Pennsylvania's Diverse Food Landscape Mapped by Passionate Locals

From fish fries to hot dogs, three Pennsylvanians are charting the commonwealth's culinary treasures

Mar. 27, 2026 at 9:00am

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Three Pennsylvanians have taken it upon themselves to map out the state's rich food scene, from Western Pennsylvania's Lenten fish fry traditions to Philadelphia's vibrant Southeast Asian cuisine and the surprisingly extensive hot dog culture across the commonwealth. Their detailed, community-driven maps are helping locals and visitors alike discover the state's hidden gems and regional specialties.

Why it matters

These mapping projects showcase the incredible diversity and staying power of Pennsylvania's food traditions, which can often get overlooked by national media and influencers. By tapping into local knowledge and passion, these mapmakers are bridging the gap between time-honored regional cuisines and modern food discovery, ensuring these culinary treasures don't get lost.

The details

Hollen Barmer's Pittsburgh Lenten Fish Fry Map has grown to feature over 275 fish fry events across Western Pennsylvania, with the help of a team of volunteers who scour the region to verify details and add new locations each year. Djour, a Philadelphia-based food enthusiast, has meticulously mapped the city's restaurant scene, rating eateries from one to three stars to help people find the best of the best. And artist Hawk Krall has illustrated over 100 hot dog purveyors across Pennsylvania, highlighting the state's surprisingly extensive and hyper-regional wiener culture.

  • The Pittsburgh Lenten Fish Fry Map is updated annually before the start of the Lenten season.
  • Djour's Philadelphia food map is an ongoing project that he has been working on for about three years.
  • Hawk Krall spent around one year creating the first edition of his Great Pennsylvania Hot Dog Map.

The players

Hollen Barmer

The founder of the Pittsburgh Lenten Fish Fry Map, a self-described "nebby neighbor" who fell in love with the community and foodways surrounding the region's fish fry traditions.

Djour

A Philadelphia-based food enthusiast who runs a website mapping the city's restaurant scene, rating eateries to help people find the best options and avoid influencer-driven hype.

Hawk Krall

An artist and self-proclaimed hot dog connoisseur who has illustrated over 100 hot dog purveyors across Pennsylvania, highlighting the state's surprisingly extensive and hyper-regional wiener culture.

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What they’re saying

“I love the culture. I love the foodways. Especially the eastern European sides, like halušky and pierogies. You can sometimes find kitchens where people are still hand-making that stuff, and it's really, really neat.”

— Hollen Barmer, Founder, Pittsburgh Lenten Fish Fry Map

“I think the best thing about Philly's food scene is it's got a low barrier of entry, but it's got a high standard. You can have a lot more creative liberty because the barrier of the pricing to begin isn't as damning as like a New York City or Chicago or L.A. … then there's also the tougher side of it — Philly doesn't have that disposable income for haphazard, mediocre restaurants. You have to nail it.”

— Djour

“Pennsylvania has a lot of cool hot dog stuff to offer. There's a lot of places, and a lot of places that you don't really see being covered in the food media or maybe outside their local area.”

— Hawk Krall, Artist, The Great Pennsylvania Hot Dog Map

What’s next

Hollen Barmer plans to continue updating the Pittsburgh Lenten Fish Fry Map each year before the start of the Lenten season. Djour aims to eventually expand his Philadelphia food map to cover the entire state, from State College to the Jersey Shore. Hawk Krall is considering creating updated editions of his Great Pennsylvania Hot Dog Map to capture new and changing hot dog spots across the commonwealth.

The takeaway

These community-driven mapping projects demonstrate the deep passion and pride Pennsylvanians have for their state's diverse food traditions. By tapping into local knowledge and enthusiasm, these mapmakers are helping to preserve and celebrate the commonwealth's culinary heritage, ensuring these regional specialties don't get lost in the shuffle of national food trends and influencer hype.