Whether on the University of Pittsburgh campus, downtown at Duquesne, or across the river on the South Side, Pittsburgh residents have plenty of options to choose from. After living in the city for a few years, my friends and I compiled a list of our favorite places.

Sarah El-Hefnawy: Union Grill

Union Grill is located right on South Craig Street – just a 6-minute walk from the Cathedral of Learning. El-Hefnawy, a final-year student studying museum and psychology, often orders the turkey Devonshire and brownie as a sweet treat at the end of the meal. Who doesn’t love a sweet treat?

Bella Lardin: Chick’n Bubbly

Lardin, a final year electrical engineering student, enjoys Chick’n Bubbly.

“My favorite place is Chick’n Bubbly. It’s a little more expensive than a lot of other places in Oakland, but I’d say it’s worth it,” Lardin said.

Her favorite dish is eight chicken tenders with boba as a drink.

“The tapioca pearls are the best option with a combination of two flavors,” Lardin said. “Lately, I’ve been trying the coffee chocolate flavor and that’s really good. In my opinion, it’s the best chicken on campus and it doesn’t really come close to that unless we consider the Chick-fil-A at Pete’s — mainly because unlike a lot of the other options on campus, it already has flavor without the need to add sauce. They have some sauce options if that’s your preference.”

Zach Shafer: The Colombian spot

Shafer, a senior studying physics and anatomy, loves The Colombian Spot.

“(The) Colombian Spot is my favorite,” Shafer said. “It’s inexpensive comfort food that tastes incredible and you can’t find it anywhere else. My favorite is the Chori Pollo Arepa.”

Several people agreed that The Colombian Spot is one of the best restaurants off campus. I’ve never been to The Colombian Spot, but I always walk by it – after hearing the reviews, I’m excited to try it out!

My favorite: Hussar

Huszar is a wonderful Hungarian restaurant with a menu that includes langos, schnitzel, kielbasa and more.

My mother is from Ostrava, Czech Republic, and I have been eating this kind of food for years. At Huszar I feel like I am back in the Czech Republic. I ordered fried cheese and langos for starters and chicken schnitzel for main course – it was absolutely phenomenal.

My parents and I talked to the waitress who told us that she often comes to Hungary and has a house there. If you are from Eastern Europe or have family from there, you should try this place. Bring all your family and friends because the food and service at Huszar will make you feel like you are in Hungary.

Trying new foods and restaurants is one of the best ways to discover new parts of Pittsburgh, especially with friends and family. There are more than enough places to visit, so don’t be afraid to try something new!

Need more restaurant recommendations? You can email Irene at (email protected).