Eat & Drink Archives - Discover the Burgh

Yaba’s Middle Eastern Street Food Review – Fast Casual Downtown

February 12, 2026

When looking for a new restaurant to visit downtown before a Pittsburgh Penguins game, Yaba's Middle Eastern Street Food, just across the street from PPG Paints Arena, caught our attention.

A fast casual, build-your-own bowl and wrap concept focusing on Middle Eastern flavors? All at a reasonable price? Sign us up!

As it turns out, this restaurant, tucked away on the second floor of an assuming building near the stadium, packed a punch. If you're in the mood for a quick and reasonably priced Middle Eastern meal while downtown, Yaba's is worth the stop.

The Vandal Review – A Gem in the Heart of Lawrenceville

February 11, 2026February 11, 2026

The Vandal is an intimate spot in the heart of Lawrenceville with trendy bistro vibes, a focused seasonal menu utilizing local ingredients, and helpful, friendly service. Although the restaurant's concept has grown and evolved over the past decade of its existence, we feel like it's really hitting its stride now.

It's the kind of cozy spot perfect for a date night or friend's night out- just be sure to make a reservation since seats are limited.

Reva Modern Indian Review – Delicious Indian in East Liberty

January 27, 2026

Reva is a casual restaurant in East Liberty serving up modern Indian cuisine. The communal tables and huge menu are perfectly suited for bringing a group of friends and ordering tons of dishes for family style dining.

On our visit it was just the two of us, but we still tried several appetizers and entrees and loved it. The dishes were customized with our spice preference, and everything was packed with flavor.

JJ’s World Review – Delicious Fare in Chicora

January 10, 2026

Every now and again, we find a restaurant that offers delicious food in a location we would not have expected.

JJ's World in Chicora, PA, in northeast Butler County (about 75 minutes from Pittsburgh) is one such restaurant. With a focus on smoked meats plus sandwiches, pastas, and other entrees, this one delivered a delicious meal in an unexpected spot.

So if you're north of the city looking for a tasty bite, consider this one!

10 Spots Great to Enjoy Dry January in Pittsburgh in 2026

January 3, 2026January 1, 2026

Oh dry January, you are always fun.

This annual celebration has become something of a global phenomenon, as many of us look to use the somewhat slow month as a chance to detox and get a break from indulgences (especially after the holidays).

Whatever your reason for participating in dry January is your own. But if you are looking to enjoy the flavors of your favorite beverages without alcohol, a number of restaurants, bars, breweries, and distilleries are starting to offer great options for dry January in Pittsburgh!

In this one, we thought we'd share some of the spots with the finest assortment of products. While this one is not comprehensive, we wanted to include places that have larger menus, share a variety of products, and more to give you a great cross-section of alcohol-free beverages in the city to consider if you are abstaining.

Please note: This article focuses on offerings for Dry January specifically and may not necessarily be accurate year-round. While many of the bars, restaurants, and breweries featured have great non-alcoholic products at all times, some increase their offerings for January. Likewise, cocktails, beers on draft, and other beverages are always liable to change. Please reconfirm directly with any business prior to visiting. Finally, some drink photos in this article may be alcoholic and are for illustration only.

Union Brothers Brewing Review – Brews and Food

December 23, 2025

We've been fans of Union Brothers Brewing since they first opened in Harmony. Since then, they've gained quite the popularity, expanded into a new location down the road, all while offering the same great food and beer since day one.

We recently revisited this one for a night out, with beer and food all around, and had quite the great time. So if you're north of the city looking for food, beer, or perhaps both, this one is a great stop!

The 10 Best Places to Eat in Pittsburgh Right Now

December 9, 2025December 8, 2025

One of our favorite activities when going out and exploring Pittsburgh is trying new restaurants, and over the years we've visited hundreds upon hundreds of local establishments from street food vendors to mom and eateries, fancy prix fixe dining experiences, and everything in between.

Truly, there is no cuisine type we won't try, and we've been on a mission to taste it all.

Since the early days of running Discover the Burgh, we've always highlighted a list of our 10 favorite restaurants in our Pittsburgh restaurants guide as a quick call out to the best spots right now. But in that guide, we did not spend a lot of time explaining why these restaurants made the cut.

While we thought our linked reviews typically speak for themselves for detailed accounts of a specific dining experience, in this one, we thought we'd take a high-level look at our 10 favorites and share why they've made the current list.

But before getting into it, we should note that while these are our personal top 10 places to eat in Pittsburgh, it is hard to compare any two on the list. Is there a big difference between #1 and #2 or #5 and #9 in terms of quality? Not really- they're all great, and that's the point. We could spend hours discussing the finer details of why we arranged the list as we did, but in reality, it is just our preference, and any spot on this list is going to offer a great meal.

Likewise, we should call out that these are not Pittsburgh food institutions that have been local staples for decades, nor do these restaurants necessarily sell what we'd call famous Pittsburgh foods. These are the best restaurants without any caveats. So if you're visiting the city and want to dive more into the local food scene with historic or regional ties, we recommend checking the previously linked articles out, too.

So let's jump into our 10 favorites now!

Pocha by Kye-Won Review – Traditional Korean in Saxonburg

November 30, 2025

Every once in a while a restaurant leaves us feeling so happy, nourished, and cared for that we are still thinking about it weeks later. Pocha by Kye-Won in Saxonburg is just that kind of restaurant.

The food includes classics like mandu; bibimbap; and complete meals with meats, japchae, and rice, but it also includes American classics with Kye-Won's own personal spin like burgers topped with kimchi and gochujang mayo. On top of all that, the hospitality here is off the charts- you're guaranteed to leave feeling like family.

We were guests of Pocha courtesy of Butler County Tourism, and immediately fell in love with this unassuming gem in Saxonburg.

Bitter End Review – Speakeasy Vibes in Etna

December 9, 2025November 17, 2025

We love a good speakeasy, and when we heard about Bitter End in Etna serving classic cocktails in a speakeasy ambiance (complete with green light above the front door), we made our way over as quickly as we could.

Although we had some concerns over the balance of our drinks, we always welcome more cocktail programs in the Pittsburgh region.

The Monks’ Bar Review – The Smallest Bar in PA Packs a Punch

October 31, 2025October 30, 2025

In many cases, we often overlook that Pittsburgh hotels often have on-site cocktail bars. Some of these may be your conventional hotel bar, while others may be a bit more.

At The Priory Hotel in the North Side, you get what is perhaps the most interesting hotel bar experience in the city, for one unique reason- it is said to be the smallest bar in the state of Pennsylvania.

Yes, The Monks' Bar is tiny, and according to The Priory's website, it seats just 14 customers. So cozy up with your fellow patrons, get to know your bartender, and grab a drink from this limited, albeit expertly curated, bar menu!