A Taste of Erie: Unique Cuisine You Should Try

One of the best ways to get a flavor for a city or region is to sample the cuisine unique to the area.

When in Erie, here are a few things you should definitely try:

1. Sponge candy. You can find this sweet treat at any of Erie’s chocolatiers — Romolo’s, Steffanelli’s and Pulakos. Stefanelli’s describes it as: “a toasted toffee confection that has teenie tiny air bubbles within the filling. The toffee section, or the ‘sponge,’ is completely coated with milk or dark chocolate.”

As a person who has lived in Erie for a half a century, I’ve probably eaten my body weight in sponge candy, and I can tell you it’s worth every calorie. The “sponge” toffee melts on your tongue and the chocolate melts in your mouth. *chef’s kiss*

2. Pepperoni Balls. Take some dough, stick some pepperoni in the middle and maybe some mozzarella cheese (debate rages on this), roll it into a palm-sized ball, deep fry it, and …voila…you have one of Erieites’ favorite snacks: pepperoni balls. You can find these at many pizza shops, snack bars, Gordon’s Market, and local bakeries, like International Bakery, Majestic Bakery, and Art’s Bakery, which often offer their own twist on the classic.  Additionally, most markets sell Stanganelli’s (the standard) pepperoni balls frozen. Just pop them in an oven, toaster oven or, in a pinch, a microwave (but they are better crispy).  

3. Pop Luck popcorn. This locally-owned gourmet popcorn shop is an original with at least a half dozen flavors offered every day, often at least one or two that include a unique Erie flavor or flavor combination. Check them out on Facebook to see what’s on the menu and check out the “roll call” at the bottom. If you fit that description, you get a free small bag of Generic Jenny.

4. Orange Twist and/or Blue Moon ice cream. This one is a toss up. If you’re an ice cream lover, just try both. The iconic orange twist (orange sherbert and vanilla ice cream) can be found at Sara’s Restaurant at the entrance to Presque Isle and Blue Moon can be found at Denny’s on Parade Street. Check out Denny’s Blue Moon on Tik Tok.

5. Fried pickles. I don’t know if these are exclusive to Erie, but fried pickles (spears or chips) are unusual and they are delish! You’ll find them as an appetizer at many local restaurants including Brewerie at Union Station which offers beer battered pickles dipped in beer batter, fried brown, and served with Southwest ranch. (The beer is pretty good, too!)

6. Mighty Fine Donuts. The best donuts in Erie, hands down. This place is an institution and the only place any real Erieite gets donuts. It’s off the beaten path, on the east side of Erie, but it’s worth every mile you have to go out of your way. Trust me on this.

7. Smith’s Hot Dogs. I mean, frankly, good luck find anything but a Smith’s in Erie because nobody will eat anything but Smith’s hot dogs and once you taste one, you’ll know why. You can find them anywhere you find hot dogs in Erie, including Sara’s, but if you really want to do things right, go to Lucky Louie’s where you can coat that base wiener in any number of tasty (and humorously named) toppings and make it a whole meal.

8. Lake Erie Fish. If you want the freshest fish, yanked right out of Lake Erie, check out Smuggler’s Wharf at the foot of State Street, where you have a choice of the Fresh Catch of the Day, Lake Erie Walleye, or Lake Erie Perch, likely unloaded from a dock a few feet away.

9.  Federal Hill Smokehouse.Federal Hill is about as fancy as it’s website, but…OH…MY….GOD…the food! Doesn’t matter what you order, if you’re a carnivore, you’re going to love it. The place opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. or whenever they sell out, which if often before 3 p.m. So, get in line early and get you some smoked meats!

10. Ox Roast. First things first…it’s not ox. Ox roast = roast beef, sliced, and then braised in au jus till fall-aparty. It will soak your bun and the whole entire thing will fall apart and juice will run down your arm while you are trying to eat it and you will not care because it’s so delicious. If you really want to be Erieish, top it with some horseradish for an extra bite.  You might be hard pressed to find this on the menu at a restaurant, but you can buy it in a tub (Smith’s!) at most local grocers including Urbaniak’s, Bello’s, Top’s Market, and even Walmarts in the area.