The 10 Best Places to Eat in Pittsburgh Right Now

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!

1. Apteka

Apteka in Bloomfield has been our favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh for many years, and given its style, vegan Eastern European, you may be a bit surprised. We're not vegan in the slightest, but oh do we love properly cooked vegetables!

To call what Apteka does with vegetables masterful is an understatement, and this one brings out some stellar flavors that really showcase the versatility of each ingredient. As such, you shouldn't be surprised to hear that Apteka was nominated for a James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic category. Yes, it is really that good.

Be on the lookout for the kluski slaskie (potato dumplings) and pierogi (arguably the best in the city) as these two dishes, amongst others, have us returning time and time again to try their latest takes with seasonal ingredients. Their food program is rounded out with a full bar program full of natural wine, flavorful cocktails, and delightful housemade cordials that really help make each meal sing.

If you are able, be sure to visit a second time in late January / early February for their annual vegan burger pop-up, Crapteka, which features “vegan junk food” of beet, buckwheat, and mushroom burgers plus fries and sunflower seed milkshakes. We recommend getting in line well before they open, as this one is perhaps even more sought after than their regular menu!

Apteka is located at 4606 Penn Avenue in Bloomfield. They accept extremely limited reservations; otherwise, they offer first-come, first-served seating. Get in early to put your name on the waitlist (we always arrive right when they open, if not just before) and head to a nearby bar like Tina's, Trace Brewing, or Two Frays Brewing if you want to grab a drink nearby.

2. Fet-Fisk

Fet-Fisk, a Scandinavian-inspired restaurant in Bloomfield (and another James Beard-nominated restaurant), transports us to northern Europe with every bite. Although the restaurant's name translates to fatty fish, a nod to their seafood origins, this one focuses on a wide array of dishes with Appalachian ingredients for a hybrid menu that is Scandinavia meets Pittsburgh.

Dishes like pickled mackerel with smoked beet and smoked sturgeon pate are straight out of Scandinavia, while others like steak tartare and rye cavatelli feel a bit closer to home. But our absolute favorite dish on the menu here is the roast half chicken with fruit and farmer's cheese, and yes, we know how crazy that sounds- who recommends a chicken dish anymore?

Fet-Fisk's chicken is nothing short of masterful. It is marinated in whey from the farmer's cheese it is served upon, roasted, and topped with seasonal fruit that comes together for a heavenly flavor we have to get on every visit. (The lingonberries in winter are a particular favorite fruit topping!)

For something different, visit on a Monday night for their Crispy Monday feature, which features fried chicken wing flats served on creme fraiche and topped with trout caviar!

Much like Apteka, the restaurant focuses on approachable wines, interesting cocktails, and house-made infusions. Try the marigold schnapps as a digestif if it is on the menu, and be sure to save room for dessert here- their panna cotta (also with seasonal fruit) is divine!

Fet-Fisk is located at 4786 Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield. They accept reservations for about half of the restaurant and keep a generous number of seats available for walk-ins. But, much like Apteka, we recommend arriving early in case there is a waitlist, especially on weekends.

3. Pusadee's Garden

Pusadee's Garden started out as a more conventional neighborhood Thai restaurant in Lawrenceville. But in 2017, they closed for a multi-year remodel and re-opened in 2021 as a high-end Thai fusion restaurant that will have you feeling like you're eating at a posh resort steps from the beach in Thailand (just, you know, sans beach).

True to its name, the central courtyard at Pusadee's Garden is an award-winning, beautiful dining garden that is open for outdoor dining on nights with nice weather. Dishes here run the gamut from classic Thai dishes like tom yum soup, green papaya salad, and curry-based dishes to others with a bit more hybrid flair- during one visit, we sampled a stellar yellow curry that was topped with American-style barbecue brisket, which was quite the perfect combination of flavors.

Other popular dishes at Pusadee's Garden include khao yum- a 17-ingredient salad with tamarind dressing that has been a crowd favorite since the beginning.

Pusadee's Garden is located at 5319 Butler Street in Lawrenceville. Advanced reservations are highly recommended; however, on nice nights when the garden is open, additional seating becomes available. For walk-ins on these nights, we recommend arriving before they open to put your name on the waitlist. Head to Allegheny Wine Mixer across the street for the best wine list in the city if they're open while you wait.

4. Morcilla

It may not be a surprise that we are continuing a global tour of the Pittsburgh dining scene, and Morcilla in Lawrenceville will transport you straight to Spain (where Angie and I spent our honeymoon many years ago).

The menu here is a split of small bites (pintxos), tapas-style plates, and approachable mains with seasonal creations that change frequently. Paired with an impressive cocktail program focusing on Spanish ingredients and flavors, and an equally strong line-up of Spanish wines, there really is a lot to love here!

One dish not to miss is the ox tail montadito- a crispy baguette topped with braised oxtail, caramelized onion, and Mahon cheese. We described this as inverted French onion soup to a server once, and it's stuck ever since. From there, mix and match the different-sized plates for the meal, consider throwing on a pulpo a la plancha (pictured), and be on the lookout for many of the restaurant's weekly specials. Some of our favorite dishes here have only appeared on the menu for a limited time!

Morcilla is located at 3519 Butler Street in Lawrenceville. Advanced reservations are recommended; however, we've had good luck with walk-in seating on weeknights- primarily at the bar.

5. Fig & Ash

Fig & Ash in the North Side is the only modern American restaurant in this list, and it earns a spot in our Top 10 for good reason- nearly everything on the menu is cooked over fire on an open hearth.

When this restaurant first opened, the owners completely gutted the first floor of its building down to the frame and rebuilt it from the ground up to support the wood-fired kitchen. This extra effort was worth it as you can really taste the flavor in every bite.

Modern dishes here, like a double-cut pork chop and braised beef short rib, complement sides like roast heirloom carrots with honey whipped ricotta, marcona almond, and sage brown butter, plus so much more. A particularly interesting dish here is their short rib and pork belly meatloaf, which, while unconventional, balances a perfectly beautiful texture with, you guessed it, woodfired flavor. When Angie's mom first ordered this one, we thought she was a bit crazy, but, much like Fet-Fisk's chicken, this one has become a favorite of ours that we order regularly.

Fig & Ash is also home to one of the best restaurant cocktail programs in the city, and their inventive drinks have us returning for a round as much as their dinner menu has us coming back for food!

Fig & Ash is located at 514 E Ohio Street in the North Side. Advanced reservations are recommended; however, they accept limited walk-in seating- primarily at the bar.

6. Golden Gai

Golden Gai by the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group is actually the second restaurant in their Japanese dining series- a follow-up from their immensely popular Gi-Jin in downtown Pittsburgh.

For many years, Gi-Jin retained this spot in our Top 10 list for being home to some of the freshest, best-tasting raw seafood you can find in the city that was truly in a league of its own. While the quality is still true to this day, its small size, difficulty in getting reservations, and limited menu have us heading to Golden Gai more and more.

This is because, in our opinion at least, Golden Gai offers a very similar sashimi menu to Gi-Jin, but adds on perfectly executed hot dishes like kara-age (Japanese fried chicken), miso black cod, yakitori, and so much more- giving a wealth of options for those looking for more than just raw seafood, while also being a bit easier to score a reservation.

Be sure to grab some of their inventive Asian-inspired cocktails as well, as the bar program is among the best in the city. For a Japanese izakaya, we really can't ask for much more here. Get some food. Get some drinks. Repeat as long as you can keep eating. Just save room for dessert, too!

Golden Gai is located at 116 Bakery Square Blvd in Bakery Square. Advanced reservations are highly recommended.

7. Dish Osteria

Pittsburgh is home to many Italian restaurants, and it is really hard to pick a favorite as many offer stunning dining experiences. But when we were traveling in Sicily and not exactly ready to come home, our thoughts immediately shifted to dreaming of our next meal at Dish Osteria in South Side!

We made a reservation before we even boarded our plane.

Dish Osteria has been serving up classic Italian dishes for over 25 years and hits the mark for perfect execution, incredible hospitality, a killer wine list, and an overall authenticity that would fit in among any restaurant in Sicily.

Yes, you'll want to snag a reservation at this one several weeks out. But with patience comes a great reward, and within a few bites you'll quickly understand why Dish is so popular. It is just classic Italian food done right!

Don't miss this gem that has been a star in Pittsburgh's dining scene for far longer than any other restaurant on this list!

Dish Osteria is located at 128 S 17th Street in South Side. Advanced reservations are highly recommended; however, they may have limited walk-in seating- primarily at the bar. Late-night reservations are often regularly available as well.

8. The Parlor Dim Sum

The Parlor Dim Sum is one of several restaurants in Lawrenceville owned by Roger Li. This one began as a dim sum pop-up during the pandemic, which immediately blew up in popularity. Shortly thereafter, Chef Li opened the restaurant in a brick-and-mortar space in his former Ki Ramen location (classics from that spot can still be found on the menu at Nanban nearby).

If you are hungry, be prepared for a feast here. But given that this one focuses on family-style, Cantonese dining, you'll do well to go with friends and order as much as you can (while adding on some of their impressive cocktails with Asian flavors as well)!

The menu here is quite large, and is split into numerous categories like rice-based, noodles, soup and congee, dim sum, wok-based dishes, and signature Cantonese BBQ, to name a few. You'll do well to order a bit of everything here to get a full cross-section of the menu, and given their large portions, it is exactly why our recommendation to take friends is warranted.

You really will want to try a little bit of a lot here!

Although we always advocate starting with some of their namesake dim sum, our personal favorite dish is the cha siu roasted pork with ginger honey glaze. For first timers, however, we recommend trying this as part of their trio rice plate that comes with a hearty serving of three Cantonese meats- roast duck, chai siu pork, and poached chicken. The entree is big enough for four to share a bite or two of each, and really lets you go down the rabbit hole to find a favorite for your next visit.

Perhaps one of our favorite things about The Parlor Dim Sum is that it always feels like we're getting a feast for a very reasonable price as well (when splitting with friends, at least), and we always walk out planning our next visit right away.

The Parlor Dim Sum is located at 4401 Butler Street in Lawrenceville. Advanced reservations are recommended; however, we've had good luck with walk-in seating on weeknights.

9. Poulet Bleu

Poulet Bleu is the second restaurant from the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group in our Top 10, and focuses on classic French dining with a classic, yet high-end, ambiance.

Poulet Bleu was one of our Top 10 favorite restaurants for many years before suffering a long-term closure due to water damage in 2022. After three long years of renovations, the restaurant returned to its former glory in late 2025, bringing back the classic dishes we love in a newly updated space.

Entrees here, like steak frites, Parisienne gnocchi, and roast duck, hit all the notes of traditional French cuisine. Don't forget to add on appetizers like a perfect bowl of French onion soup and the highly coveted Aligot potatoes served topped with Comte and Gruyère. But to really make the meal complete, be sure to place an order for their famous chocolate souffle when deciding on your entrees. This one takes a while to cook, so you need to commit early, but a perfectly light and fluffy souffle will be your reward to wind down your meal.

There is a reason why Poulet Bleu has been a go-to anniversary spot of ours for many years, and this one delights on every visit.

Poulet Bleu is located at 3519 Butler Street in Lawrenceville. Advanced reservations are highly recommended.

10. DiAnoia's

DiAnoia's is the second Italian restaurant in our Top 10 list, and can be found in the Strip District just outside of the bustling shopping district nearby.

This restaurant is a bright and fun space for all things modern Italian dining, with dining options available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the week. Classic dishes like cacio e pepe, aglio e olio, and steak florentine find their way on the menu along with fun twists like gnocchi served in a Sorrentina bread bowl (and a pumpkin option in the fall!).

For breakfast, DiAnoia's has classic dishes ranging from more conventional American breakfasts to delightful frittatas and baked goods from their bakery, Pane e Pronto. Be sure to order some of their zeppole, Italian doughnuts, for breakfast or for a post-dinner dessert! (And if you're looking for a slice of pizza, be sure to visit Pizzeria Davide next door, too!)

Going beyond the food, DiAnoia's has a strong bar program, with many Italian specialties (get a Spritz) as well as one of the largest Amari collections in the city.

DiAnoia's is located at 2549 Penn Avenue in the Strip District. Advanced reservations are highly recommended.

Do you have a favorite place to eat in Pittsburgh that is not included above? Comment below to share!