Umami is a japanese izakaya restaurant in Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh.
Umami on 38th Street in Lawrenceville serves izakaya skewers and ramen in Pittsburgh. A lantern-lit room with a koi pond patio off Butler Street.
Signature dishes: Yakitori, Ramen
Must order: A spread of yakitori skewers, a bowl of ramen and a Japanese highball.
Tip: The back patio with the koi pond is the seat. Walk-in friendly midweek; weekends get busy.
Address: 202 38th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
The Parlor Dim Sum in Lawrenceville serves Cantonese dim sum and barbecue in Pittsburgh. Chef Roger Li's room plating dumplings, buns and char siu.
Signature: Har gow, Char siu bao
Order: Har gow, char siu bao and whatever Cantonese barbecue the kitchen is running.
Tip: Small and popular; weekends get a wait. Dim sum is the whole point, order broadly.
Mola in East Liberty serves Asian seafood, sushi and rice bowls in Pittsburgh. A bright room working closely with fish vendors for the freshest catch.
Signature: Sushi, Bao buns
Order: Sushi off the daily fresh list, plus bao buns and a rice bowl.
Tip: Casual and quick for the East End. Reserve for weekend dinner; lunch is an easy walk-in any day.
Everyday Noodles in Squirrel Hill serves Taiwanese soup dumplings and hand-pulled noodles in Pittsburgh. Watch the dumpling team work behind glass.
Signature: Xiao long bao, Hand-pulled noodles
Order: Xiao long bao soup dumplings and a bowl of hand-pulled noodles in broth.
Tip: Watch the dumpling pleating through the front window. Expect a wait at peak; it is worth it.
Gaucho Parrilla Argentina on 6th Street downtown grills Argentine meats over a wood fire in Pittsburgh. A counter-order room with a citywide following.
Signature: Wood-grilled meats, Chimichurri
Order: A grilled cut with chimichurri, plus the grilled provoleta cheese.
Tip: Order at the counter; lines form at lunch. The room moved to 6th Street downtown from the Strip.
Tessaro's in Bloomfield grills its burgers over a hardwood fire in Pittsburgh. A neighborhood bar widely argued to make the city's best burger.
Signature: Hardwood-grilled burger, Steaks
Order: The hardwood-grilled burger, cooked over the open fire behind the bar.
Tip: No reservations; put your name in and wait at the bar. Cash and card both fine.
The Parlor Dim Sum in Lawrenceville serves Cantonese dim sum and barbecue in Pittsburgh. Chef Roger Li's room plating dumplings, buns and char siu.
Signature: Har gow, Char siu bao
Order: Har gow, char siu bao and whatever Cantonese barbecue the kitchen is running.
Tip: Small and popular; weekends get a wait. Dim sum is the whole point, order broadly.
Muddy Waters Oyster Bar in East Liberty serves a raw bar and Gulf-leaning seafood in Pittsburgh. Oysters, po'boys and one of the city's long happy hours.
Signature: Oysters, Po'boys
Order: A dozen oysters and a po'boy, with a cocktail off the happy-hour list.
Tip: The oyster happy hour is the value play. Walk-in friendly; bar seats face the shuckers.
