History
Around 1933, Joe Primanti set up a cart and then a counter at 46 18th Street in the Strip District to feed produce truckers and overnight workers. Putting the fries and slaw inside the bread let drivers eat one-handed without sitting down at a deli. The Almost Famous sandwich became the city's signature street food, and the original counter still stands. Versions now run from capicola and cheese to pastrami and the classic Pitts-burger.
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Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 4 thick slices Italian bread
- 2 portions thin-sliced grilled meat (capicola, pastrami or steak)
- 4 slices provolone cheese
- 2 cups shoestring fries
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- 60ml white vinegar
- 30ml vegetable oil
- 1 tsp sugar, salt and pepper
- Sliced tomato
Method
- Toss the cabbage with vinegar, oil, sugar, salt and pepper to make a sharp, undressed-style slaw. Set aside.
- Fry or bake the shoestring fries until crisp and hot.
- Grill the meat on a flat top or pan until browned; lay the provolone on top to melt.
- Toast or warm the Italian bread slices.
- Build each sandwich: bread, meat and melted cheese, then a layer of fries, then tomato, then a pile of the vinegar slaw.
- Top with the second slice of bread, press gently and cut in half.
- Eat immediately, one-handed, the way the truckers did.
Tip from the editors. The slaw must be vinegar-based, not creamy mayo; that sharpness is what cuts the fries and cheese.
Where to eat the primanti sandwich
The Primanti sandwich in Pittsburgh
Primanti Bros (Strip District original) ★ 4.8
Primanti Bros on 18th Street in the Strip District serves its fries-inside sandwich late in Pittsburgh. The 1933 original runs to 2am on weekends.
TryAlmost Famous sandwich
More places near Primanti Bros
Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
- Iron Born Pizza Detroit-style Pizza, under 100 m away
- Jimmy & Nino Sunseri Pepperoni Roll Street food, about 100 m away
- Jimmy & Nino Sunseri Co. Market, about 100 m away
- Labad's Mediterranean Cafe and Grocery Market, about 100 m away
- Wholey's Fish Market Market, about 100 m away
- Wholey's Fish Sandwich Street food, about 100 m away
More cities are in research. Want the primanti sandwich covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.