Cooler weather has arrived in the ‘Burgh, which means it’s time to shift into soup mode. Whether you like smooth or chunky, umami or vegetal, or perhaps even spicy, there’s a soup for every mood. If you’re looking for some delicious soups to warm up with this fall, we’ve got you covered! Check out our top seven spots to enjoy soup in Pittsburgh:
1:11 Juice Bar
South Side and Downtown
Pittsburg’s newest juicery 1:11 Juice Bar quickly became popular for its tasty, brightly-colored fresh juices that were a refreshing hit this summer! Now as fall settles in, they’ve launched new ways to enjoy a delicious, nutritious meal: a robust soup menu. The menu initially featured two staple soups: coconut chicken and rice soup for those seeking tons of nutrients and protein, as well as Tuscan kale and chickpea tomato soup for the vegans who love the uncompromising flavor! However, three new seasonal soups are on the menu too: pork and kimchi, “Let’s Get Married” (a wedding soup), and red pepper and tomato bisque!
The Woods House
Hazelwood
The Woods House Pub is a historic hidden gem in the heart of Hazelwood, and its stunning, lovingly-restored space is the perfect cozy spot to enjoy some warm soups by the fire. The potato leek soup is a delicious Scottish classic served topped with crispy leeks and fresh herbs, and the tomato basil soup features a toasted mozzarella crouton on top of a velvety-smooth San Marzano tomato soup!
The Yard
Market Square, Shadyside, Mt. Lebanon, and Robinson
You probably know of The Yard for their signature stacked-high grilled cheese sandwiches, but while the sammies are arguably the star of the show, did you know that every order is served with a side of tomato soup? It’s a no-brainer – what’s better for dipping a gourmet grilled cheese than soup?! The Yard also serves up an ever-changing soup of the day that offers some variety for hardcore soup lovers, but you can never go wrong with the classic tomato.
Pho Van
Strip District
Pho Van’s famous pho is the ultimate fall comfort food for those craving tons of flavor and a bit of spice. You can customize your bowl of broth with a protein of choice and a wide range of add-ons, and enjoy your pho topped with cilantro, white onions, and scallions and served with a side of bean sprouts, basil, lime, and jalapenos. In addition to its robust pho menu, Pho Van also offers some additional soups: pork and shrimp with rice or egg noodle, seafood soup, spicy lemongrass beef, and wonton egg noodle.
La Palapa
South Side
La Palapa has been a popular spot in the South Side for years, and it’s totally understandable if you’ve skipped over their soups in the past to jump to their delicious Mexican specialty entrees, but now’s the perfect time to try a bowl if you never have! Choose from sopa de tortilla with tortilla strips and a poached egg, sopa de pescado with tilapia and potatoes, and the homemade sopa de verdura packed with vegetables. (Also, all three are pescatarian-friendly and gluten-free.)
Nanban
Lawrenceville
Nanban is the new iteration of both Ki Ramen and Ki Pollo, combining the best Asian soul food in Lawrenceville into one spot! Their menu features three delicious ramen bowls, including shoyu ramen with chicken nuggs and an onsen egg, shio ramen with pork belly and a nitamago egg, and miso ramen with smoked tofu. Best of all – the miso ramen is vegan!
Onion Maiden
Allentown
Plant-based hotspot Onion Maiden features two flavor-packed soups on its menu that even the most determined dairy lovers can’t resist! Their starter soup, “Burning Witch,” is a red lentil soup with kabocha squash, chili, tamarind, lemongrass, and cilantro, and their entrée-sized soup “Fistful of Curry” is a curry noodle soup with rice vermicelli, coconut milk, potato, carrot, sprouts, Thai basil, bok choy, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime. You can even add tofu to make this meal even more filling and satisfying!
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.