Pittsburgh's Comfort Food Guide

Beat that winter chill with some comfort food that will warm your stomach and your heart

There's not much that beats a warm meal on a cold day. And with winter in full swing, it's hard not to dream of eating a bowl of soup, curled up in a blanket, and rewatching your favorite show for the seventh time. See the vision? Here are my favorite places to grab a bite when it's just "one of those days."

Novo Asian Food Hall

1931 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

In the mood for Asian food but don't know exactly what? No worries, because Novo Asian Food Hall in The Terminal has ramen, sushi, rice bowls, dumplings, bulgogi, boba, and more! With several stops to choose from, you're sure to find whatever it is you're craving. And the best part is with so many options, each visit can introduce you to something new!

My order: Miso ramen, brown sugar coffee boba, king salmon nigiri

Brothmonger

4770 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Nothing screams comfort food like soup, and what better place to get some than a soup cafe? Brothmonger in Bloomfield features a rotating menu of soup that will have you craving it on an at least weekly basis.

My order: red pepper bisque and Italian wedding soup hoagie

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The Yard

100 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; 670 Chauvet Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15275; 1500 Washington Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15228

One of my go-to easy meals at home is a grilled cheese, but sometimes you just don't want to cook. Enter The Yard, Pittsburgh's premier spot for some of the most creative grilled cheeses you've ever seen. Each grilled cheese comes with chips (or fries for a small upcharge) and tomato soup, so it's really the perfect trifecta when it comes to the delicacy. And with various locations to choose from, you can enjoy the gastropub in every corner of the city (bonus points to the one in Market Square, because that's the first one I went to).

My order: pub pretzels, Mac Attack with bacon or Buffy the Mac Attack Slayer, vanilla Moscow mule, bottomless mimosas when out with friends on a Sunday morning

La Gourmandine

308 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; 116 Meyran Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213; 4605 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201; 300 Cochran Rd, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228; 5013 Second Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15207

One of the best bakeries in the city, La Gourmandine offers delectable coffee and mouth-watering pastries. Whether you're looking for a hearty breakfast on-the-go or a light, flaky pastry to pair well with some caffeine, you're sure to leave here satisfied.

My order: Marquise, Pain au Chocolat, Roulés à la Cannelle

Waffles INCaffeinated

456 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219; 2517 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203; 155 McMurray Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15241; 10339 Perry Hwy, Wexford, PA 15090

Waffles INCaffeinated is my favorite breakfast spot in the city and the place I take everyone when they visit from out of town. You really can't go wrong here; from their build-your-own waffles to their breakfast platters, there's something to love by even the pickiest of eaters. And I haven't even touched on their signature latte, which is in the running for my favorite coffee in Pittsburgh; the flavor, which features notes of cinnamon, tastes like a warm hug.

My order: signature latte (iced or hot or with a shot of rum), build-your-own chocolate chip waffle topped with powdered sugar, side of potatoes, bacon, and scrambled eggs

Las Velas

21 Market Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Maybe I'm biased, but Las Velas was one of the first places I went out to eat when I moved to Pittsburgh and it's still one of my favorites. Every time I go and sit overlooking Market Square, I'm taken back to when I was 18 and discovering that Pittsburgh had become my home away from home. Make sure you sit by the windows and don't cheap out on the chips and queso.

My order: frozen watermelon margarita, chips & queso, chicken quesadilla