks aren't your go-to, Shawn's pride in what she does is a flavor anyone can appreciate.
"I came up with an idea and a concept that’ll work for this city," she said.
It's more than pride for her storefront, though. Her ingredients are as top-shelf as her work ethic.
Big Shawn's USDA Choice steak comes from Pennsylvania. All their sandwiches are served on Amoroso Bakery Company rolls, a New Jersey classic, and topped with white American cheese, provolone and lathered in Kraft Cheez Whiz.
"That’s what makes a cheesesteak," Shawn smiled.
If Shawn had it her way, every customer would leave happy and every sandwich would be coated in Cheez Whiz — or, as she calls it, "liquid gold!"
Though there's not currently a place to sit down and eat at their restaurant, that can't stop you from peeling back that cheese-soaked tin foil and sneaking a bite before taking it to go. Trust us, if you'd smell that meat on the grill, you wouldn't blame us.
“My favorite menu item has gotta be our Shawn’s Style Cheesesteak," she said. "That’s what we specialize in. That’s our popular sandwich item we sell here.”
On your first trip to Shawn's, you have to go with the classic.
Shawn's Style Cheesesteak ($9.49 for a 6-inch, $16.99 for a 10-inch) consists of ribeye steak, onions, mushrooms, mild banana peppers, red and green peppers topped with provolone, American and Cheez Whiz on their Amoroso rolls.
My first impression: definitely not first-date food. The sandwich is so packed with meat and toppings, it was hard to find a place to take a first bite, which is exactly what we want out of our cheesesteaks (who likes first dates anyway?).
We watched as Shawn loaded up that steak with seasoning while it was on the grill, and upon first bite, you could tell. The savory spices pair perfectly with the deep, smoky taste of the beef. It's mixed with the intensely creamy triple-cheese that leaves the most mouthwatering strings from the sandwich to your mouth.
While the soft cheese could make your traditional bun soggy, Shawn's Amoroso rolls have no problem holding their own. It provides a sturdy, bready buffer to the intense flavor in each bite. Topped off with the light crunch grilled onions and bell peppers? Look no further. We've found your perfect cheesesteak.
Shawn's Style also comes with chicken instead of beef for the same price. While not your classic cheesesteak, this is a great option for those looking for a lighter bite. The ladles of Cheez Whiz on top mix with the perfectly-grilled chicken breast to create a soft, creamy sandwich, grounded by the crunch of those mixed veggies.
Finally, there's the Eggrolls ($4.99).
For under $5, you can add the most perfect fried side dish imaginable to your already-heavenly sandwich. The eggrolls are tiny versions of the cheesesteaks, with either chicken or beef, onions and three kinds of cheese all wrapped up in eggroll paper and fried to golden brown. You can even add a Flaming Hot Cheeto coating for an extra buck.
The first bite is luscious. There's no other way to describe it. The seasoned beef is dark and flavorful alongside the light cheese sauce. A cheesestick pulls apart as you bite down, and the fried coating adds the most delectable crunch to the soft filling.
If nothing else, get the eggroll.
For 89 cents extra, you can add sauces of your choosing. Shawn recommends going with the sweet and sour to add the perfect little kick to each bite. In our expert opinion, she's right. It's worth it.
Some words of advice before your first Shawn's trip: come hungry, grab extra napkins and prepare for your car to smell like the mouthwatering ghost of cheesesteaks past.
But don't worry, you'll make another trip. And make sure to say hi to Shawn when you do, too.
You can text 13 Eats to (616)559-1310 to see restaurants that we’ve visited in your area or check out our website here.
Be sure to email your suggestions to Eats@13OnYourSide.com to help us decide where to eat next — because here at 13 Eats, we’re always hungry.
► Big Shawn's is located at 4317 Kalamazoo Avenue SE in Grand Rapids. You can order online here.
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