Progress slow but steady on Pittsburgh's first YangGuoFu Mala Tang, coming to Squirrel Hill.

Progress is still underway on YangGuoFu (also known as YGF Malatang), a chain of build-your-own malatang bowls, aiming to open its first Pittsburgh-area location in Squirrel Hill.

Founded in 2003 in Harbin, China, YGF Malatang began as a humble street-side stall built on one belief: great food should be fresh, flavorful, and uniquely yours. We handpicked ingredients, simmered broth daily, and let guests craft their own bowls — interactive, vibrant, and deeply personal. That founding spirit — individuality and flavor discovery — drives us today as we bring authentic Malatang to the Americas. At YGF, every bowl is crafted fresh and unmistakably yours.

It will be located at 5870 Forbes Ave. (map) in what was most recently Evelyn James Interiors. Signage first went up in November 2025, and they were initially aiming for a mid-January opening. There are over 6,000 YGF Malatang restaurants worldwide, and locations in New York, California, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Washington. (Ownership did not respond to requests for Pittsburgh-area updates.)

Mango Mango Dessert coming soon to Cranberry for its second Pittsburgh-area location.

Mango Mango Dessert's second Pittsburgh-area location will be in Cranberry, where work is underway at 1720 Route 228 (map). Mango Mango is a chain of Hong Kong style desserts that opened its first Pittsburgh-area spot in Squirrel Hill in 2024, during a flurry of activity when a number of national and international Asian dessert and boba chains that first took notice of Pittsburgh, including Gong Cha, Tiger Sugar, Wushiland, Kyo Matcha, and Tsaocaa. The menu includes photogenic sundaes, parfaits, ice cream, crepe cakes, and jellies, often centered around the eponymous fruit.

Ebisu Life Store coming to Cranberry.

Work is underway on an Ebisu Life Store in Cranberry. It will be located at 20217 Route 19 Suite 203 in a former Party City in a strip mall near the Walmart at the intersection of Route 19 and Old Freedom Rd, and aims to open later this year. From their Instagram:

At the end of this year an Ebisu Japanese Life Store will be opening in Cranberry Township, PA! This 7,000 sq ft store will be packed with claw and gatchapon machines, Japanese beauty, exciting snacks and drinks to try, anime figures, stationery, and much more!

Stay tuned for more information on the Grand Opening and exciting events in store! 🌸🇯🇵

Ebisu Japanese Life Store is a Chinese chain specializing in Japanese goods, with its stores featuring cosmetics, snacks, homegoods, stationary, gacha machines, and more. It opened its first area location in Squirrel Hill in October 2024. 

KOGO Modern Korean Kitchen opens in Squirrel Hill.

KOGO Modern Korean Kitchen has recently opened in Squirrel Hill, in a spot shared with Diners 2+1 Japanese Cuisine. KOGO offers build-your-own bowls---like a Classic Bulgogi Steak Bowl, Spicy Gochujang Chicken Bowl, and Cumin Fire Chicken Bowl---along with other interesting menu items include Korean Egg Drop Sandwiches (available from 8:45 am through 2:30), poke bowls, sushi rolls, high-protein cups, and konjac jelly drinks. KOGO Modern Korean Kitchen is located at 1722 Murray Ave. (map).

Oakland's Mount Everest Sushi closes.

Mount Everest Sushi has recently closed in Oakland after nine years of operation. It opened in April 2017 at 128 Oakland Ave., replacing the popular Sushi Boat and offering (at the time) poke, sushi rolls, sushi tacos, and sushi donuts.

Vietnamese restaurant Bela Kitchen soft opening today in East Liberty.

A new Vietnamese restaurant, Bela Kitchen, will be soft opening today in East Liberty. Located on the ground floor of 211 Tower at 211 N. Whitfield St. (map) in what was most recently Blue Sky Kitchen and Bar. It will be operated by the family behind Mola, the Novo Asian Food Hall in the Strip District and the Asian stationary store DooBoo that opened in January. Previous paperwork called the forthcoming spot Viet Lounge. Hours of operation are 11:30 am to 10:00 pm Sunday through Friday and 11:30 am to 11:00 pm on Saturdays.

Longtime Squirrel Hill Korean grocery, New Young's Oriental Grocery, to close June 10. 50% off sale while supplies last.

New Young's Oriental Grocery, a Korean grocery in Squirrel Hill for nearly 40 years, is closing June 10. It is holding a 50% sale while inventory lasts. Young's is located at 5813 Forward Ave., behind the GetGo gas station (map).

Teriyaki Express soft opens in Squirrel Hill, in former Viet Nom Nom spot.

Teriyaki Express has soft opened in Squirrel Hill. Its menu offers a variety of teriyaki dishes reminiscent of a mall food court---chicken, beef, and shrimp---and Asian appetizers like tempura and dumplings. It operates several spots in Ohio, but the Pittsburgh location is at 1715 Murray Ave. (map), taking the place of Viet Nom Nom, which closed March 30.

Wei Lai Dim Sum closes restaurant in North Hills on May 25.

Wei Lai Dim Sum announced on social media it will close its North Hills restaurant on May 25.

We will be officially closing on May 25.

Thank you for being part of our journey.

After more than two wonderful years, Weilai Dim Sum Restaurant would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of our customers for your continued support and patronage. It has truly been our pleasure to serve you.

Wei Lai opened in March 2024 in McIntyre Square, and was one of several restaurants to open in the last few years offering high-quality, non-chain cuisine in the North Hills. The lack of dim sum in Pittsburgh was an oft-cited vacancy until the arrival of Wei Lai and, a month later, HK Dim Sum in North Oakland.

KuJiRa's Bridgeville location opens today.

KuJiRa, an all-you-can-eat sushi bar in Shadyside, has opened its second location in Bridgeville. From an announcement on Instagram:

The wait is officially over—Bridgeville, we have arrived! 🎉 We are absolutely thrilled to announce that our brand-new location is officially OPEN and ready to welcome you. A ton of love and hard work went into bringing this beautiful space to life, and we can’t wait for you to experience the vibe. 🥢✨
Come on by, say hi, and celebrate this next chapter with us! Here are all the details you need to plan your visit:
📍 **Where to Find Us:**
1025 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, PA 15017
⏰ **Hours of Operation:**
* **Sunday – Thursday:** 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM
* **Friday – Saturday:** 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM

It is located in the Chartiers Valley Shopping Center in the former Vocelli's Pizza spot (map).

This was first teased in an October 2025 social media post by Legacy Realty, but when I visited the spot in December signage was up for Nami Japanese Kitchen & Bar. However, maybe the Nami signage was a ruse to keep the location partially hidden until more permanent signage could go up.

Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill opens in McCandless after coming soon for 1,000 days.

Via Town of McCandless Open Discussion Facebook Group. 

After a wait of over 1,000 days, Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in McCandless opened on May 5. Work had been underway since Summer 2023 on the second Shabu Shabu location in Pittsburgh, after its first opened in Robinson in June 2025. It occupies a building shared with Midwest Shooting Center across from LaRoche University (map).

A big Pittsburgh restaurant trend in 2023 and 2024 was planning, and sometimes opening, all-you-can-eat Korean-style BBQ and hot pot places. Several places did ultimately open, like Hong BBQ on McKnight Road, a second Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in Robinson (which has since become the first), among a couple others, while Korean BBQ in Oakland was famously delayed and the Kpot in Squirrel Hill ultimately pulled the plug in 2025 after two years of inactivity.

Yo! Brew nears completion on Duquesne University campus.

Signage is up for Yo! Brew, a bubble tea place and bakery opening soon on the Duquense University campus. Locust St. under Brottier Hall. (map), in what was formerly a Subway, and comes via the team behind Yotea & Yoka Kitchen in North Oakland and YOYO Panda in Allison Park. Work began on the spot last spring, and onership says it intends to open very soon, with a soft opening date to be announced shortly.

Work progresses on YangGuoFu Mala Tang in Squirrel Hill.

Permanent signage is up on YangGuoFu Mala Tang in Squirrel Hill, where work has been underway since late fall on the new Chinese chain with locations in California, New York, and elsewhere in the US.

Indulge in the perfect blend of fresh ingredients and bold flavors, combined to create a dining experience that transcends the ordinary. Our Mala Tang offerings are carefully crafted for those seeking a healthy yet delicious meal option.

It will be located at 5870 Forbes Ave. (map) in what was most recently Evelyn James Interiors. It was initially eyeing openings in January and March.

Eastern Passage 东方之旅 soft opens downtown.

Eastern Passage 东方之旅---a retail store specializing in Asian apparel, artisan crafts, and cultural souvenirs---soft opened in downtown Pittsburgh last week, part of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership's Project Pop-up. Some context, from the Pittsburgh Chinese Culture Center's newsletter:

Coming soon to downtown Pittsburgh! Eastern Passage 东方之旅 – a retail store specializing in Asian apparel, artisan crafts, and cultural souvenirs is scheduled to open in April 2026. Located in the historic Park Building at 355 Fifth Avenue, the store is part of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s Project Pop-Up that will turn a vacant storefront into a vibrant cultural destination. We are particularly interested in promoting artworks and crafts by local artisans. Contact us for more information at easternpassagepgh@gmail.com.

匹兹堡市中心即将迎来新店开业！ 东方之旅 (Eastern Passage) 是一家专注于亚洲服饰、手工艺品及文化纪念品的零售店，将于 2026 年 4 月下旬开业。 该店坐落于第五大道355 号的历史性建筑Park Building，作为匹兹堡市中心伙伴关系 (Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership) “快闪项目” (Project Pop-Up) 的一部分，我们将把原本闲置的店面转变为充满活力的文化地标。 我们尤其注重推广本地艺术家和与手工艺人的作品。 欲了解更多详情，请联系我们：easternpassagepgh@gmail.com 。

Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill, coming soon to McCandless for 1,009 days.

Signage first went up for Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in McCandless Crossing on July 15, 2023, and though some progress has been made on the interior, it shows no signs of opening in the foreseeable future. Emails and messages to restaurant management have gone unanswered over the years, while shopping center management has dismissively reiterated they will post about updates when they have them. It occupies a building shared with Midwest Shooting Center across from LaRoche University (map).

A big Pittsburgh restaurant trend in 2023 and 2024 was planning, and sometimes opening, all-you-can-eat Korean-style BBQ and hot pot places. Several places did ultimately open, like Hong BBQ on McKnight Road, a second Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in Robinson (which has since become the first), among a couple others, while Korean BBQ in Oakland was famously delayed and the Kpot in Squirrel Hill ultimately pulled the plug in 2025 after two years of inactivity.

American Chinese restaurant Dragon City to soft open in Bellevue April 14.

American Chinese restaurant Dragon City is soft opening in Bellevue on April 14. It will be located at 503 Lincoln Ave. (map), what was previously the home of Dragon Town. From its "coming soon" announcement last month:

Hello, Bellevue! 👋
​The secret is officially out! We are thrilled to join the neighborhood and bring a fresh spark to the local food scene. Dragon City is officially on the way to 503 Lincoln Ave! 🐉✨
​We are currently hard at work perfecting our menu and getting the kitchen fired up to bring you the best American Chinese comfort food in town. 🥡🧧🐎
​📅 Current Goal: Opening in the beginning of April
Will be Available on Grubhub, Doordash, Ubereats, Ezcater 饭团外卖Fantuan, 熊猫外卖HungryPanda

May Nail Studio opening in Aspinwall next month.

May Nail Studio is coming soon to Aspinwall, aiming to open appropriately enough in May. It will be located at 407 Freeport Ave. (map), in what was formerly Dream Nails Studio, and will specialize in manicures, pedicures, nail art, and more.
via tranjennyle.nails

It's run by Tran Jenny Le, a nail artist and photographer familiar to those who follow the social media of trendy local Asian restaurants (@tranjennyle).

Squirrel Hill's Viet Nom Nom closing March 30.

Squirrel Hill's Viet Nom Nom will close its doors on March 30. From its Instagram post today:

Graditude. Privilege. Friendship. And unmatched support are just a few words that describe what I feel when I look back on the last 15 years of being a restaurant owner in Squirrel Hill. There were a few hiccups with the transition but everything is finalized. Tomorrow will be my last day in business until I am ready to relocate. Remember friends, I’m a serial “pivot-er” so this isn’t Good bye… it’s a BRB !!! Love you all and thank you for your continuous support❤️

It briefly announced a closure last month, with some additional context:

There's a little sadness in letting go but there's plenty of beauty in starting over. Squirrel Hill was home to 2 of my businesses the last 14 years. This community has welcomed me with open arms as I introduced Vietnamese cuisine to the neighborhood with the opening of Tan Lac Vien in 2012. It was my first dine-in restaurant where i Offered more unique and authentic dishes. I had a great run. In 2023 I decided to down size to what is currently Viet Nom Nom. It was a fun, quirky and cozy spot. I offered quick and casual dine-in where I served no fuss dishes. I will forever be grateful for the patronage and friendships that I have created here over the years. I am honored to have served the Squirrel Hill community. Life is filled with changes and I have to allow my new priorities to align with my home and work balance. A reset is deeply desired, but Please don't worry because if any of you know me, you'll know that I am a "serial entrepreneur " - to be continued...

It opened January 2023 at 1711 Murray Ave (map). 

Eastern Passage 东方之旅 coming to downtown Pittsburgh in April as part of Project Pop-Up.

According to the Pittsburgh Chinese Culture Center's newsletter, a retail store called Eastern Passage 东方之旅 is coming to the Park Building downtown (map), part of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership's Project Pop-up.

Coming soon to downtown Pittsburgh! Eastern Passage 东方之旅 – a retail store specializing in Asian apparel, artisan crafts, and cultural souvenirs is scheduled to open in April 2026. Located in the historic Park Building at 355 Fifth Avenue, the store is part of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s Project Pop-Up that will turn a vacant storefront into a vibrant cultural destination. We are particularly interested in promoting artworks and crafts by local artisans. Contact us for more information at [redacted].

匹兹堡市中心即将迎来新店开业！ 东方之旅 (Eastern Passage) 是一家专注于亚洲服饰、手工艺品及文化纪念品的零售店，将于 2026 年 4 月下旬开业。 该店坐落于第五大道355 号的历史性建筑Park Building，作为匹兹堡市中心伙伴关系 (Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership) “快闪项目” (Project Pop-Up) 的一部分，我们将把原本闲置的店面转变为充满活力的文化地标。 我们尤其注重推广本地艺术家和与手工艺人的作品。 欲了解更多详情，请联系我们：[redacted] 。

The email address listed in the newsletter has a typo and is invalid, hence my redaction. Project Pop Up

brings vibrancy and innovation to Downtown Pittsburgh by activating vacant storefronts with temporary retail pop-ups, interior window displays, and artistic window graphics. In collaboration with Downtown property owners—and with generous support from the Hillman Foundation—the program invites entrepreneurs, artists, makers, retailers, and creative teams to transform empty storefronts into engaging destinations.

This initiative supports Downtown’s economic revitalization by providing low-barrier opportunities for creative retail, art, and cultural activations that contribute to a more dynamic and welcoming streetlevel experience.

Krunchy Bird Korean Fried Chicken opens in Mt. Lebanon.

Krunchy Bird Korean Fried Chicken, offering Korean-style chicken sandwiches, wings, and tenders, has opened in Mt. Lebanon. It is located at 325 Mt. Lebanon Blvd. (map), in the former Oya Sushi location.