More progress on Hong BBQ & Hot Pot, coming soon to McKnight Road.

Hong BBQ & Hot Pot, one of five hot pot and Korean BBQ places coming soon to Pittsburgh, shared some progress pics on Facebook earlier this month. It is aiming for a spring opening and will be located at 4801 McKnight Rd, North Hills (map), the most recent in a long line of Asian restaurants to occupy the spot next to Best Buy that "used to be Tokyo Sushi Buffet."
New paint job and some interior renovations from late last year.

Progress begins on Hong Kong Dim Sum in North Oakland.

Progress in the way of brown paper bags over the windows has begun on the Hong Kong Dim Sum coming to North Oakland. It will open on the ground floor of the newish apartment complex, One On Centre (map), and will be run---or at least financed---by the team that recently opened Mi Fan in East Liberty. (Ownership did not respond to requests for comment.)

Latest updates on the new Many More Asian Market store opening in the Strip District.

Many More Asian Market shared some photos and updates on its long-awaited new location set to open near the boundary of Lawrenceville and the Strip District. From Facebook today:

How is everyone? Chinese New Year is approaching! It's the year of the dragon! Some good news : the stolen parts have finally been reordered and arrived, so the process can continue!! It is looking great! We don't have an opening day yet (it seems like every time we expect to open, something happens… so ). We will definitely announce it when we do open though! So stay tuned for the next update!! Happy Lunar New Year!!!

In the mean time , the market at the Smallman street location is still open! We prepared many New Year specials for the celebration. Come check it out!

The new place was supposed to open earlier in 2023, but delays and theft have pushed it back. It will be located at 2767 Liberty Ave, Strip District (map).

Winter Matsuri with CMU's Japanese Student Association, February 17.

Carnegie Mellon University's Japanese Student Association will host its Winter Matsuri on February 17.

We are so excited to announce Carnegie Mellon's JSA's next major event of the semester, our Winter Matsuri! This year we will be hosting Matsuri with the theme of 細雪（ささめゆき）, or Light Snow, with the hopes that the end of winter will bring about beautiful snow!

Join us on February 17th, from 12-6 PM in the Cohon University Center (Rangos Ballroom) and play some traditional Japanese games, eat winter-themed foods, and watch performances from both university J-pop band and local Pittsburgh performers.

New Thai restaurant coming soon to Fox Chapel.

A new Thai restaurant is coming soon to Fox Chapel, next in line in a series of former Thai places. New ownership has purchased the former The98 spot at 1034 Freeport Rd. (map), which was previously the longtime home of Thai Place, and added a new paint job. Management said the new restaurant, which does not yet have a name, may keep some menu items from The98, which was a new venture from the Took Took 98 team in operation from January to summer 2023.

Mochi donuts hit the menu at Bubble Bee Shadyside.

Bubble Bee Shadyside, which opened on Centre Ave. in the fall, announced on social media last week that it has added mochi donuts to the menu.

🎉 Welcome to Bubble Bee @ Shadyside! 🎉

We are thrilled to invite you to join our vibrant community of bubble tea enthusiasts right here on Facebook! 🥤

🌟 What sets us apart? 🌟

🍩 Exciting News! Introducing our NEW Mochi Donuts 🍩
Indulge in the delightful fusion of chewy mochi and delectable donuts. These sweet treats are the perfect match for our signature bubble teas.

Teen Time: Jasmine Cho Artivism, at 10 different Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh throughout May.

via @jasminemcho 

Teen Time sessions inspired by the work of Local artist, author, and cookie activist Jasmine Cho will run at 10 Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh throughout May.

This Teen Time program, centered on local artist Jasmine Cho’s book “Role Models Who Look Like Me: Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Who Made History” will increase teens’ awareness of notable Asian American and Pacific Islander role models. Teens will then create a portrait based on her style.

The "Teen Time: Jasmine Cho Artivism" events are listed below; participation is reserved for teenagers, and no registration is required. 

• Lawrenceville - May 2, 4:00 - 5:00 pm
• Beechview - May 7, 4:30 - 5:30
• Brookline - May 8, 3:30 - 4:30
• Allegheny - May 8, 4:00 - 5:00 pm
• Homewood - May 8, 4:00 - 5:00 pm
• Hazelwood - May 8, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
• Woods Run - May 14, 4:00 - 5:00 pm
• Southside - May 14, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
• Carrick - May 15, 3:30 - 4:30 pm
• Squirrel Hill - May 21, 3:30 - 4:30 pm

While the event is inspired by the book and Cho's cookie artwork, she is not scheduled to lead the sessions.

Wei Lai coming soon to North Hills in old Ting's Kitchen spot, serving dim sum, bubble tea, and other Chinese dishes.

A new Chinese restaurant and bubble tea place, Wei Lai, will open soon in McIntyre Square in the North Hills, in the spot formerly occupied by Ting's Kitchen (map). Translating to "future" in Chinese, menu includes dim sum, bubble tea, and other Chinese dishes, and ownership is aiming for a March opening. 

 Exciting News for Foodies!  WEI LAI is coming soon to the North side near Ross Park Mall! 

At WEI LAI, where Cantonese dim sum meets Taiwanese noodles and boba milk tea. Opening in early March, we'll have dine-in and take-out options for everyone around Pittsburgh!

Stay tuned for delicious updates! 

Taiwanese chain Wushiland Boba's first Pittsburgh location now open.

Wushiland Boba is now open in Pittsburgh, on S. Craig St. near the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon campuses. During this soft opening period it is open from 12 to 7 pm.  

Where It All Began

In 1994, Wu-Shih-Lan started its first “Hand-Shaken Tea” store in Tainan, one of the major cities in Southern Taiwan. The commitment of using the best and authentic ingredients led to an exponential popularity growth. Wu- Shih-Land soon successfully expanded its brand and became a leading beverage company in Taiwan. Across the Pacific Ocean- A Taste from Taiwan.

 

Across the Pacific Ocean- A Taste from Taiwan 

With the desire to share our classic Taiwanese taste to the world, we started our journey in North America. Today, we proudly serve our customers fresh hand-made tea everyday in five locations in Southern California. Our first store OO Tea opened in San Diego, California in 2016, followed by the second store, Wushiland Boba opened in San Gabriel, California in 2017. Recently, three stores were launched in Westfield shopping centers. Come visit us and enjoy a taste of Taiwan without needing to travel thousands of miles away. 

Signage first went up for the new bubble tea place in October. It is located at 300 S. Craig St. (map), where Fuku Tea opened its second location in July 2020. The operator of this Wushiland is the Director of Operations of Fuku Tea and Atarashi Sushi, the latter an offshoot of the Sushi Fuku that had a few locations in Oakland and that opened Fuku Tea in 2015.

via @WushilandBobaUSA

Paris Baguette to open in Shadyside.

via @parisbaguetteus 

Paris Baguette, a Korean bakery chain with locations around the world, has announced plans to open a second Pittsburgh location in Shadyside. It will be located at 5514 Walnut St. (map), according to a Pittsburgh Business Times article, in what was William Sonoma until January 2022. The area's first Paris Baguette will open in Block Northway in the North Hills; since not much work has progressed on that location, it is undecided, really, which will be Pittsburgh's first to open.

Street View, via Google Maps

Ineffable Cà Phê to open inside Pittsburgh's forthcoming Fresh International Market in summer 2024.

via @bowenkou

Fresh International Market announced last year it will open its first Pittsurgh-area location later this year, and the owner recently shared on social media that Ineffable Cà Phê will open a location inside in what will be the area's largest Asian grocery store. Ineffable Cà Phê is a Vietnamese coffee shop and cafe that opened in Lawrenceville in 2017. The Fresh International Market press release from last March has more details about the opening, scheduled now for Summer 2024:

New tenant Fresh International Market will offer authentic Asian flavors to Pittsburgh customers.

A major grocery store chain is set to open its seventh store in Pittsburgh's North Point Breeze neighborhood, within the Rockwell Park innovation center. Known for its unique selection of international ingredients and authentic Asian cuisine, the market's new store will occupy the entire 40,000 RSF Apollo building.

Of the new store, Rockwell Park Principal Al Lardo shares: "We are thrilled to welcome Fresh International Market to Rockwell Park and the North Point Breeze community. This new store will be a fantastic addition to the city's vibrant food scene. The store's unique selection of international ingredients and prepared meals will provide greater convenience and comfort for local residents." He noted that the arrival of Fresh International Market would also contribute to the continued growth and development of Rockwell Park: “The opening of Fresh International Market at Rockwell Park marks a significant milestone for the Rockwell Park’s growth and development as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and community engagement."

According to Fresh International Market Founder and President Bowen Kou, the store aims to become a part of the local community:

"Fresh International Market is excited to join the vibrant Rockwell Park community and offer our unique range of international brands and Asian cuisine to local residents. We are happy to become a part of this beautiful and dynamic place and look forward to contributing to its growth and development. Our goal is to be more than just a grocery store, but a destination where customers can discover new flavors and expand their culinary horizons."

The store will be located in the Apollo building on 7511 Thomas Blvd, which was built in 1906. The construction work is expected to take up to 15 months.

21 Asian restaurants and eateries coming soon, or maybe not quite so soon, to Pittsburgh.

via @parisbaguetteus

Since 2011, PennsylvAsia has documented the Asian restaurant openings (and closings) in the Pittsburgh area. In August, we looked at the 15 biggest names coming soon (or not-so-soon) to the area, taking a page from the local news outlets that seemed to find success posting lists from PennsylvAsia scoops. Now, at the start of 2024, let's take a look at a list of the 21 biggest Asian restaurants coming in the near or distant future. Some of these are repeats from the summer, if progress has been slow, while others are recently new developments. The additions will certainly be welcome in the area: new bakeries and dessert spots, more dim sum, five Korean BBQ places this year, for example, and of course more bubble tea. We are also attracting a number of national and international chains, which is a testament to the growing power of Pittsburgh's food scene, since these places were content with overlooking Pittsburgh over the last decade or two. Let's dig in . .

Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ coming soon to Pittsburgh.

Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ is coming to Southside Works in 2024.

Top Pot Hotspot [sic] & Korean BBQ will open a 6,000-square-foot restaurant on East Carson Street in SouthSide Works. The concept has the same operator as Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, the New York-based chain which signed a lease with SouthSide Works in September.

Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ is a restaurant concept that offers a combination of Chinese hot pot and Korean BBQ. The chain was founded in 2010.

This is one of several Korean BBQ places set to open in Pittsburgh in 2024, including KPot in Squirrel Hill, Korean BBQ in Oakland, Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in McCandless, and Hong BBQ & Hot Pot on McKnight Road.

Kujira, specializing in sushi and sake, now open in Shadyside.

Kujira, a new restaurant specializing in sushi, sake, and whiskey, opened in Shadyside on December 10.

Hi Friend! Welcome To KuJiRa
Here, We Will Present a Unique Japanese Experience to Your Table.
Please Enjoy the Fresh Ingredients From the Ocean to Pittsburgh! Thank you

じら体験
こんにちは、友達です! クジラへようこそ
ここでは、ユニークな日本体験をあなたのテーブルにお届けします。
海からピッツバーグまで届く新鮮な食材をぜひご賞味ください!
ありがとうございました

Signage first went up in late October at 736 Bellefonte St. (map) in the spot formerly occupied by The Yard, where Dr. Tea opened upstairs earlier this year. Kujira---Japanese for whale---has the same ownership team as Bubble Bee, which has opened a few bubble tea spots around the city recently.

Kujira is active on Instagram, where you can find photos and stories of menu items.

Work progresses on Pittsburgh's first Tous les Jours, coming pretty soon to East Liberty.

Work progresses on Pittsburgh's first Tous les Jours Cafe coming soon to East Liberty. Signage first went up for the international Korean bakery chain in June 2023. Tous Les Jours is the first of the big Korean bakery chains to announce a Pittsburgh spot (though it was followed about two months later by another one), and will complement Sumi's Cakery, which has been Pittsburgh's lone Korean bakery since it opened in 2012.  Tous Les Jours, says its US website,

"has developed into a reputable neighborhood bakery specializing in French-Asian inspired baked goods, hand crafted beverages and bold, flavorful coffee and espresso made with the finest ingredients."

While some people may sneer at excitement over (inter)national chains coming to Pittsburgh, I've written before that I actually consider it a healthy sign and representative of Pittsburgh's growing Asian food scene, as these chains have almost completely ignored the region prior to this year. Tous Les Jours will be located in the Eastside Bond Building C, across the street from Target (map).
via @TousLesJoursUSA