History

Pittsburgh's heavily Catholic, Eastern-European population made the Friday fish fry a fixture, especially during Lent, when parishes and fire halls battered and fried cod by the hundreds. The habit spread to year-round counters: Wholey's in the Strip District has fried its famous oversized fish sandwich for decades, and The Original Oyster House on Market Square has served fried fish since 1870. The sandwich is judged by how far the fish overhangs the bun.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Fish

Make it at home

Yield 2Hands-on 25 minTotal 35 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 2 large cod or haddock fillets
  • 150g flour
  • 200ml cold lager or sparkling water
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • Salt and pepper
  • Neutral oil for frying
  • 2 soft sandwich buns
  • Tartar sauce and lemon

Method

  1. Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper with the cold beer into a thick, smooth batter.
  2. Heat 5cm of oil in a deep pan to 180C (350F).
  3. Pat the fish dry, dip in batter and lower into the oil.
  4. Fry 5 to 7 minutes until deep golden and cooked through, turning once.
  5. Drain on a rack and season with salt.
  6. Serve on a soft bun with tartar sauce and a squeeze of lemon, letting the fish overhang the bread.

Tip from the editors. Keep the batter cold and the oil hot; that contrast gives the crisp, blistered crust.

Where to eat the pittsburgh fish sandwich

The Pittsburgh fish sandwich in Pittsburgh

Wholey's Fish Market ★ 4.4

$ MarketStrip District

Wholey's on Penn Avenue is the Strip District's landmark fish market in Pittsburgh, in business since 1912. Fresh seafood and a fish-sandwich counter.

TipThe giant fish sandwich at the counter is the move. Look for the moving fish sign out front.

Directions

The Original Oyster House ★ 4.1

$$ SeafoodDowntownUntil Late downtown

The Original Oyster House on Market Square serves fried fish into the evening downtown in Pittsburgh. The 1870 counter and a giant fish sandwich for a late.

TryFried fish sandwich

Directions

The Pub Chip Shop ★ 4.0

$$ SeafoodSouth SideUntil Late Fri-Sat

The Pub Chip Shop on East Carson Street in the South Side fries fish and chips late in Pittsburgh. A pub kitchen for ballast during a South Side night out.

TryFish and chips

Directions

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