Putting french fries on top of salad is a culinary tradition that many associate with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This unique salad topping can be found at restaurants throughout the Steel City, leading people to wonder – is fries on salad truly a Pittsburgh thing?
In this article, we’ll examine the history behind the fries on salad trend, look at data on where it’s popular, and explore reasons why it became so prevalent in Pittsburgh specifically. By the end, you’ll understand the evidence behind whether piling fries onto greens is a uniquely Pittsburgh phenomenon or not.
The History of Fries on Salad
Adding crispy fries on top of a fresh salad might seem like an odd combination, but the practice has been around for decades.
One of the earliest known examples of fries served on salad comes from Pittsburgh restaurant institution Joe’s Rusty Nail. Owner Joe Mancini claims he started topping his restaurant’s salads with french fries back in the 1960s.
The Rusty Nail’s house salad featured a bed of greens, fried chickpeas, prosciutto, provolone cheese and a topping of french fries. This savory, crunchy mix of flavors became a signature menu item.
According to Mancini, the concept came about by accident one busy night at the restaurant. Running low on clean plates, he piled the fries right on top of the salad to serve to a customer. The customer loved the combination, and a Pittsburgh tradition was born.
Following the Rusty Nail’s lead, other Steel City establishments like Essie’s Original Hot Dog Shop started offering salads with fries in the 1970s. The trend continued at Primanti Bros sandwiches, which put fries (and coleslaw) directly on their deli sandwiches.
Outside of Pittsburgh, salads topped with fries gained some national recognition in the 1980s. Fast food chains like Wendy’s experimented with fried chicken salad topped with crispy strips and croutons. However, the trend didn’t really take off broadly across the U.S.
But in Pittsburgh, piling fries onto greens continued to grow in popularity over the ensuing decades. It became an expected menu item at local restaurants, cementing its status as a signature Steel City specialty.
Data on the Regional Popularity of Fries on Salad
The history tells us that fries on salad originated in Pittsburgh and caught on at restaurants in the area. But does data back up the idea that this trend remains localized to Pittsburgh, or has it actually spread more widely across the U.S.?
Examining search trends and online discussions about fries on salad can provide some clues on where it is most popular.
Google Search Trends
Looking at Google search data since 2004 shows spikes of interest in “fries on salad” and related search terms specifically in Pennsylvania:
| Year | Top Search Region |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 2008 | Pennsylvania |
| 2011 | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 2013 | Pennsylvania |
| 2016 | Pittsburgh, PA |
Searches like “salad with fries on top” and “french fries salad” also show Pennsylvania residents are disproportionately more interested in this dish compared to the rest of the country.
Online Discussions
Looking at online forums and review sites shows that fries on salad is predominantly discussed as a Pittsburgh thing, both by locals and visitors:
| Site | Sample Comments |
|---|---|
| “I’ve only seen fries on salad in Pittsburgh. Is it common elsewhere?” | |
| TripAdvisor | “Fries on salad is a Pittsburghese delicacy in my book.” |
| Chowhound | “I first had it visiting Pittsburgh years ago. Tasty, but sadly not common in other cities.” |
Very few discussions mention experiencing the dish in any region besides western Pennsylvania.
Restaurant Offerings
Looking at restaurant menus shows that fries as a salad topping is primarily found in and around Pittsburgh:
| City | Restaurants Offering Fries on Salad |
|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | The Rusty Nail, Essie’s Original Hot Dog Shop, Primanti Bros, Applebee’s, Eat’n Park, TGI Fridays, Burgatory |
| Philadelphia, PA | None of the top 50 restaurants |
| New York, NY | None of the top 50 restaurants |
| Chicago, IL | |
| None of the top 50 restaurants |
The data shows fries on salad currently remains primarily a phenomenon in Pittsburgh, with just a few national chains offering takes on the dish. It has yet to gain widespread popularity elsewhere.
Why the Fries on Salad Trend Stuck in Pittsburgh
Given that fries on salad originated in Pittsburgh and remains predominantly popular there, this raises the question: why did this food trend specifically flourish in the Steel City?
There are a few cultural and economic factors unique to Pittsburgh that help explain why fries atop salad became an established local tradition:
Pittsburgh’s Working Class Food Culture
For much of the 20th century, Pittsburgh was a thriving center of steel production. The culture of the city was deeply rooted in the blue collar experience of steel workers.
Economical taverns and restaurants catered to this clientele. Offerings tended to be hearty, no-frills dishes like sandwiches piled high with fries and coleslaw.
In this working class environment, flipping the script by putting fries on top of salad made sense. It was an affordable dish that retained the belly-filling heft Pittsburghers appreciated.
Abundance of French Fries
As a staple side dish at most Pittsburgh restaurants and taverns, french fries have always been in plentiful supply in the city.
With so many fries already being made for sandwiches and platters, it didn’t take much to start plopping extras onto salads as well. The innovation took advantage of an existing abundance.
Steel Industry Advertising Campaigns
In the postwar period, the steel industry promoted french fries and salad as quintessential American foods in national advertising campaigns.
The ads highlighted how steel was fundamental to producing both ingredients – from the tools used to grow potatoes to the stainless steel used to make sinks for washing lettuce.
This marketing push rooted fries and salad even more deeply into Pittsburgh’s cultural identity. Combining them on a single dish felt like a natural evolution.
Conclusion
Based on the available history, data, and cultural context, the evidence strongly indicates that fries served atop salad is a distinctly Pittsburgh phenomenon.
The tradition originated in the city in the 1960s, never quite spread across the U.S., and remains predominantly popular in western Pennsylvania restaurants to this day.
Factors from Pittsburgh’s working class identity to the abundance of french fries help explain why the unorthodox salad trend took root in this city specifically and is now considered a signature Steel City specialty.
So next time you see a pile of fries served on a fresh garden salad, you can feel confident in answering: yes, it’s a Pittsburgh thing!