The Pittsburgh salad
Photo: Triciaburmeister · CC BY-SA 4.0

History

The Pittsburgh salad grew out of the same fries-on-everything instinct that produced the Primanti sandwich. Diners and bars across the city pile hot French fries on a chef-style salad of lettuce, tomato, cheese and grilled chicken or steak. There is no single inventor; it is a regional convention that visitors notice immediately and locals take for granted. It appears on menus from neighbourhood diners to bar kitchens citywide.

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Common allergens: Dairy

Make it at home

Yield 2Hands-on 20 minTotal 30 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 1 head romaine or mixed greens, chopped
  • 2 cups hot French fries
  • 2 grilled chicken breasts or a grilled steak, sliced
  • 100g shredded cheddar
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 1/2 red onion, sliced
  • Ranch or vinaigrette dressing

Method

  1. Make the French fries and keep them hot and crisp.
  2. Build the salad base: greens, tomato, onion and shredded cheese in a wide bowl.
  3. Slice the grilled chicken or steak and lay it over the greens.
  4. Pile the hot fries on top of everything just before serving.
  5. Dress with ranch or a sharp vinaigrette and eat at once, while the fries are still crisp.

Tip from the editors. Add the fries last and serve immediately; they go soft fast once they hit the cold greens.

Where to eat the pittsburgh salad

The Pittsburgh salad in Pittsburgh

Tessaro's ★ 4.5

$$ BurgersBloomfieldUntil Late on weekends

Tessaro's on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield runs a late bar and grill in Pittsburgh. The hardwood-fire burger and a drink at the bar into the night.

TryHardwood-grilled burger

Directions

Butterjoint ★ 4.5

$$ Modern PolishOaklandUntil Late near Pitt

Butterjoint on North Craig Street in Oakland runs a late bar near the universities in Pittsburgh. Classic cocktails, a strong burger and house pierogi.

TryBurger and pierogi

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

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