Food Guide: Soup Season

There’s something about soup. Full of flavor and spices, a good stock bolstered by a rich medley of vegetables, beans, roast chicken (or whatever your recipe calls for) is a cure-all, soul-warming, feel-good dish meant for cozy, dreary fall days.

And with Pittsburgh falling full force into its signature fall pattern – grey, rainy weeks followed by three hours of sun to make us feel something – it’s time to break out the crockpot, stockpot, or Instant Pot and your favorite recipes. This year, we're going to beat the winter blues before they hit – with soup.

To get you started, we’ve pulled out a few of our favorite recipes. Or, take the easy, delicious route and pick up a quart or two from some of these treasured city soup gems.

Brothmonger

It’s been a few years since Sarah McAlee, Pittsburgh’s resident “soup dood” started Brothmonger, a pop-up-style, small-batch soup business, out of her North Side apartment. Now stocking shelves with soup at Mayfly Market & Deli, Sara lures in soup-seekers with her lush chowders, made-for-winter stews, and from-scratch stocks.

A TABLE favorite is Sarah’s lamb stew; it’s rich, robust, and hearty, perfect for both sunny days and the first snowfall. Fans adore her creamy broccoli cheddar, crab bisque, and pozole, but truly, you can’t go wrong with any of her quarts. Find information on her soup drops and recent concoctions on Instagram. Batches are always limited, so make sure to keep an eye out for what’s available!

Two Sisters Vietnamese

A big bowl of pho is sure to brighten any grey day, and Two Sisters Vietnamese has just the recipe. Their beef pho, made traditionally with noodles, bean sprouts, brisket, meatballs, and eye round beef, is sweet, savory, and guaranteed to warm your heart. Grab a bowl in their cheerful and cozy East Liberty location – sporting a gorgeous mural – or take it to go.

Casa Brasil

It’s stews galore on the menu at Casa Brasil, Highland Park’s resident Brazilian eatery. Each bowl is pure, feel-good food. Go for their traditional feijoada, a black bean stew chock full of vegetables available only on the weekends. Visit on a weekday for their equally-delicious, rich, and flavorful fish stews, moqeucas. We love Casa’s version with cod – the perfectly flaky fish and mild flavors mingle well with a coconut milk base.

Everyday Noodles

Visit this Squirrel Hill Taiwanese restaurant's brick-and-mortar to taste a few soups – the braised beef noodle soup, carrying a bit of spice, is one of our favorites – and be mesmerized as you watch chefs pull, stretch, and twist fresh noodles behind the counter.

Don’t miss the opportunity to try one of their soupy specialties, xiaolongbao: soup dumplings. The sought-after dumplings come freshly steamed, filled with meat and hot, delicious soup.

Cafe du Jour

The soup at this charming, Southside, Euro-style eatery is, as the name suggests, of the day. Cafe du Jour’s daily soup selection includes a decadent wild mushroom consummé and a rotating creation that is, without fail, always worth a spoonful or two. Make a meal out of it and head to the cozy-cool eatery to find the day’s offering, paired with our favorite, the North-African spiced pork chop.