Craving a full plate of Chinese or Taiwanese fare? Then we've got good news for you: we've rounded up the top places in Pittsburgh to score Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine. Using Yelp data and our own research methods, we've found the best restaurants to visit for dim sum, soup dumplings, Peking duck and more.
Topping the list is Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33. Located at 1711 Shady Ave. in Squirrel Hill, the eatery, which offers noodles and seafood, is the highest rated Chinese or Taiwanese restaurant in Pittsburgh, boasting 4.5 stars out of 173 reviews on Yelp.
Dishes include squid with basil and garlic in a stone hot pot; chicken with Chinese watercress in a black pepper sauce; shredded pork with wood ear mushrooms; and beef short ribs with spicy sauce, among others. (Check out the full menu here.)
Yelper Rachael K., who reviewed the spot on Jan. 30, said, "Whenever I'm craving authentic Taiwanese food, I gravitate towards Cafe 33! This place is honestly unbeatable. The food is amazing. The ingredients are always fresh, the food is definitely made with care and the portions are perfect. The plating is much appreciated too. Everything tastes as good as it looks, if not better!"
Next up is Squirrel Hill's Everyday Noodles, situated at 5875 Forbes Ave. With four stars out of 545 reviews on Yelp, the Chinese spot, which offers noodle soups, dim sum and more, has proven to be an enduring local favorite.
The dining area is situated so that you can see through a glass window into the kitchen, where you can watch a cook transform dough into the noodles you're about to eat.
The menu includes dishes such as pork soup dumplings, braised beef noodle soup, rolled onion pancakes with sliced beef, house chicken soup and braised pork belly over rice, to name a few. (See the full menu here.)
Ben C. shared his June 12 experience on Yelp, saying, "This is one of my favorite restaurants in Squirrel Hill. I have tried most of the menu, from the noodle bowls to the soup dumplings, and only once did I find an item I didn't care for."
Another Chinese spot in Squirrel Hill is Sichuan Gourmet, located at 1900 Murray Ave. It's another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Sichuan spot four stars out of 245 reviews.
It has dishes such as Hunan pork, honey walnut chicken, moo goo gai pan, sweet and sour beef and more.
C M. reviewed the eatery on March 18, saying, "Excellent authentic Sichuan restaurant — by far my favorite in Pittsburgh. I really like the spiciness of the dishes and they use real Sichuan peppercorns, which have an almost numbing property."
How Lee Chinese Food, again in Squirrel Hill, is another go-to, with four stars out of 223 Yelp reviews. Head over to 5888 Forbes Ave. to see for yourself.
The menu focuses on Sichuan-style dishes, including dandan noodles, West Lake minced beef soup, tofu with chopped peppers, Chongqing spicy squid, Chengdu fried dry hot chicken, glazed duck and shredded pork in Peking plum sauce, among other options. (See the full menu here.)
It also has bubble teas, including lavender milk tea and jasmine green tea.
Yelper Liting C., who visited on March 4, said, "They definitely have a better idea of how to handle spicy dishes compared to most Chinese restaurants. The dandan noodles are a must try. There's a hint of peanut taste in there, but it doesn't overpower the general flavor of the noodles."
The only selection not in Squirrel Hill, check out Sesame Garden over in Mt. Washington, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 62 reviews on Yelp. You can find the Chinese spot at 202 Shiloh St.
Menu items include Peking duck (with pancakes, cucumber and hoisin sauce), the Bride and Groom (strips of beef and chicken fried and sauteed with baby corn, snow pea pods and red and green bell peppers in the chef's special sauce), or the Volcano Chicken (strips of chicken breast dipped in a light batter and fried, then sauteed with a wine sauce). (See the full menu here.)
The place also serves up some Thai options if someone in your party isn't craving Chinese.
Maeve O. reviewed the eatery on Feb. 16, saying, "Everything I've ever gotten here has been wonderful and fresh. I recently got the massaman curry with beef for lunch with a side of brown rice and hot and sour soup. It was the perfect amount for lunch and was absolutely delicious."
