Work progresses on Lao Sze Chuan, a chain of Szechuan restaurants opening its first Pittsburgh-area location in Cranberry.

Work progresses on Lao Sze Chuan, a chain of Szechuan restaurants set to open its first Pittsburgh-area location in Cranberry.

The very first Lao Sze Chuan opened in 1998 in Chicago’s Chinatown and has since become one of the most beloved Chinese restaurants nationwide. The brainchild of Sichuan-born Chef Tony Hu, Lao Sze Chuan prides itself on providing traditional Sichuan cuisine with high-quality ingredients. In 1999, Lao Sze Chuan was recognized by the Chicago Tribune as “One of the Best,” receiving a “three fork” rating that was considered a prominent accomplishment for Chinese restaurants at that time.

Although Lao Sze Chuan has flourished since humble beginnings, our mission to offer, elevate, and promote gourmet authentic Chinese cuisine and provide exceptional customer service has never wavered. Our Grade A chefs are skillfully trained in Sichuan cuisine to provide the most authentic flavors at all locations. To this day, Lao Sze Chuan lives by the mantra “One Style For One Dish, A Hundred Dishes Have A Hundred Different Tastes,” a saying that keeps our most frequent customers coming back for more.

It will be located at 936 Sheraton Dr. in Mars, in what was most recently Max & Erma's (map). Work began on the spot in November 2024. This location is coming to the area by the restauranteur behind Wild Ninja Asian Grill in Oakland (2021-2022) and Dagu Rice Noodle in Squirrel Hill (2020-2025), in addition to Lao Sze Chuan, KyuRamen, Shinto, and Dagu Rice Noodle locations in Ohio.

2008 Hayao Miyazaki film Ponyo (崖の上のポニョ) in Pittsburgh, from August 23.

The 2008 Hayao Miyazaki film Ponyo (崖の上のポニョ) will play in Pittsburgh from August 23 through 27, part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2025.

Ponyo is a spunky little goldfish who swims to the beat of her own tune. One day, Ponyo escapes the grip of her overbearing father and is found washed ashore by a human boy named Sosuke. But when Ponyo makes a wish to become human herself, she throws the entire balance of nature into turmoil. With direction from Academy Award® winner Hayao Miyazaki and a delightful score from Golden Globes® nominee Joe Hisaishi, Ponyo’s whimsical narrative and popping colors are masterfully woven with resonant themes of environmental preservation and self-actualization.

It plays locally at the Waterworks Cinema, the Chartiers Valley Luxury + PTX, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online; please note, some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Oakland's Smile Thai & Sushi closes.

Smile Thai & Sushi, which opened in October 2024 in the spot formerly occupied by Spice Island Tea House, appears to have closed over the summer. It opened with great fanfare, replacing the 29-year-old restaurant Spice Island, but was beset by poor health inspection reports and bad reviews.

Free "We Learn: Basic Japanese Language and Culture," Fridays at downtown Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, from October 3.

"Osaka, Japan" by Pedro Szekely (Creative Commons).

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's downtown branch will host "We Learn: Basic Japanese Language and Culture" on Fridays from October 3 through November 7, after the previous session ended on June 6.

Enjoy learning the basics of the Japanese language and culture from a certified, native Japanese instructor. We will learn greetings, etiquette and manners, survival phrases for traveling to Japan, visiting interesting tourist locations, and ordering food and shopping. We will also learn reading and writing – Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji, Emoji, Anime and Manga. Each session is designed to be interactive and fun. The agenda can vary based on the interests of the students.

 

We Learn groups are volunteer-facilitated peer learning groups. We Learn Groups meet in person but use a hybrid model with online learning materials. This Group meets on Fridays: Oct 3, Oct 10, Oct 17, Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7.

Registration is required and can be completed online. The classes run from 11:00 am, and the library is located at 612 Smithfield St. (map).

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from September 13.

Photo via the Korea Tourism Organization.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Oakland will resume its free "We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes Saturdays from September 13 through November 15, after finishing its most recent session on August 16.

Lucky Bites to hold Grand Opening tomorrow, August 16, in Bellevue, serving boba and poke bowls and featuring Steel Dragon lion dance performance.

Lucky Bites, a new restaurant coming soon to Bellevue featuring boba and poke bowls, will hold its Grand Opening tomorrow, August 16, at 3:00 pm.

Delicious poke bowls, refreshing boba, and a variety of Asian treats!

The opening will feature a lion dance from Steel Dragon and will coincide with traffic closures for Rhythm and Brew from 4 to 9.

Lucky Bites held its soft opening(s) on August 13 and 14. The restaurant is hiring, and those interested may send their resume to hello@luckybitespgh.com. The new spot is located at 549 Lincoln Ave. (map), the former home of Dietz Floral and Gifts.

English dub of 2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), the highest-grossing animated film of all time, in Pittsburgh from August 21.

The 2025 Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), which played here in February and March, returns to the area from Augsut 21, this time dubbed in English.

A rebellious young boy, Ne Zha, is feared by the gods and born to mortal parents with wild, uncontrolled powers. Now he's faced with an ancient force intent on destroying humanity, he must grow up to become the hero the world needs.

It is scheduled to play in Digital 3D, Real 3D, and Standard Formats in several local theaters, including the Manor Theater in Squirrel Hill (from the 22nd), the AMC Classic South Hills Village, AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, the Waterworks Cinemas, and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

2025 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編) in Pittsburgh area, from September 11.

The 2025 movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編) will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from September 11.

The Demon Slayer Corps plunge into Infinity Castle to defeat Muzan. However, the remaining Hashiras and the Demon Slayers who survived Tanjiro's Final Selection are pitted against the remaining members of the Twelve Kizuki first.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Classic Westmoreland and the Cinemark theaters in Monaca, Monroeville, and the North Hills. Tickets are available online.

Moochi & You, a new dessert place featuring mochi donuts, corndogs, and boba, set to open August 15 in Bellevue.

Moochi & You, an Asian dessert place, is set to open in Bellevue tomorrow. It will be located at 601 Lincoln Ave. (map), in what was most recently Valkyrie Doughnuts.

The shop, located in the heart of the neighborhood, will feature donuts as well as Korean corn hot dogs. Also on the menu will be classic boba, also known as bubble tea, a popular Asian drink that often consists of a milky sweet tea and tapioca pearl balls.

Moochi & You will offer a variety of flavors.

Moochi & You uses Ghirardelli chocolates and top the donuts with pistachios, Oreos and other goodies. The hot dogs are all beef and they have spicy options.

Also on the menu will be coffee and different tea flavors. All of the tea is brewed fresh. The fresh milk tea is made with organic whole milk.

Signage went up earlier this summer. The Moochi & You owner was one of the co-founders of China Star in the North Hills, which expanded to a second location in Squirrel Hill that eventually rebranded to become Sichuan Gourmet.

Tickets still remain for "Joe Hisaishi Conducts the PSO," September 13 and 14.

Japanese conductor and composter Joe Hisaishi will conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) on September 13 and 14.

Globally renowned award-winning composer, musical director, conductor and pianist, Joe Hisaishi, make his long-awaited debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Hisaishi, who is best known for his epic concert works as well as enchanting film scores, takes to the podium to conduct his own compositions including a new concert version of music from the 2023 Golden-Globe winning Studio Ghibli Film, “The Boy and the Heron,” and the US Premiere of Hisaishi’s work, The End of the World. The PSO will be joined onstage by the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.

The suite The End of the World by Joe Hisaishi was inspired by his visit to New York in the fall of 2007. He began composing the work in 2008. The suite explores the theme of "anxiety and chaos" resulting from the collapse of world order and values caused by the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Joe Hisaishi says : “I am honored to join Pittsburgh Symphony this Fall for the first time. The centre of the concert, my End of the World Suite was written for the people of the USA and I’m excited to make the US premiere of this work in Pittsburgh alongside pieces that reflect on this mood as well as new music which I hope this audience will enjoy”

The performances will be September 13 at 7:30 pm and September 14 at 2:30 pm at Heinz Hall in downtown's Cultural District (map). Tickets are available online.