196 Pittsburgh Restaurants to Consider for Your Next Meal Out

About Our Ranking of Pittsburgh Food

Our reviews are lumped into five major categories including “the top 10,” “great,” “pretty good,” “average,” and “least favorite.” We recommend using these distinctions as your overall guide, and we'll discuss their meanings more below.

Please keep in mind that we take a number of factors into consideration when reviewing including taste, execution, consistency, cost, and service. That being said, we also weigh personal preference heavily in how we ordered the list below.

So if you are curious as to what makes our #1 restaurant different from #7 or those at the top of “great”, well, it is simply personal preference. The main five categories outlined above are the bigger categorization you should keep in mind in reading this guide.

The Top 10 Pittsburgh Restaurants

The following are our current Top 10 Pittsburgh restaurants. The restaurants that earn this distinction are ones we are certain we can order anything on the menu and not be disappointed.

1. Gaucho Parrilla Argentina – Strip District – Argentinian meats done right in sandwich form (and on their own).
2. Federal Galley – North Side – An interesting food hall in the North Side featuring four chefs and a stellar bar.
3. Fish Nor Fowl – Garfield – Fine dining with an interesting menu and delicious cocktails.
4. Morcilla – Lawrenceville – Spanish tapas bar with gourmet pintxos and small plates.
5. Kaya – Strip District – Caribbean fare with the best burger and sweet potato fries in the city of Pittsburgh.
6. DiAnoia's – Strip District – Modern Italian fare with a great brunch, cocktails, and more.
7. Bar Marco – Strip District – Modern American, craft cocktails, but rather expensive.
8. Apteka – Bloomfield – Eastern European, vegan meals coupled with a wonderful bar.
9. Or, the Whale – Downtown – Trendy seafood and chophouse in downtown Pittsburgh.
10. Poulet Bleu – Lawrenceville – High-end French fare by the Richard DeShantz restaurant group.

Great Places to Eat in Pittsburgh

If you want to be able to order anything from a menu and anticipate it being good, these restaurants should have it. 

If a restaurant achieves this rating then it is guaranteed that we will go back to try more at some point in the future (or already eat there as regulars). Restaurants towards the top of this list are just as highly rated as those in our Top 10, but are not highlighted above because, well, we chose to only call out ten!

These are also the first we pull out when asked “where to eat in [neighborhood]?” or “what is good Pittsburgh food?” without knowing anymore about what you're looking for.

11. Smallman Galley – Strip District
12. La Tavola – Mount Washington
13. tako – Downtown – Upscale Mexican
14. Park Bruges – Highland Park – Belgian
15. Umami – Lawrenceville – Japanese
16. Point Brugge – Point Breeze – Belgian
17. Brugge on North – North Side – Belgian
18. Noodlehead – Shadyside – Thai
19. Pizza Taglio – East Liberty – Pizza
20. Legume – Oakland – American / Fine Dining
21. Better Maid Donut – Crafton Heights – Donuts
22. The Harmony Inn – Harmony, PA – German
23. Driftwood Oven – Lawrenceville – Pizza
24. Altius – Mount Washington – Fine Dining
25. Teppanyaki Kyoto – Highland Park – Japanese
26. Golden Pig – Cecil, PA – Korean
27. Iron Born – Millvale – Pizza
28. Coca Cafe – Lawrenceville – Brunch
29. Monterey Bay Fish Grotto – Mount Washington – Seafood
30. Baby Loves Tacos – Bloomfield – Tacos and Burritos
31. Jozsa Corner – Hazelwood – Hungarian
32. The Colombian Spot – South Side – Colombian
33. Lorelei – East Liberty – German/Alpine
34. Cafe on Main – Sharpsburg – Brunch
35. Spoon – East Liberty – Fine Dining
36. Udipi Cafe – Monroeville – Indian
37. Soba – Shadyside – Asian
38. Azorean Cafe – Bloomfield – Portuguese
39. Threadbare – North Side – Pizza
40. Ineffable Ca Phe – Lawrenceville – Vietnamese
41. Bae Bae's Kitchen – Downtown – Korean
42. Pizzaiolo Primo – Downtown – Italian / Pizza
43. Meat and Potatoes – Downtown – Modern American
44. Penn Avenue Fish Co. – Strip District – Seafood
45. Butcher and the Rye – Downtown – Modern American
46. Tessaro's – Bloomfield – Burgers
47. Eleven – Strip District – Fine Dining
48. Braddock's Street Side – Downtown – Modern American
49. Oishii Bento – Oakland – Japanese
50. Nicky's Thai Kitchen – North Side and Downtown – Thai
51. Everyday Noodles – Squirrel Hill – Taiwanese
52. Walter's BBQ – Lawrenceville – Barbecue
53. Hidden Harbor – Squirrel Hill – Caribbean
54. Sienna Mercato – Downtown – Multiple
55. Soju – Garfield – Korean
56. Duncan St. Sandwich Shop – Millvale – Sandwiches
57. Pie for Breakfast – Oakland – Breakfast
58. Spork Pit Barbecue – Garfield – Barbecue
59. Spork – Bloomfield – Tapas/Italian/Modern
60. Bitter Ends Luncheonette – Bloomfield – Healthy Fare
61. Piazza Talarico – Lawrenceville – Italian
62. Clem's Cafe – Blairsville – Barbecue
63. City Oven – Downtown – Pizza
64. Smoke Taqueria – Lawrenceville – Modern American (Tacos)
65. Totopo – Mt Lebanon – Mexican
66. Fourth Street BBQ – Charleroi – Barbecue
67. Ephesus Pizza – Downtown, Aspinwall, and Bellevue – Turkish / Pizza
68. Pamela's P&G Diner – Various Locations – Breakfast / Brunch
69. Alla Famiglia – Allentown – Italian
70. Pork and Beans – Downtown – Barbecue

Pretty Good Pittsburgh Restaurants

Pittsburgh restaurants that fall into this category are generally recommended if you are in the mood for a specific entree or cuisine style. The entire menu may not be astounding (although it certainly could be), they may not have the best service, or even be a place you dream of eating at more frequently, but it'll be a good meal if you need to satisfy a more specific craving.

These are the ones we recommend when being asked for “where to eat [cuisine type] in [neighborhood],” so if the cuisine type and location matches what you seek, we recommend giving these a try.

71. Colangelo's – Strip District – Bakery/Pizza/Sandwiches
72. Bills Bar & Burger – Downtown – Burgers and Brunch
73. Casbah – Shadyside – Mediterranean
74. Bird on the Run – East Liberty – Chicken
75. Pittsburgh Barbecue Company – Banksville and Murrysville – Barbecue
76. Onion Maiden – Allentown – Vegan
77. The Grand Concourse – South Side – Brunch
78. Burk's BBQ – Oakmont – Barbecue
79. LeoGreta – Carnegie – Italian
80. Burgatory Bar – Various Locations – Burgers
81. The Pennsylvania Market – Strip District – Multiple Vendors
82. Chick'n Bubbly – Oakland – Korean/Japanese
83. Pusadee's Garden – Lawrenceville – Thai
84. Bier's Pub – North Side – Burgers
85. Las Velas – Downtown – Mexican
86. Muddy Waters Oyster Bar – East Liberty – Seafood
87. Pittsburgh Poke – Downtown – Seafood
88. Showcase BBQ – Homewood West – Barbecue
89. Two Brothers Bar-B-Q – Presto – Barbecue
90. Siempre Algo – North Side – Modern American
91. V3 Pizza – Downtown and Lawrenceville – Pizza
92. Bea Taco Town – Downtown – Mexican
93. Nu Bistro – Squirrel Hill – Jewish / Sandwiches
94. Max's Allegheny Tavern – North Side – German
95. Cafe io – Mount Lebanon – American
96. Slice on Broadway – Beechview – Pizza
97. Dive Bar – Lawrenceville and South Side – Modern American
98. Big Jim's in the Run – Four Mile Run – Italian and American
99. Piccolo Forno – Lawrenceville – Italian
100. Butterjoint – North Oakland – Burgers and Pierogies
101. La Palapa – South Side – Mexican
102. Bull River Taco – Squirrel Hill – Tacos
103. Johnny's Diner – West End – Breakfast
104. Bubba's – Pizza and Polish – Greensburg
105. honeygrow – Healthy Fare – East Liberty
106. Casa Narcisi Winery – Italian – Gibsonia
107. Bigham Tavern – Modern American – Mount Washington
108. Union Standard – Downtown – American
109. Station – Bloomfield – Modern American
110. Scratch – Troy Hill – Modern American
111. Badamo's Pizza – North Side and Mt. Lebanon – Pizza
112. The Vandal – Lawrenceville – Modern American
113. Independent Brewing Company – Squirrel Hill – Modern
114. Proper Brick Oven – Downtown – Italian / Pizza
115. Monterey Pub – North Side – Irish Pub
116. Burgh'ers – Lawrenceville and Harmony – Burgers
117. Huszar – North Side – Hungarian
118. Condado Tacos – Downtown – Tacos
119. Dinette – East Liberty – Pizza and Small Plates
120. Fiori's Pizzaria – Brookline – Pizza
121. Brian's Barbecue – Finleyville – Barbecue
122. D's Six Pack and Dogz – Regent Square – Hot Dogs / Burgers
123. Mike & Tony's Gyros – Multiple Locations – Gyros and Modern
124. Merchant Oyster Co. – Lawrenceville – Seafood
125. Coughlin's Law – Mount Washington – Gastropub
126. Peppi's Old Tyme Sandwich Shop – Various Locations – Sandwiches
127. Quik-It Chicken – North Side – Fried Chicken / BBQ
128. The Porch – Oakland – American
129. Royal Myanmar – West View – Burmese
130. Caliente Pizza and Draft House – Bloomfield – Pizza
131. Lidia's – Strip District – Italian
132. Joe & Pie – Downtown – Pizza
133. Eighth & Hays – Homestead – Wine Bar / Modern American
134. Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33 – Squirrel Hill – Taiwanese
135. DeMore's Pizza – Millvale – Pizza
136. El Burro – North Side – Mexican
137. Police Station Pizza – Robinson Township – Pizza
138. The Pub Chip Shop – South Side – British
139. Kavsar – Mount Washington – Uzbek
140. Pizzeria Davide – Strip District – Pizza
141. Acorn – Shadyside – Modern American
142. Cinderlands Beer Co – Lawrenceville – Modern
143. Tram's Kitchen – Bloomfield – Vietnamese
144. Aiello's – Squirrel Hill – Pizza
145. Superior Motors – Braddock – Fine Dining
146. Cambod-Ican Kitchen – South Side – Cambodian
147. Bakn – Carnegie – Brunch and American
148. Ki Pollo – Lawrenceville – Korean and Argentinian
149. The Original Oyster House – Downtown – Fried Seafood
150. Beto's Pizza – Beechview – Pizza

Average Restaurants in Pittsburgh

Although we'd call them average, odds are good if a restaurant's offering fell into this range there were some good components and some bad. Most restaurants here we may not fully recommend from a personal standpoint, but there could be reasons we'd go back for a re-try (such as seeing a dish next to us that looked amazing, new menu items being added, etc).

Generally speaking, we walk out of these saying the meal was “fine” with little fanfare beyond that.

The following restaurants are also places we could recommend to specific people if we knew they had different tastes than us. When reading each restaurant review, odds are good you will know if this is you and some of the following could be worth checking out.

151. Pig Iron Public House – Cranberry – Modern American
152. Floor 2 – Downtown – Fine Dining and Brunch
153. Banh Mi & Ti – Lawrenceville – Vietnamese
154. Waffles, INCaffeinated – South Side – Breakfast / Brunch
155. Fogo de Chao – Downtown – Churrascaria
156. Revel and Roost – Downtown – Modern American
157. Smokin' Toad BBQ – Sarver – Barbecue
158. Spak Brothers – Garfield – Pizza
159. The Yard – Shadyside and Downtown – Grilled Cheese / American
160. Rowdy BBQ – South Hills – Barbecue
161. City Works – Downtown – American
162. D&G Pizza – Beaver Falls – Pizza
163. Spirit and Slice Island Pizza – Lawrenceville – Pizza
164. The Commoner – Downtown – Modern American
165. Industry Public House – Lawrenceville – American
166. The Abbey on Butler Street – Lawrenceville – Pub Fare
167. Pizza Parma – Downtown – Pizza
168. The Warren – Downtown – Sushi and Bar Fare
169. Grandma B's – Hill District – Breakfast
170. Blue Dust – Homestead – Sandwiches
171. Chengdu Gourmet – Squirrel Hill – Chinese
172. Choppin' Block BBQ – Strip District – Barbecue
173. Primanti Brothers – Strip District (and Various Locations) – Sandwiches
174. Area 51 BBQ – Belle Vernon – Barbecue
175. Giovanni's Pizza – Dormont – Pizza
176. Wilson's Bar-B-Q – North Side – BBQ
177. Streets on Carson – South Side – International
178. Square Cafe – Regent Square – Breakfast / Brunch
179. YinzBurgh BBQ – Bloomfield – Barbecue
180. Lola Bistro – North Side – International
181. Zen Asian – Lawrenceville – Chinese
182. Casa Reyna's – Strip District – Mexican
183. Double Wide Grill – South Side – American / BBQ
184. Doughboy's Pizza – McKee's Rocks

Our Least Favorite Meals in Pittsburgh

When it comes to bad meals, a restaurant has to miss a fair bit for it to be featured here. Generally speaking, the entrees we tried had little redeeming factors, and the meals of others next to us (when available) did not look that inspiring either to warrant a second try.

185. Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe – North Side – Breakfast and Sandwiches
186. Caffe Mona – Bloomfield – Brunch
187. Mineo's – Squirrel Hill – Pizza
188. Pizza Fiesta – Multiple Locations – Pizza
189. Subba Asian – North Side – Nepali
190. Mendoza Express – East Carnegie – Mexican/Tex Mex
191. Doce Taqueria – South Side – Tacos
192. Fuel and Fuddle – Oakland – American
193. Pho Van – Strip District – Vietnamese
194. Barb's Corner Kitchen – Lawrenceville – Breakfast/Diner
195. BRGR – East Liberty – Burgers
196. NOLA on the Square – Downtown – American

Check back soon as we add Pittsburgh restaurant reviews every week as we eat our way around the city! 

Looking for more food options in the city? Be sure to check out our listing of the best Pittsburgh food trucks which features a collection of our favorite local trucks, carts, and street vendors as well as our selection of awesome bakeries in Pittsburgh! Or if you're looking for other things to do in Pittsburgh, check out our guide to the city's best spots!

Or are you looking to visit Pittsburgh? Find the best neighborhood to stay in at the previous link!