English dub of 2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), the highest-grossing animated film of all time, in Pittsburgh from August 21.

The 2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), which played here in February and March, returns to the area from Augsut 21, this time dubbed in English.

A rebellious young boy, Ne Zha, is feared by the gods and born to mortal parents with wild, uncontrolled powers. Now he's faced with an ancient force intent on destroying humanity, he must grow up to become the hero the world needs.

It is scheduled to play in Digital 3D, Real 3D, and Standard Formats, so far, at the AMC Classic South Hills Village, AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, and the Cinemark theater in McCandless. Tickets are available online.

Let's Sushi, an all-you-can-eat sushi place and "unlimited Japanese fusion," to soft open August 4 in Wexford.

Let's Sushi, an all-you-can-eat sushi place in the works for Wexford Plaza (map), plans to soft open on August 4 from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm. The restaurant offering "unlimited Japanese fusion," according to a sign in the window, will be located in the spot formerly occupied by Nakama. Paperwork indicates Let's Sushi is owned by the properietor behind other Asian buffets that used to operate in the area: Misaki, Yamato Hibachi Grill, and Old Town Buffet.

Koi Steakhouse and Sushi Bar eyes August opening in Monroeville.

Koi Steakhouse and Sushi Bar is coming soon to Monroeville and is eyeing an August opening. It will be located at 1782 Golden Mile Hwy (map), in what was most recently Golden Palace Restaurant. The menu is hundreds of items long, consisting of a variety of hibachi items, poke bowls, sushi, rolls, standard Chinese and Thai entrees, boba tea, and more.

Lucky Bites, featuring boba and poke bowls, coming soon to Bellevue.

via @bellevueforward

Another new Asian place is coming soon to Bellevue: Lucky Bites, serving boba tea and poke bowls will be opening at 549 Lincoln Ave. (map), the former home of Dietz Floral and Gifts. Ownership is aiming for an August opening.

Moochi & You, a new dessert place featuring mochi donuts, corndogs, and boba, coming soon to Bellevue.

Signage is up for Moochi & You, an Asian dessert place, in Bellevue. It will be located at 601 Lincoln Ave. (map), in what was most recently Valkyrie Doughnuts. The Moochi & You owner was one of the co-founders of China Star in the North Hills, which expanded to a second location in Squirrel Hill that eventually rebranded to become Sichuan Gourmet.

Shanghai gym and apparel company Iron Jungle opens Pittsburgh-based online shop.

Iron Jungle, a bodybuilding gym and apparel company founded in Shanghai, has opened a Pittsburgh-based online retail location. The website and online catalog went live this afternoon.

All-you-can-eat sushi place Oyoshi coming to East Liberty / Shadyside.

via @IndustryPittsburghApartments

Work progresses on Oyoshi, an all-you-can-eat sushi place coming to Centre Ave. near the intersection of East Liberty and Shadyside. It will be located at 5821 Centre Ave. (map) on the ground floor of the Industry apartment building, next to a dentist's office that is also under construction. Details about the floorplan are available from an April 2025 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting (pdf); the architect attached to this new restaurant also worked on Hong Kong Dim Sum, which opened recently in North Oakland.

via @IndustryPittsburghApartments

Fresh Garden Kitchen (鑫福源) has soft opened in Squirrel Hill.

Fresh Garden Kitchen (鑫福源) held its soft opening on July 12. Signage went up for the new spot in June, at 2209 Murray Ave. (map), the home of the popular Ka Mei from 2006 to 2020. Since Ka Mei's closure, a number of restaurants have occupied the spot, including Teppan BBQ in 2020, a joint Teppan BBQ - Mr. Egg's Kitchen, I Bowl in 2024, and K L Asian Cuisine briefly in 2025.

Togyu Asian Barbecue and Bar in Cranberry to soft open July 23.

Togyu Asian Barbecue and Bar, coming soon to the Cranberry Mall spot formerly occupied by Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing (map), has announced its soft opening for Wednesday, July 23. It is one of the many all-you-can-eat Korean-style BBQ places announced for the Pittsburgh region over the past couple years, and the first for the Cranberry area. The soft opening is set for 3 to 8 pm.

Health Department shuts down newly-opened Enson Market and Ineffable Cà Phe.

The Health Department has shut down the new Enson Market and Ineffable Cà Phe, a large Asian grocery chain and Vietnamese coffee shop that soft-opened in Point Breeze on June 7, according to an article on the inspection report by Patch.

In a July 10 inspection, one dead mouse was discovered in the basement.

Too many large flies to count observed in the fish preparation room and in the vegetable prep area

in the rear hallway.

Red liquid was observed leaking from beef box pooling on floor of the walk-in freezer in between the

meat and fish prep areas.

The manager was observed scrubbing cooked pork snout and cheek with a stainless steel scrubber in the ware-washing sink in hot foods kitchen. Live and dead clams were observed commingled in a single tray at fresh fish counter.

JJ Panda / Yoyo Panda reopens in Allison Park, this time led by Yotea & Yoka Kitchen team.

JJ Panda, which existed in Duncan Manor at various times the last couple years, reopened as JJ Panda / Yoyo Panda on July 9. This incarnation is run by the team behind Yotea & Yoka Kitchen in North Oakland. It is located at 1701 Duncan Ave. in Allison Park (map).

Shady Side Academy hiring Chinese teacher for eight-week period.

Shady Side Academy's Senior School is hiring a Chinese teacher to cover an eight-week maternity leave.

Shady Side Academy’s Senior School World Languages Department is seeking a temporary maternity leave Chinese teacher for the 2025 academic year for 8 weeks beginning on August 14, 2025. Responsibilities include teaching four sections of Chinese, from introductory through advanced level courses in accordance with the Department’s needs. Other duties, such as not limited to proctoring exams and participating in weekly full faculty meetings, may be assigned as needed by the Academy.

Qualifications

Fluency in oral and written Chinese and experience teaching Chinese is required. Native fluency is strongly preferred. A bachelor’s degree in Chinese, or another modern language of a native speaker, is required. Ideal candidates will have experience as a teacher, a demonstrated commitment to a high level of academic rigor, a growth mindset, cultural competency, a passion for working with and teaching adolescents, a flexible, proactive, and team-oriented approach, excellent written and oral communication skills, exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, an ability to multitask and prioritize workload, superior interpersonal skills, and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Smartboards, and/or other technology directly linked to working and teaching at Shady Side Academy.

Applications can be completed online. Shady Side Academy's Senior School campus is located at 423 Fox Chapel Rd. in Fox Chapel (map).

Recruiting Chinese immigrant women for research study with OBGYN fellow at UPMC Magee Women's Hospital.

The next phase of the research participation opportunity shared in April, with Dr. Luna Zhang of UPMC, is now underway.

Fresh Garden Kitchen coming soon to Squirrel Hill.

Signage has recently gone up for Fresh Garden Kitchen, a new Chinese restaurant coming soon to Squirrel Hill. It will be located at 2209 Murray Ave, the home of the popular Ka Mei from 2006 to 2020. Since Ka Mei's closure, a number of restaurants have occupied the spot, including Teppan BBQ in 2020, a joint Teppan BBQ - Mr. Egg's Kitchen, I Bowl in 2024, and K L Asian Cuisine briefly in 2025.

Chow's Kitchen (周家小馆) now open in Squirrel Hill.

Chow's Kitchen (周家小馆) is now open in Squrirrel Hill. Temporary signage went up earlier this month at 5825 Forbes Ave. (map) in what was most recently Dagu Rice Noodle and, previously, The Magic Noodle and Sun Penang. The business paperwork is connected to the ownership team of Everyday Noodles on the same block. The flyer on the door directs people to the restaurant's website, but currently I am unable to load it on a computer; it does seem to open on mobile, though. A menu has been uploaded to Yelp.

Win-Win Kung Fu in Squirrel Hill offering six-week summer camp for kids' martial arts, fitness, culture, and language training; $30 discount extended through June 30.

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center's annual summer camp returns for six weeks of programming in July, and the school has extended its $30-per-week discount for registrants through May 31.

 Camp Schedule:

• Week 1: July 7 – 11
• Week 2: July 14 – 18
• Week 3: July 21 – 25
• Week 4: July 28 – August 1
• Week 5: August 4 – 8
• Week 6: August 11 – 15

 Location: Squirrel Hill Studio – 2705-2707 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
 Time: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (optional extended care until 5:30 PM)
 Ages: 5 – 15 years

 What to Expect

 Learn Kung Fu/Wushu/Tai Chi from champion masters
 Train in martial arts fundamentals
 Boost focus, fitness, and confidence with intensive training
 Dive into Mandarin language, Chinese culture, games, and movies
 Have fun in a supportive and engaging environment

 Tuition & Registration

• $240 per 5-day week (Save $30 when you register by June 30!)
• 10% discount for siblings
• New students: One-time $90 registration fee (includes a pair of training shoes, T-shirt, and training pants)
• Free registration for current Win-Win students
• Only 25 spots per week – First Come, First Serve!

 How to Register
 Current Win-Win students: Complete the selection form and submit a 20% tuition deposit.
 New students: Fill out the registration form, sign the waiver, complete the selection form, and submit a 20% tuition deposit along with the $90 registration fee.

Seats fill up fast, so don’t miss out on a summer of fun and learning!

For questions or to register, call (412) 336-8898 or email masters [at] winwinkungfu.com.

The studio is located at 2705 Murray Ave., on the ground floor of the Morrowfield building in Squirrel Hill South (map). 

Free beginner-level Chinese classes at Carnegie Library in East Liberty, Saturdays from June 21.

via Khun Hans Photography (Creative Commons)


The Carnegie Library branch in East Liberty will start a free "We Learn: Beginner-Level Chinese Language" class on Saturdays from June 21.

Welcome to the Chinese language learning circle! This is a beginner-level class, so you do not need to have any prior experience with the language. The focus will be on basic spoken Mandarin, but we might also learn some things about the writing system if there is enough interest.

Course materials we'll use

Course materials will be provided by Mango Languages, which is available for free through the library. We will also add other materials according to the learners' interests.

Registration is required. Classes are held from 3:00 to 4:00 pm in Meeting Room 2 over eight weeks, and the library is located at 130 S. Whitfield St. (map).

Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ eyes Monday, June 9, opening.

Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ is aiming to open on Monday, June 9, in the Southside Works. Top Pot is a chain with nine locations currently open---three in Pennsylvania, two in Ohio, and one each in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, and Utah---and four under development, including this Pittsburgh spot first announced in December 2023.

Top Pot & K BBQ is an AYCE restaurant franchise that offers a unique and satisfying dining experience with a combination of hot pot and Korean BBQ. The menu features a wide range of ingredients, spices, and sauces to cater to different tastes, with options for meat, seafood, vegetables, and more. Customers can enjoy cooking their food at the table with a simmering pot of soup stock or grilling meat on the table with personalized dipping sauces. The restaurant also offers a well-rounded meal with a lot of delicious small side dishes, which provide a diverse array of flavors and textures. These side dishes, along with the option of both hot pot and Korean BBQ, make for a unique and satisfying dining experience.

In addition to the delicious food, Top Pot BBQ is committed to providing quality service at affordable prices. This means that customers can expect to receive not just a great meal, but also attentive service and a welcoming atmosphere. And with the restaurant's focus on using fresh ingredients, customers can be assured that they are eating high-quality food that is both delicious and nourishing.

For those looking for a unique and satisfying dining experience, Top Pot BBQ is the perfect choice. With its combination of hot pot and Korean BBQ, and commitment to quality, service, and affordability, it's sure to leave a lasting impression on all who visit and we have something for everyone regardless of your preferences.

The Monday opening will follow private tasting events this weekend. It is located at 2829 East Carson St. (map), and will be one of three new-ish Asian chains, along with Kura Sushi and Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, helping to make Southside Works a dining destination for lovers of Asian food.

2024 Chinese film Caught by the Tides (风流一代) in Pittsburgh, from June 20.

The 2024 Chinese film Caught by the Tides (风流一代) will play in Pittsburgh from June 20 through July 3.

The preeminent dramatist of China’s rapid 21st-century growth and social transformation, Jia Zhangke has taken his boldest approach to narrative yet with his marvelous Caught by the Tides. Assembled from footage shot over a span of 23 years—a beguiling mix of fiction and documentary, featuring a cascade of images taken from previous movies, unused scenes, and newly shot dramatic sequences—Caught by the Tides is a free-flowing work of unspoken longing, carried along more by music than dialogue as it looms around the edges of a poignant love story.

The film mostly adheres to the perspective of Qiaoqiao (Jia’s immortal muse Zhao Tao) as she wanders an increasingly unrecognizable country in search of long-lost lover Bin (Li Zhubin), who left their home city of Datong seeking new financial prospects. The always captivating Zhao carries the film with her delicate expressiveness, while Jia constantly evokes cinema’s ability to capture the passage of time and the persistence of change: of people, landscapes, cities, politics, ideas.

It plays at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online.

Chow's Kitchen coming to Squirrel Hill.

A new Chinese restaurant, Chow's Kitchen, is coming to Squirrel Hill. It will be located at 5825 Forbes Ave. (map) in what was most recently Dagu Rice Noodle and, previously, The Magic Noodle and Sun Penang. The business paperwork is connected to the ownership team of Everyday Noodles on the same block, and the new restaurant is currently hiring staff and management. Chow's Kitchen did not respond to inquiries about the menu or opening date yet, so updates will be forthcoming.