9 Delicious Bites to Try in Buffalo

4. Butter Lamb
Photo by Charlie Fashana
Every Easter, locals flock to Malczewski’s, a Polish deli in the Broadway Market to buy a butter lamb—literally, a lamb carved out of butter—adorned with a red ribbon. It’s a symbol of spring and a staple on tables at that time of year among Polish Catholics, Russians and Slovenians. But ewe guessed it, everyone wants to invite one of cute, edible oddities to dinner.

5. Toast
Five Points Bakery has elevated this humble breakfast food to new heights at its Toast Café. They bake the bread on-site, then turn it a crispy golden brown. The greatest hits are here – sour dough, whole wheat and cinnamon raisin—but there’s more than a dozen varieties available, including more exotic fare like apple cider, extra sharp cheddar and Vollkornbrot (100 percent dark rye).

6. Pizza
Photo courtesy of La Nova Pizza
Buffalonians love their ‘za! It ranks among the top five American cities with the most pizzerias per capita. And, because this is a place that likes to do things differently, it has its own distinct pizza style – gooey, messy, sweeter tomato sauce, substantial crust and pepperoni that cooks up into greasy disks. Find it at spots like Bocce Club Pizza (opened in 1946) and Lovejoy Pizza. And it’s sublime.

7. Cheerios
Photo courtesy of Visit Buffalo Niagara
In certain areas of the city, there’s a distinct oaty scent wafting through the air. It comes from General Mills’ plant, which has been baking millions of wee Cheerios to supply east coast cereal lovers since 1941. There’s widespread pride in this fact so feel free to wear a “My City Smells Like Cheerios” T-shirt proudly.

8. Mighty Taco
In Western New York, fast-food Mexican fare comes not from Taco Bell, but from its own homegrown Mighty Taco. It started in Buffalo in 1973 and has now expanded to 23 locations. Gourmet grub this isn’t, but it is satisfying for those occasions when you crave salt, fat and gobs of cheese. Try a Buffito, a marriage between a burrito and Buffalo-style chicken, plus lettuce, ranch or blue cheese dressing.

9. Peanut Sticks
Photo by Meg Vaidya
You’ll never bother with another cronut once you’ve tried a peanut stick, kind of like a donut and kind of like a chunk of heaven fallen to earth. It’s a flattish oval-shaped slab of fried dough covered generously with finely chopped peanuts. Crunchy outside, soft and cake-like inside, what’s not to love? You can find them around town easily, but many locals pledge allegiance to Paula’s Donuts in North Buffalo.