A city with a long history dating back to 1758, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has transformed into one of the fastest-growing food destinations in America. Businesses are booming, the population is hungry, and the food scene is blooming. Yep, you’ve heard about it.
Pittsburgh’s dining scene has been on the rise for a long time, and with good reason–the restaurants here offer some of the finest cuisines in the country. As a result, the city is now home to unique dining options for every taste.
Whether you’re craving Asian fusion cuisine, innovative coastal American plates, or home-style Italian cooking, you’ll find it here. This great city is filled with fantastic food for each and every preference.
No matter what you’re looking for, whether it’s a quick bite to eat or an upscale restaurant experience, the restaurants in Pittsburgh will satisfy all your food cravings.
Since Pittsburgh has so many restaurants, you’ll have to try them all before you find your favorites, but I’ll share with you some of my picks first!
Table of Contents
10 Best Restaurants In Pittsburgh
Mallorca Restaurant
2228 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15203 // 412-488-1818
Fish and steak are probably not the first foods that come to mind when you think of the Pittsburgh area.
But thanks to the Paquette family, who have owned and operated Mallorca for almost three decades, the restaurant climbed to the top of the “Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh” list quickly!
They offer something unique to all who walk through their doors – authentic Spanish cuisine.
Mallorca Restaurant offers a variety of Spanish dishes that are sure to satisfy any palate. Enjoy their signature seafood, meat selections, and one-of-a-kind desserts. Beware, their Paella Valenciana is the exact Spanish delight that one would hope to get – insanely tasty, with perfect savory and crispy socarrat. I would be returning here every day for this rarity!
And it’s not hard to see why other diners return here too. Their food is excellent. From the marinated entrees to their homemade sangria, Mallorca screams volumes of quality!
Täkō
214 6th St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 // 412-471-8256
If tequila and sushi sound like a great night out, I recommend Täkō (it’s not a typo, it’s actually lowercase) as your next stop. The restaurant offers a fun and slightly different vibe from the other restaurants in Pittsburgh.
Täkō is a unique place in that it combines two trendy cuisines, Mexican and Japanese. So whether you stop in for lunch or dinner, expect to be completely enthralled with the flavors and one-of-a-kind dishes offered.
The joint is a tequila and mezcal heaven, featuring over 40 different varieties of these spirits, as well as an oyster bar, making it an ideal location for those who enjoy trying new and exciting dishes and drinks.
Although this Mexican and Japanese fusion-themed restaurant offers unique tacos (think Korean taco with flank steak, spicy cucumber, and napa cabbage dressed with peanut salsa), their other menu items are just as special. It’s great that you can choose medium-well or well-done for your octopus if you go for the Tako taco.
While you decide what to eat, enjoy yourself with a Spicy Pineapple Margarita, or Rose & Rye cocktail! Had them both, and the balance was speaking volumes about the quality of the bar staff.
Altius
1230 Grandview Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15211 // 412-904-4442
Altius is a modern restaurant that serves organic and local products with a classic twist. Among all the restaurants in Pittsburgh, this place enchants with an incredible skyline of the city and provides luxury dining for anybody looking for a touch of enhanced hospitality and gourmet food.
It is known for its seasonal menus and organic ingredients that they use in creating their entries. They also carry local and imported items for their cheese and breakfast sections.
Altius serves elegant items, prepared with the utmost attention to detail and technique. What I fell in love was the Australian Lamb Rack, with appre cherry root puree, autumn vegetable mélange and port & pomegranate reduction. It simply shined away the quality of Altius.
Whether you’re craving traditional home cooking or are interested in experiencing new flavor combinations, you’ll find there are plenty of choices here.
Pair great food with an excellent view of the city or sit with your party for increased privacy, all available within several miles of your hotel.
Morcilla
3519 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 // 412-652-9924
Morcilla is not your typical Pittsburgh restaurant. The restaurant was named Pittsburgh’s favorite new restaurant by Pittsburgh Magazine, and it boasts a vibrant atmosphere that most Pittsburgh restaurants strive for.
There are many desserts, drinks, and dinner options on Morcilla’s menu. I loved the Gambas en Escabeche accompanied with spelette aioli, fennel & carrot escabeche, and soft baguette. Foie Blonde is also worth mentioning, although not for people who does not prefer the rich and distinctive taste of the foie gras.
With Spanish-influenced cuisine and a variety of tapas and entrees, this restaurant offers something for everyone. The small plates and food for lunch and dinner are great for sharing, or you can enjoy a larger portion like Bistec A La Plancha.
Morcilla has an excellent wine list that mostly highlights Spanish grapes, sherry and vermouth. All in all, a perfect Spanish getaway!
Oishii Donburi
5227 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201 // 412-408-2298
Located in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, Oishii Donburi is a modern Japanese restaurant offering delicious sushi and donburi dishes you’ll love.
Their menu combines classic Japanese cuisine with updated dishes. It is the only Japanese restaurant in the region that focuses on donburi, a traditional Japanese rice bowl.
They use Southwestern Pennsylvania-sourced ingredients whenever they can; the local food scene is so strong, and the ingredients are so fresh and organic!
The interior’s minimalist design is composed of concrete, metal, and hardwood floors that give it a modern feel. Oishii Donburi’s beautiful interior design keeps the space fresh, while its unique take on Japanese cuisine makes it one of our favorite restaurants in the city.
Curry, bibimbap, and donburi are some of the specialties at Oishii Donburi. If you go there, we recommend that you order the unagi bowl, the Ebi katsu don, and the vegetable tempura. Bibimbap can also be ordered spicy if you want more flavor.
One of my favorites is the Salmon Yaki on a bun.
The Vandal
4306 Butler Street, Pittsburgh PA 15201 // 412-251-0465
Vandal is the kind of place you want to get down with regularly. The restaurant has an atmosphere that’s casual and inviting, but the food is enough to impress even New Yorkers.
You can grab some snacks from their main bar menu while partaking in a glass of wine or beer or enjoy some of their lighter full-meal options. If you’re having trouble choosing from the main menu, try one of their daily specials.
The smoked trout, chicken schnitzel, and black cod are some of our favorites on the dinner menu. You can also book a private party or get catereing from the Vandal.
When you’re planning a small family gathering or birthday party, you might want to consider booking this restaurant!
Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse
525 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 // 412-312-5001
Fogo de Chao is a family-style churrascaria featuring an open kitchen and a large grill in rustic, traditional decor. It offers complimentary table-side service of a variety of authentic Brazilian dishes, including roasted meats carved table-side by waiters called gauchos.
Fogo de Chao is known for its delicious food and its breathtaking views of downtown Pittsburgh. Guests can enter the open kitchen to see food being delivered by waiters right to their table. In addition, with its large windows, the restaurant offers an excellent view of Pittsburgh’s skyline.
The meat portions are large, and the sides are endless. Therefore, Fogo de Chao is suitable for those who want to eat as much as possible and those who want to taste as much as possible (but with reasonable portion sizes). If you like meat, you will like it here.
Among my favorite dishes from their menu are the Fraldinha steak and Picanha de Porco, as well as Linguiça (spicy pork sausage). There are also non-alcoholic Brazilian beverages such as pineapple mint lemonade or Guaraná Antarctica.
Bitter Ends Garden & Luncheonette
4613 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224 // 412-450-0229
The newest addition to the Pittsburgh restaurant scene, Bitter Ends is a charming local dining spot that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At Bitter Ends, they offer a wide variety of dishes to fit any dietary needs, including gluten-free and vegan options.
It is an ideal destination for visitors interested in healthier food options in Bloomfield off of Liberty Avenue.
Customers ordering online at Bitter Ends can get window service. In addition to the luncheonette location, Linea Verde Green Market also sells the luncheonette’s food during the off-days.
You can choose from various menu options during the weekend, such as a veggie sub, chicken cutlet sandwich, or captain’s basket with fried shrimp, fish sticks, and hushpuppies. Online ordering is also available for birthday cakes and carrot cakes.
Bae Bae’s Kitchen
945 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 // 412-258-6322
Bae Bae’s Kitchen is a hidden gem in Pittsburgh. Their fine food, great service, and friendly environment are among the best in the city.
Their daily dishes can vary depending on what produce is in season at that time. They offer top-quality healthy dishes that are organic and inspired by Korean food.
You can order rice, noodles, or salad from Bae Bae’s Kitchen, and you can add marinated ribeye, Korean fried chicken, spicy chicken, or tofu to your meal, along with a daily side.
The restaurant also offers some extras, such as homemade dumplings, garlic cheese wontons, and hand-cut sweet potato fries.
Their chefs have a unique take on the local ingredients found around their region, such as Korean hot sauce and sesame oil, as well as pepper.
Stop by for lunch or dinner to taste their delicious Korean delicacies!
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
501 Grant St. Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 // 412-391-1714
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood is a seafood and steak restaurant that serves plates that will blow your mind. I loved the live jazz music and that they use fresh fish from local South African restaurants.
I also really like their interesting daily specials such as tuna tartar and paella. The customer service is fantastic, as well as the cocktails.
If you are looking to have dinner with your family, friends, or business clients in a place that is luxurious and classy, head over to Eddie V’s Prime Seafood. The décor in the restaurant is low-key, notably because of the lighting and candles, with a dim-light feel to it.
The seafood is top quality, and you can be sure that this isn’t just frozen fish that they missed that day. Their steaks are also delicious and well seasoned.
To help you select the right wine for your dinner, they offer recommendations that will make sure your meal is unforgettable.
Summary Of The 10 Best Restaurants In Pittsburgh
When you think about Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, do you think about food that originates from the region? Experts may tell you that Pittsburgh’s food scene isn’t the best, but the great thing about this city is that plenty of restaurants offer a wide selection of food.
Strolling through the city’s beautiful parks, legendary museums, and hip dessert shops will make you hungry for both the eclectic flavors and the gastro melting pot.
Picking a favorite restaurant is never easy, and the list of places to eat in Pittsburgh is so long that you could dine at a new location every weekend for years and never have the same meal twice.
From sandwich shops to fast-casual restaurants, this list of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh highlights affordable local foodies you won’t want to miss!
Visiting other destinations in Ohio? Check out our other guides:
- 15 Best Cleveland Restaurants
- 13 Great Must-Try Ohio City Restaurants
- 11 Must-Try Tremont Restaurants
- 10 Best Pittsburgh Pizza Restaurants | The Best Pizza in Pittsburgh PA
- Best Burgers In Pittsburgh PA
Which of these Pittsburgh restaurants do you most want to try? Let us know in the comments section below!
Igor Jovanovski is an aspiring digital nomad, travel blogger and graphic designer who really loves food. He also has a creative side, and he works as a freelance graphic designer in his spare time. He has traveled across Europe quite a few times since he was young and recently started his mission to visit every country in the world! Igor’s favorite thing about traveling is the way he gets to know new people, food, places and cultures.
This exciting experience helps him create his own stories and make memories that will last forever
Julia Kordesich
Thursday 4th of August 2022
These restaurants all sound delicious! I’m a steak and seafood lover. I am also ready to try new foods. Good luck to everyone.I hope I am fortunate enough to indulge .