As Pittsburgh continues to grow as one of the nation’s top food cities, we’re blessed to be surrounded by the latest and greatest food trends. But, there’s one traditional dish that remains especially close to our hearts – the pierogi. Like steel and bridges, Pittsburgh and pierogies are synonymous with each other. Let’s be real, what other city goes crazy over a pierogi printed on a t-shirt?
With so much enthusiasm over one dish, you better believe that you can find these delicious dumplings at a variety of local restaurants. Savory, sweet, or stacked on a sandwich, Good Food Pittsburgh knows where you can find some of the best pierogies around.
So buckle up, throw on that pierogi tee, and get ready to stuff yourself as we take you on a journey through the ‘Ultimate Pittsburgh Pierogi Road Trip.’
Originally posted in 2017, updated in 2021. Additional editing and updates by Emily Deluliis.
Stop 1: Forgotten Taste
Moon Township
There is nothing forgettable about Forgotten Taste. This pierogi establishment offers some of the best pierogies in all of western Pennsylvania at both their takeout only storefront in Coraopolis, PA and their dine in and take out location in Wexford, PA. Whether you order them hot and ready to eat, or frozen, you can pick from about a dozen varieties, like Potato & Bacon, Cabbage, Roast Beef, and Lekvar (prune butter). Plus, you can also find other Eastern European favorites, like haluski, goulash, and stuffed cabbage.
Forgotten Taste (910 Beaver Grade Road, Moon)
Stop 2: Pierogies Plus
McKees Rocks
Pierogies Plus serves up pierogies (as they say) “like your Grandma used to make.” They’ve been in business since 1991, and offer traditional pierogies (Cottage Cheese & Chives and Hot Sausage pierogies are local favorites), along with speciality pierogies, like Apricot & Cream Cheese and Reuben pierogies. They also offer platters loaded with dishes like dumpling haluski and kielbasa. One extra bonus: You can order online, and they’ll ship anywhere you’d like. Live within a ten mile radius? Pierogies Plus now offers delivery through GrubHub.
(342 Island Avenue, McKees Rocks)
Stop 3: Penn Brewery
Troy Hill
Not only will you find pretty great beer at Penn Brewery, but you can also get your fill of house-made pierogies, too. Grab a drink at the bar and tuck into a platter of Traditional Potato & Cheese (served with caramelized onions and sour cream), or specials like the Buffalo Chicken Pierogies, made with roasted chicken, hot sauce, and bleu cheese crumbles.
(800 Vinial Street)
Stop 4: S&D Polish Deli
Strip District
This classic Polish store and deli in the Strip District offers hot pierogies for lunch and dinner, and frozen pierogies to take home with you (they ship nationwide, too). S&D’s pierogies are made with a Polish flour, which they say causes the dough to be soft and stretchy, resulting in pierogies that have “a thin and delicate shell of dough.” They have 15 different types of pierogies, including Mushroom, Kraut, Spinach and classic Potato & Farmers Cheese.
(2204 Penn Avenue)
Stop 5: Gooski’s
Polish Hill
Looking for some of the best bar food in town? You’ve found it here. Gooski’s is known as one of the greatest dive bars in Pittsburghand they have some pretty decent pierogies, too. They’re super cheap, and available in Potato & Cheese, Sauerkraut and Cottage Cheese.
(3117 Brereton Street)
Stop 6: Church Brew Works
Lawrenceville
Church Brew Works is the Holy Grail for pierogies…quite literally as the building of the restaurant originally functioned as a church. Here, not only can you find traditional pierogies (Potato & Cheese, served with sautéed onions and melted butter), they are also known for their untraditional pierogies (their special changes regularly). Currently, you can find Buffalo Chicken pierogies on their menu which consists of pierogies tossed with beer braised chicken and celery in a zesty buffalo cream sauce.
Church Brew Works (3525 Liberty Avenue)
Stop 8: Burgh’ers
Lawrenceville
With a name like ‘Burgh’ers,’ it’s no surprise that this joint is serving up some hometown favorites. And while you might head over to one of their three locations (Zelienople, Lawrenecville, and an up-and-coming location in the South Side) to try one of their delicious burgers, you’d be remiss not to order a side of their perfectly-made pierogies, served hot with sauerkraut and a side of sour cream. Or, combine the two and order the Polish Hill Burger, a beef burger topped with cheddar, caramelized onion, mayo, and its very own pierogi right on top.
Burgh’ers (3601 Butler Street)
Stop 8: Franktuary
Lawrenceville
Another Lawrenceville stop on our pierogi journey is Franktuary, where you can pop in for a quick taste of their Potato Cheese Pierogi appetizer. Get an order of six for the table, or enjoy them on their famous Pittsburgh Hot Dog, which is topped with vinegar slaw, Miller’s Mustard sour cream, and (of course), a sliced pierogi, too. You can also find them around town with their food truck and at the Pittsburgh International Airport.
(3810 Butler Street)
Stop 9: Cop Out Pierogies
Etna
This tiny shop in Etna churns out hundreds of hand-made pierogies a day, and offers an extra-special little something in your order of a dozen… two extra pierogies. They have a huge selection of fillings, from Sweet Potato and Cheeseburger to Chicken Marsala and Spinach Feta. Plus, if you give them fair warning, they say that they can create any flavor filling you want.
(350 Butler Street)
Stop 11: Apteka
Bloomfield
These aren’t pierogies like your Grandma made… and that’s what makes them so good. Apteka’s Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski earned their Pittsburgh dining stripes by running Pierogi Night Pop-ups, and now have an entire Bloomfield restaurant where they can serve a vegan menu with a focus on Central and Eastern European food (including their beloved pierogies). The pierogi menu changes regularly, but look for options like Smoked Cabbage & Potato and Sauerkraut & Mushroom. While the restaurant is currently not open for food dine-in and take out during a brief renovation, be sure to check out their bottle shop which is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 8:00 p.m.
(4606 Penn Avenue)
Stop 12: Butterjoint
Lawrenceville
Butterjoint has gone through a lot of interations during the pandemic, from a take-out spot and bakery to being back open as a dine-in restaurant, with a decidedly vegetarian bent. The Oakland stalwart changes its menu regularly, but you can often find their absolutely delicious homemade pierogies (also know as some of the best homemade pierogies you’ve ever had in your life.) These little bite of heaven are stuffed with white potatoes and grass-fed cottage cheese, and are serve with golden caramelized onions and a side of sour cream. If you have the opportunity to order them, don’t think – just do.
(214 N. Craig Street)
Stop 13: East End Food Co-op
Point Breeze
Next stop is to head to the East End Food Co-op and pick up a pack of Gosia’s Pierogies to take home with you. Gosia’s is a Pittsburgh-based small-batch pierogi company that sells in farmers markets throughout the summer and fall, and in shops like the EEFC, McGinnis Sisters, and Bardines in Crabtree throughout the year. Their family-recipe pierogies are stuffed with everything from Potato & Feta to Sweet Cabbage. You can see their full menu online.
(7516 Meade Street)
Stop 14: Dorothy 6 Cafe
The pierogies at Dorothy 6, aka Dorthy’s Pierogies, are a Pittsburgh favorite and it’s clear why. Each dumpling is tediously made by hand and loaded with one of their flavorful fillings. Fillings include traditional potato and cheddar which is their top-seller, or jalapeno for those who are craving something more unconventional. Both varieties can be ordered as an appetizer (3 pierogies) or as an entrée (10 pierogies), but with pierogies this good we highly recommend ordering the entrée which in addition to caramelized onions is served with sautéed Brussels sprouts with crispy applewood smoked bacon and herb infused sour cream. One bite and you’ll think these pierogies came right out of a church kitchen.
Dorothy 6 (224 East 8th Avenue)
Stop 15: Starlite Lounge
Blawnox
It wouldn’t be a Pittsburgh pierogi list if it didn’t mention Starlite Lounge in Blawnox. This beloved institution (and Guy Fieri favorite) offers their famous homemade pierogies in the form of an appetizer (choose from Potato & Cheese, Spinach & Feta and Jalapeno & Cheddar), or as part of their ‘Polish Platter,’ with kielbasa, homemade haluski and sauerkraut. They also have batches of frozen pierogies to go.
Starlite Lounge (364 Freeport Road, Blawnox)
Extra Credit:
If you really want to go the extra mile (and if they’re offering a sale), your absolute final stop on your pierogi road trip should be St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in McKeesport. They regularly offer pierogies for sale by the dozen (check their website for more details and sale dates), and also serve up other Eastern European favorites, like Sweet Cabbage and Haluski.
Did we miss any amazing Pittsburgh pierogi spot? Let us know in the comments!
