Work progresses on second KuJiRa location in Bridgeville, after briefly taking "Nami" name.

Work progresses on a second KuJiRa restaurant, coming soon to Chartiers Valley Shopping Center in Bridgeville. KuJiRa is an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant in Shadyside.

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; the banner features a whale--kujira is Japanese for whale--and the same font as the temporary Kujira signage from 2023.

A huge local restaurant trend in 2023 and 2024 was planning---and sometimes opening---all-you-can-eat hotpot and Korean-style BBQ places, while a trend for 2025 was opening all-you-can-eat sushi places: 8 Star in Gibsonia, Let's Sushi in Wexford, and Koi Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Monroeville opened over the past year, and Oyoshi in East Liberty is still under construction. KuJiRa will be located in the former Vocelli's Pizza (map).

Bombing Pot coming soon to The Waterfront.

Bombing Pot, an all-you-can-eat sush, Chinese-style hot pot, and Korean-style BBQ place, is coming pretty soon to the Waterfront, according to the shopping center's social media. When it was announced for the area in September 2024 it was known as Running Dish, a concept with a Sterling, VA location from the team behind Sushi Bomb in Robinson. It is listed in the directory in the spot across from Starbucks formerly occupied by Versona, Charming Charlie, and American Eagle.

Omakase at Okane Sushi downtown now open.

Photos via taken by Tran Le and sent by management.

The omakase service at Okane Sushi, a new sushi restaurant downtown, is now open. Omakase is a higher-end sushi dining experience where the chef decides the menu.

Our Omakase experience is now available for guests seeking something truly special. Omakase is a curated tasting where our chef selects the freshest fish and seasonal ingredients of the day. Each course is thoughtfully prepared and served to highlight balance, flavor, and craftsmanship. Join us for an intimate dining experience that celebrates the art of sushi.

Prices range from $88 to upwards of $188, and can be reserved online. 

Okane Sushi opened in January at 245 4th Ave. downtown (map). Its omakase space is on the second floor, above the first-floor restaurant featuring sushi tacos and other Japanese dishes and appetizers.

American Chinese restaurant Dragon City coming soon to Bellevue, replacing Dragon Town.

American Chinese restaurant Dragon City is coming soon to Bellevue. It will be located at 503 Lincoln Ave. (map), what was previously the home of Dragon Town.

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

Asahi Ramen coming very soon to Brookline.

Photos posted by ownership to Google.

Work is nearly complete on Asahi Ramen, a new ramen restaurant coming very soon to Brookline and the old Oak Hill Post spot (map). Work began on the spot in December, and ownership has been aiming for a mid-march opening.

The restaurant has a website, but it gives security errors when attempting to open it. The menu lists Tonkotsu Ramen, Miso Ramen, Spicy Miso Ramen, Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen, and Vegetable Ramen, plus a variety of Japanese appetizers like agedashi tofu, takoyaki, karaage, tonkatsu, gyoza, edamame, and more. The Uber Eats page is just a generic Asian menu, apparently auto-generated. 

Yo! Brew coming to Duquesne University, from Yotea & Yoka Kitchen and YOYO Panda team.

Yo! Brew, a bubble tea place and bakery, will be opening soon at Duquense University. It will be located on 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.

Viet Nom Nom not closing after all.

On February 21 Viet Nom Nom, a Vietnamese restaurant in Squirrel Hill, announced its last day of operations would be February 28. Today, it announced it will not be closing after all. It is located at 1711 Murray Ave (map) and opened in January 2023.

Chinese bakery opafé coming soon to Southside Works.

Signage has recently gone up for opafé, a Chinese bakery and cafe in Southside Works. It will be located at 2720 SIdney St. (map). It comes from the team behind Top Pot, Okane Sushi, and Opal Buffet, among others, and is a portmanteau of "opal" and "café."

Asahi Ramen coming to Brookline in mid-March, in former Oak Hill Post spot.

Photo via Brookline Today Facebook group.

Work continues on Asahi Ramen, the Japanese-style ramen place be coming to Brookline in the spot most recently occupied by Oak Hill Post (map). Ownership says they are aimning for a mid-March opening.

Squirrel Hill's Viet Nom Nom closing February 28.

Squirrel Hill's Viet Nom Nom will close its doors on February 28. From its Instagram story:

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).

Sushi restaurant Sokoya coming to former Patron spot in East Liberty.

A sushi restaurant called Sokoya is coming to the former Patron spot in East Liberty, located at 135 S. Highland Ave. (map). Patron closed in November 2025. Beyond new signage, no changes are expected to the exterior, but permitting paperwork is still pending for the sushi bar and other interior changes.

Peel teahouse soft opening in Squirrel Hill, February 20.

Peel, a new teahouse in Squirrel Hill, is soft opening from Friday, February 20.

Peel is soft opening this Friday 2/20/26, 12pm - 11pm!! on 2nd floor @ 5806 Forbes Ave

We’re beta testing so free tea after 8pm on Fri in exchange 4 ur thoughts, come hang 🌀🌀🌀

*We’ll be in beta testing/soft open mode for the next two weeks for us to find grounding, hours are as follows:

Mon to Tue: closed
Wed to Thurs: 12pm- 10pm
Fri to Sun: 12pm - 11pm

Signage went up for the Chinese-owned place in January, though work has been underway for nearly a year.  It is located at 5806 Forbes Ave., second floor, above Uncle Sam's (map). The text on social media, and the front-door signage, says Peel

is a (tea)house for drinks, eats, inquiries & play

All-you-can-eat sushi place Umiya coming to Squirrel Hill, in former Eat n' Park (and failed Kpot) spot.

An all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant called Umiya will be coming to Squirrel Hill, in the former Eat n' Park spot where a Kpot hot pot restaurant was "coming soon" for a few years before abandoning the site. It will be located at 1816 Murray Ave. (map), which has been unoccupied since Eat n' Park left in early 2022.

I drove by the spot on May 28, 2023 as workers were putting up the Kpot banner, which allowed me to be the first to post about it (and have my photo used across local outlets without attribution, of course), but after no movement on the space for two years---not even old EnP furniture was moved---the banner came down and a For Lease sign went up in May 2025. All-you-can-eat Korean-style BBQ and Hot Pot restaurants were a Pittsburgh dining trend in 2023 and 2024, while all-you-can-eat sushi places and Asian buffets took off in the area in 2025 and 2026.

Berry Fresh II opens in Oakland, in former Little Asia spot that was briefly going to be another Meetcha.

Photos via ownership on Google

Berry Fresh II, a second location of the Berry Fresh frozen yogurt spot in Squirrel Hill owned by Guobao An, recently opened in Oakland. It is located at 301 S. Craig St., in what was formerly Little Asia restaurant and what was briefly, according to license paperwork, going to be a second Meetcha location back in 2023-2024. 

Sushi Atarashi, Wushiland Boba eye Summer 2026 opening for new Shadyside location.

The new joint Sushi Atarashi Wushiland Boba location coming to The Meridian in Shadyside is aiming for a June-July location, according to ownership. The combined sushi and bubble tea space was announced in Summer 2024, and will join Giant Eagle Market District, Shake Shack, Cava, Barnes & Noble, Sephora, and Meridian Nail Bar, along with 231 apartments at the corner of Shady and Penn Avenues (map)

Kiku Japanese Restaurant hiring sushi chef.

Kiku Japanese Restaurant, located in Station Square and the oldest Japanese and sushi restaurant in the city, is hiring a part-time sushi chef.

Authentic Japanese restaurant hiring Experienced Sushi Chef (Station square)

KIKU Japanese restaurant located station square is now hiring for part time/full time employee.

We're looking for a Sushi Chef, to work in a team of two at the sushi bar, on preparing maki rolls, sashimi and sushi. It will involve multi-tasking of prepping and plating.

KIKU Japanese Restaurant reputation for artful plating and food quality, - fresh fish (never frozen) is flown in from Japan and New York every week, and we have a very strong customer following because of it.

Also, as many of our customers have a very experienced palate for sushi/sashimi, the Sushi Chef should have a basic working knowledge of various fishes, and Japanese ingredients used.

This position definitely requires one who can work efficiently under pressure, while also paying attention to the critical details, that the Japanese art of sushi is known for.

Sushi Chef schedule will be 20-30h/week to start

Serving everything homemade Authentic Japanese cuisine.
Must be willing to learn, listen and follow directions and have a passion for cooking.
Prep work involved. Training is usually couple month depends on experience. ex), you can filet a whole fish and able to cut fish same portion. or you can make a sushi roll only.

Must be reliable and neat.
If interested please respond via email with letter of interest and or apply in person. If you have trouble being on time, on drugs, or abusing alcohol this is not the place for you. This is a family owned and operated establishment.

http://kikupittsburgh.net/

寿司職人アルバイト募集 -

週15〜30時間から。新鮮な魚を使った本格和食の店です。魚の知識と基本技術がなくても、やる気があり丁寧で効率よく働ける方歓迎。長期のみ。

仕込みあり。経験に応じてトレーニングあり。

時間に正確で清潔感のある方。ドラッグ・アルコール問題のある方は不可。

興味のある方はメールまたは直接ご来店ください。

2026 New Year's Banquet Gala with OCA Pittsburgh, February 21 at Szechuan Spice.

The 2026 New Year's Banquet Gala with the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) Pittsburgh will be held on February 21 at Szechuan Spice in Shadyside. 

Celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse with a ten course banquet.

The Lunar New Year began in China more than 4,000 years ago and is widely observed in East and Southeast Asia. Over the years, the festivities have spread around the world. It is now celebrated by millions of people all over the United States, including here in Pittsburgh!

Come celebrate Lunar New Year with OCA Pittsburgh! Eat a 10 course meal, watch cultural performances and participate in a raffle!

OCA Banquet is our fundraiser that makes it possible for OCA to provide advocacy and services for Asian Americans in Pittsburgh.

If you are not currently an active member, we invite you become one. Your membership supports the important work we do as well as access to benefits. Please use this link to sign up.

Tickets are currently available, $110 for a seat or $1,000 for a table. The event runs from 5:00 to 10:00 pm at Szechuan Spice, 5700 Centre Ave. in Shadyside (map). More information is available at the event link.

January Guest Chef Dinner featuring Wei Zhu from Chengdu Gourmet, January 29 at Community Kitchen Pittsburgh in Hazelwood.

Community Kitchen Pittsburgh will host Wei Zhu of Chengdu Gourmet for the January installment of the Guest Chef Dinner on January 29.

Get ready for a bold, unforgettable evening as we welcome Chef Wei Zhu of Chengdu Gourmet for a "One Night Only" dinner celebrating the depth and soul of authentic Sichuan cuisine.

Known for his masterful balance of heat, spice, and complexity, Chef Wei brings the flavors that have made Chengdu Gourmet a regional favorite, earning him national acclaim, including multiple James Beard Award nominations.

Recently selected as an official vendor for the NFL Draft, Chef Wei's cooking represents the very best of Pittsburgh's food scene, blending tradition, technique, and unmistakable flavor. You'll enjoy a thoughtfully-curated menu showcasing Sichuan classics and signature dishes, each telling a story of heritage, craft, and community.

Chinese teahouse Peel coming soon to Squirrel Hill.

Work continues on Peel, a Chinese teahouse coming soon to Squirrel Hill. It will be located at 5806 Forbes Ave., second floor, above Uncle Sam's (map). Permits were first issued for the spot back in April. Recently-added signage on the door advertises PEEL

is a (tea)house for drinks, eats, inquiries & play

Coming this winter

Okane Sushi, featuring sushi tacos and omakase, set to open January 2 January 3 January 5 January 7.

Okane Sushi is set to open downtown on January 2 January 3 January 5 January 7, with a menu featuring set and customized sushi tacos on the first floor and a second floor dedicated to omakase (chef's choice of sushi). [Shipping delays have pushed the opening back a couple times, according to ownership.] It will be located at 245 4th Ave. (map), repacing Sushi i, which opened there in April 2025, and is from the team behind several new restaurants including Top Pot Hot Pot, Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, and the forthcoming Opal Buffet, among others.