13 Beloved Pennsylvania Dishes Treasured Like Family Secrets
Pennsylvania is full of culinary treasures that feel like a delicious family secret, passed down through generations and savored by those in the know.
These 13 dishes are more than meals; they are comfort, tradition, and a little bit of magic on a plate.
From hearty classics to unexpected regional favorites, each bite carries stories, flavors, and memories that locals guard like prized heirlooms.
In Pennsylvania, food isn’t just about taste; it’s about connection, nostalgia, and the joy of discovering something so good it feels like it was made just for you.
These dishes prove why the state’s cuisine is unforgettable.
1. Burnt Almond Torte — Prantl’s Bakery — Pittsburgh, PA
Golden layers of buttery cake hide beneath a blanket of toasted almond crunch that shatters with every bite.
Prantl’s Bakery started perfecting this masterpiece back in 1970, and the recipe remains locked away tighter than Fort Knox.
The bakery sits at 5525 Walnut Street in Pittsburgh, housed in a modest storefront that belies the magic happening inside.
Custard filling oozes between delicate cake layers, while burnt almond coating provides that signature crackle everyone remembers from childhood birthdays.
Locals order this torte weeks in advance for special occasions, knowing full well it disappears faster than snow in July.
The family-owned shop produces thousands of these beauties each year, yet somehow each one tastes handcrafted with love.
Pittsburgh transplants have been known to arrange cross-country shipping just to get their fix of this almond-crusted treasure.
2. Smiley Cookie — Eat’n Park — Homestead, PA
Bright yellow icing stretches across a soft sugar cookie, forming that iconic grin recognized throughout western Pennsylvania.
Eat’n Park restaurants have been spreading joy through baked goods since the 1980s, when this cheerful creation first appeared on tables.
The Homestead location at 245 E Waterfront Dr serves up thousands weekly, each one hand-decorated with chocolate chip eyes and that unmistakable smile.
Simple ingredients create magic here, with vanilla-scented dough baked until barely golden, then smothered in sunshine-colored frosting.
Kids beg parents for these cookies after every meal, and hospitals receive donations of Smiley Cookies to brighten patients’ days throughout the region.
The restaurant chain’s retro diner aesthetic, complete with red vinyl booths and chrome accents, provides the perfect backdrop for this wholesome treat.
Generations of families have celebrated milestones with these cookies, making them edible symbols of Pittsburgh pride.
3. Philly Soft Pretzel — Center City Pretzel Co. — Philadelphia, PA
Twisted dough emerges from ovens with a deep bronze exterior and pillowy soft interior that demands immediate consumption.
Center City Pretzel Co. operates from 816 Washington Avenue in Philadelphia, where bakers start work before dawn to supply the entire city with fresh pretzels.
The building’s industrial brick facade hides a steamy operation producing thousands of pretzels daily using a recipe perfected over decades.
Salt crystals cling to the surface like tiny diamonds, while the distinctive twist shape makes these pretzels instantly recognizable to anyone who’s walked Philly streets.
Street vendors sell these warm from insulated bags, hollering about their freshness to passing crowds.
Yellow mustard is the only acceptable condiment according to purists, though rebellious types occasionally opt for cheese.
The pretzel’s unique texture comes from a quick alkaline bath before baking, creating that signature chewy crust Philadelphia natives crave.
4. Chicken And Waffles — Dutch Eating Place (Reading Terminal Market) — Philadelphia, PA
Crispy fried chicken thighs rest atop golden waffles, creating a sweet and savory combination that defies logic yet satisfies completely.
Dutch Eating Place serves this soul food classic inside Reading Terminal Market at 1136 Arch Street, #400, where the aroma of frying chicken battles pleasantly with cinnamon and maple syrup.
The market’s historic iron framework and bustling vendor stalls create an energetic atmosphere perfect for diving into this indulgent plate.
Pennsylvania Dutch influence shines through in the waffle recipe, which incorporates a hint of vanilla and produces extra-deep pockets for syrup pooling.
Butter melts into warm waffle squares while hot sauce adds optional heat to the perfectly seasoned chicken coating.
Lines form early for lunch service, with regulars knowing exactly when fresh batches emerge from the kitchen.
This dish bridges cultures beautifully, honoring both Southern tradition and Pennsylvania’s agricultural heritage in every sticky-fingered bite.
5. Whoopie Pie (Gob) — Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop — Bird in Hand, PA
Two chocolate cake rounds sandwich a mountain of marshmallow cream filling that squishes out the sides with each bite.
Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop produces these Pennsylvania Dutch treats at 542 Gibbons Road, Bird-in-Hand in Lancaster County’s heartland, where Amish buggies still clip-clop past the storefront.
The charming shop features a country-style interior with wooden shelves displaying rows of these oversized sandwich cookies.
Locals debate whether to call them whoopie pies or gobs, though everyone agrees on their addictive qualities regardless of nomenclature.
The cake portions stay incredibly moist thanks to buttermilk in the batter, while the sweet cream center provides textural contrast that makes restraint nearly impossible.
Some variations include pumpkin or peanut butter versions, but chocolate purists insist the original reigns supreme.
These handheld desserts have fueled barn raisings and family reunions for generations, earning their place as Lancaster County’s unofficial comfort food ambassador.
6. Pastrami On Rye — Hershel’s East Side Deli (Reading Terminal Market) — Philadelphia, PA
Thick slices of peppery pastrami pile high between seeded rye bread, creating a sandwich that requires both hands and serious jaw commitment.
Hershel’s East Side Deli operates inside Reading Terminal Market at 1136 Arch Street, #400, serving Jewish deli classics to crowds who know quality when they taste it.
The market stall’s compact setup means sandwiches get assembled right before your eyes, with skilled hands layering meat with practiced precision.
Pastrami here gets steamed until tender, with a spice-crusted exterior that adds complexity to every bite.
Tangy deli mustard cuts through the meat’s richness, while crisp dill pickles on the side provide necessary palate refreshment between mouthfuls.
The rye bread arrives fresh daily from local bakers, its caraway seeds adding aromatic notes that complement the pastrami perfectly.
Old-school deli vibes permeate this operation, where regulars banter with staff and newcomers quickly become converts to Philadelphia’s thriving Jewish food scene.
7. Old Forge-Style Pizza — Arcaro & Genell — Old Forge, PA
Rectangular slices emerge from ovens with edges that achieve peak crispiness while centers remain tender and cheese-laden.
Arcaro & Genell has been perfecting this regional specialty since 1962 at 443 South Main Street in Old Forge, a town that boldly claims the title of pizza capital of the world.
The restaurant’s cozy dining room features wood paneling and family photos documenting decades of satisfied customers.
Old Forge style means a slightly sweeter sauce, extra cheese blended with American cheese for unique meltability, and a thicker crust than New York’s floppy slices.
The distinctive rectangular shape allows for corner pieces with maximum crust-to-topping ratio, highly coveted among regulars.
Onion-topped white pizza represents another beloved variation, showcasing the style’s versatility beyond traditional red sauce versions.
This northeastern Pennsylvania pizza tradition inspires fierce loyalty, with former residents arranging pilgrimages back home specifically to grab a tray from their favorite spot.
8. Scooped Ice Cream — Penn State Berkey Creamery — University Park, PA
Creamy scoops of ice cream made from Penn State’s own dairy herd deliver flavors so rich they’ve achieved cult status across Pennsylvania.
The Berkey Creamery operates on the Penn State campus at 119 Food Science Building in University Park, where students and visitors alike line up for frozen perfection.
This campus landmark features a bright, modern interior with large windows allowing views into the production facility where magic happens.
The creamery produces over 100 flavors throughout the year, though classics like Mint Nittany and WPSU Coffee Break remain perennial favorites.
Every batch starts with milk from the university’s teaching herd, ensuring freshness and quality control from cow to cone.
The butterfat content runs higher than commercial brands, creating that luxurious mouthfeel ice cream enthusiasts recognize immediately.
Alumni traveling from across the country make detours to campus specifically for these scoops, proving that some college memories taste even better than you remember.
9. Cannoli — Termini Brothers Bakery — Philadelphia, PA
Crispy pastry shells get filled to order with sweet ricotta cream that oozes slightly when you bite through the delicate tube.
Termini Brothers Bakery has been crafting Italian pastries since 1921, with locations including 1523 South 8th Street in Philadelphia’s Italian Market neighborhood.
The bakery’s vintage storefront features hand-painted signs and display cases packed with colorful cookies and elaborate cakes.
Cannoli here follow traditional Sicilian methods, with shells fried until they achieve that perfect golden-brown crackle and ricotta filling sweetened just enough to balance the shell’s subtle savory notes.
Chocolate chips or candied fruit dot the cream ends, adding textural variety to each bite.
The filling stays remarkably light despite its richness, thanks to careful preparation that incorporates just enough sugar without overwhelming the ricotta’s natural flavor.
South Philly natives consider these cannoli the gold standard, measuring all other versions against Termini’s time-tested recipe that’s survived four generations of family ownership.
10. Italian Cookies (Pizzelles) — Moio’s Italian Pastry Shop — Monroeville, PA
Delicate waffle-patterned cookies emerge from vintage irons with intricate designs pressed into their paper-thin surfaces.
Moio’s Italian Pastry Shop operates at 4209 William Penn Hwy in Monroeville, where the scent of anise and vanilla greets customers before they open the door.
The shop’s homey atmosphere features glass cases displaying dozens of cookie varieties, but pizzelles remain the star attraction.
These traditional Italian wafer cookies require special irons that stamp decorative patterns while simultaneously cooking the batter into crisp, lacy rounds.
Anise flavoring gives pizzelles their distinctive taste, though vanilla and chocolate versions satisfy those who prefer milder profiles.
The cookies stay crispy when stored properly, making them perfect for gift boxes and holiday cookie trays throughout western Pennsylvania.
Italian families guard their pizzelle iron heirlooms carefully, passing them down through generations alongside the recipes that make Christmas feel complete without these delicate treats.
11. Chipped Chopped Ham Sandwich — The Isaly Company — Pittsburgh, PA
Paper-thin slices of sweet ham get piled onto soft white bread, creating sandwiches that defined Pittsburgh childhoods for decades.
The Isaly Company serves this lunch counter staple at 448 Perry Hwy in Pittsburgh, with chipped ham sliced so thin you could read through it.
Though the original dairy stores have mostly closed, the tradition lives on at delis and restaurants throughout the Pittsburgh area.
Special slicing machines shave the ham into almost translucent pieces that layer together into surprisingly substantial sandwiches.
Barbecue sauce often accompanies these sandwiches, adding tangy sweetness that complements the ham’s mild flavor profile perfectly.
The meat’s texture differs completely from thick-cut deli ham, creating a melt-in-your-mouth experience unique to this regional preparation.
Pittsburgh natives living elsewhere struggle to explain chipped ham to uninitiated friends, eventually resorting to shipping the specialty meat across state lines so loved ones can understand what all the fuss is about.
12. Coney Dogs — Niko & Lou’s Coney Island — Sharon, PA
Snappy hot dogs nestle in steamed buns before getting smothered in meaty chili sauce, diced onions, and yellow mustard stripes.
Niko & Lou’s Coney Island serves this Greek-American creation at 44 West State Street in Sharon, where the restaurant’s modest exterior hides a legacy dating back decades.
The dining room features classic diner booths and a long counter where regulars perch for their Coney fix.
The secret lies in the sauce, a Greek-spiced meat mixture that’s thinner than Texas chili but infinitely more complex than plain ground beef.
Each hot dog gets carefully assembled in precise order, ensuring optimal flavor distribution from first bite to last.
The combination might sound messy, and frankly it absolutely is, but napkins exist for exactly this reason.
Western Pennsylvania’s Greek immigrant community brought Coney Island hot dogs to the region, adapting Detroit and Michigan recipes into something distinctly local that Sharon residents defend passionately against all other regional variations.
13. Frozen Custard — Hank’s Frozen Custard — New Brighton, PA
Velvety frozen custard swirls from machines in thick ribbons, its richness coming from egg yolks that transform ordinary ice cream into something transcendent.
Hank’s Frozen Custard has been serving this premium frozen dessert for decades at 2210 3rd Avenue in New Brighton, where the vintage walk-up window design encourages warm weather pilgrimages.
The building’s retro exterior features cheerful colors and neon signage that hasn’t changed much since opening day.
Custard differs from ice cream thanks to those egg yolks, which create an incredibly smooth texture without ice crystals.
Fresh batches get made throughout the day, ensuring optimal creaminess and temperature for every customer.
Flavor rotations keep regulars guessing, though vanilla and chocolate remain available always for purists who appreciate perfection without gimmicks.
The stand closes during winter months, making custard season something locals anticipate as eagerly as the first warm spring day, when lines form before opening time.