It’s that time of year again for Pittsburgh families: One fish, two fish, red fish … fried fish.
Beginning this week, the Pittsburgh area is swimming with community “fish fry” events on the Friday evenings leading up to Easter (plus a few on Wednesday, Feb. 18). They’re hosted by everyone from local fire departments and social clubs to Catholic churches.
You can pick up meals to go or stay and eat at the venues.
There are dozens of them around the region, and this week the first fish fry locations will begin serving these tasty and affordable dinners on Ash Wednesday. How to find them? The 2026 Pittsburgh Lenten Fish Fry Map has you covered.
A crowd gathers at St. Aidan’s for a Friday night fish fry. Photos by Ted Anthony.
If you aren’t familiar with the Pittsburgh Lenten Fish Fry Map, here are the details: For more than a decade, from humble beginnings as one fish-fry lover’s Google Maps project, the Fish Fry Map has grown into a full-on catalog of more than 200 Friday night seafood availabilities across western Pennsylvania.
The map, the dreamed up by Pittsburgh transplant Hollen Barmer, has become a full-on community project administered by Code for Pittsburgh, which uses computer programming as the centerpiece of community and civic engagement efforts.
Through the map you’ll find fish fries of all stripes. An assortment of churches are here, along with more secular Friday fries from Hampton Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 in the North Hills all the way to the Monongahela Elks Lodge in Washington County.
Whether you’re Catholic or not, it’s the perfect Pittsburgh blend of tradition and innovation — and, of course, a kid-friendly fish sandwich or fried shrimp can be perfect for a quick and affordable Friday night family meal without any home cooking.