Work progresses on Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ, coming soon to the South Side.

A corner lot on the 2800 block of East Carson Street is outwardly unassuming, with brown paper covering the windows and no new signage at the old J & L Grille Company, but work is progressing on what is one of about seven Hotpot and Korean BBQ places looking to open soon in Pittsburgh. Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ is a chain with nine locations currently open---three in Pennsylvania, two in Ohio, and one each in Floriday, 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.

It will open 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.

Umi Hair Salon opens in Squirrel Hill.

Chinese hair and nail salon Umi Hair Salon has recently opened in Squirrel Hill. Also stylized Youmi, it is located at 2115 Murray Ave. (map) and joins Instyle Hair Studio as the two Chinese salons in the neighborhood. Their profile on fresha has a list of services and prices, and an option to make an appointment online.

Sushi Atarashi's revolving sushi concept in Robinson closes, owner aims to regroup and reopen in a new location.

Sushi Atarashi transformed its Robinson location into revolving sushi restaurant on September 16, but closed a few months later on January 11. Atarashi was the second revovling sushi restaurant in Pittsburgh, after Kura Sushi opened on the Southside in September 2023.

The owner says he hopes to open a new revolving sushi restaurant in a more viable location in the city, though he's still scouting an ideal spot. The revolving concept was originally going to be part of the East End Meridian development under construction in East Liberty on the site of the former Shakespeare Giant Eagle, but ownership confirms space constraints will now limit it to an original Atarashi layout.

Sushi Atarashi is the rebranded outcome of Sushi Fuku, as the two split back in 2015 with the S. Craig St. location in Oakland retaining the original name. Sushi Atarashi---atarashi means "new" in Japanese---has several locations around the Pittsburgh area in addition to the original Oakland Avenue location.

Korean BBQ place Togyu Asian BBQ & Bar coming soon to Cranberry.

via WAY architecture + design
Togyu Asian BBQ & Bar is coming soon to Cranberry Mall, in the spot formerly occupied by Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing (map). In spite of being listed under the "Opening Soon" heading on the Cranberry website, other sources have indicated a potential Summer 2025 opening.

Korean BBQ restaurants were a popular idea over 2023 and 2024, and though several announced their intentions to open in Pittsburgh, but among the seven or eight aiming to come soon so far only Hong BBQ & Hot Pot on McKnight Road has actually opened.

Taiwanese-style chicken restaurant Kung Fu Chicken opens second location, this time in Shadyside.

Kung Fu Chicken, which operates a location in the Novo Asian Food Hall in the Strip District Terminal, opened another location in Shadyside on February 28. It is located at 709 Bellefonte St. in Shadyside (map), the former spot of I Tea Cafe, one of the first bubble tea places in Pittsburgh when it opened in 2013. From its signage:

At Kung Fu Chicken, we bring the authentic taste of Taiwan's bustling street food culture right to your table. Inspired by the vibrant night markets of Taipei, our specialty is the iconic Taiwanese chicken cutlet, known for its mouthwatering flavor, tender texture, and signature crispy coating. Our journey began with a passion for sharing the joy of traditional Taiwanese street food. Each cutlet is carefully crafted using fresh, high-quality ingredients and marinated in a blend of soy sauce, garlic, and secret spices, staying true to time-honored recipes. We pride ourselves on delivering a perfect balance of flavors---crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, with just the right amount of seasoning.

A Taiwanese chicken cutlet, also known as "ji pai" (雞排), is a popular street food in Taiwan. It's a large, boneless chicken breast that is pounded thin to tenderize it, then marinated in a mixture of soysauce, garlic, and spices to infuse it with rich flavor. The chicken is made from sweet potato starch, which gives it a distinctive crispy texture when deep-fried. The cutlet is typically seasoned with a special blend of spices, including white pepper, Chinese five-spice and chili powder for a mildly spicy kick. It's usually served piping hot, sometimes with a sprinkle of additional seasoning on top, and enjoyed as a snack or meal-on-the-go.

Grand opening of Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings in Pittsburgh, March 5.

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, a popular New York-based chain specializing in dumplings and southern Chinese cuisine, will hold its Grand Opening on March 5. It held a friends-and-family opening on February 23 and a soft opening on February 24, and is located at 2773 Sidney St. in the Southside Works at the former Sake spot (map).

The Pittsburgh location for Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings was first announced for in September 2023, with an opening initially planned for Spring 2024. 

The restaurant's official site describes its offerings:

Soup dumplings, or xiao long bao (which literally means "little steamer-basket buns" in Mandarin Chinese), originated hundreds of years ago in Nan Xiang, a canal town near Shanghai. Today, soup dumplings are a global icon of Southern Chinese comfort food.

For New Yorkers, the introduction to the best soup dumplings in the state began in 2006 with a family recipe and a small shop in Flushing. Nearly twenty years later, Nan Xiang is synonymous with authentic Southern Chinese cuisine.

. . .

Recognized as having “the best soup dumplings in town” and with a perennial feature in the Michelin Guide, we pride ourselves on being a haven for those who value the warmth of home-cooked meals, family dinners, and community. What does the taste of home mean to you? We hope you’ll find the answer here at Nan Xiang.

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings to soft open its Pittsburgh location on February 24.

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, a popular New York-based chain specializing in dumplings and southern Chinese cuisine, teased its Pittsburgh opening on social media recently, and has announced a friends-and-family opening on February 23 and a soft opening on February 24. The restaurant's first Pittsburgh location will be located in the Southside Works at the former Sake spot.

📣 Hello, Pittsburgh Family! We’re excited to announce that Nan Xiang is coming soon to @southsideworks at
📍 2773 Sidney St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

✨ We’ll be joining amazing neighbors like The Cheesecake Factory, Urban Outfitters, and Hyatt House—bringing you the best soup dumplings in town!

Stay tuned and follow us for the latest updates on our Grand Opening—we can’t wait to serve you! ❤️

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings was first announced for the spot in September 2023, with an opening planned for Spring 2024. 

The restaurant's official site describes its offerings:

Soup dumplings, or xiao long bao (which literally means "little steamer-basket buns" in Mandarin Chinese), originated hundreds of years ago in Nan Xiang, a canal town near Shanghai. Today, soup dumplings are a global icon of Southern Chinese comfort food.

For New Yorkers, the introduction to the best soup dumplings in the state began in 2006 with a family recipe and a small shop in Flushing. Nearly twenty years later, Nan Xiang is synonymous with authentic Southern Chinese cuisine.

. . .

Recognized as having “the best soup dumplings in town” and with a perennial feature in the Michelin Guide, we pride ourselves on being a haven for those who value the warmth of home-cooked meals, family dinners, and community. What does the taste of home mean to you? We hope you’ll find the answer here at Nan Xiang.

New Vietnamese restaurant coming soon to Oakland.

Signage went up a little while ago for a new Vietnamese restaurant "bringing the taste of Vietnam to Oakland." It seems to be called Vietnam Vietnam 9 and is located at 338 S. Bouquet St. (map), in what was most recently Beta Bytes. Window signage advertises pho, banh mi, bun bo hue, com dia, bun, chao, heo kho, and bo kho.

The side streets of Oakland, and S. Bouquet would qualify in spite of being a somewhat busy thoroughfare connecting campus to residential areas, have grown bland over the years, with fewer retail and restaurants. This corner of Oakland hasn't had a Vietnamese restaurant in decades, and the general Oakland area hasn't had one since a series of short-lived Vietnamese spots on N. Craig St. in what is now Bomb Chicken.

Signage up for Hong Kong Dim Sum in North Oakland.

Signage has gone up for Hong Kong Dim Sum at 4520 Centre Ave. in North Oakland. The dim sum restaurant (map), which would help fill one of the larger gaps in Pittsburgh's dining scene, was announced for the One on Centre appartment building back in September 2023. When it eventually opens, the new spot from the Mi Fan ownership team will occupy over 4200 square feet on the ground floor.

Sesame Inn North Hills location relocating to The Block Northway, eyes February opening.

Work is well underway on the Sesame Inn location in the North Hills, which is relocating to The Block Northway from its current spot on Browns Lane. The new location will occupy the storefront most recently occupied by Wahlburgers and is tentatively scheduled to open in February. Sesame Inn, which also has a location in Mt. Lebanon, has routinely been voted among the most popular Chinese restaurants in Pittsburgh in various readers' polls over the past few decades.

Work progresses on Running Dish, a revolving sushi and all-you-can-eat hot pot and Korean BBQ place from the Sushi Bomb team, coming to the Waterfront.

Running Dish, a revolving sushi and all-you-can-eat hot pot and Korean BBQ place, will be among the newest revolving sushi and all-you-can-eat hot pot and Korean BBQ places in the Pittsburgh area. It was first announced for the Waterfront in September, and the shopping center now lists it on the directory as going into the spot across from Starbucks formerly occupied by Versona, Charming Charlie, and American Eagle.

Running Dish recently opened a location in Sterling, Virginia, a spot run by the ownership behind the Sushi Bomb in Robinson.

Conveyer belt sushi and all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and hot pot are two well-established concepts to come to Pittsburgh relatively recently. The international chain Kura Sushi opened here in September 2023, and Sushi Atarashi opened its revolving sushi restaurant in Robinson in October 2024. At least six all-you-can-eat BBQ and hot pot places have been announced as "coming soon" to the Pittsburgh area, but only Hong BBQ on McKnight Road has opened (though Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill is eyeing a January opening).

Oakland's TapiLab to hold grand opening, January 15.

TapiLab, a bubble tea place in Oakland that soft opened around Christmas, will hold its grand opening on Wednesday, January 15. Hours on the 15th are 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. It's located a couple months ago at 3606 Fifth Ave. (map), what was most recently, and briefly, Gussy's Bagels & Pizzeria.

Welcome to TAPILAB, where we redefine bubble tea! Our passion for creating the ultimate bubble tea experience drives us to craft everything from scratch, starting with our signature homemade tapioca pearls. Our pearls offer an extraordinary burst of flavor that sets us apart. We believe great flavors begin with pure ingredients, which is why we use filtered water wherever it's needed. Quality and authenticity are at the heart of what we do. That’s why we take pride in making our tapioca fresh daily, ensuring that every cup is a delightful experience. Our signature product is the Brown Sugar Tapi, which is our freshly caramelized brown sugar tapioca made in-house with natural ingredients with milk. We’re dedicated to crafting unique drinks that cater to your personal taste, turning every sip into a moment of joy. Join us in discovering the delicious world of bubble tea, where simplicity meets creativity!

Its social media boasts of tapioca pearls freshly made daily and gacha gacha machines.

Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in McCandless eyes January opening.

Photos from March 2024.

Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in McCandless is aiming for a January opening. Work has been underway at the spot in McCandless Crossing---across from LaRoche University and in the outparcel shared with Midwest Shooting Center (map)---since July 2023.

Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill is among at least six all-you-can-eat Hot Pot and BBQ places planned for the Pittsburgh area since mid-2023 and in various stages of completion, including: Korean BBQ in Oakland, Kpot in Squirrel Hill, Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ in the Southside, and a second Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in Robinson; Hong BBQ & Hot Pot on McKnight Road is the only place to have opened so far. Running Dish was announced this fall for the Waterfront, planning to offer revolving sushi and Korean BBQ, but there is no timetable for completion.

Plans for new Thai restaurant in Fox Chapel halted again.

1034 Freeport Road in Fox Chapel has had a string of Thai restaurants in recent decades, most notably one of the city's three Thai Place restaurants and most recently The 98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine for half of 2023. The spot went up for sale in Fall 2023 and The 98 owner and chef was planning to open Breakfast with Tiffany, but now the space is back up for sale.

Jackie Inn Chinese Restaurant opens in North Hills.

Jackie Inn Chinese Restaurant opened on December 26 on Rochester Road in Ross Township.

The moment we’ve all been waiting for 

The Jackie Inn will be ready to roll on Thurs, Dec 26th Chinese Cusine, Sushi  and Penn State Creamery Scooped Ice Cream

Right here next to our market! 533 Rochester Road.

You will also be able to access the restaurant/takeout from our market. Modern open kitchen concept and trendy eats. Share with your fellow foodies 

It's located at 533 Rochester Road, in the WMG Garden & Supply - Peach’s Farm Market next to Rochester Inn (map).

Pittsburgh's Kyuramen opening December 27, Cranberry location a couple months away.

Kyuramen has announced a grand opening for its Pittsburgh location for December 27, this time with an updated graphic featuring baseball players rather than Philadelphia landmarks. Its social media team has acknowledged the Cranberry location is about two months away.

All of our ramen are carefully developed by our ramen masters. The founder of KYURA MEN studied and absobed [sic] the essence of the Japanese ramen, to create the most unique and rich Ramen dish. The carefully crafted "white", "thick", “fresh” and “fragrant” soup bases are served with a fresh Japanese-style pork roast, a 7 minute boiled egg, and a pair of chopped green onions. DELICIOUS!

The national ramen chain's first Pittsburgh restaurant will be located at 6204 Penn Ave. at Eastside Bond (map), and will be accompanied by TBaar, a chain of bubble tea shops. The Cranberry location is in the "Streets of Cranberry" development, between Condado Tacos and Rally House. The ramen place is stylized Kyuramen, KYURAMEN, and Kyu Ramen at various times.

Kyuramen is one of several large national and international Asian chains to come to Pittsburgh in recent years---in addition to Paris Baguette, Tous Les Jours, Fresh International Market, Yi Fang, Kura Revolving Sushi, among many others---and though some may look askance at chains, it also represents the growth of Pittsburgh's food landscape that companies that ignored Pittsburgh for the last decade or two are recognizing its appetites.

TapiLab soft opens in Oakland in former Gussy's spot.

New bubble tea place TapiLab has soft opened in Oakland. Signage went up a couple months ago at 3606 Fifth Ave. (map), what was most recently, and briefly, Gussy's Bagels & Pizzeria. Its social media boasts of tapioca pearls freshly made daily and gacha gacha machines.

KYURAMEN opening first Pittsburgh location, December 27.

KYURAMEN has announced its first Pittsburgh location will open on December 27. It will be located at 6204 Penn Ave. at Eastside Bond (map), and will be accompanied by TBaar, a chain of bubble tea shops.

All of our ramen are carefully developed by our ramen masters. The founder of KYURA MEN studied and absobed [sic] the essence of the Japanese ramen, to create the most unique and rich Ramen dish.

The carefully crafted "white", "thick", “fresh” and “fragrant” soup bases are served with a fresh Japanese-style pork roast, a 7 minute boiled egg, and a pair of chopped green onions. DELICIOUS!

The national ramen chain, sometimes stylized Kyu Ramen and Kyuramen, was first announced for Pittsburgh in July 2023. A second location in Cranberry remains under construction.

The Pittsburgh announcement graphic features the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, both of which are in Philadelphia, and tagline for the Sunflower State, Kansas.

PhoEverMore and Fantastea now open in Gibsonia, bringing pho, Korean food, bubble tea, and more.

PhoEverMore and Fantastea have now opened in Gibsonia. Signage first went up earlier this fall for the side-by-side spots, owned and operated by a Korean couple, though the pho restaurant seems to have gone through some different names in the planning phase. In addition to pho, the restaurant's menu includes Korean dishes and appetizers, Korean ramen, fried rice, hibachi rice and noodles, plus other Asian dishes. They are located at the Walnut Creek Plaza, 5316 William Flinn Highway (Route 8) (map).

Get a Grip Clawcade opens in West Mifflin (well, opened August 31).

Get a Grip Clawcade, "The Pittsburgh area's first clawcade experience," has opened in West Mifflin. This is not breaking news, as it opened August 31, but it was newly-posted to /r/pittsburgh. Get a Grip Clawcade contains over 70 claw machines and is located at 1860 Homeville Rd. (map), in The Village Shopping Center.