Fries On A Salad? How To Make The Pittsburgh Staple

Lately TikTok has decided a Caesar salad paired with French fries is the perfect meal. But in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, locals take their salads one step further, incorporating chips as one of the key ingredients. Say hello to the Pittsburgh salad, one of the city’s most famous dishes which offers a delicious way to get your greens in.

What Is A Pittsburgh Salad?

A Pittsburgh salad is a layered salad which consists of chopped lettuce, vegetables, grilled meat (usually chicken or steak), a ranch dressing and, crucially, a hearty dose of French fries.

The dish is widely found on the menus of restaurants in Pittsburgh, both old-school diners and more upmarket bistros. It’s one of the most beloved dishes at Pamela’s Diner – allegedly a favourite haunt of Barack Obama – where it’s served with grilled chicken, tomatoes, olives, cheddar cheese and chips.

Who Invented The Pittsburgh Salad?

It’s thought the dish in question was first created at a drive-in style fast food restaurant called Jerry’s Curb Service. As the story goes, a hungry customer arrived there in the early 1960s and ordered a steak sandwich with fries and a salad dressing, without the bun. When presented with his food, he chopped up the steak, scattered the fries on top and covered the salad in dressing, which piqued the interest of Donna Reed, the owner Jerry’s wife. She recreated the salad herself, adding in some greens, and it has been on the menu ever since (although here it’s simply called a steak salad).

How To Make A Pittsburgh Salad

A Pittsburgh salad is usually made with either iceberg or romaine lettuce, which is roughly chopped and placed in a bowl with your choice of salad ingredients, such as tomatoes and cucumber. Grilled chicken or steak is then placed on top, before adding the key ingredient: crispy, homemade French fries. It is usually served drizzled in a ranch dressing, made using buttermilk, garlic and onion, fresh herbs, and sometimes mayonnaise. 

Additional ingredient options include:

• Boiled eggs
• Red pepper 
• Cheese, which can be grated on top