Vote for Pittsburgh's best fish fry
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Axios Pittsburgh is on a mission to find Western Pennsylvania's best fish fry, and we want you to vote.
Why it matters: Fish fries are a massive cultural touchstone here. They bring neighbors together to celebrate community spirit, allowing religious observers to practice their faith with joy and secular residents to share in their camaraderie.
Zoom in: There are about 275 fish fries in the greater Pittsburgh region, according to Code for Pittsburgh's 2025 map.
- They take place in churches, fire halls, social clubs, restaurants and breweries.
- Many serve fried fish, fried shrimp and sides like mac and cheese, stewed tomatoes, coleslaw, pierogies and desserts.
- Most offer communal seating in large halls to dine in, but takeout is encouraged and some even have drive-thrus.
Context: Fish fry season starts on Ash Wednesday and occurs each Friday until Good Friday. These 40 days of Lent guide Catholics to abstain from eating meat on Fridays.
- Lent runs from Wednesday to April 17 this year.
By the numbers: Pittsburgh is 32% Catholic as of 2022, according to the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
- That number continues to fall over the years, but Pittsburgh is still one of the most Catholic cities in the U.S.
How it works: Vote in our tournament-style bracket of churches, fire halls, restaurants and more to crown the region's premier fry this Friday (Fry-day?).
- Voting ends at 1pm, and winners will move to the next round Tuesday.
Fine print: We selected 16 fish fries based on personal preference, reader input, menu items and longterm popularity.