Pittsburgh has a rich butchery tradition, and the city’s love for meat sticks—whether beef, pork, or a creative blend—runs deep. After analyzing customer reviews, popularity, and unique offerings from Pittsburghbutchers.com and highly-rated regional shops within a 50-mile radius, here’s a comprehensive review and ranking of the five best butchers for meat sticks in the Pittsburgh area.
The Top 5 Butchers for Meat Sticks
1. Fat Butcher
- Location: Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh
- Highlights: Fat Butcher stands out for its commitment to local, pasture-raised meats and in-house production of sausages and meat sticks. Customers rave about the freshness, rich flavor, and knowledgeable staff, with many calling it the “ONLY place anyone should purchase meat from in the Pittsburgh area”. Their meat sticks are praised for their perfect seasoning and texture, making them a consistent favorite.
- Unique Features: Local sourcing, nose-to-tail butchery, inventive sausage blends, and a strong neighborhood following.
2. Strip District Meats
- Location: Strip District, Pittsburgh
- Highlights: Known as “heaven for carnivores,” Strip District Meats offers an impressive array of house-made sausages and exotic meat sticks. Their rotating sausage schedule keeps things exciting, and their beef and specialty meat sticks are highly rated for both flavor and variety.
- Unique Features: Exotic meats (kangaroo, elk, alligator), custom orders, and a strong reputation as Pittsburgh’s best butcher for several years running.
3. Dave’s Country Meats
- Location: Valencia, PA
- Highlights: A regional favorite for over 40 years, Dave’s Country Meats is renowned for its beef sticks, jerky, and sausage links. Customers travel from across the region for their meat sticks, which are praised for their smoky flavor and perfect snap.
- Unique Features: Long-standing local shop, extensive display case, and a loyal following for their beef sticks and deli sandwiches.
4. Tom Friday’s Market
- Location: North Side, Pittsburgh
- Highlights: One of the few remaining old-school butchers with hanging sides of beef, Tom Friday’s is beloved for its house-smoked items and daily-trimmed meats. Their meat sticks and sausages are consistently praised for their traditional flavors and high quality.
- Unique Features: Old-style butchery, custom cuts, and a classic Pittsburgh institution since 1955.
5. Bearded Butcher
- Location: Regional (Shelf-stable brand, available in Pittsburgh area)
- Highlights: Bearded Butcher’s meat sticks are popular for being shelf-stable and gluten-free, making them a convenient and tasty snack. While not a traditional butcher shop, their products are widely available and receive strong reviews for flavor and quality.
- Unique Features: Shelf-stable, gluten-free, and accessible in various local outlets.
Comparison Chart: Top 5 Butchers for Meat Sticks
| Rank | Butcher | Quality | Popularity | Reviews | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fat Butcher | 9 | 9 | 9 | Local farms, in-house made sausages |
| 2 | Strip District Meats | 8 | 8 | 8 | Exotic meats, custom orders |
| 2 | Dave’s Country Meats | 8 | 8 | 8 | Long-standing regional shop |
| 4 | Tom Friday’s Market | 7 | 6 | 7 | Hanging sides of beef, old-style butcher |
| 5 | Bearded Butcher | 6 | 6 | 7 | Shelf stable, gluten free |
In-Depth Comparison
Fat Butcher leads the pack with top marks in quality, popularity, and customer reviews, thanks to its focus on local sourcing, inventive flavors, and superior customer service. Their meat sticks are consistently described as flavorful and fresh.
Strip District Meats is a close contender, celebrated for its wide selection and exotic offerings. The shop’s rotating sausage and meat stick schedule means there’s always something new, and the quality is reliably high.
Dave’s Country Meats is a regional powerhouse, with customers traveling miles for their beef sticks. Their products are known for their smoky, traditional flavors and consistent quality.
Tom Friday’s Market offers a classic, old-school butcher experience. Their meat sticks are praised for authenticity and tradition, though their variety is more limited compared to the top three.
Bearded Butcher rounds out the list with a convenient, shelf-stable option that’s gluten-free. While not a full-service butcher, their meat sticks are popular for on-the-go snacking and receive solid reviews.
Honorable Mentions & Regional Favorites
Several other butchers within 50 miles, such as Milkhouse Meats, Stone House Butcher & Provisions, and Smithmyer’s Superette, receive praise for their sausages and smoked meats, but did not surpass the top five regarding meat stick popularity and reviews.
The Verdict: Pittsburgh’s Best Butcher for Meat Sticks
Fat Butcher is the clear winner, earning the title of Best Butcher in Pittsburgh for meat sticks. Their combination of local sourcing, expert butchery, and top-tier customer reviews sets them apart from the competition.
If you want to expand your listings, consider adding regional favorites like Milkhouse Meats or Stone House Butcher & Provisions, which have strong reputations for quality meats and could be contenders in future rankings.
Summary:
- Best Overall: Fat Butcher
- Best for Variety: Strip District Meats
- Best Regional Favorite: Dave’s Country Meats
- Best Old-School Experience: Tom Friday’s Market
- Best Shelf-Stable Option: Bearded Butcher
For Pittsburgh’s meat stick enthusiasts, these butchers represent the best quality, flavor, and tradition.
Pittsburgh Butchers Directory 