More information about all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant possibly coming to Oakland.

Earlier this month signage went up for an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant in Oakland, and recently a menu and photos were posted to the windows. The menu advertises $27.99 for adults with over 30 types of meats; Korean dishes like bibimbap, jjajangmyeon, ramyeon, and bulgogi; Korean appetizers like mandu, japchae, and gaeranjim; and a selection of other Asian items like sichuan noodles, Chinese-style jajangmen, orange chicken, and fried rice. It will be located at 414 Semple St. (map), in the former location of Korea Garden which closed a while back in preparation for a move to the Asian food court under development in the Strip District.

I am not as definitive in this post as I am with other restaurants coming soon because Pittsburgh has been duped before by handmade print-outs promising Korean BBQ. However, building permit paperwork does show that a new restaurant by building owner Jiyan An is coming soon to the spot.

Hong Kong Dim Sum planned for North Oakland.

via Hanna Langholz Wilson Ellis

A restaurant called Hong Kong Dim Sum is planned for 4520 Centre Ave. in North Oakland (map), the newish apartment complex One On Centre. If approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment, the restaurant would occupy over 4,200 square feet of the first floor. Details are scarce, but should the restaurant arrive it would help fill one of the largest remaining gaps in the Pittsburgh dining scene.

Chinese restaurant/cafe coming to Squirrel Hill in Footer's Cleaners spot.

A new Chinese restaurant / cafe seems to be coming to Squirrel Hill. Footer's Cleaners at 5864 Forbes Ave. (map) closed earlier this year and the building was bought by JC Investment Squirrel Hill Property LLC, run by a Yao Chen from Erie. A Chinese construction crew has been performing work on the interior of the 3500-square-foot space, and Hungry Panda advertisements are on the windows. Paperwork to the City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning has more information about the proposed restaurant / cafe; the contact information on the application leads the former ownership behind Oakland's Top Shabu Shabu and Night Market Gourmet, and contact information on permits lead to a real estate company that also owns a Chinese restsaurant in Irwin.

Footer's is owned by the same family who ran Lord Duncan Cleaners on Forward Avenue, which also closed earlier in 2023.

Many More Asian Market shares progress pics of its new Strip District location.

On September 16 Many More Asian Market shared some progress pics of the work at its new Strip District location.



The new store will be at 2767 Liberty Ave, Strip District (map), a few blocks from its current location. In October 2022 work started on the new warehouse space that will have a food court and boba tea place; it was originally scheduled to open in the summer but is now looking at a fall opening.

New York-based chain Nan Xiang coming to SouthSide Works in 2024.

A New York-based chain specializing in Northern Chinese cuisine, Nan Xiang, is coming to SouthSide Works in 2024. A LinkedIn post from CBRE says:

Nan Xiang has signed a lease for the former Sake space at Southside Works! The space is 5,947 SF and will feature authentic Northern Chinese cuisine. Look for Nan Xiang to open in late Q1 2024.

The restaurant's official site describes its offerings:

Xiao Long Bao (also known as Soup Dumpling) originated from Nan Xiang County of Shanghai, China. “Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao” opened its door at the heart of Asian cuisine, Flushing, New York in 2006 and soon gained popularity among food lovers in the Big Apple over the past 16 years. Nan Xiang is the first choice for local Chinese immigrants who are craving for authentic Northern Chinese food, Jiangsu & Zhejiang cuisine. A lot of western diners also visit Nan Xiang to experience our famous dishes recommend by various publications and food bloggers. Welcome to Nan Xiang, we provide the most original flavors from China.

. . .

Our signature dishes are the restaurant’s unrivaled crab and pork soup dumplings, plentiful steamed buns and Shanghainese dim sum. Other popular dishes include pan-fried crispy noodles, fried rice cakes, scallion pancakes with sliced beef, fish fillet & pickled cabbage noodle soup and pan-fried dumplings.

The98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine in Fox Chapel for sale.

The98 Contemporary Thai Cuisine in Fox Chapel is for sale. From a listing online:

Turn Key restaurant for sale in Fox Chapel Prime. This place has been recently remodeled inside and the front of building as well. Owner is asking $150,000 and will finance $50,000 for qualified buyer. Please call Phil for showing, 412-628-6154

The restaurant opened in January at 1034 Freeport Rd. (map), from the team behind Squirrel Hill's TOOK TOOK 98.

Shadyside's Nakwon Garden aims to reopen later this month.

Nakwon Garden, a Korean restaurant in Shadyside, plans to open later this month, according to ownership. Handwritten "Open Soon" signage went up on its door in August, and a fresh coat of paint went up today. The restaurant closed on January 1 and hinted at reopening in the future, though the official website's URL has expired and both Google and Yelp marked the restaurant as "permanently closed." Nakwon Garden opened in 2014 and was one of the few places where Korean BBQ was available in Pittsburgh, though a few new establishments are coming soon to change that.  Nakwon Garden is located at 5504 Centre Ave. (map).

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar opening in Pittsburgh on September 17.

After nearly a year of anticipation, Kura Revolving Sushi Bar announced today on social media that it will open its Pittsburgh location on September 17.

 It’s Official  We are thrilled to announce that Kura Sushi will be opening in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at SouthSide Works on SUNDAY, 9/17 at 12:00 PM! We can’t wait for you to experience our authentic Japanese food delights, revolving sushi bar, express belt for made-to-order requests, Bikkura Pon prizes, KuraBots and so much more! 

 3 DAY OPENING SPECIAL:

The first 100 dine-in guests on 9/17, 9/18 and 9/19 will receive a DC™ x Kura Sushi Tote Backpack! 

 SPECIAL OPENING HOURS:

9/17 - 9/19 from 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM

 We will be open with regular hours beginning Wednesday, 9/20!

 415 Cinema Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

 SUN: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM

MON – THU: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM

FRI: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM

SAT: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Signage up for all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ in Oakland, possibly coming soon to Semple St.

Signage is up for all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ in Oakland, located at the old Korea Garden at 414 Semple St. (map). Korea Garden closed a while back in preparation of opening a kiosk at the long-planned Novo Asian Cuisine Food Hall in the Strip District. The building was bought by Jiyan An of Dormont in March. If true---and Pittsburgh has been duped before by promises of BBQ---this would be the fourth Korean BBQ place coming soon to the Pittsburgh area, behind Kpot in Squirrel Hill, Hong BBQ and Hot Pot on McKnight Rd., and Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in the North Hills.

Bubble Bee coming soon to Centre Ave. in Bloomfield / N. Oakland.

Bubble Bee, a new bubble tea place, is coming soon to 4815 Centre Ave. (map) near the border of Bloomfield, Shadyside, and North Oakland. Bubble Bee is a small chain with locations in Ross Park Mall and South Hills Village; the owner also operates Look Eye Care, which itself has locatiosn in Ross Park Mall and Squirrel Hill.

Mi Fan coming soon to East Liberty.

Signage is up for Mi Fan, a restaurant coming soon to East Liberty. It will be located at 5923 Baum Blvd. in what was most recently Wings Over East Liberty (map). Menu details aren't yet available, beyond the likely centrality of rice bowls, but the dining room does look pretty close to completion.

Shadyside's Nakwon Garden to reopen soon after nearly 9-month hiatus.

via @s_backs 

A sign on Nakwon Garden says "Open Soon," which should put an end to its nearly 9-month hiatus. The Korean restaurant in Shadyside closed on January 1 and hinted at reopening in the future, though the official website's URL has expired and both Google and Yelp marked the restaurant as "permanently closed." Nakwon Garden opened in 2014 and was one of the few places where Korean BBQ was available in Pittsburgh, though a few new establishments are coming soon to change that.  Nakwon Garden is located at 5504 Centre Ave. (map).

Little Corner Grill House coming soon to Oakland.

A new restaurant serving hot pot, Little Corner Grill House, is coming soon to North Oakland. It will be at 301-303 N. Craig St. (map), in the spot most recently occupied by Rumi's Grill, and is from the team behind Hundred Miles Crepes, a Chinese food truck that parks on Fifth Ave. on the Pitt campus. Though it's not open yet for dine-in, it has a menu on the Fantuan delivery service showing more than a dozen varieties of hot pot. Ownership says the restaurant should be fully open in a few days.

15 Asian restaurants and eateries coming soon, or even not quite so soon, to Pittsburgh.

via @kpotbbqandhotpot

Pittsburgh has a ton of Asian restaurants and eateries in the works, from national Korean bakery chains and quick service Vietnamese restaurants to several hot pot and Korean BBQ places. There are event two Asian food courts in the works that may be open by year's end. What is interesting about this recent rush is the number of chains that are finally noticing Pittsburgh. National and international chains have tended to avoid Pittsburgh, until 朝茶 TSAOCAA opened in 2020 and New York-based Chinese fast food chain 98K Hamburger moved in next door in 2021. While some people may be turned off by chains, fearing , on the contrary I think their arrival is evidence of how much Pittsburgh's food scene has grown. Hell, it wasn't that long ago the only ramen place around was in Morgantown.

Here's a recap of 15 Asian restaurants and eateries coming to Pittsburgh in the near, or the not-so-near, future.

Korean bakery chain Paris Baguette coming soon to Pittsburgh.

via @parisbaguetteus

Shortly after this summer's news of Pittsburgh getting its first Tous Les Jours (뜌레쥬르) is word that another Korean bakery chain, Paris Baguette, is coming to the North Hills. It will be located at The Block Northway, a shopping center in Ross Township (map).

Paris Baguette is a chain of bakeries ubiquitous throughout South Korea that has over 150 locations across the United States. The menu boasts a wide variety of cakes, baked goods, sandwiches, juices, and coffees, in addition its eponymous French bread. It has several spots in Philadelphia already, with a location in Youngstown also listed as "coming soon."

Zen Ramen & Poke now open in Waterworks Mall.

"Grand Opening" signage is now up at Zen Ramen & Poke in the Waterworks Mall in Fox Chapel (map), and the restaurant is now open in the spot next to Ichiban Steakhouse that was formerly occupied by Italian Village Pizza. The menu includes items like chicken katsu curry rice, karaage, takoyaki, and a selection of Chinese-American dishes and other Japanese appetizers and desserts, in addition to ramen and poké bowls. The owner also runs Zen's Noodle House in Oakland.

Signage first went up for the new restaurant back in May. It is located somewhat close to the Pittsburgh Japanese School that brings together dozens of families in Fox Chapel most Sundays of the year, so has the potential to do well in spite of the painful road construction completely surrounding the shopping center.

Little Viet Kitchen coming soon to McCandless.

photo submitted by reader.

 
A reader shares news of Little Viet Kitchen Vietnamese Eatery, offering "Quick Service Vietnamese Food," coming soon to Pine Creek Shopping Center in McCandless (map). Little Viet Kitchen will be the first Vietnamese restaurant to open in the North Hills.

Ramen chain Kyuramen coming to Pittsburgh.

National ramen chain Kyuramen is opening its first Pittsburgh-area location in East Liberty. It will be located at 6204 Penn Ave. at Eastside Bond (map), which also recently put up signage for the area's first Korean bakery Tous Les Jours. Kyuramen is aiming for an early-2024 opening.

Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill coming soon to McCandless.

via @mccandlesscrossing 

 

Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill is coming soon to McCandless Crossing in the North Hills, according to signage that recently went up. The owners also operate Shabu Shabu Hot Pot & Grill in Nashville, Tennessee, which offers all you can eat hot pot, sushi, and BBQ.

Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill will join Hong BBQ & Hot Pot on McKnight Road and KPOT in Squirrel Hill as three new all-you-can-eat hot pot and BBQ places coming soon to the Pittsburgh area.

Hong BBQ & Hot Pot, with all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and Hot Pot, coming to McKnight Road.

Signage recently went up for Hong BBQ & Hot Pot at 4801 McKnight Road (map), in the spot that used to hold several Asian buffets over the past decade, including Tokyo Sushi Buffet, TJ Buffet, Happy Home Buffet. According to its website Hong BBQ & Hot Pot has a location in Tampa, with locations coming soon to Bradenton, Grandville, and Pittsburgh. This comes after the news in May of KPOT, another Korean BBQ and Hot Pot chain, also opening in Pittsburgh soon.