New York-based Chinese-owned fastfood chain 98K coming soon to Squirrel Hill.

A reader points out that 98K Hamburger, which just put signage up on a Squirrel Hill storefront, is part of a chain of heretofore New York City-based restaurants. That roster includes 98K Kennedy Halal in Brooklyn, a 98K in Brooklyn and a 98K in Flushing, and 98K Hamburger in Brooklyn. The Pittsburgh signage includes "NO:0006," though it's not quite clear what the fifth location might be. It will open at 5867 Forbes Ave. (map), though construction is still in progress.
Prior to 98K the location had signage up for Chatea, a bubble tea place that had been under construction since July 2020 but never materialized.

Signage up for Chinese-owned fast food place 98K Burger in Squirrel Hill, replacing yet-to-arrive Chatea.

Signage has recently gone up at 5867 Forbes Ave. (map) for 98K Burger.

It replaces the signage for Chatea, a bubble tea place that had yet to open.

The Pittsburgh burger place is Chinese-owned and shares a name with two restaurants in New York---98K Hamburg and 98K---though it's not clear what relation, if any, it shares with them.

Sushi Kim 2 opening downtown in September.

Sushi Kim, which closed its famed Strip District sushi and Korean restaurant in late-2019, will open its Sushi Kim 2 downtown in September, according to the owner on Facebook. It will be located at 110 Smithfield St. (map). In 2020 it announced Sushi Kim 2 Go for N. Craig St. in Oakland, but the storefront there remains empty. The new restaurant boasts of a sushi bar and "traditional Korean kitchen," and has posted its menu on its new website:

Squirrel Hill's Panda Supermarket (熊猫超市) opens at new location today.

Panda Supermarket (熊猫超市), an Asian grocery store in Squirrel Hill, will open at its new location at 5816-5818 Forbes Ave. (map) today. It will also expand to its pre-COVID hours of operation:

New store hours at the new spot: Monday - Thursday: 10am - 9pm Friday - Saturday: 10am - 9pm Sunday: 11am - 7pm

Panda opened in 2017 and began work at its new location in summer 2020.

Panda Supermarket (熊猫超市) to open at new location, September 1, with expanded hours.

Panda Supermarket (熊猫超市), an Asian grocery store in Squirrel Hill, will open at its new location at 5816-5818 Forbes Ave. (map) on September 1. According to Facebook:

MOVING! Our store will be moving to 5816-5818 Forbes Ave. (next to PNC Bank) on 30-31 August 2021. We will reopen at 5816-5818 on September 1. New store hours at the new spot: Monday - Thursday: 10am - 9pm Friday - Saturday: 10am - 9pm Sunday: 11am - 7pm Sorry for the inconvenience! We will stay open at our current spot through the 29th. See you here (and there)!!

Panda opened in 2017 and purchased the new spot in 2019. Work has been underway since last summer. It switched to limited hours---11 am to 7 pm---when COVID hit, and is moving to the hours it kept for most of its life.

98 K Burger opening in Squirrel Hill.

98 K Burger is coming soon to Squirrel Hill. It will open at 5867 Forbes Ave. (map), in one half of the space occupied by the still-coming-soon Chatea. The Pittsburgh burger place is Chinese-owned and shares a name with two restaurants in New York---98K Hamburg and 98K---though it's not clear what relation, if any, it shares with them.

Sushi Too opening Gibsonia location.

Sushi Too, a Japanese restaurant in Shadyside, will soon open a Gibsonia location. It will be located at 5330 William Flynn Highway (map).

Sushi Kim 2 opening soon downtown.

Sushi Kim, which closed its famed Strip District sushi and Korean restaurant in late-2019, has announced a Sushi Kim 2 coming soon to downtown. It will be located at 110 Smithfield St. (map). In 2020 it announced Sushi Kim 2 Go for N. Craig St. in Oakland, but the storefront there remains empty.

Nanban Asian Soul Food now open in Lawrenceville.

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A new restaurant by Roger Li, Nanban Asian Soul Food, has opened recently in Lawrenceville, taking over the spot that used to hold another of Li's restaurants, Ki Pollo.

The concept of "Nanban" goes back to the 16th and 17th century in Japan when the very first "Westerners" began trading with the locals. It was a period of exploring new culture, and exchanging and above all it translates to "something foreign" which we liked and flipped to represent the Asian soul food that Japanese and Koreans and Chinese have all taken back home and made their own. So our Nanban is an Asian Soul Food Restaurant with the intention of familiarizing the decadent and comforting flavors of our favorite Asian dishes across the board. We use what we know to make delicious, approachable but dynamic food that will warm the soul, tickle your palate, and depending on what you get... numb the mouth!

It's open 12:00 to 8:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday, and a menu is available online. It's located at 4407 Butler St. (map).

Yue Bai Wei Sichuan Restaurant opens in Squirrel Hill, replacing Rose Tea Cafe.

Squirrel Hill's Rose Tea Cafe has recently closed and has been replaced by Yue Bai Wei Sichuan Restaurant. The new restaurant is located at 5874 Forbes Ave. (map). A menu is available online, though it's not working at the time of this post.

Work still underway on Wild Ninja Asian Grill in Oakland.

Signage recently went up at 210 Oakland Ave. (map) for Wild Ninja Asian Grill. Work on the restaurant has been underway at the former Uncle Sam's Gourmet Subs since December 2019. The sandwich placed closed in September 2018 after numerous health department infractions.

Chao Phraya Thai Cuisine now open in Baldwin.

Chao Phraya Thai Cuisine has recently opened in Baldwin. It is located at 328 Curry Hollow Rd. in the Curry Hollow Center strip mall (map).

Oishii Donburi to soft open, March 19.

After nearly three years of work, Oishii Donburi in Lawrenceville will hold a soft open on March 19 from 12:00 to 8:00 pm. The new restaurant is from the ownership behind Oakland's Oishii Bento. The restaurant is located at at 5227 Butler St. (map), and the menu consists of a variety of donburi and udon bowls, bibimbap, and other Japanese and Korean sides. The ownership team purchased the former Design Island and Artisan Harvest spot in May 2018, with work beginning in earnest in Summer 2019.

Kawa Hibachi Sushi opening March 18 in Allison Park.

After several years of construction, Kawa Hibachi Sushi will open March 18 in Allison Park. It will be located at 1701 Duncan Ave. (map), in the Duncan Manor plaza next to the Driver's License Center.

Oriental Market to open at new location on March 16.

Oriental Market, an Asian grocery in the North Hills, will open at its new location on Tuesday, March 16. The new store will be at 7300 Old McKnight Road (map), which used to house David's Bridal and is slightly up the street from its current location.

Work progresses on Oishii Donburi in Lawrenceville.

via @oishiidonburi1

Work progresses on Oishii Donburi in Lawrenceville as they approach an opening date. From the owners of Oakland's Oishii Bento, the team with the self-titled company name purchased the former Design Island and Artisan Harvest spot at 5227 Butler St. (map) in May 2018.

"Bento" coming soon to Shadyside.

Work progresses on Bento, a new restaurant coming to Shadyside. It will be located at 5811 Ellsworth Ave. (map) in what was most recently Daphne Cafe. Chen's Realty, LLC, purchased the spot in December 2019.

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) organizing COVID vaccine sign-ups for local seniors, offers Chinese-language support.

The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) is organizing COVID vaccine sign-ups for local Chinese speakers 65 and older. From its Facebook page, with other languages to come soon:

**COVID-19 Vaccine sign-up for people 65 years and older. Info in other languages coming soon!** 申請COVID-19疫苗接種: http://bit.ly/37rzeu6
匹茲堡大學醫學中心(UPMC)目前致力於協助年滿65歲或以上人士接種2019新型冠狀病毒疫苗 (2/17/2021資訊)，亞太裔美國勞工聯盟匹茲堡分部 (APALA Pittsburgh) 在和匹茲堡大學醫學中心(UPMC)合作，協助年滿65歲或以上的民眾申請，您所提供的資訊只會和UPMC分享，UPMC將與年滿65歲或以上的申請者聯絡以確認申請者符合資格。
這個表格是針對年滿65歲或以上人士，年齡介於16-64之間且有特定醫療狀況的民眾可能符合賓州疫苗接種的資格，但並不符合本次的申請資格。
凡居住或工作在賓州的人士，疫苗費用全免。您無需任何醫療保險即可預約。
線上申請: http://bit.ly/37rzeu6
無法填寫線上表格的民眾，可以打 412-532-8517，我們的志工會在電話上協助你登記，若無人接聽請留言或傳短訊。
如有任何问题或需要协助填写表格，请發短信或留言至 412-532-8517 或来信 apalapgh@gmail.com。如您對接種疫苗有任何疑問，請諮詢您的醫療保健提供者。

Mexican restaurant coming to Greenfield in the former home of Bill Ung's Tea Garden and the "best egg rolls in Pittsburgh."

Signage recently went up at 4371 Murray Ave. (map) in Greenfield for Audrina's Mexican Grille. This Mexican restaurant will be the latest in a long line of international restaurants, most recently Hamsah Mediterranian Grille, Babylon Cuisine, and Ethnic Foods. For several decades, though, it was the home of Bill Ung's Tea Garden and the self-proclaimed "best egg rolls in Pittsburgh."

African Cuisine moving into old Chaya spot, February 27.

Signage is up for a new restaurant, African Cuisine, set to move into the spot formerly occuped by Chaya on February 27. Chaya closed on January 30 after two decades in Squirrel Hill. A menu for the new restaurant is available online via The Soul Pitt.