Showing posts with label Vietnam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vietnam. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

New Vietnamese film Detective Kien: The Headless Horror (Thám Tử Kiên: Kỳ Án Không Đầu) in Pittsburgh, from May 29.


The 2025 Vietnamese film Detective Kien: The Headless Horror (Thám Tử Kiên: Kỳ Án Không Đầu) will play in the Pittsburgh area from May 29. From the distrubtor:
Detective Kien investigates a headless body found in a rural Vietnamese village during the Nguyen Dynasty. As supernatural elements emerge, he faces chilling twists in this 19th-century mystery.
It plays locally at the AMC CLASSIC South Hills Village and tickets are available online.

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Fresh International Market and Ineffable Cà Phê aiming for May 30 soft opening in Point Breeze.

Photo via Ineffable Cà Phê

Fresh International Market and Ineffable Cà Phê are aiming for a May 30 soft opening, if all goes according to the latest plan. Fresh International Market, a US-based chain of Asian grocery stores, was first announced for Pittsburgh in March 2023 with a Summer 2024 target, and the 23,000 square foot store would be among the largest Asian groceries in the region. The Vietnamese coffee shop Ineffable Cà Phê, which currently has a spot in Lawrenceville, was later linked to the site, as Fresh International Market locations often have a bakery---such as Paris Baguette, in other spots---inside. From a February 2025 Pittsburgh Magazine article ahead of its latest potential opening date earlier this year:
Known for its unique selection of international ingredients and authentic Asian cuisine, Fresh International Market imports products from more than 28 countries. This will be the 10th location, with stores located in Illinois, Nebraska, Texas, Michigan, Indiana, North Carolina and Florida. The first store was founded in Lansing, Michigan in 2011 by Bowen Kou; the company is now headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Also opening at Rockwell is the second location of Ineffable CaPhe, a Lawrenceville coffee shop offering a variety of Asian items such as bubble tea, banh mi sandwiches and rice bowls, Al Lardo, Rockwell Park’s principal, said in an interview. It will operate out of the grocery store rather than being a separate tenant at Rockwell.

He noted his family’s roots are in Wilkinsburg, where his wife’s family had a business for 80 years and his father owned rental properties. He told the Business Times that he looks forward to the new opportunity that the store will bring to residents in Wilkinsburg as well as Homewood to be able to buy healthy and fresh foods that are affordably priced.

“The location [of the Fresh International Market] is especially good because of the busway,” Lardo said in an interview. which is just a half-mile walk from Rockwell Park. “There’s a lot of people who don’t have cars in Wilkinsburg.”
The store will open at 7511 Thomas Blvd. (map), located roughly a block from the East End Food Co-op and Construction Junction. While this will be the region's first Fresh International Market, though the chain was loosely linked to Pittsburgh in 2021 as a finalist for the former Hill District Shop n' Save location that was later occupied, and vacated, by Salem's Market.

Both Fresh International Market (see here) and Ineffable Cà Phê (see here) are hiring.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Vietnamese movie The Ancestral Home (Nha Gia Tien) continues in Pittsburgh through May 21.


The Vietnamese movie The Ancestral Home (Nha Gia Tien), which opened in Pittsburgh on May 9, will remain here through at least May 21.
A Gen Z video creator returns to her ancestral home in search of viral supernatural content, only to encounter the ghost of her tragically deceased brother. To fulfil his wish, they must join hands to uncover the truth behind his untimely death while safeguarding the family's fortune and ancestral home from their greedy relatives.
It plays locally at the AMC Classic South Hills Village (map) and tickets are available online.

Friday, May 9, 2025

Vietnam 9 Vietnam now open in Oakland.


New Vietnamese restaurant Vietnam 9 Vietnam has recently opened in Oakland. Signage went up for the new place in February at 338 S. Bouquet St. (map), in what was most recently Beta Bytes. Vietnam 9 Vietnam, also stylized Vietnam Vietnam 9, has online ordering set up, and its menu features an assortment of pho, banh mi, bun bo hue, com dia, bun, chao, heo kho, and bo kho.

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Taste of Asia Asian Food Festival, May 11 at Heinz History Center.


The third annual Taste of Asia Asian Food Festival will take place on May 11 at the Heinz History Center. The three-hour festival will feature food from numerous restaurants plus cultural performances and other attractions. 

Experience Asian culture and flavors at the Taste of Asia program.

Join the History Center on a cultural and culinary journey to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Taste of Asia.

Presented in partnership with the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh, the program will highlight Asian American contributions of the past and present in Pittsburgh.

Indulge in delicious bites from an assortment of local Asian restaurants, explore the history of Pittsburgh’s Asian American community with the Detre Library & Archives, and watch live performances to learn about cultural celebrations.

Engage with local chefs and expand your palette by sampling food from participating restaurants, including:

  • Chengdu Gourmet 2
  • Sushi Fuku
  • Senyai Thai Kitchen
  • 1:11 Juice Bar
  • Bombay to Burgh
  • Charm Thai Pittsburgh
  • Grapow
  • Hungry Panda
  • Kung Fu Chicken
  • Mango Mango
  • Modern Filipino Cuisine
  • Nan Xiang Dumpling
  • Nepali Community of Greater Pittsburgh
  • Sumi’s Cakery
  • Sushi Too
  • WeiLai Dim Sum
  • Yotea Yoka Kitchen

Restaurant vendors will also have takeaway food available to purchase.

Don’t miss the chance to discover and celebrate the incredible diversity of Asian food culture in Pittsburgh!

The event runs from 12:00 to 3:00 pm, and the Heinz History Center is located at 1212 Smallman St. in the Strip District (map).

Vietnamese movie The Ancestral Home (Nha Gia Tien) in Pittsburgh, from May 9.


The Vietnamese movie The Ancestral Home (Nha Gia Tien) will play in Pittsburgh from May 9 through 14.
A Gen Z video creator returns to her ancestral home in search of viral supernatural content, only to encounter the ghost of her tragically deceased brother. To fulfil his wish, they must join hands to uncover the truth behind his untimely death while safeguarding the family's fortune and ancestral home from their greedy relatives.
It plays locally at the AMC Classic South Hills Village (map) and tickets are available online.

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Work continues on Pittsburgh's Fresh International Market past latest target opening date.

Photo taken the morning of April 2.

Work continues on the eagerly-awaited Fresh International Market coming soon to Pittsburgh in Point Breeze's Rockwell Park development. The US-based chain of Asian grocery stores was first announced for Pittsburgh in March 2023, and the 23,000 square foot store would be among the largest Asian groceries in the region. It was initially aiming for a Summer 2024 opening, then announced a February 2025 opening, then April 1. From a February 2025 Pittsburgh Magazine article:
Known for its unique selection of international ingredients and authentic Asian cuisine, Fresh International Market imports products from more than 28 countries. This will be the 10th location, with stores located in Illinois, Nebraska, Texas, Michigan, Indiana, North Carolina and Florida. The first store was founded in Lansing, Michigan in 2011 by Bowen Kou; the company is now headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Also opening at Rockwell is the second location of Ineffable CaPhe, a Lawrenceville coffee shop offering a variety of Asian items such as bubble tea, banh mi sandwiches and rice bowls, Al Lardo, Rockwell Park’s principal, said in an interview. It will operate out of the grocery store rather than being a separate tenant at Rockwell.

He noted his family’s roots are in Wilkinsburg, where his wife’s family had a business for 80 years and his father owned rental properties. He told the Business Times that he looks forward to the new opportunity that the store will bring to residents in Wilkinsburg as well as Homewood to be able to buy healthy and fresh foods that are affordably priced.

“The location [of the Fresh International Market] is especially good because of the busway,” Lardo said in an interview. which is just a half-mile walk from Rockwell Park. “There’s a lot of people who don’t have cars in Wilkinsburg.”
The store will open at 7511 Thomas Blvd. (map), located roughly a block from the East End Food Co-op and Construction Junction. While this will be the region's first Fresh International Market, though the chain was loosely linked to Pittsburgh in 2021 as a finalist for the former Hill District Shop n' Save location that was later occupied, and vacated, by Salem's Market. Its proposal was admittedly the weakest of the four for the site, and was reportedly submitted after the deadline, which were among two of the reasons it was not selected to move into Uptown.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Taste of Asia Asian Food Festival, May 11 at Heinz History Center.


The third annual Taste of Asia Asian Food Festival will take place on May 11 at the Heinz History Center. The three-hour festival will feature food from 15 restaurants plus cultural performances and other attractions. The restaurant and vendor line-up includes, so far: Bombay & Burgh, Chengdu Gourmet, Hungry Panda, HK Dim Sum, Kung Fu Chicken 2, Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, Pho Van, Szechuan Spice House, Sushi Fuku, Tous les Jours, Yujian Bao, and 1:11 Juice Bar, with a few others set to be announced soon.

The event runs from 12:00 to 3:00 pm, and the Heinz History Center is located at 1212 Smallman St. in the Strip District (map).

Monday, March 10, 2025

2025 Vietnamese movie The 4 Rascals (Bộ Tứ Báo Thủ) in Pittsburgh, from March 13.


The 2025 Vietnamese movie The 4 Rascals (Bộ Tứ Báo Thủ) will play in Pittsburgh from March 13.
The 4 rascals decide to take matters into their own hands and plot their own plan to “solve” a love triangle.
It plays locally at the AMC Classic South Hills Village and tickets are available online.

Thursday, February 13, 2025

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.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

New time for Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Parade on Sunday, February 16.


Organizers have moved the start time of the Lunar New Year Parde through Squirrel Hill from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in the hopes of finding warmer weather. The relatively new annual tradition returns in 2025 after taking 2024 off. The parade moves up Murray Ave. from Phillips Ave. to Forbes Ave. (map).

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Lunar New Year Celebration at University of Pittsburgh, January 22.


The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host a Lunar New Year Celebration on January 22.
Celebrate the Year of the Snake! Fun Activities & Delicious Snacks. Come join us and bring in the Lunar New Yeat with joy and excitement!
It runs from 12:00 to 1:30 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map), and is free and open to the Pitt community.

Friday, January 10, 2025

2025 Squirrel Hill Lunar New Year Parade, February 16.


Pittsburgh's Lunar New Year Parade will return in 2025. From the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition:
Please come out to join us to celebrate the 2025 Lunar New Year with a parade starting at Phillips and Murray (Streets closed Phillips to Forbes on Murray Ave from 9 - 12 pm)
Update: the start time has been moved to 12:00 pm.

The relatively new annual tradition returns after taking 2024 off. The parade starts at 10:00 am, moving up Murray Ave. from Phillips Ave. to Forbes Ave. (map).

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

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).

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Lunar New Year Celebration at University of Pittsburgh, January 22.


The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host a Lunar New Year Celebration on January 22.
Celebrate the Year of the Snake! Fun Activities & Delicious Snacks. Come join us and bring in the Lunar New Yeat with joy and excitement!
It runs from 12:00 to 1:30 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map), and is free and open to the Pitt community.

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Fantas-Tea, Pho Grill coming to Gibsonia.


Signage has gone up for two new places in a Gibsonia plaza: Fantas-Tea and Pho Grill. The former will be a bubble tea place and the latter will be a Vietnamese restaurant. Not much information is available about either, though records indicate both are operated by a Korean couple that operates a beauty salon in Murraysville, and an older website from last year points to a "PhoEverMore" planned for the spot with a catch-all menu featuring pho, fried rice, ramen, and various Asian appetizers. Fantas-Tea and Pho Grill will be located next to each other at the Walnut Creek Plaza, 5316 William Flinn Highway (Route 8) (map).

Saturday, August 3, 2024

Pho51 Cafe opens in Brentwood, another Vietnamese restaurant from team behind Saigon88 Express, Pho Saigon Cafe, and Pho Kim 88.


Pho51 Cafe opened last month in Brentwood in the South Hills. The restaurant, which has been in the works since last fall, features pho, bunbohue, spring rolls, and bobble tea, with an assortment of other Asian dishes and appetizers. It is run by the same ownership of Saigon88 Express in Robinson and Pho Saigon Cafe in Bethel Park, both of which have opened in the last five years, and Castle Shannon's Pho Kim 88, which opened in 2006.

Saturday, June 8, 2024

2024 Vietnamese film Face Off 7: One Wish (Lật mặt 7: Một điều ước) in Pittsburgh, from June 13.


The 2024 Vietnamese film Face Off 7: One Wish (Lật mặt 7: Một điều ước) will play in Pittsburgh from June 13. A synopsis, from the distributor:
The longest and most successful franchise in Vietnam delivers a rejuvenating twist with its 7th installment, taking audiences on an enlightening journey with Ba Hai, a 73-year-old widow who questions the meaning of family love after an injury forces her to depend on the care of her 5 busy adult children. Written and directed by Ly Hai, produced by Minh Ha, Ly Hai Production, with an exclusive international theatrical release by 3388 Films.
It plays locally at the AMC Classic South Hills Village 10 and tickets are available online.

Monday, March 25, 2024

2024 Vietnamese movie Mai, Vietnam's highest grossing film of all time, continues in Pittsburgh through April 3.


The 2024 Vietnamese movie Mai, which opened in Pittsburgh on March 21, will continue here through at least April 3.
Restlessly haunted by the past, Mai is greeted by a new dawn when she reluctantly befriends the neighborhood ladies’ man. But when her yesterday catches up to her today, what will become of her tomorrow? Starring Phuong Anh Dao and Tuan Tran, directed by Tran Thanh, produced by Tran Thanh Town and CJ HK Entertainment, with a North American & European release by 3388 Films.
It plays locally at the AMC Classic South Hills Village and tickets are available online.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

2024 Vietnamese movie Mai, Vietnam's highest grossing film of all time, in Pittsburgh from March 21.


The 2024 Vietnamese movie Mai will play in Pittsburgh from March 21.
Restlessly haunted by the past, Mai is greeted by a new dawn when she reluctantly befriends the neighborhood ladies’ man. But when her yesterday catches up to her today, what will become of her tomorrow? Starring Phuong Anh Dao and Tuan Tran, directed by Tran Thanh, produced by Tran Thanh Town and CJ HK Entertainment, with a North American & European release by 3388 Films.
It plays locally at the AMC Classic South Hills Village and tickets are available online.

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