Where to Eat in Pennsylvania
Cheesesteaks, pierogies, shoofly pie and two of the oldest public markets in the country.
Pennsylvania food is regional and proud of it. In Philadelphia, the cheesesteak is only the start: the roast pork sandwich with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe has a strong claim to be the city's best, soft pretzels are sold on street corners, and the city has become one of the country's most interesting restaurant towns. Pittsburgh brings pierogies, an Eastern European legacy of its mill workers, and the Primanti Bros. sandwich with fries and coleslaw inside.
In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Dutch cooking means chicken pot pie made with square noodles, chow-chow, apple butter and shoofly pie, often served at long tables or all-you-can-eat smorgasbords. Elsewhere, look for historic taverns in Gettysburg and the Poconos, and fish and chips and local wines along Lake Erie.
Philadelphia
Sandwich shops, a historic market and some of the state's best restaurants.
A market under an old train shed since 1893, with Amish bakers, sandwich counters and produce stalls.
A family shack since 1930, known for roast pork sandwiches and cheesesteaks.
The stand that claims to have invented the cheesesteak in 1930, open around the clock.
A neighborhood corner shop that many locals rank first for cheesesteaks.
Michael Solomonov's modern Israeli restaurant, known for its hummus and lamb shoulder.
Pittsburgh
Sandwiches with the fries inside, red-sauce Italian and wood-fired Argentine grilling.
The original Strip District shop of the chain, piling fries and slaw onto every sandwich since 1933.
A local breakfast institution famous for its thin, crispy-edged hotcakes.
An Italian deli by day and a busy pasta restaurant at night.
Wood-fired steaks and vegetables with chimichurri, in a casual setting.
Lancaster County
Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, family style and by the buffet.
One of the largest buffets in the country, with a farm market and gift shop downstairs.
A Route 30 smorgasbord serving Pennsylvania Dutch cooking since 1929.
Home-style cooking and a smorgasbord run by a local family in the heart of Amish country.
Gettysburg and Hershey
Colonial taverns and a grand hotel dining room.
Candlelit dining in the town's oldest house, built in 1776.
Period-style dinners in a house still marked by Civil War bullet holes.
The round dining room Milton Hershey designed so no guest would be seated in a corner.
The Poconos and Erie
Mountain grills and lakeside spots.
A long-running Stroudsburg grill and bar with a big menu and live music.
An Arts and Crafts-style inn near Lake Wallenpaupack, cooking with produce from local farms.
A 1950s-style stand at the entrance to Presque Isle, a summer stop for hot dogs, fries and orangeade.
Restaurants change hours, menus and ownership often — check with the restaurant before you go. Listings are editorial picks, not paid placements.
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Get free trip quotes »Pennsylvania Dining — FAQ
How do you order a cheesesteak in Philadelphia?
At the classic stands, say the cheese and whether you want onions, for example "provolone with" or "American without". Cheese Whiz is also a traditional choice.
What is shoofly pie?
A Pennsylvania Dutch molasses pie with a crumb topping. The wet-bottom style has a gooey molasses layer under the cake-like top.
Are Lancaster County smorgasbords open on Sunday?
Some are and some are not, since many Pennsylvania Dutch businesses keep Sundays closed. Check each restaurant before you go.