18 Foods Pennsylvanians Crave The Moment They Move Away
Pennsylvania is home to some of the most unique and beloved foods in America.
Once you leave the Keystone State, you quickly realize how hard it is to find these iconic eats anywhere else.
From tangy meats to sweet treats, here are the foods that make every ex-Pennsylvanian’s heart ache with delicious nostalgia.
1. Philly Cheesesteak
Nothing compares to biting into an authentic Philly cheesesteak with its thinly sliced ribeye, melted cheese, and soft hoagie roll. Out-of-state versions just don’t capture that perfect balance of greasy, savory goodness.
Locals debate Whiz versus provolone with the passion of sports fans. Whether you’re team Pat’s or team Geno’s, one thing is certain: this sandwich defines Philadelphia street food culture in the most mouthwatering way possible.
2. Soft Pretzels
Pennsylvania soft pretzels are thick, doughy, and perfectly salted – worlds apart from those sad mall versions. Street vendors sell them hot and fresh, often paired with yellow mustard for that classic tangy kick.
These twisted beauties are breakfast, snack, and comfort food all rolled into one. Philadelphia alone consumes about twelve times more pretzels per person than the national average, proving Pennsylvanians take their pretzel game seriously.
3. Scrapple
Scrapple might sound intimidating, but this Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast staple is pure comfort. Made from pork scraps, cornmeal, and spices, it’s sliced thin and fried until crispy on the outside and tender inside.
Some call it mystery meat, but Pennsylvanians know better. Slap it between bread or serve it alongside eggs, and you’ve got a breakfast that sticks to your ribs and warms your soul on cold mornings.
4. Tastykakes
Tastykakes are the snack cakes that fueled Pennsylvania childhoods and continue to haunt adults who move away. From Butterscotch Krimpets to Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes, these treats are impossible to replicate.
The Philadelphia-based company has been baking since 1914, creating loyal fans across generations. Try finding them in California or Texas – good luck! Most ex-Pennsylvanians resort to begging family to ship boxes across state lines for their fix.
5. Primanti Brothers Sandwich
Pittsburgh’s legendary Primanti Brothers sandwich piles coleslaw and french fries directly onto the sandwich itself. Yes, you read that right – carbs on carbs, and it’s absolutely glorious.
Originally created for truckers who needed a full meal they could eat with one hand, this towering creation became a Steel City icon. The tangy slaw and crispy fries soak up the meat juices, creating flavor combinations that defy logic but taste incredible.
6. Shoofly Pie
Shoofly pie is a molasses-based dessert so sweet that legend says you need to shoo the flies away from it. This Pennsylvania Dutch classic features a gooey bottom layer and crumbly top that creates textural magic.
Some folks eat it for breakfast with coffee, while others save it for dessert. Either way, the rich, dark sweetness transports you straight back to Amish country markets and grandma’s kitchen table every single time.
7. Pierogies
Pennsylvania’s Eastern European heritage shines through in its obsession with pierogies. These doughy pockets stuffed with potato, cheese, or sauerkraut are pan-fried until golden and served with sour cream and onions.
Pittsburgh even hosts a pierogi race at baseball games featuring costumed pierogies! Church basements across the state host pierogi sales that draw crowds like rock concerts, proving these dumplings are serious business in Pennsylvania.
8. Tomato Pie
Forget what you think you know about pizza – Pennsylvania tomato pie is a different beast entirely. Served at room temperature with thick, airy crust and sweet tomato sauce on top, cheese is often minimal or absent.
Bakeries across the state guard their recipes like state secrets. The sauce is sweeter and chunkier than regular pizza sauce, creating a unique flavor profile that converts skeptics into believers with just one rectangular slice.
9. Chicken Pot Pie (Pennsylvania Dutch style)
Pennsylvania Dutch chicken pot pie isn’t what you’d expect – there’s no flaky crust or individual servings here. Instead, it’s a hearty stew with large, square noodles swimming in thick broth with chunks of chicken and vegetables.
These aren’t dainty pasta squares either; they’re substantial, almost dumpling-like. One bowl fills you up for hours, making it the ultimate comfort food for cold Pennsylvania winters when you need something soul-warming and substantial.
10. Whoopie Pies
Two cake-like chocolate cookies sandwiching sweet cream filling – that’s the magic of whoopie pies. Pennsylvania claims them as state treasures, though Maine might argue otherwise.
These handheld desserts are bigger than your fist and messy in the best possible way. Amish bakeries make the best versions, with cream so fluffy it squishes out the sides with each bite. One whoopie pie equals happiness, two equals a sugar coma worth experiencing.
11. Haluski
Haluski combines buttery egg noodles with caramelized cabbage and onions for a simple yet addictive dish. This Polish-inspired comfort food appears at every church dinner and family gathering across Pennsylvania.
The secret is cooking the cabbage until it’s sweet and golden, then tossing everything with enough butter to make your cardiologist nervous. It’s peasant food elevated to art, proving that simple ingredients cooked with love create the most memorable meals imaginable.
12. Sticky Buns
Pennsylvania sticky buns are gooey, nutty, and dangerously addictive. These aren’t your average cinnamon rolls – they’re baked upside-down so the caramel and pecans form a sticky glaze that coats every inch.
Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market is famous for them, but bakeries across the state compete for sticky bun supremacy. Eating one requires commitment and napkins, but the combination of buttery dough, crunchy nuts, and sweet caramel makes the mess completely worthwhile.
13. Italian Hoagie
A proper Pennsylvania Italian hoagie is an art form – layers of Italian meats, provolone, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and oregano on a perfect roll with oil and vinegar. The bread-to-filling ratio must be precise.
Hoagie, not sub, not hero, not grinder – get the name right! The roll should be crusty outside but soft inside, able to hold all those ingredients without falling apart. Accept no substitutes; other states simply don’t understand hoagie culture.
14. Potato Filling
Potato filling is Pennsylvania’s Thanksgiving essential, a mashed potato and bread stuffing hybrid that’s neither quite stuffing nor quite mashed potatoes. It’s creamy, savory, and enriched with celery, onions, and butter.
Some families bake it until the top gets crispy; others keep it soft throughout. Arguments about recipes span generations, with everyone insisting their grandmother’s version is the definitive one. Holiday tables feel incomplete without this starchy, comforting side dish.
15. Apple Dumplings
Pennsylvania apple dumplings feature whole apples wrapped in flaky pastry, baked with cinnamon and sugar until golden, then drowned in sweet syrup. They’re massive, messy, and absolutely divine.
Country markets and Amish stands sell them by the dozen during apple season. Served warm with vanilla ice cream, they create a dessert experience that defines autumn in Pennsylvania. One dumpling could feed two people, but nobody ever shares them willingly.
16. Cheesesteak Egg Rolls
Cheesesteak egg rolls are a modern Pennsylvania fusion creation that wraps all the glory of a Philly cheesesteak into a crispy, portable package. Steak, cheese, and onions get encased in a crunchy wrapper and fried to perfection.
They’re appetizers that could honestly be a meal. Dip them in cheese sauce or marinara, and you’ve got bar food that tastes like home. Finding these outside Pennsylvania is nearly impossible, making them precious cargo.
17. Chipped Chopped Ham
Chipped chopped ham is a Pittsburgh specialty – ham sliced impossibly thin, almost shaved, creating delicate layers perfect for sandwiches. It’s not deli ham; it’s finer, more tender, and stacks beautifully on soft white bread.
Isaly’s made it famous, and locals still request it by name at deli counters. The texture is key; thick-sliced ham just doesn’t cut it. Sandwiches made with chipped ham, cheese, and barbecue sauce represent Pittsburgh lunch culture at its most authentic and beloved.
18. Stromboli
Pennsylvania stromboli is a rolled pizza packed with meats, cheese, and sometimes vegetables, then baked until golden and bubbly. It’s portable, shareable, and perfect for feeding hungry crowds at parties or game days.
Unlike calzones, stromboli is rolled rather than folded, creating spiral layers of filling throughout. Slice it into rounds and watch the cheese stretch gloriously. Pizza shops across Pennsylvania take pride in their stromboli recipes, each claiming theirs is the best.
