Posted: 06/26/2024

Local Must-Eats in Lancaster, PA

How many of these must-eats have you tried?

When in Lancaster, PA, try unique eats like scrapple, sweet bologna, whoopie pies, and Wilbur Buds that reflect the area's heritage and PA Dutch roots. These tasty treats hold warm memories and highlight our ancestors' resourcefulness.

Scrapple

Start your day with this local favorite – scrapple! If you love pork or breakfast meat in general, this regional dish is for you, as it’s traditionally made from pork and spices then fried and served for breakfast. It may not be the most glamorous of foods, but it’s rich and very tasty, especially topped with ketchup or maple syrup.

Whoopie Pies

It’s hard to resist a Lancaster County whoopie pie. These tasty treats are made from two cake-like cookies with sweet cream in the center. There are many varieties including chocolate, pumpkin, and red velvet. Legend has it that when farmers and children would find them in their lunch pails, they would shout “whoopie!” Just one bite, and you’ll understand the why.

An array of whoopie pies with different flavors, resting on a plate.

Stroopies

Stroopies are a Lancaster-made Dutch stroopwafel! It's two cinnamon waffles with caramel in the middle, meant to be put over a mug of warm tea or coffee to warm the stroopwafel. Chocolate covered, espresso, original, and other flavors make this a delicious treat.

A large scoop of ice cream sandwiched between two thin stroop waffles.

Chow Chow

This sweet and sour side dish is both tasty and resourceful. Chow-chow is a combination of vegetables, typically the odds and ends left at the end of the harvest, which are pickled and served to accompany a typical PA Dutch meal. You’ll find carrots, onions, cauliflower, cucumbers, celery, corn, peppers and beans in this colorful veggie mix.

Wilbur Buds from Wilbur Chocolate Factory and Americana Museum - Lititz. Photo Credit: DiscoverLancaster.com / Brian Evans

Sweet Bologna

From our neighboring town of Lebanon, sweet bologna is a local staple. This sweet, smoky sausage is typically enjoyed on a sandwich or as a snack. Sweet bologna dates back to the 19th century and reflects traditions of Western Europe. Locals love the tangy flavor of this beef-based sausage that’s cured and smoked to perfection, often paired with mustard.

PA Dutch Chicken & Waffles

Chicken & waffles tend to look a little different here than other places. Rather than fried chicken and syrup, it's chicken in a gravy over waffles, made even better when paired with mashed potatoes

Chicken Pot Pie

In Lancaster, we do chicken pot pie a little bit differently. This hug-in-a-bowl is a stew-like meal with hearty broth, tender slow-cooked chicken, carrots, potatoes, and savory square noodles but… no crust! If you’re a fan of the chicken pot pie in a crust, we definitely recommend trying our version. You can’t go wrong with this hearty meal.

A plate of chicken pot pie with peas, salad, and bread.

Wilbur Buds

Hailing from the charming town of Lititz, Wilbur Buds are little morsels of chocolate heaven. They made their debut in 1893, and have been a favorite ever since. Today, you can visit the museum and shop in Lititz to pick up a bag of milk chocolate or dark chocolate buds (or both) to enjoy. We bet you can’t eat just one!

Shoofly Pie

Shoofly pie is a staple of Pennsylvania Dutch dining, a molasses crumb cake dating back to the 1880s! There's also a difference between "wet bottom" shoofly pie, which has a gooey layer form at the bottom and is more popular, and "dry bottom" which is more cake-like.

Recommended For You

Traditional Amish food from Lancaster County PA

Explore Lancaster County and Pennsylvania Dutch foods, and much more, at these Amish-owned restaurants.

Missing Lancaster and all the wonderful food it has to offer? We’ve got your back! Follow the recipes below to bring a taste...

Bring the Amish Culture to your kitchen with these easy to recreate recipes!

The Lancaster County Whoopie Pie

Pennsylvania Dutch Country's best known and most loved comfort food - the whoopie pie!

Lancaster County, PA is your gateway to a diverse culinary landscape. From the comforting flavors of authentic PA Dutch dining to the tantalizing...

Vegetarian and Vegan restaurants around Lancaster County.

group of friends eating at restaurant

Enjoy a taste of history at one of these long-standing and historic dining establishments.

Partners